Life-Changing Lesbian/Queer Retreats
Learning, connection & welcoming community for longtime
lesbians, late-in-lifers, and everyone in between
Scenes From Our Previous Retreats
August 26-30, 2026
Lesbian/Queer Dating Essentials
Learning & Connection Retreat
Honors Haven Retreat Center:
Mountain paradise with lakes, trails & saunas
Ellenville, NY (two hours from NYC)
November 5-9, 2026
Conscious Girlfriend Academy
Connection Retreat For Members
Bubbling Wells Oasis:
107-acre private hot springs ranch just for us!
Desert Hot Springs, CA (two hours from LA)
Planning Ahead?
March 7-12, 2027 we'll be back at Dayspring near Tampa, FL.
Yes, for five nights this time! Save the dates!
Need a conversation to help you decide whether any of these retreats are right for you? We get it!
Retreat Details
Details for August 26-30 Lesbian Dating Essentials Retreat in the Catskills, NY
Our retreat venue is Honors Haven, a large, beautiful resort in the Catskill Mountains in Ellenville, NY, two hours from NYC. There are lakes, trails, a labyrinth, a pool, jacuzzi, saunas, views, comfortable lodging and great food!
>See the facilities at the Honor's Haven website here
Retreat attendance can only be booked through us, not through the facility.
Retreat includes:
Four nights of accommodation in a premium room, single (king) or double (full beds) with private bath and lake, mountain or garden views.
Delicious buffet-style meals and snacks beginning Wednesday, August 26 at 4:00 p.m., through Sunday, August 30, 12:00 noon. Special dietary needs can be accommodated.
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The Lesbian Dating Essentials Retreat program includes classroom time with a lesbian-centric, neuroscience-based, savvy curriculum you'll find nowhere else... plus small group exercises and experiential practices to help you truly build the skills for lesbian dating. Click here to read about the online Lesbian Dating Essentials class that this retreat will draw from.
Whether you've been out for decades but "never really dated" (as so many lesbians say), are recovering after a big loss, or are new to dating women, this retreat will be life changing!
There's really nowhere else you can find this kind of conscious, emotionally intelligent, welcoming lesbian/queer learning environment for participants age 35-85. Conscious Girlfriend Academy has been providing transformational lesbian retreats since 2015, and we literally wrote the book on conscious lesbian dating and love.
Amazing things happen both at, and after our retreats. For instance, "Ann," who attended last January, arrived knowing no one, and had only met one other lesbian in her life. Now, four months later, she's immersed in supportive lesbian community and is happily in her first lesbian relationship, too. "Jill" came following a fresh heartbreak ("I ignored so many red flags," she admitted ruefully.) Now she's got the confidence to know she won't do that again, plus a whole posse of queer friends supporting her healing process.
All-inclusive tuition:
Early-Bird Rates through June 26, 2026: $2099 single, $1799 double
Rates June 27-August 20 (if available: $2299 single, $1999 double
>Sign up here for single or double occupancy.
Not sure if this retreat is right for you? We're glad to have a 1:1 chat to help you figure it out. >Book your phone chat with our warm, wise Outreach Director, Jen, here.
Details for November 5-9 Members-Only Retreat near Palm Springs, CA
ABOUT OUR BUBBLING WELLS OASIS RETREAT
30 minutes from Palm Springs, CA
November 5-9
Conscious Girlfriend Academy members only
Begins: Thursday, November 5, 5:00 p.m.
Ends: Monday, November 9, 11:00 a.m.
Bubbling Wells is a spectacular, secluded yet conveniently-located 107-acre retreat in Desert Hot Springs, CA, with gorgeous walking trails, natural hot springs, and a small lake. We will have the whole place for our exclusive use.
We anticipate that this retreat will have 60 or more participants. A small number of retreat assistants can stay on site, but most participants will stay off-site in nearby hotels (Aqua Soleil is the closest, but there are many in the Desert Hot Springs area) or Airbnbs. There is a lot of reasonably-priced lodging in the area.
