hog-isl-fiona.jpg
hogisland_hikingtrail.jpg
hogislandqueenmaryfrwatermd.jpg
hogisland_puffin_pastry.jpeg
hogislandroom.png
hogisland_queenmarysittingroom.png
Rosy Sunset 1 (1).jpeg

Hog Island Birding Nature Journaling Retreat
with John Muir Laws and Catherine Hamilton
June 22-27, 2025

Join John Muir Laws, Catherine Hamilton, with special guest Rosemary Mosco for a 6-day nature journaling retreat at the historic Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine.

Join us for a fun, peaceful, creative, 6-day, 5-night birding and nature journaling adventure at Hog Island Audubon Camp in Maine, a historic location for birders and nature enthusiasts. Known for its rich legacy in American ornithology, Hog Island was the site of Roger Tory Peterson’s first birding class and the birthplace of Audubon’s Project Puffin. 

During this retreat, you'll explore the region's stunning beauty through guided bird walks, boat tours, field sketching, and evening talks. This retreat offers enriching birding experiences, opportunities for community connection, and unforgettable moments in nature. This gathering will inspire, challenge, and energize your nature journal practice while encouraging you to connect with nature, fellow journalers, and yourself. All experience levels are welcome.

Expect full, rewarding days filled with hiking, nature walks, and birdwatching. We’ll discuss different ways of keeping journals, explore techniques for staying motivated, and develop habits that encourage consistent journaling with a growth mindset. We'll explore Hog Island’s diverse habitats, including spruce-fir forests, tidal pools, and rugged coastal cliffs. Days will be filled with birding, journaling, and lectures led by expert naturalists and environmental educators. Jack and Catherine will offer workshops on various nature journaling topics, along with informal field tutorials throughout the week. Rosemary Mosco will join us for one day as a special guest teacher.

By the end of the retreat, you’ll have a journal full of beautiful memories, new journaling friends, and the tools, inspiration, and motivation to continue your nature journaling journey.

Please review the detailed information below before you register, including teacher bios, ticket price options, and cancellation policy.

Photo: Stephen W. Kress, https://seabirdinstitute.audubon.org/Visit-Us

LOCATION
Our retreat will be held at the historic Hog Island Audubon Camp, located off the coast of Bremen, Maine. Set on a scenic island rich in history and natural beauty, the camp is only accessible by boat, ensuring a secluded and peaceful environment for our time together. Housing accommodations are available in charming, historic buildings, some dating back to the early 1900s. Guests typically stay in shared dorm-style rooms with twin beds and shared bathrooms. There are a limited number of single rooms available. Hog Island offers a large meeting space and outdoor dining area where we will share delicious meals, and the surrounding island landscape provides ample opportunities for outdoor exploration.

The Hog Island Audubon Camp is operated by the National Audubon Society under the Seabird Institute. They are dedicated to their mission of conserving and restoring natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity.

SCHEDULE
Please plan to arrive at the boat dock by 2-4 pm on Sunday, June 22, so that you can get situated in your accommodations, take a deep breath of ocean air, and be ready for dinner and our first evening’s gathering. The retreat will end after breakfast on Friday, June 27. Each day will be fun, full, and long, and participants may opt out of classes or field trips at their discretion. Our hikes will be gentle. Registered participants will receive a detailed schedule as well as a suggested packing list closer to the event. All participants will have an opportunity for a boat trip during the retreat.

Our special guest, Rosemary Mosco, will join our group for one day during the retreat.

ACCOMODATIONS
All guests will be staying at the Hog Island Audubon Camp in early-20th-century wooden buildings. Most rooms have two twin beds. All buildings have full bathrooms on each floor. There is a large bath house near Porthole Lodge, divided into men’s and women’s sections. Please see the Hog Island Audubon Camp lodging page for more information.

NOTE: Regardless of which accommodation option you choose, all meals are included and there is not a registration option that does not include meals. We are also not able to accommodate 1-2 day drop-ins to the retreat.

