Your spot in the retreat is confirmed!
Consider this page your logistics home base. It covers travel, lodging, schedule, food, and what to expect once you arrive.
If you ever want to come back here, the link is in your welcome email.
Your Instructor and Host
Sean Campbell
Instructor and Host
Sean has been weaving tree nets since teaching himself during the pandemic after years of being inspired by hidden net hangouts from his youth. What started as building nets for friends grew into teaching online and hosting in-person workshops and retreats around the world. This retreat is part of that same thread; learning by doing in good company in a place that supports the work.
The Location
10605 Slattery Rd, Glen Ellen, CA 95442
The retreat will take place on a private property just outside Glen Ellen in Sonoma County, easily accessible by car or via the the Santa Rosa (STS), San Francisco (SFO), or Oakland (OAK) airports.
If you need any help figuring out the best way to get there, shoot me an email at the address at the bottom of the page. I'm happy to help!
The Timeline
Below is a general outline of how the weekend will unfold.
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Friday, October 23rd - Arrival, Mini-Net Practice and Dinner - We’ll start by weaving a tiny net so you can learn and practice all the knots and see the whole process from start to finish on a smaller scale.
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Saturday, October 24th - Begin Weaving the Full Sized Net - We’ll work together to establish and tension a perimeter, then subdivide the net and assign sections for each person to start weaving.
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Sunday, October 25th - Continue Weaving & Climbing Wall Demo - We’ll weave the net side walls and demonstrate how to rig and weave climbing walls with rings.
Curriculum Overview
Over the course of the retreat, we'll build a waist-high tree net as a team, making sure to cover:
Mastering the Basic Knots - How to tie each of the 6 knots we'll use in weaving a tree net.
Tree Protection - How to work with living trees responsibly, including tree protection techniques and perimeter planning.
Establishing and Tensioning the Perimeter - Laying out, tying, and tensioning a strong, clean perimeter as the foundation of the net.
Weaving Chaos and Strips Pattern - How to weave each and when to use them.
Subdividing and Managing Larger Nets - Breaking the net into workable sections so multiple people can weave efficiently at the same time.
Side Walls, Climbing Rings, and Portals - Designing and weaving side walls, rings and portals to climb up and into the net.
Finishing Techniques and Design Principles - Cleaning up loose ends, refining tension, and discussing broader net design considerations drawn from past builds.
While we’ll make sure to touch on all of these elements, the retreat is structured to let topics arise naturally through the process of building a net together, with plenty of room for questions and experimentation along the way.
Meals and Drinks
Meals will be prepared in the kitchen. Cooking and cleanup will be shared as part of the rhythm of the retreat.
Local wines and beer are included, but feel free to bring anything you'd like to share with the group.
If you have dietary restrictions, please let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly.
Weather & Time of Year
Late October in Glen Ellen is usually mild to warm during the day, with cool mornings and evenings.
We’ll be working outdoors most of the time, so bring layers and clothing that can handle dirt, rope, and changing temperatures.
October is the beginning of Northern California’s rainy season, so rain is possible. We’ll continue building whenever conditions allow.
What to Bring / Wear
We’ll be spending most of our time outdoors working on the net structure and exploring the land, so plan to bring comfortable clothing that you don’t mind getting a little dirty.
Please bring:
Work clothes suitable for outdoor building
Sturdy shoes or boots
Rain jacket or waterproof layer
Warm layer for cooler mornings and evenings
Water bottle
Headlamp or flashlight
Personal toiletries
There is a hot tub on site but it can be finicky so I'm hesitant to guarantee it will work! If you'd like to give it a shot, you can bring a bathing suit.
Any special tools/materials? Nope! All you need to bring is yourself and a willingness to learn. We'll provide the rest.
Money, Payments & Next Steps
When I reach out to say hi, we’ll discuss the best way to pay the remaining balance. I’ll then email you a secure payment link through my learning platform (Thinkific), just like with the deposit.
Reminder that the remaining balance is due October 5th.
Refund & Cancellation Policy
The $200 deposit is non-refundable and reserves your spot in the retreat.
Any remaining balance payments are refundable up until October 5th. After that date, refunds are dependent on whether your spot can be filled by another participant. If your spot is filled, we’re happy to issue a refund.
If the retreat is canceled by the organizer for any reason, all payments will be fully refunded.
If you have concerns or special circumstances, please reach out. I aim to handle things reasonably and case by case wherever possible.
How to Reach Me
I'll reach out to you within 1-2 days of receiving the deposit, but if you have any questions at all, I'm here to help. Feel free to send me (Sean) an email at the address below anytime. I'm happy to help!