It will be your own responsibility to book lodging of your choice. Retreat tuition of $1199 includes the gathering space, all meals Thursday dinner through Sunday dinner, and our program.
Our food will be delicious, fresh California cuisine catered by an experienced chef, and friendly to people on all kinds of diets (we'll put out a questionnaire ahead of time so you can tell us if you're vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or have other needs.)
Our space will include numerous gorgeous outdoor patios and indoor living rooms, two huge hot springs tubs we can fill for our exclusive use, a small private lake, walking trails, and a small lap pool, and many beautiful spots for reflection, meditation, deep conversation, sun and views.
It will be just us on the land, so we can have a true lesbian/queer oasis, including the potential for clothing-optional spaces for those who wish.
See pictures and learn more about Bubbling Wells Oasis here, but please don't contact the Oasis directly. All questions should come to us.
Best airport to fly into: Palm Springs
Some members will likely want to rent Airbnbs to come spend time in the area before and/or after the retreat. We'll provide ways for you to connect with one another, closer to the retreat dates.
The program at this retreat will include:
Ruth teaching live on topics related to Lesbian Dating Essentials and emotional repair
Jen leading connection exercises based on the Lesbian Manatee Connection cards
Mini-workshops facilitated by some of our participants
Lots of connection opportunities, both structured and unstructured
Details for March 7-12, 2027 Members Only Retreat near Tampa, FL
ABOUT DAYSPRING
Dayspring Retreat 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.
Best airport to fly into: Tampa
Cancellation Policy
WE HOPE YOU WON'T NEED TO CANCEL, BUT...
If you sign up for a retreat and then cancel, we can give you a full refund 60 days before the retreat start date, or a 50% refund 30 days before the start date. There will be no refunds less than 30 days before the start date, though you are welcome to sell or transfer your retreat space to another person.
Scenes From Previous Retreats
FAQs About Conscious Girlfriend Academy Retreats
Q: What are Conscious Girlfriend Academy's 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 retreats are focused on heart connections and learning. These multi-day events invite you to:
Connect with warm-hearted lesbians and queer women
Experience a non-hookup, community-focused environment
Explore workshops and conversations that support personal growth and authentic connection
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, CGA retreats rekindle the joyful spirit of past decades of lesbian gatherings.
Q: What are the settings of our retreats?
We choose beautiful places for our retreats! Please check the details above for the retreat you're interested in.
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 learning retreats tend to have 25-30 participants. Our members-only retreats tend to have 60-70 participants.
Many participants arrive knowing no one. Our atmosphere, culture and programming will help you quickly feel connected, and most attendees make lifelong friends at Academy retreats.
Most participants are ages 30s-80s.
Women who are just coming out, are bisexual or are exploring their queer identity are embraced here.
Longtime lesbians looking to reconnect with lesbian culture and community will feel like ducks in water :)
It’s the perfect space if you’ve been longing for meaningful connection without the pressure of a bar or dating scene and if you are a growth-oriented woman-loving-woman who wants to hang out with and/or date people committed to conscious, healthy relationships.
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
Evening gatherings that foster joy and belonging, including campfires and maybe even s'mores (gluten-free for some of us)
Fantastic meals
Time to relax, reflect, and recharge in warm-hearted company, welcoming to 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! Our retreats are 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 Conscious Girlfriend Academy lesbian retreats 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?
Some of our retreats are for members only, but our learning retreats are open to everyone.
The learning retreat Lesbian Dating Essentials, August 26-30, does not require membership. You can sign up for this retreat a la carte, though many people also choose to continue with our online Lesbian Dating Essentials 12-week course, held September 19-December 12, after attending the retreat.
Our Palm Springs retreat (November 5-9) and our Tampa-area retreat (March 7-12, 2027) are for members only. 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."
"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...
"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."
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.
