Your Retreats & Gatherings Guide
Bringing your group to Fernwood Hills.
This guide is for anyone who has inquired — or is thinking about inquiring — about hosting a day retreat, gathering, offsite, workshop, or multi-day program at Fernwood Hills.
Everything is here: the spaces, the formats, the rates, the food options, what's included, and how the booking process works. Read it through, share it with your co-organizer, come back to it. When you have questions, reply to any email we've sent — or use the form at the bottom.
The Property
40 private acres. 10 minutes from London.
Fernwood Hills is a private retreat property in Komoka, Ontario — ten minutes from London but a world away from it. Forty acres of Carolinian forest, a gravel drive in from the road, and nothing visible beyond the treeline.
The four buildings — Studio Loft, Farmhouse, Adler Cabin, Bracken Cabin — sit in clearings in the forest. There's a meadow, a creek, a fire pit, trails that go quiet quickly, and 1 Gbps fibre WiFi throughout.
When you book the property, it's yours. No other guests, no shared spaces, no hotel lobby. The exclusivity isn't a premium — it's how we operate. One group at a time.
Two Formats
Single-day or multi-day — same spaces, same rates.
The venue fee is the same whether you come for a morning or return for three days. You pay per session, not per person. Manna catering and overnight stays are optional add-ons.
Single-Day Gathering
A morning, an afternoon, or a full day.
Book the Farmhouse or Studio Loft for a defined block of time. Your group arrives, does the thing, and leaves. Flat rate, no overnight required. Works for showers, workshops, reunions, milestone celebrations, team days — anything that benefits from a proper setting instead of a hotel conference room.
- Morning, afternoon, or full-day block
- Up to 25 guests
- Your choice of space (or both)
- Manna catering optional
- No overnight commitment
Multi-Day Retreat
Return each morning. Sleep wherever you want.
Most multi-day retreats are day-return format — the group arrives each morning and goes home each evening. It's ten minutes from London, so sleeping in your own bed isn't a sacrifice. For retreat leaders or a small inner circle who want to wake up on the property, the four units sleep up to 8 guests total. The venue fee is per-day, not per-person.
- Day-return or overnight — your call
- Up to 25 guests daytime
- Up to 8 overnight (retreat leaders)
- Same venue rate each day
- Manna meal service available
The Spaces
Two spaces. Different characters. Same property.
Most groups use one space for the day. Some book both — sessions in the Studio Loft, meals in the Farmhouse.
The Farmhouse
1,200 sq ft · Up to 25 guests
Primary working & dining space
A restored heritage farmhouse at the heart of the property. Warm, open-concept, and residential in a way that generic event spaces aren't. The big dining and meeting table is long enough that everyone faces each other — no podium, no projection screen required. Runs on the same energy as the land around it.
Included
- Full working kitchen (group cooking welcome)
- Long harvest table seats 14 comfortably
- Outdoor deck and fire pit access
- 1 Gbps fibre WiFi throughout
- AV-ready (HDMI, Apple TV)
- Whiteboard walls
- Parking directly at the building
- Also available as an overnight suite
Best for
Full-day offsites, family reunions, workshops that need a working kitchen, gatherings where a long shared meal is part of the agenda.
The Studio Loft
1,120 sq ft · Up to 20 guests
Light, open, floor-to-ceiling
A purpose-built open loft with vaulted ceilings, exposed timber, and panoramic windows looking into the forest. Consistent natural light all day. Open floor plan — rearrange it for a yoga class, a circle, a workshop, a team standup. No pillars, no corners to lose people in. The forest is visible from every seat.
Included
- Open floor plan — fully configurable
- Floor-to-ceiling forest-facing windows
- 1 Gbps fibre WiFi
- AV-ready for presentations
- Integrated sleeping loft (overnight bookings)
- Private bathroom and kitchenette
- Also available as an overnight suite
Best for
Yoga and movement workshops, creative breakouts, coaching intensives, wellness days, any format that benefits from light, space, and quiet.
