Camp SEED
A do nothing, digital detox weekend in Ontario’s Grey Highlands. Summer camp for grown ups, all year long.
Your phone has been stealing your weekends. Take one back.
Remember the cottage in 1989? Board games, paperbacks with the corners folded down, Scrabble, a kettle that never stopped whistling, and absolutely nowhere to be. No phones, no alcohol, and nobody expecting anything from you.
We’re bringing it back.
Welcome, Camper
Welcome to a weekend designed for one thing only: doing nothing. Gloriously, deliciously nothing.
At Camp SEED, we press pause on the endless scroll, the pings, the dings and the to do lists. We step back into a slower time, when weekends felt like a wide open field and all you needed was good company, a good book and maybe a walk in the woods.
Your phone gets its own little vacation in a basket by the door. (It's been working hard. It deserves the rest too.) Meanwhile you get the land, a table overflowing with craft supplies, a kettle that's always on, and a house full of interesting people who came to slow down just like you.
Meals are made for you. Your only job is to rest, play and follow what feels good. Then do it again, slower.
Your attention needs a vacation too
Every app on your phone was designed to keep you looking. The notifications pull you out of conversations, the scroll fills every quiet moment, and the news follows you to bed. Bit by bit, the digital world takes your time, your focus and your sense of being present in your own life. You feel it as restlessness, poor sleep, a short fuse and a constant hum of being "on."
Stepping away from screens is not a luxury. It's one of the simplest ways to care for your mental health.
So for one weekend, life works the way it did in 1989. Conversations happen face to face, afternoons stretch on, and boredom turns back into daydreaming. If you were born after 1989, this is your chance to find out what a life without electronics looks and feels like. It may feel strange at first, and then it will feel like freedom.
Remember how to play
Camp SEED is camp for grown ups, built on creativity, movement and play.
And here's the part we really want you to hear: you don't need to be good at art. This isn't about talent or making something worth showing. It's about picking up a paintbrush, a glue stick or a ball of yarn with the same curiosity and enthusiasm you had as a child, just to see what happens.
There are no grades, no critiques, and nobody will ask to see what you made. If you've spent years telling yourself "I'm not creative," this is the weekend to quietly test that story.
Join the games, the workshops and the campfire, or curl up with a book and skip all of it. Every activity is optional. Doing nothing counts.
Your Very Official Camp SEED Activity List
(Complete as many or as few as you like. Zero counts.)
Finally read that book that's been sitting on your nightstand since 2022.
Sleep in. Then nap. Then sleep in again.
Handwrite the letters and cards you've been meaning to send for ages. Birthday cards, thank you notes, a love letter to your best friend. We'll have the stamps.
Paint, glue, stitch, doodle and make gloriously imperfect art.
Drop into the weekend's themed workshop, or don't.
Journal by the window while the light moves across the fields.
Sip herbal tea blends made from plants grown right here on the land.
Wander the forest trails, or go barefoot in the grass if you're feeling brave.
Sweat it all out in the sauna, then step into the fresh air.
Gather around the campfire with a mug of something warm and a story to tell.
Stargaze. The Grey Highlands sky is a total show off.
Play cards, do a puzzle, or learn a new game from someone you met at breakfast.
Go back for seconds of Grandma style cooking. Then thirds.
Talk to the flowers. Watch the clouds.
Have a long, meandering conversation with a stranger who becomes a friend.
SLOW. DOWN. Then slow down a little more.
Created by an art therapist who believes everyone is creative
Camp SEED was created by Esther Kalaba, RP, AT, a psychotherapist and art therapist with almost thirty years of experience and the founder of The SEED Lodge.
Camp SEED is not therapy. It grew out of something Esther has seen again and again in her work: people feel better when they remember how to play, have fun and reconnect to their joy through the arts.
Her mission is to help people remember that everyone is innately creative, including you. Camp SEED is her invitation to rediscover that part of yourself in the most relaxed and playful way she knows.
