Residential retreats that bring deep learning to life.
My retreats and camps happen worldwide.
These are transformative opportunities for children to connect with nature - the local landscapes and the ecosphere - and with the power of words.
Jonny leads the projects, ensuring that children are empowered to speak up, to have fun, to relate with each other and to take as much as possible from the experiences.
On different projects, Jonny seeks to collaborate with local experts - poets, storytellers, tribal elders, teachers, conservationists, anthropologists, experts and artisans - in order to curate truly unique learning experiences.
June 2025
The Chronicles of Zeus: An Epic Crete Retreat
Heraklion, Crete
Where better to explore your love of Greek mythology than on the island where Zeus grew up, where the Minotaur roamed the labyrinth, where Ariadne dropped her thread, and where Icarus and Daedalus set off on their fateful flight.
This retreat is something special. In a festival of learning across the island, we will re-enact myths in their true homes, we will encounter the natural landscapes, learn the skills of the ancient craftspeople, sample the divine food and befriend many many goats.
On this retreat, Jonny collaborates with somebody whose wisdom is second only to Athena’s: Dr Maria Hnaraki is a professor of anthropology, folklore and ethnomusicology, and is the perfect person to co-host this adventure.
Jonny and Maria take the children out on visits to meet the people and places of Crete, all the while engaging in music, creative arts, writing, storytelling and craft. This is a true blend of the Head, the Heart and the Hands.
Something transformative, in which children can make new friends, deepen their obsession with Greek mythology, and learn alongside two highly-skilled and knowledgeble educators.
Early July 2025
Year 5 Poetry Retreat
New Forest, UK
Spend four days exploring the dramatic landscapes of the New Forest, in this exciting poetry and creative writing retreat designed specifically for 9 and 10 year old poets.
Led by Jonny Walker and Adisa the Verbalizer, we wander and ponder through the trees, over the hills and across the fairy bridges, all the time building up a flurry of poetry idea in our notepads.
Back at the hostel, we run writing sessions and workshops, so that by the end of our four days, every child and every teacher has created something that they are happy to submit to our anthology.
Back in London, Jonny pulls these poems together and designs, publishes and prints an anthology.
The particular power of this retreat is that we are all strangers! The children and teachers come from the five different schools of the New Vision Trust, and so it gives us a chance to create new dynamics, forge fresh friendships and see new landscapes together.
Mid July 2025
Year 3 - Year 6 Poetry Retreat
New Forest, UK
Let’s see the forest with new eyes, on this cross-year group adventure in learning. Across four days, we will tell stories, explore the New Forest, seek out the wildlife and create some stunning poetry, inspired by our discoveries and by encountering some great contemporary poetry collections.
This is the annual Glade Primary School KS2 Poetry Reteat.
August 2025
Earth, Water, Fire and Air: Story, Myth, Nature Camp
Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
Explore the elements of life itself on this transformative, thoughtful and exciting camp, taking place in the incomparable Glacier National Park in Montana, USA.
Jonny will be working with the children each day, alongside daily sessions with elders, poets, storytellers and musicians from the Blackfoot Nation, Métis Nation, Salish, Aaniih and Nakoda tribes. We will also be exploring the landscape with conservationists and wildlife educators.
Taken all together, this vibrant combination of experiences allows us to reflect on who we are, on the importance of finding and using our voice, and of the beauty, power and vulnerabilities of nature.
I am currently in the process of organising this camp, working in partnership with a local team of expert educators in Montana.