Note on group rooms and accommodations

  • To ensure a restful and peaceful environment for all participants, we kindly ask that those who are noisy sleepers (e.g. loud snoring, CPAP machines, etc) or have other habits that may disrupt others’ sleep please refrain from booking a group room. We encourage you to select a private room option to ensure your comfort and to be considerate of others’ sleep needs. Thank you for your understanding and for helping us ensure a comfortable experience for all guests.

  • Group rooms may include both genders. Double and triple rooms will be assigned to people of the same gender. 

MEALS
All meals from dinner on Sunday June 22, through lunch on Friday June 27. The catering team aims to source foods from the bounty of local farmers in the area, and they will accommodate most dietary restrictions (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, no red meat, and common food allergies, but there is no kosher kitchen)—we will send registered participants a survey to gather that information. You will be served three meals a day and have access to coffee, tea, and snacks at the self-serve ‘hutch’. The ‘hutch’ has a shared fridge, microwave, and toaster that campers can use and is well appointed with snacks and treats throughout the week. You are also welcome to bring additional snacks for yourself.  

TRANSPORTATION
The nearest airport is Portland International Jetport (PWM). We do not offer airport transfers, but we are happy to help connect participants to share rides to/from the airport. We also encourage participants driving from similar geographic areas to carpool, and we will help participants connect about those options. 

Please read through Hog Island Audubon’s very helpful in-depth description of transportation options here so you can make your arrangements.

SCHOLARSHIPS
The Wild Wonder Foundation is committed to inclusiveness, respect, and equal opportunity for everyone as we nurture and celebrate a diverse, global community of nature journalers. We have a very limited number of partial scholarships available. Those who face economic barriers, underrepresentation, and/or historic marginalization are eligible for financial support, and we will give scholarship priority to those most in need of assistance. Learn more and apply here.

COST

There are multiple registration options depending on your room preference. All rooms are part of the Hog Island Audubon camp. All options include meals. All rates shown are per person.

  • $1910–Group room (6 people total) in a loft with twin beds and with shared full bathroom - SOLD OUT

  • $2260–Group room (3 people total) twin bed with shared full bathroom - SOLD OUT

  • $2860–Double occupancy room with 2 twin beds and shared full bathroom

  • $3440–Double occupancy room with 2 twin beds and a private half bath

  • $3830–Double occupancy room with 2 twin beds and a private full bathroom

  • $3970–Private room with a twin bed and shared full bathroom - SOLD OUT

  • $5500-Private cottage (The Helm) near the water with queen bed, twin daybed/sofa, private bathroom and a large deck.* - SOLD OUT

This retreat has capacity for 40-50 participants.

* You may add a single additional person to the private cottage for an additional $2500 at checkout.

Is your preferred option sold out? Please fill out the Wild Wonder Retreats Wait List form asap. We get cancellations and will fill the open spaces in the order that wait list entries are received.

TRAVEL INSURANCE
We require all participants to purchase travel insurance that includes cancellation and medical evacuation. This is to ensure that you protect yourself financially if you experience illness before departure, cancelled flights, lost baggage, or a medical incident during the event OR if we have to cancel the event due to local emergencies such as wildfire, flood, or global health crises. We recommend Travelguard for this insurance, but you are free to choose the carrier that works best for you. Cost varies depending on your age, home state, and total travel costs, but it’s affordable and well worth the peace of mind it offers. Allianz Travel, Seven Corners, Travelex, and Faye are all highly rated travel insurance providers with options for trip cancellation coverage.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

If you cancel on/before May 7, 2025, you will receive a refund minus a $450 cancellation fee. If you cancel after that date, there will be no refunds. Please ensure that you purchase travel insurance, so in the event that you need to cancel, the insurance can cover reimbursement of expenses.

You may arrange to transfer your ticket to someone else (meaning you find someone else to buy your ticket from you and you arrange that transaction) by May 22, 2025 for a $250 fee.

Note: Refunds can take 3-5 business days to process.