The Good People
One of the best parts of camp has always been the people. At Camp SEED you'll share meals, fireside stories and the occasional fit of giggles with a small group of curious, kind, interesting humans. Artists, parents, entrepreneurs, dreamers, recovering overachievers. Real conversations happen when everyone is looking up from their phones. Come see who you meet.
The Table
The comfort food at Camp SEED comes from our friends at Gathered and Served, our trusted partner in delicious food that tastes like Grandma's cooking. Picture hearty soups simmering on the stove, fresh bread still warm from the oven, slow breakfasts that linger, and something sweet in the afternoon because it's a vacation. We eat together at a long table where conversation is welcome to wander, and seconds are strongly encouraged. Grandma would insist.
Choose your Camp SEED
Every Camp SEED has its own optional theme. Join in, or ignore it completely and nap.
Crafty Christmas, December 11 to 13, 2026: make homemade gifts, cards and wrapping for the people you love.
Visioning the Future, January 1 to 3, 2027: welcome the new year with vision boards and making.
Winter Edition: Hibernation Mode, March 12 to 14, 2027: snowshoe, ski or take winter walks outside, then knit, sew and learn the art of mending by the fire.
Parents' Weekend, March 19 to 21, 2027: you made it through March Break, now it's your turn. Leave the kids with grandparents or friends and remember who you are when you're not on duty.
Garden Edition, June 4 to 6, 2027: press wildflowers, make botanical prints and dig your hands into the spring garden.
Labour Day Week, August 29 to September 5, 2027: a full week of summer camp for grown ups, in a room or under the stars.
Some themed workshops include an additional materials fee. This will be indicated at registration.
What's in Your Camp Bundle
Two nights at The SEED Lodge, with the option to stay one more night
All meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch, lovingly made by Gathered and Served
Bottomless herbal tea, coffee and snacks
Art, craft, journaling and letter writing supplies
Optional themed workshops, group games and gatherings
Campfires under the stars
Daily sauna
50+ acres of forest trails and fields to explore
Books, games and puzzles
The Camp Rules
(Just three, we promise.)
Phones and screens take the weekend off. This is a full digital detox and it only works if you do it. (If this feels scary, we promise you will survive.)
This is a substance free weekend (including cannabis). The only buzz here comes from the herbal tea and the good company.
Care for the land, the house and each other.
Don't worry: we'll give you a number your family can call, so anyone who needs you can still reach you.
Who This Is For
Busy doers who secretly dream of slowing down.
Anyone whose phone has quietly taken over their free time.
The secretly creative, and the "I'm not artistic" crowd.
Parents who crave a little peace away from the daily chaos.
Anyone ready to meet new people and try something new, but not sure where to start.
Anyone feeling digitally fried and longing for fresh air, real human connection and the sweet nostalgia of life before the internet, whether you remember what that was like or not.
People with a stack of unread books and a drawer of unwritten cards.
No experience is needed and nothing is expected of you. If reading this made your shoulders drop even a little, this weekend is for you.
Pricing
Includes early arrival on Friday at 2pm, all meals including desserts, tea, coffee, sauna and access to the trails. Check out is at 4pm on Sunday.
Semi private room (shared bathrooms): $595 per person. Early bird price: $549.
Private room (shared bathrooms): $850 per person
Ensuite (queen bed with private bathroom): $950
Extra night, before or after: $250 per person in a semi private room
Labour Day Week (7 nights): $1,750 per person. Early bird price: $1,500.
Add ons: massage therapy ($90) and one on one creative consulting with Esther.
Camp is always better with a buddy, so bring a friend and bunk together, or come solo and we'll pair you with a fellow camper. All prices plus HST. Some themed workshops include an additional materials fee, indicated at registration. All bookings are non refundable, but your spot can be transferred to someone else for a $100 admin fee. Only 9 rooms at camp, so grab yours early.
Practical Details
Arrival: Friday from 2pm, unless noted for your weekend.
Departure: Sunday at 4pm.
Location: The SEED Lodge, 725807 Sideroad 22B, Rocklyn, Ontario, near Georgian Bay.
