Registration Opens October 18, 2026
Jersey Shore Spring 2027 Retreat
A Five-Day Retreat in Community
Hiraeth Hope & Healing, Inc. will convene in Surf City, New Jersey from April 22–26, 2027 for an intimate five-day, four-night gathering held with a trauma-aware approach. This offering is intended for individuals impacted by family separation, origin loss, or hidden truths and is held with attention to care, presence, and shared space within community.
Since 2019, each experience has been shaped by the people who come together, allowing space for reflection, connection, and shared learning.
For those exploring off-site lodging options, the retreat home is approximately a 5-minute drive north from the Lighthouse Restaurant & Grill.
Approximately 70 miles from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and 86 miles from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
Facilitators
The tide is bringing in a thoughtful mix of voices, more soon
*Facilitators/Sessions subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances*
Seeking Financial Support?
Apply for Financial Assistance
Interested in Facilitating?
Information about facilitating and proposal submission is available here.
Stunning Sunrises
NEW construction (2025)
Upper Level Living Room
Game Room
Pool & Cabana
1 of MANY decks
Elevator!!!
What to Expect
A Supported Community Space
This gathering is held as a peer-led, community-based experience grounded in care, flexibility, and respect for individual pacing.
Support and Care
Preparing for this gathering may bring up strong or unexpected emotions.
You are encouraged to attend to your own needs and draw on personal supports as you prepare to arrive. Care for yourself remains central throughout the experience.
Helix Hearthkeepers
Gathering in person can bring anticipation, whether it is your first time attending or you have joined before.
If having a familiar point of contact prior to arrival would feel supportive, you may opt in during registration to be connected with a returning participant.
If you did not select this option during registration and later decide it would feel helpful, you may email us. Connections are coordinated as availability allows.
Helix Hearthkeepers offer light, peer-based connection before the gathering begins. They are not facilitators or therapists. Either person may step back at any time.
You do not have to walk in alone.
Facilitated Reflection and Connection
Shared experiences may explore identity, loss, and reconnection, alongside time for rest and personal reflection.
Room for Rest, Play, and Presence
Time is intentionally balanced between group connection, quiet moments, and optional evening gatherings, with space for rest and informal connection.
Choice at Every Step
There is no expectation to attend everything or engage in any particular way. Participation may unfold at your own pace.
Our Daily Flow
Our gatherings follow a daily rhythm that balances facilitated group experiences, shared meals, creative integration, and rest. Across the five days, the gathering includes approximately thirteen facilitated sessions, intentionally spaced to support integration and personal pacing.
Mornings often begin slowly, with time to settle and orient, while afternoons allow space for reflection, creative expression, or rest. Evenings typically include shared meals and relaxed community gatherings.
Participation in all activities is optional. Individuals are welcome to rest, step back, or engage according to personal needs and pacing. A detailed daily flow will be shared with registered participants prior to arrival.
Our Shared Meals
Shared meals are an integral part of the gathering and are prepared with care. Meals are provided throughout the retreat and are designed to be balanced and satisfying.
We are mindful of dietary needs and do our best to accommodate common restrictions, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. Additional details about meals and dietary accommodations will be shared with registered participants.
The Space
The home offers expansive shared areas designed for gathering, reflection, and time together, with room to move between conversation and quiet.
Located just steps from the beach, the setting allows for time outdoors alongside moments of rest within the home.
Multiple common areas, including a large living space, kitchen, and additional gathering rooms, support both group connection and individual pacing.
Outdoor spaces offer opportunities to step outside, take in the surroundings, or simply pause.
Elevator access across multiple levels
Exercise room with sauna — for movement and quiet reset
Ping-pong table and foosball — for shared, informal time
Heated outdoor pool and hot tub — for time outside and rest
Fire pit — for evenings of reflection or conversation
Sleeping arrangements include a mix of private and shared rooms across multiple levels of the home.
Additional details are provided during registration to support informed choices.
Saturday Shenanigans
Saturday Shenanigans is a standalone Saturday evening gathering for individuals who are unable to attend the full retreat but would like to join for an evening in community.