RETREAT EXPECTATIONS

To ensure a positive, supportive, and healthy experience, we ask that all retreat participants read, understand, and agree to the following:

QUESTIONS?
Please begin by reviewing our Frequently Asked Questions (located at the bottom of this page) to see if your question is answered there. If not, please reach out to us at retreats@wildwonder.org, and we will respond as soon as possible, typically within 3 business days. Please note that we are a small team with limited staffing.

Note: Our retreat tickets tend to sell out quickly, so we anticipate a fully booked event.

Meet Your Leaders

  • Picture of John Muir Laws with his journal in front of a tree

    John Muir Laws

    A principal leader and innovator of the worldwide nature journaling movement, John Muir Laws (aka Jack) is an award-winning naturalist, artist, author, scientist, and educator who has dedicated nearly four decades of his life to connecting people to nature through art and science. The co-founder of Wild Wonder Foundation, Jack is the author of several books, including the Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada, Sierra Birds, Sierra Wildflowers, and the Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling. He has taught nature journaling for more than 4 decades, and his passion, curiosity, and generosity are legendary. MORE

  • Catherine Hamilton

    Catherine Hamilton began birding at an early age with her father, developing a keen interest in natural history and art. She loves sharing her passion for both with artists of all levels, and believes that anyone can gain insight and greater understanding of the world around them through field sketching and observation. A professional fine artist for more than 30 years, she also has illustrated and written articles for books and publications including The Warbler Guide, the journal Nature, Bird Watcher’s Digest, the ABA Blog, and Good Birders Still Don’t Wear White. She taught painting and drawing at the Rhode Island School of Design from 1997-2003, and is a frequent leader of birding tours. MORE

  • Special Guest: Rosemary Mosco

    Our special guest, Rosemary Mosco, will join our group for one day during the retreat.

    Rosemary Mosco is a writer, cartoonist, and naturalist. She creates acclaimed science books for kids and adults, including the national bestseller A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching. Her nature comic Bird and Moon won the National Cartoonists Society’s award for Best Online Short Form Comic. She’s written and drawn for The New York Times, Audubon, the PBS show Elinor Wonders Why, The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids, Ranger Rick, and more, and she makes a regular comic strip in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Living Bird magazine. Her climate change comics were exhibited at AAAS headquarters and the Peabody Essex Museum. She also served as a judge for a Festival of Bad Ad-hoc Hypotheses, judged a bird tattoo contest, and co-founded a week celebrating invertebrate butts. Her favorite glacial landform is the esker.

    Rosemary is also the co-creator and illustrator of the Wild Wonder zine: Your Quick Start Guide to Birding. MORE



Retreat Frequently Asked Questions

  • Please see each retreat page for specific dates. If you cancel 45 days or more before the retreat, you will receive a refund minus a $450 cancellation fee. There are no refunds after that period. You may arrange to transfer your ticket to someone else (meaning you find someone else to buy your ticket from you and you arrange that transaction) up to 30 days prior to the retreat for a transfer fee of $250.

  • Please review the Wild Wonder Foundation COVID Policy.

  • Yes, we ask that you buy travel insurance to protect you if you have to cancel or leave early. Please review each retreat’s cancellation policy carefully. If you choose not to purchase travel insurance and need to cancel after the cancellation deadline, we will be unable to refund your ticket costs. This is due to the non-refundable expenses that the organization incurs while planning an event of this nature. We require participants to purchase travel insurance to ensure you are financially protected in the event of an unexpected cancellation. Thank you for your understanding.

  • The travel insurance requirement is in place to protect participants in the event of unexpected last-minute cancellations, which we unfortunately cannot refund. For example, if you were to fall ill or test positive for COVID right before the trip, travel insurance would help cover both the ticket fee and any other expenses, like flights.

    Additionally, some participants purchase emergency medical coverage as part of their travel insurance plan, especially if they are traveling from out of state where their health insurance may not be accepted or may not provide full coverage.

    We want to ensure you're fully protected should anything unexpected arise, and travel insurance is the best way to safeguard your investment.