Venue Rates
Flat rates. No per-person fee. No hidden charges.
You pay for the space and the time. Manna catering, overnight stays, and any add-ons are separate line items in your proposal.
3-Hour Session
Mornings, afternoons, or evenings
$195
Half Day
About 5 hours on site
$295
Full Day
8+ hours, sunrise to sunset
$495
All prices CAD. HST (13%) applies. Multi-day programs are quoted per-day. Both spaces can be booked together — pricing is per-space.
Always Included
The venue rate covers more than you'd expect.
No nickel-and-diming for WiFi, AV, setup time, or parking. The rate is the rate.
- Exclusive use of the full property — no other guests
- Forest trails and 40 acres of grounds
- Fire pit
- 1 Gbps fibre WiFi
- AV equipment and whiteboards
- Setup and breakdown
- Outdoor deck and seating areas
- On-site parking
Food
Manna by Fernwood Hills — or bring your own.
Food is optional. It's one of the things groups remember, though.
Manna by Fernwood Hills
$85/person/day
Our in-house farm-to-table kitchen. Full retreat meal service — breakfast, lunch, and dinner built around what's growing locally. Family-style, generous portions, dietary accommodations as standard. Service staff included.
- Seasonal farm-to-table menus
- All three meals (single-meal rates also available)
- Dietary accommodations (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, allergies)
- Service staff
- Coffee and non-alcoholic beverages
Bring Your Own
No fee
The Farmhouse has a full working kitchen. Bring your own caterer, order lunch in, or cook together as a group. Many retreat groups use Manna for one or two meals and self-cater the rest.
- Full kitchen access (Farmhouse or Studio Loft)
- No catering minimums
- No corkage fee for alcohol
- Tables and setup included
Overnight
Four spaces. Sleeps up to 8.
Most retreat groups are day-return — everyone goes home, comes back fresh the next morning. For leaders who want to wake up on the property, or groups that want to build something overnight, all four spaces are available at regular nightly rates. No retreat markup.
Adler Cabin
Sleeps 2 · Forest setting · Wood stove · Private deck
Bracken Cabin
Sleeps 2 · Quieter location · Further from road
Studio Loft
Sleeps 2 · Built-in sleeping loft · Panoramic windows
Farmhouse
Sleeps 4–6 · Full kitchen · Long dining table
Overnight availability subject to calendar. Book early for weekend dates. Rates from $350/night.
Who Books Here
Different groups. Same setting.
Teams & Leadership Offsites
Strategy days, planning sessions, team resets. 1 Gbps WiFi, AV, whiteboards — everything the work requires. The forest does the rest. Most teams cover more ground in one day here than a week of Zoom calls.
Wellness Facilitators
Yoga, meditation, sound bathing, group coaching. The Studio Loft was designed for this — open layout, consistent light, no distractions. Manna feeds the group between sessions.
Families & Reunions
The whole property to yourselves. Multiple spaces, trails, fire pit, Farmhouse kitchen for cooking together. Reunions that actually feel like reunions — not a banquet hall rental.
Showers & Celebrations
Bridal showers, baby showers, milestone birthdays, bachelorette weekends. Forty acres of forest, a beautiful setting, and Manna catering if you want it. Nothing like a venue package.
Community Groups
Planning days, elder gatherings, youth offsites, non-profit off-sites, intentional community retreats. Groups that want intentional time away from the ordinary find that the forest helps. Farmhouse kitchen if you want to feed everyone.
Coaches & Facilitators
Intensive days with a single client, pair facilitation, 1:1 executive coaching. The Adler and Bracken cabins are bookable for private half-day or full-day sessions — forest, quiet, no one else around.
What It Costs
Real numbers.
Every proposal we send is fully itemized. Nothing is bundled to obscure cost.
Simple Full-Day Gathering
15 guests, no catering, no overnight
Two-Day Retreat — Fully Loaded
12 guests · 2 days · Manna meals · overnight for retreat leader
Equivalent to one night in a mid-tier hotel, per person. For two full days in the forest with meals.
