Take Your Next Team Retreat Into the Forest

Some conversations need more space than a meeting room allows. At Terra Perma in Harrington, Quebec, a corporate retreat brings your team into the forest, where a morning by the lake or a meal prepared together can become as valuable as the time set aside for work.

It’s a setting for stepping back, getting to know colleagues beyond their job titles, and giving an important conversation the attention it deserves. Build your retreat around a clear purpose, whether that’s planning the year ahead, welcoming new team members, or reconnecting after a busy season. Then leave room for the place itself.

A different place to work together

Terra Perma’s distinctive cabins introduce your team to different approaches to ecological construction. Straw bale, cordwood, and traditional timber framing offer plenty to notice and discuss. In the Timber Frame House, trees milled at Terra Perma became a structure assembled by local artisans using wooden pegs.

That spirit of curiosity carries naturally into a retreat. Exploring how something was built, learning to recognize a plant, or preparing food together gives colleagues a shared experience beyond their usual routines.

What your retreat could look like

The following two-day itinerary is a starting point for a customized retreat. Activities would be confirmed according to the season, weather, harvest, and availability of facilitators and facilities.

Day one: Arrive, settle in, and reconnect

10:00 am — Welcome to the forestArrive, share a coffee, and introduce the purpose of your time together. A short walk offers a relaxed way to get everyone talking.

10:30 am — A focused team sessionBring one meaningful topic to the table: a shared challenge, a new direction, or priorities for the months ahead. Give it enough time for a real conversation.

12:00 pm — Harvest part of your lunchHead to the garden or food forest to discover what’s in season. With guidance, gather available ingredients to contribute to a shared meal. It’s a chance to see where food comes from and take part in preparing it.

1:00 pm — Lunch togetherSit down to a seasonal meal and let the conversation wander beyond the agenda.

2:30 pm — A guided mushroom huntExplore the forest with a knowledgeable guide, looking for mushrooms and learning about their role in the ecosystem. Make it a discovery walk: any collection or tasting would depend on site rules and expert identification.

4:00 pm — Time at the lakeChoose a lakeside team activity, a swim when conditions allow, or quiet time on shore. Offer an alternative so everyone can participate comfortably.

6:30 pm — Dinner and an unhurried eveningGather for dinner, followed by a fireside conversation if conditions and fire restrictions permit. Keep the evening informal, with time to unwind before settling into the cabins.

Day two: Make space, then move forward

8:00 am — Yoga in the wellness centerBegin with a gentle, instructor-led session, adapted to different experience levels. A quiet walk can offer an alternative for those who prefer it.

9:00 am — Breakfast

10:00 am — Turn ideas into next stepsReturn to the previous day’s discussion. Agree on a few practical commitments, who will carry them forward, and when you’ll reconnect.

11:30 am — One last forest walkClose with a short reflection: what did each person discover, and what would they like to bring back into the workplace?

12:00 pm — Lunch and departure

Sustainability you can experience

At Terra Perma, ecological construction, permaculture, the food forest, and the garden provide tangible starting points for conversations about sustainability. Your team can explore how materials are used, how food is grown, and how people share a landscape with other species.

A retreat can carry that attention into its own planning: sharing transportation where practical, choosing seasonal food, reducing disposable items, and respecting trails and wildlife. Small decisions become part of the experience.

Plan a retreat around your team

The best itinerary leaves people enough room to enjoy being there. Balance structured sessions with free time, offer choices for different abilities and interests, and choose a few activities that fit your team.

To explore a corporate retreat at Terra Perma, contact info@terraperma.ca with your group size, preferred dates, and what you hope to accomplish. Together, we can discuss accommodation, activity options, and the rhythm that would suit your stay.