  • We will provide registered participants with a high-level schedule approximately 2 weeks prior to the start of retreat. Note: because outdoor retreats can be subject to unpredictable weather and changing conditions, we are not able to offer a detailed hour-by-hour itinerary. Instead, we maintain a flexible, high-level schedule that allows us to adjust as needed in order to best accommodate the group and the environment. This flexibility helps us ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, regardless of unforeseen circumstances.

  • Yes, you may send your rooming preferences to us and we will accommodate where possible.

  • Double occupancy and group room tickets are for participants who will share a room with one or more people. If you have a specific friend or person you’d like to room with, feel free to email us at retreats@wildwonder.org to make that request. Otherwise, roommates will be randomly assigned.

    Please note that group rooms (for 3 or more people) may include mixed-gender assignments, while double occupancy rooms will be assigned same-gender roommates. None of these options involve sharing a bed—each bed is separate, and the bed type is listed in the ticket details.

  • No, we cannot provide refunds after the cancellation deadline.

  • No. Tickets are only available for the full retreat. 

  • This is an option for some retreats including the Point Reyes retreat, the Sierra Nevada retreat, and the Bainbridge Island retreat that offer off-site tickets. NOTE: All tickets include all meals, and there is no ticket that does not include meals.

  • No.

  • Children over 12 may attend when accompanied by an adult who is responsible for the young person’s supervision at all times. The child will require a separate ticket and there is no discount for children.

    Note: Additional paperwork for children will be required.

  • Yes. We will survey participants ahead of the retreat to gather food requirements.

  • Yes, we have a small number of partial scholarships for each retreat–click here for the application. Note: Retreats sell out quickly, and we hold a small number of spots for scholarships. If you apply for a scholarship and do not receive it, all retreats will likely be sold out by the time you are notified.

  • Due to the nature of our retreat locations and activities, most of our venues involve walking on uneven terrain and navigating steps or irregular ground. Activities at the retreats often include walking on trails, sometimes up to a mile. While all activities are optional, participants who require accommodations may find that they are unable to fully participate in some of the outdoor activities.

    Our most accessible venue this year is IslandWood on Bainbridge Island, WA. This venue offers a variety of accessible features, including ADA-compliant bathrooms, lodging, parking, and trails. There are also staff members available at the retreat to provide golf cart rides to assist participants with getting around the campus as needed. Please note that some off-site activities may not be fully accessible, and we may use campus paths that are not ADA-compliant during the retreat.

    At our Sierra Retreat this year, we offer some lodging options at Big Springs, including several ADA-compliant rooms. However, please note that most of our outdoor activities will involve dirt trails and uneven terrain. The field campus itself is not paved, so participants will need to navigate dirt paths and stairs to reach the dining hall.

    We want to ensure that everyone has the best experience possible, so please feel free to reach out if you have specific accessibility needs or concerns. We’ll do our best to accommodate.

  • While we can’t guarantee that everyone in your group will get a spot in the same room or that tickets will still be available when you sign up (our tickets can sell out quickly at times), we recommend having one person purchase all the tickets for your group at once. This gives you the best chance of securing all the spots together.

    If you're unable to get all the tickets you wanted, consider exploring some of our other room options. Alternatively, you can cancel or reach out to us about a ticket transfer if you're interested.

    We encourage you to carefully review our cancellation policy before purchasing your tickets. Please note that Wild Wonder incurs non-refundable transaction fees when tickets are purchased, so we are unable to offer a full refund once a ticket has been purchased.

  • Fill out the Wild Wonder Retreats Wait List form if you are interested in attending a retreat but the tickets are sold out. We will contact you in the order you sign up if a spot opens up or a ticket transfer is available.

  • Retreats and other paid events enable Wild Wonder to offer many low-cost and free events each year. Retreat pricing reflects the costs of paying experienced instructors and support staff, high quality food and experienced catering staff, and ensuring a quality experience for all participants. In addition, a portion of each ticket price supports retreat scholarships.

  • If you cannot find the information you need in the retreat description or FAQs, please reach out to us at retreats@wildwonder.org, and we will respond as soon as possible, typically within 3 business days. Please note that we are a small team with limited staffing.