Join Us On Retreat For A Live Opportunity To Take Part
In The Roadmap to Conscious Lesbian Dating & Lasting Love
An empowering lesbian dating & love skills workshop and a chance to make friends and build community, too.
Dayspring Retreat Center
Tampa Bay Area, Florida
January 11-15, 2026
What would it be like...
...To spend four nights and five days in a peaceful place on a river, surrounded by thoughtful lesbians who are curious about themselves and about you, building real community and friendships in a safe, supportive environment?
To feel accepted exactly as you are, whether you're in your 30s or your 80s, or anywhere in between... whether you've been out for decades, or are just coming out now... and have fun, go deep, and gain skills to improve your life?
Attending what some members have called "lesbian university," with a shortened in-person version of Conscious Girlfriend Academy's life-changing 12-week online class, The Roadmap To Conscious Lesbian Dating & Love -- a transformational experience to help you get to the love life you truly want.
And dancing. Walking. Swimming. Sun-bathing. Canoeing. Playing conversation games that help you really get to know people, so you'll have a whole new friendship circle in 2026.
For many lesbians, a retreat like this one is a dream come true, a chance to break out of isolation and make connections that will last for the rest of your life.
Here's what a few recent participants have said.
Your Retreat, Day By Day
This schedule is a work in progress. Expect minor changes in timing and details 😊
Retreat Details
Just click on the little arrow on the right to read each section.
Questions? Please contact us, not Dayspring. Thanks!
About Our Venue, Dayspring Retreat Center, Parrish, FL
ABOUT DAYSPRING RETREAT
Dayspring Retreat is a Christian-based retreat center which is actively welcoming to LGBTQ+ people. We know that the Christian names and symbols may be triggering or simply foreign for some of our members, while being familiar and perhaps comforting to others. We hope that at this moment in time, being in a Christian venue that practices what Christ actually taught -- love -- will offer respite and healing in a troubled world.
This is a sacred spot on the Manatee River, with beautiful walking paths, wetlands, gardens and a labyrinth that invites you to steady your breath, gentle your mind, and open your heart. There are also indoor and outdoor chapels which will be open to us for personal reflection, meditation and healing.
There is a pool which we'll reserve for 2 hours per day, plus kayaks we'll reserve for an hour a day.
Best airport to fly into: Tampa
Dayspring Lodging Options & Costs
Prices Listed Are For The Entire Event
(Four Nights Of Lodging + All Meals + Workshops)
Unfortunately, we cannot reduce your rate if you need to arrive late or leave early.
These rooms are available on a first come, first full pay basis.
If you do not see your preferred lodging option at check out, it's probably sold out.
Please email [email protected] with questions.
Meals included:
Day 1: Dinner,
Days 2, 3 and 4: Three meals plus afternoon tea/coffee & snacks
Day 5: Breakfast.
Meals include a fruit bar, salad bar and dessert table.
Most food sensitivities, allergies and preferences can be accommodated.
Dayspring has many variations in lodging. We've listed them in a lot of detail, but not complete detail, on our checkout page. Please select carefully! If your preferred option isn't listed, it is sold out.
The Cottages (4 Bedroom, 4 Baths each)
DETAILS:
Each cottage contains 4 bedrooms with private baths,
plus common space.
We are designating these as single rooms, though some have two beds.
Some contain two twin beds, others a twin and a queen.
Please assume you'll get a twin.
Each cottage has one bedroom which is more ADA-equipped,
though not ideal for someone who uses a wheelchair 100% of the time.
(You may have to step into the shower.) If you need the ADA room, just let us know.
Cottage Single Occupancy Cost:
$1697 per person, 2-Pay Plan available
The House (Singles or Doubles With Shared Bath & Common Areas)
A spacious 10-BR house with large living room and kitchen (fridge, sink, microwave)
The bedrooms in the house can be used as singles or doubles.
Most of them contain two twin beds and a shared bath.
In some cases the bath is private to the room; in some cases it's in the hall.
One room with two twin beds is in a visually private open loft, rather than with a door.
It's $50 cheaper, identifiable at checkout.
