BRAIDED RIVER ~ Salt Spring Island Edition!
Wild Song Retreat
Aug 14-16, 2026
With Carly Joynt & Kate Sutherland
WEAVING OUR VOICES IN SONG
Listen Deeply. Remember Your True Voice.
We're stoked to offer this soul-feeding retreat at Butterstone Farm, nestled atop Mount Maxwell on Salt Spring island this summer. What a treat!
Surrounded by beautiful nature, we will spend the weekend in guided flow between solo time, time on the land, and in time community, sharing in the deep and playful exploration and harvest of wild song.
This gathering might be a resounding YES! for you if you:
~ Long to express yourself and/or give voice to your beyond-human kin through song channeling
~ Love to sing, or long to bring singing into your life in a meaningful and more regular way,
~ Are curious about exploring intuitive song writing
~ Want to hone your deep listening skills
~ Love and/or long to be witnessed in your creative expression in a safe container
~ Enjoy spending time in community and sharing in delicious meals
~Are looking for a spacious weekend for self-care and intentional creative work at a relaxed pace
Meet Your Facilitators
Kate Sutherland
Kate has been a singer her whole life and a prolific song-channeler since her early teens. She started out writing and playing longer-form solo songs, and over time shifted away from performance into nature-inspired community songwriting and hosting song circles. When Kate realised the power of accessing song as experience rather than performance, she made it her mission to remind folks that everybody has the right to sing. Singing does not belong to trained musicians alone, it belongs to all of us.
Kate's songs have been described as mantras, prayers, anthems and cathartic expressions for healing, joy and manifesting positivity into creation.
Carly Joynt
Wilder connections
Carly was raised in a home where the love language sounded like Stevie Wonder and Pink Floyd, Ella Fitzgerald and Blue Rodeo. Somewhere between the church choir and bar bands she sang with, Carly got swept up by the renaissance of nature-inspired community singing and found a musical home. As an eco-therapist and wilderness guide Carly supports people to be in conversation with the more than human world which, according to her, doesn’t just speak- it sings! Carly brings a soulful invitation to the song circles she facilitates and welcomes people’s full selves into the room~ mess, beauty and all.
LOGISTICS
WHEN: Friday Aug 14 - Sunday Aug 16 2026
WHERE: Butterstone Farm, Salt Spring Island, BC
ACCOMMODATIONS: Camping (bring your own tent & bedding)
Arrival: 2pm Friday
(Opening Circle will be at 4pm)
Departure: 2 or 3pm on Sunday
GENERAL FLOW (Subject to Flexibility):
FRIDAY:
2-3 pm arrival
4pm Opening Circle
6:30 dinner
8pm - Diving in...
SATURDAY:
7-7:45am Optional pre-breakfast body movement, or free time to walk outside
8-9am Breakfast
9:30am-12pm Morning Sit & Workshop Block
12:30-2pm Lunch
2-4pm Afternoon Workshop Block
4-5pm Personal Time
5-6pm Preparations for Evening Event
6:00-7:30pm Dinner
8pm Special Evening Event
SUNDAY:
7-8 am Pack down tents
8-9:00am Breakfast
9:30-12:30 pm Morning Workshop Block & Closing Circle
12:30-2 pm Lunch & Clean up
2pm Departure
Exchange
Cost: $375 - $550 sliding scale
Not sure where you fit on the scale? Click here to read a discerning article. Also please make sure you've read our Cancellation/Refund Policy
Includes:
~ Time in nature, time for journaling and wandering
~ The joy and connection of singing in community
~ Supportive guidance in accessing your inner wilderness and intuitive creativity
~ Tips and practices for listening for and harvesting song
~ The opportunity to share your voice and creations in a safe caring space
~ Delicious home-cooked dinners prepared with local and organic ingredients and made with love
~ Accommodations, abundant coffee, tea and treats
Payment & Refund Policy
To secure your spot, please send your $100 deposit or full payment by e-transfer to katesutherlandmusic@gmail.com.
Make sure you read our Refund/Cancellation Policy page. There you'll also find payment schedule options.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out
We look forward to singing with you soon.
Upon registration you'll receive a welcome package with a list of what to bring, as well as correspondence emails leading up to the retreat. Feel free to get in touch ahead of time if you have any questions.