Participants are welcome to arrive beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET, allowing for a more gradual start and time to settle in before the evening unfolds.
The gathering includes shared time together, a communal dinner, and an optional group activity that is part of a long-standing community tradition.
Each participant will also receive a Saturday Shenanigans swag bag.
Saturday Shenanigans takes place on Saturday, April 24.
Registration closes on April 18.
Meet Your Facilitators
Our gatherings are supported by facilitators with lived experience and varied professional backgrounds who are familiar with the complexities of identity, family separation, and loss. Facilitators participate as guides within a peer-led, community-based setting, holding space for reflection and shared presence rather than providing clinical or therapeutic services.
Facilitators and facilitation roles are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.
Like the ocean, this part is still in motion
Registration Details
Registration Fee
On-Site Participation
$499 per attendee
Off-Site Participation
$599 per attendee
Available only after on-site lodging is fully reserved, if space allows.
What’s Included
All meals, sessions, and activities
Full access to retreat amenities
A curated welcome bag is included as part of the retreat experience
Early Access for Ongoing Supporters
Those who participate in ongoing monthly support may have access to early retreat registration, which opens one week prior to general registration.
Availability may be limited when general registration begins.
What to Know Before Registering
Each attendee must complete their own selection.
If sharing a bed with another attendee, the second attendee selects the Registration – Sharing a Bed option.
On-site lodging selections include one registration per person and are priced separately based on room type.
Optional Fees
Registration Protection Fee: $49 per attendee
On-site lodging: pricing varies
Saturday Shenanigans: $99 per attendee, dinner included
Optional wellness offerings may be available throughout the weekend. Details are shared with registered participants.
Financial Support and Discounts
Scholarships are available. Additional information and application details can be found here.
A 10% discount is available for active duty and retired military personnel. To receive this discount, please email proof of service prior to registering.
This discount cannot be combined with other offers.
Payment Options
Klarna is available as a flexible payment option, allowing payments to be split into interest-free installments every two weeks.
Important Policies
Registration and on-site lodging fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Please review all details carefully before registering.
Frequently Asked Questions
For questions about accommodations, transportation, accessibility, or what to bring, please visit the FAQ page.
Registration and Lodging
Each attendee completes their own selection.
Attendance is limited to adults, with participation capped at 30 individuals to maintain a manageable group size.
On-site lodging selections include one registration per person and are offered at a bundled rate based on room type.
If sharing a bed with another attendee, the second attendee selects the Registration – Sharing a Bed option and provides the name of their bedmate.
To prioritize on-site participation, off-site registration is released only after all rooms have been reserved, if space allows.
Registration is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Additional lodging and registration details are reviewed during the registration process.
Room Choices
Room selections are shown below. Availability may change as selections are made.
Additional Options
Sharing a bed with another attendee?
Staying off-site?
To prioritize on-site participation, Registration – Off-Site Lodging will be released after all rooms have been reserved, if space allows.
Selections may be reviewed to ensure alignment with lodging choices.
A Few Things to Know
Lodging availability may change as selections are made.
Early access to registration may be available to those participating in ongoing monthly support. Details are shared directly with eligible supporters.
Participants of all genders are welcome.
Sleeping arrangements are coordinated with attention to individual comfort and group needs. Final room configurations may adjust as needed to maintain a respectful and inclusive environment.
Registration Protection is available as an optional add-on during registration and offers added flexibility if plans change.
Full details are provided during the registration process.
With Appreciation
We acknowledge the support of our sponsor:
For inquiries related to this gathering, email us.
Hiraeth Hope & Healing, Inc. is not a licensed therapy provider, and this gathering is not a substitute for medical, psychological, or mental health care. Our events are peer-led and community-based and are not clinical treatment programs.
Some sessions are facilitated by licensed, trauma-informed therapists and experienced facilitators who guide group experiences within a community setting rather than providing individualized therapy. Participants are encouraged to seek additional professional or therapeutic support as needed.