House Double Occupancy Cost: $1297 per person
($1249 for loft room) for double occupancy.
$1649-1697 per person for single occupancy
If you have a preferred roommate, please email us and cc that person.
We will do our best to honor your request.
If you don't specify a roommate, but select a double room,
we will assign you a roommate.
We cannot do anything about the fact that many of us snore, are restless sleepers, go to sleep later or earlier, or have to use the bathroom in the middle of the night.
So if those things aren't okay for you, please book a single instead of a double.
Transportation to The Retreat
Dayspring is approximately 45 minutes' drive from Tampa International Airport, and 35-45 from Sarasota Airport.
We will have google docs available to assist you in sharing rides from and to the airport, or carpooling from elsewhere in Florida.
Delicious Food
Dayspring's dining facilities include a salad bar and fresh fruit bar with all meals, and the chefs are extremely responsive to special needs and sensitivities. So, if you're gluten free, sugar free, vegetarian, vegan, nightshade free or on some other special diet, just let us know so they can accommodate you! We will eat well.
ADA
Dayspring was built before current ADA regulations, but they are welcoming and responsive to people with disabilities and mobility challenges. Each cottage has one bedroom and bath set up to be fairly accessible, although they are not ideal for people who are in wheelchairs 100% of the time. The campus is flat, but has gravel in some areas, which can also be challenging to navigate in a wheelchair. Concerned about mobility and accessibility? Talk to us, and we'll give you all the info we've got, and do our best to work it out.
Cancellation Policy
WE HOPE YOU WON'T NEED TO CANCEL, BUT...
If you sign up and then cancel by December 11, we can give you a full refund. After that date, we cannot offer refunds. However, you are welcome to transfer or sell your reservation to another CGA member.
This Retreat Combines Learning & Connection
Meet Your Leader:
Academy Director
Ruth L. Schwartz, Ph.D., author of Conscious Lesbian Dating & Love
Scenes From Previous CGA Retreats
FAQs About Conscious Girlfriend Academy Retreats
Q: What are Conscious Girlfriend Academy's Learning & Connection Lesbian Retreats like?
Conscious Girlfriend Academy is the leading global online community and learning hub for growth-oriented lesbians, queer women and adjacent non-binary people. Our multi-day retreats invite you to:
Connect with growth-oriented lesbians and queer women in open-hearted ways
Experience a non-hookup, community-focused environment
Learn fundamental Conscious Girlfriend tools that can transform your dating, friendship and relationship life. We also teach these tools on Zoom, but there's nothing like live learning and practice to build your know-how and confidence.
For some, CGA retreats are their first time in a group of lesbians. It's a safe, welcoming space to step into community. For others, the retreat may rekindle the joyful spirit of past decades of lesbian gatherings.
Q: What is the setting of this retreat?
Dayspring is a warmly welcoming 97-acre retreat center on the Manatee River, with trails, gardens, wetlands, a labyrinth, great food and cozy retreat lodging. It's about 45 minutes from the Tampa International Airport. January weather is mild and sunny, with daytime highs around 70 and nighttime lows around 50. There is a swimming pool which will be available to us for two hours per day (pre-arranged), plus kayaks available to us for one hour per day (pre-arranged.)
Q: Who are Conscious Girlfriend Academy retreats for?
CGA retreats are especially for single lesbians and queer women seeking community and friendship, though couples are warmly welcome, too.
Our attendees range in age from 30s-80s, with most over 50.
Women who are just coming out, are bisexual or are exploring their queer identity are embraced here.
We warmly welcome self-identified trans women and female-adjacent non-binary people.
Longtime lesbians looking to reconnect with lesbian culture and community will feel like ducks in water :)
There's nothing quite like this for growth-oriented women-loving-women.
Q: What can I expect to experience at the retreat?
At our Conscious Girlfriend Academy retreats, you can look forward to:
Workshops for self-discovery and personal growth
Speed-friending opportunities
Possible morning qi gong, tai chi, yoga, meditation or mindful walks
Evening gatherings that foster joy and belonging, including campfires, massage parties, jamming with our musician and/or singing attendees, and dancing. Maybe even s'mores (gluten-free for some of us)
Great meals, with fresh foods, variety and accommodation for most specific needs
Time to relax, reflect, and recharge in warm-hearted company, welcoming introverts, extroverts and everyone in between
Many participants say the true magic is in the friendships and confidence they take home with them.
