You’re on your way to the Mad River Valley!
Your spot in the Mad River Valley Tree Net Weaving Retreat is now held.
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.
Instructors & Hosts
Sean Campbell
Instructor & 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.
Melanie Grubman
Host
Melanie is the Program Director at Living Tree Alliance, where she has spent the past eight years guiding place-based education programs that help people connect with the land and the changing seasons. With more than 25 years of experience directing youth and family programs for nonprofits, schools, and outdoor organizations, her work centers on building community through learning in nature. When she’s not at LTA, she enjoys bicycling through the valley, cooking with her two sons, and working in her all-woman stonemasonry business.
The Location
Living Tree Alliance - 110 Living Tree Ln, Moretown, VT 05660
The retreat will take place at Living Tree Alliance in the Mad River Valley of Vermont. The property sits in a rural, forested setting about 45 minutes from Burlington International Airport and approximately 3.5 hours by car from Boston.
Most participants will plan to arrive by car, either by renting from Burlington or driving directly from the Northeast. If you’re traveling from farther away and aren’t sure about the best route, we’re happy to help you think through logistics and timing.
Detailed Timeline
Think of this as a working outline rather than a fixed schedule. We expect to adapt along the way, based on weather, the group's energy and how the work unfolds.
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Wednesday May 27th - Arrival & Welcome - Arrive, settle into lodging, and a shared meal so everyone gets to meet each other.
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Thursday May 28th - Acclimation and Begin Weaving - A slow morning to explore the surroundings, followed by an introduction to weaving and our first hands-on session, ending with a relaxed family dinner.
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Friday May 29th - Continuing the Weave - A full day of weaving with time for practice, swimming in the river, and rest woven throughout.
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Saturday May 30th - Finishing the Net - Continuing the build, refining techniques, and finishing the net, with space for optional wandering or downtime before a final shared dinner.
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Sunday May 31st - Closing & Departure - A gentle morning to enjoy the net, final lunch together before we say goodbye.
Group size is intentionally small to allow for hands-on instruction, shared meals, and a relaxed pace throughout the retreat.
Optional Activities & Surroundings
During breaks from weaving there will be time to explore the property and surrounding valley.
Living Tree Alliance includes:
• Forest trails for walking
• Gardens and farm spaces
• Private access to the Mad River for swimming
• Open views of the Green Mountains
The nearby towns of Waitsfield and Waterbury are about 10 minutes away if you need supplies or want to explore the area.
Lodging Details
The retreat will be based in the Common House at Living Tree Alliance, a farmhouse apartment located at the heart of the community’s cohousing village. The house sits on 91 acres of forest, farmland, and trails in Vermont’s Mad River Valley, with gardens, pastureland, and private access to the Mad River just a short walk away.
Inside, the Common House is bright and welcoming, with vaulted ceilings, large windows, wraparound porches, and open living spaces. The ground floor serves as the central gathering space for the retreat, with a full kitchen, dining area, and living room where we’ll cook meals, share conversations, and relax after long days of weaving.
Upstairs are several bedrooms along with a shared bathroom and a den that can provide additional sleeping space. The layout allows for a mix of shared and private accommodations while keeping everyone close to the central living space.
Shared Rooms: Two shared rooms are available in the Common House on the second floor. One includes bunk beds, while the other has two twin beds.
Private Bedroom: The private bedroom is also on the second floor and has a queen sized bed. If demand exceeds the available rooms in the house, additional private accommodations within the Living Tree village may be used. These are located nearby on the property and offer similar access to the retreat’s shared spaces.
Camping: Living Tree Alliance has raised tent platforms nestled in the trees, so you won’t be sleeping directly on the ground.
Campers have access to outdoor facilities as well as the shared spaces in the Common House, where meals and much of the retreat’s daily life will take place.
Lodging Assignments
Room assignments will be finalized closer to the retreat once we know the final group size and arrival timing. Our goal is simply to make sure everyone has a comfortable place to sleep while keeping the shared rhythm of the retreat intact.
Curriculum Overview
Over the course of the retreat, we'll build a waist high tree net as a team from start to finish, 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 together in the Common House kitchen. Cooking and cleanup will be shared as part of the rhythm of the retreat.
Where possible we’ll incorporate produce from Living Tree’s gardens and farm.
If you have dietary restrictions, please let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly.
Weather & Time of Year
Late May in Vermont is the beginning of summer in the valley.
Days are typically mild and green, 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 weather.
Rain is always possible, but 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
If you plan to swim in the Mad River, you may also want to bring a swimsuit and towel.
Participants choosing the camping option should bring their own tent and camping setup. Living Tree Alliance provides raised tent platforms and outdoor facilities for campers.
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
We will discuss the best way to pay the remaining balance when I reach out to say hi and then I will email over a secure link through my learning platform (Thinkific) just like the deposit so you can pay via PayPal, Stripe or credit card.
Reminder that the deadline for this is May 15th.
Refund & Cancellation Policy
The $300 deposit is non-refundable and reserves your spot in the retreat.
Any remaining balance payments are refundable up until May 15th. 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!