How It Works
Three steps from inquiry to confirmed.
No packages, no up-sells, no venue coordinator who passes you between three people. One conversation, one quote, one deposit.
Fill out the inquiry form
Takes about 3 minutes. Share your group size, preferred dates, type of event, and what you're hoping to get out of it. No commitment — just a conversation starter.
We reply within 24 hours
We confirm availability, answer your questions, and send a custom quote with every line item. Not a generic brochure — an actual breakdown for your specific dates and group.
A deposit confirms your date
When you're ready, a deposit blocks your date on the calendar. Nothing else is due until closer to the event. We coordinate setup, Manna (if applicable), and any logistics from there. You just show up.
Questions
Frequently asked.
How many people can come?
Up to 25 guests for any single-day gathering or daytime retreat. For overnight stays, the four spaces sleep a maximum of 8 guests. For multi-day retreats with 20+ people daytime, most groups do day-return — everyone goes home in the evening — because it's only ten minutes from London.
Do I have to book overnight?
No. The venue is available by the session, half-day, or full day without any overnight commitment. Overnight is available as an add-on for retreat leaders or the couple — most retreat groups are day-return format.
What's the difference between a gathering and a retreat?
Format and intent, not size. A gathering is typically a social occasion — a shower, reunion, birthday, workshop. A retreat usually has a structured program — wellness days, leadership offsites, facilitated sessions. The pricing and spaces are the same. We use the form to figure out what configuration fits your group best.
Which space is right for my group?
The Farmhouse is better when food and a shared table are central — reunions, milestone celebrations, cooking-together formats. The Studio Loft is better for structured programs — yoga, coaching, workshops, anything that benefits from open floor space and consistent light. We can help you decide once we know more about your group.
Can we use both spaces?
Yes. Some groups book both — sessions in the Studio Loft, meals in the Farmhouse. We can configure the day around two spaces. Pricing is per-space.
Can we cook our own food?
Yes. The Farmhouse has a full working kitchen. Many groups cook together as part of the day — it's a feature, not an afterthought. We don't charge a kitchen fee. Manna is an optional add-on if you'd rather not coordinate food.
What does Manna catering cost?
Manna retreat meal service starts at $85/person/day for all three meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) — seasonal menus, dietary accommodations, service staff included. Single-meal rates are also available. It's always optional — bring your own food, order in, or cook in the Farmhouse kitchen.
Can we have alcohol?
Yes. You're welcome to bring your own wine, beer, and spirits. No corkage fee. Manna doesn't supply alcohol but you can integrate it with any catering arrangement.
Is the property accessible?
The Farmhouse is on flat ground and is accessible. The forest trails have some uneven terrain. If accessibility is a priority for your group, mention it in your inquiry and we'll walk you through what's available.
Can I visit before I book?
Yes. Email us and we'll set up a property visit. Most facilitators and planners visit once before booking. Seeing the Studio Loft and the Farmhouse in person makes the decision easy.
What's the fully-loaded cost for a retreat?
A 2-day retreat for 12 guests with Manna meals and an overnight for the retreat leader runs around ~$3,000–$3,500 all-in. That's venue, food, and accommodation — no surprise fees.
How far is Fernwood from London?
Ten minutes. The address is 9533 Oxbow Drive, Komoka, ON. There's parking on-site for 20+ cars. If your group is coming from further afield, we can help coordinate logistics.
What groups say
“We've done offsites at hotels, Airbnbs, conference centres. This was the first one where the space itself felt like part of the day. The team came back genuinely re-energized.”
“I was worried day-return format would feel like a compromise. It didn't at all — people showed up each morning actually ready. Worth every penny.”
Ready to talk about your group?
Tell us what you're planning.
Fill out the inquiry form — takes about 3 minutes. We'll confirm availability and come back with a custom quote within 24 hours. No commitment, no sales pressure.
Inquire about your date