Rooms: 8 rooms with shared bathrooms, 1 ensuite.
Accessibility: The lodge is wheelchair accessible.
What to pack: Cozy sweaters, sturdy shoes, your comfiest socks, a book (or three), a journal, your address book, clothes you don't mind getting a little paint on, and an old school alarm clock if you like one.
Camp SEED FAQ
What is Camp SEED?
Camp SEED is summer camp for grown ups, all year long. It's a phone free, alcohol free weekend of rest, play and creativity at The SEED Lodge, a 50 acre retreat centre in the Grey Highlands of Ontario near Georgian Bay. Meals are made for you, the art table is always open, and every activity is optional, including doing absolutely nothing.
Who is Camp SEED for?
Anyone who feels a little stuck in the everyday: busy doers who secretly dream of slowing down, parents who crave a break, the secretly creative and the "I'm not artistic" crowd, and anyone who wants to meet new people and try something new. Camp SEED is for adults 18 and over.
Do I really have to give up my phone?
Yes, that's the heart of it. You hand in your phone (and smartwatch) when you arrive, and your family gets a number to reach you in an emergency. It may feel strange at first, and then it will feel like freedom.
Do I have to join the activities?
No. Every workshop, game and outing is voluntary. Rest, read, nap, wander or do nothing at all. Doing nothing counts.
I'm not creative. Is this still for me?
Especially you. You don't need to be good at art. Camp SEED is about picking things up with curiosity, not making something worth showing. There are no grades and no critiques.
Is Camp SEED therapy?
No. Camp SEED was created by Esther Kalaba, RP, AT, a psychotherapist and art therapist, but it is a playful, restful weekend away. There are no sessions and nothing to work on.
Can I come on my own?
Absolutely. Many campers do. Book a semi private room and we'll pair you with a fellow camper, or choose a private room or the ensuite.
What are the rooms like?
The lodge has 8 rooms with shared bathrooms and 1 ensuite with a queen bed. It's cozy, rustic and wheelchair accessible.
What's included?
Two nights at The SEED Lodge, all meals from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch made by Gathered and Served, herbal tea, coffee and snacks, the daily sauna, campfires and 50 acres of trails. Some workshops have an additional art materials fee, shown at registration.
Can you accommodate dietary needs and food allergies?
Yes, when you tell us ahead of time. Please share all dietary needs and allergies on your intake form before you arrive. Needs that aren't shared in advance may not be able to be honoured.
Can I bring wine or cannabis?
No. Camp SEED is completely drug and alcohol free, including cannabis. Anyone in violation will be asked to leave immediately without a refund.
What time do I arrive and leave?
Arrival opens Friday at 2pm and check out is Sunday at 4pm, unless noted for your weekend. Visioning the Future starts Friday at 6pm, and Labour Day Week runs Sunday to Sunday.
How do I get there without a car?
Take the bus from Union Station in Toronto to Thornbury, then a 10 minute cab to the lodge. An Uber from Toronto costs about $150 to $180.
What should I pack?
Cozy sweaters, sturdy shoes, your comfiest socks, a book (or three), a journal, your address book, clothes you don't mind getting a little paint on, and an old school alarm clock if you like one.
What is your cancellation policy?
All bookings are non refundable and can't be moved to another date, but you can transfer your spot to someone else by letting us know before camp. There is a $100 admin fee for transfers.
Is there anything to sign before I come?
Yes. Every camper completes an intake form and signs our Guest Agreement and Release of Liability before arrival.
How much does Camp SEED cost?
A semi private room is $595 per person (early bird $549), a private room is $850 and the ensuite is $950, plus HST. An extra night is $250 per person. Labour Day Week is $1,750 per person (early bird $1,500).
Are there any add ons?
Yes. You can add a massage therapy session ($90) or a one on one creative consulting session with Esther. Some themed workshops also have an additional art materials fee, shown at registration.
Come for the good people, the cozy vibes, the campfires and the silence between the trees. Leave feeling like yourself again. Only slower.