Q: I’m just coming out. Will I fit in?
Absolutely! This retreat is crafted for inclusivity and comfort, offering a gentle landing for those:
Newly coming out
Exploring their lesbian or queer identity
Seeking their first connection with lesbian community
You’ll be surrounded by growth-oriented, open-hearted women who will support, uplift, and welcome you exactly as you are.
Q: What makes this lesbian retreat unique?
Unlike a larger event or party-focused weekends, Conscious Girlfriend Academy retreats offer:
A non-intimidating, community-first atmosphere
Workshops and activities that prioritize self-acceptance, learning, and authentic connection
Opportunities to bond with other single lesbians without the pressure of a hookup or dating-focused event
An opportunity to meet in person with your past, present or future classmates in the Conscious Girlfriend Academy, the world's only online school and community devoted to helping lesbians and adjacent queer people live our best lives, date wisely and love well.
Q: Do you have to be an Academy member in order to attend?
Academy membership creates a culture based on being conscious, compassionate and curious, and this container transfers over to our retreats, making them both richer and more relaxed. But in January 2026, we are welcoming non-members as well as Academy members!
When you're at a Conscious Girlfriend event, you can expect genuine warmth, not a frenzied focus on "meeting someone." You will definitely "meet someone" -- lots of someones! That said, all of our retreats yield friendships, and some of those, in the fullness of time, also turn into romantic relationships.
Most Academy members find that the Academy dramatically uplevels their capacity for higher-quality, authentic friendship and relationships. So it's a special perk to be able to spend F2F time with those women you've previously seen in the Zoom squares, and see what blossoms.
Jodine & Nancy ~ Poolside Banter About The Napa Retreat
Comments About Previous CGA Retreats
"Food for the Heart & Soul"
"The weekend at Palm Springs Retreat was healing and exhilarating at the same time. Getting to know these women one on one and being touched by their stories and their strength is almost overwhelming. The feeling of being safe, accepted and loved was abundant. My heart was so very full the entire time.
I am so privileged to be a part of a group of women who are open, honest, trusting and loving. I feel safe with all of them. The faces became living people whom I will call "sisters". The connections at the retreat fed our hearts and souls. Ruth, Nicki and Jen ultimately provided the safe space for us to meet, learn and appreciate each other!"
"The Ripples Of This Experience Are Moving Out Into The World"
"To each and every CGA sister who was there, your energy, openness, and authenticity made this retreat even more powerful. You brought so much love, insight, and beauty into our shared space, and I am forever grateful for you all.
To all my sisters at Conscious Girlfriend Academy, I see you, I cherish you, and I am so honored to walk this path with you. The ripples of this experience are moving out into the world, and I can’t wait to continue this journey together."
"The Portal To The World We Need, Want And Deserve"
"Looking at the retreat photos is like opening a bottle of love and sunshine to see everyone’s faces again and all those moments of joy, authentic connecting and expression in that exceptional natural setting. We all have opened the portal to the world we need, want, deserve and can continue to co-create, and there’s no going back!"
"Breakthroughs, Fun, New Friends, Empowerment, Hope"
"I loved this weekend with every part of me. Breakthroughs in so many areas, plus connection. Fun. New friends. Empowerment. Hope. And a healthy dose of harmless flirting."
"My First Lesbian Retreat"
"It was a magical experience. And very significant for me, as it was the first lesbian retreat I was ever part of. 😍"
And Yet More Pictures...
With Love From Our Fearless Leaders: Nicki, Jen and Ruth
And oodles of thanks to our retreat photographer Jody Potiker
for this photo and many of the others on this page!
Open-Hearted. Growthful. Fun. Friendship-Making.
Welcoming all women-loving-women and adjacent non-binary people.
Tampa Bay Area, Florida
January 11-15, 2026
