Natural High Retreats
“The positive impact of these Natural High Retreats on the youth and young adults we are working with, has been noticed and appreciated by the leaders of Probation Departments, Foster Care organizations, and Juvenile Court Judges, in the Glen, Butte and San Joaquin Counties. More importantly we get rave reviews from the youth themselves and they are eager to come back.”
Overview
Natural High Retreats was a transformative program designed to support youth and young adults in recovery from behavioral health and substance dependence challenges. The retreats provided immersive, nature-based experiences that fostered healing, resilience, and community connection.
Challenge
The program brought together youth from diverse backgrounds for three-day, two-night retreats at Donner Summit, forming new partnerships with local agencies—including community-based organizations and probation departments.
Key challenges included:
Building intergroup cohesion among participants from different communities
Supporting youth as they navigated unfamiliar outdoor environments well outside their comfort zones
Preparing chaperones who were often unaccustomed to the physical demands of hiking and mountain terrain
Approach
In collaboration with Continuity Consulting and their Youth Peer Mentor Program, Peter Mayfield designed a retreat model that integrated:
Group processing and reflection sessions
Nature-sensory immersions to build mindfulness and connection
Outdoor adventure challenges to foster confidence, teamwork, and emotional growthSolutions
Delivered detailed schematic designs for experiential programs that immersed guests in the Yucatán’s rich natural and cultural environment, including:
Natural history experiences – guided bird walks, indigenous plant-use explorations
Adventure activities – rappelling into cenotes, kayaking through lagoons, snorkeling pristine coral reefs
Each program was designed to balance adventure, education, and cultural authenticity.
Solutions
Each retreat included structured opportunities for feedback and reflection. After every program, we conducted comprehensive debriefs with staff, partners, and participants to identify lessons learned and implement continuous improvements for subsequent retreats.
Results / Outcome
Conducted over 15 Natural High Retreats across a three-year period
Presented as a featured program at the California Department of Health Care Services Annual Statewide Conference
Earned strong recognition from county agencies, courts, and participants alike for its positive outcomes