You spend your days in the office. You sit across from clients, hold space, do the deep work. And somewhere along the way, you stopped making art yourself. The creative practice that drew you to this profession in the first place got buried under caseloads and clinical notes and the hum of a badly ventilated room.
You've been to the conferences. You know the drill — windowless ballrooms, recycled air, PowerPoint after PowerPoint, and a box lunch you eat standing up. You leave with a binder and a vague sense that there has to be a better way to learn, connect, and feel inspired again.
There is.
Rooted is an alternative outdoor conference for creative arts therapists — art therapists, music therapists, drama therapists, dance/movement therapists, expressive arts practitioners, and students — who are ready to step outside. Literally. For four days at The SEED Lodge near Georgian Bay, Ontario, we gather on 56 acres of farm and forest to share skills, sharpen our craft, explore nature-based art therapy practices, collaborate across disciplines, eat meals together outdoors, and do the thing we keep telling our clients to do: play.
This is summer camp for grown-ups who happen to be therapists. Come get your hands dirty.
2–2.5 hour experiential sessions led by fellow creative arts therapists exploring nature-based art practices, forest therapy, ecotherapy, land-based creative process, and what happens when we take the frame of the office away entirely.
Art therapists, music therapists, drama therapists, dance/movement therapists — all in one place, trading ideas, borrowing techniques, and blurring the lines between modalities in the best possible way.
You'll make art again. Not for a client. Not for a case study. For you. To remember what it feels like to create without a clinical goal, and to bring that energy back into your practice.
We talk about play all day in our work. When was the last time you actually did it? Expect campfires, shared meals outdoors, laughter, spontaneity, and the kind of connection that doesn't happen in a conference centre.
Rooted isn't a top-down conference with a pre-set agenda. We're building it from the ground up with the people who do this work every day. If you have something worth sharing that fits the theme, we want your proposal. You don't need to be a trained creative arts therapist to apply — if your work lives at the intersection of creativity, nature, and healing, you belong here.
Workshops are 2–2.5 hours each. We're looking for experiential, participatory sessions that explore:
Whether you've been practising for decades or are bringing a fresh perspective, if your work gets people out of their chairs and into their senses, we want to hear from you.
A gathering like this doesn't happen without good people behind it. If you want to be part of Rooted from the inside — helping things run, welcoming people in, and making the weekend feel as good as it sounds — we'd love to have you.
Volunteers receive free entry to the camp. Fill out the form and we'll be in touch with the details.
Sign Up to VolunteerRooted is hosted at The SEED Lodge — a creative wellness centre nestled on 56 acres of farm and forest near Georgian Bay, Ontario. Founded by Esther Kalaba, a registered psychotherapist and art therapist with 25 years in the field, The SEED Lodge was built on a simple belief: we heal when we remember we are always in relationship — with people, with place, and with the land.
It's also the kind of place where you can eat breakfast outside, wander a trail between sessions, and fall asleep to absolute silence. Which is exactly the point.
Art therapists, music therapists, drama therapists, dance/movement therapists, expressive arts practitioners, creative arts therapy students, and anyone working at the intersection of creativity, nature, and healing. You don't need to be a registered creative arts therapist to attend or present — if this work calls to you, you belong here.
Yes — continuing education credits can be provided. We'll share the specific details and accreditation information as the program is finalized. Even summer camp has its paperwork.
You have three options: lodge rooms at The SEED Lodge (onsite), camping on the property, or day passes if you'd prefer to stay nearby and come each day. Details and pricing for each option will be shared soon.
Yes. All meals are included — breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks throughout the day. Meals are nourishing, seasonal, and served together. Because eating outside with interesting people is part of the whole point.
Absolutely. If your work explores nature-based creative practices, forest therapy, ecotherapy, land-based art-making, or the integration of nature and healing, we want to hear from you. The theme is what matters, not the letters after your name.
Each workshop or presentation runs 2–2.5 hours. We've intentionally kept them longer than typical conference sessions so there's real space to go deep, get hands-on, and actually experience something rather than just hear about it.
The SEED Lodge is located near Rocklyn, Ontario — about two hours north of Toronto, near Georgian Bay. It sits on 56 acres of farm and forest. Close enough to get to, far enough to feel like a different world. Detailed directions will be provided upon registration.
Pricing is coming soon. Sign up for updates below to be the first to know when registration opens. Volunteers receive free entry.
That's the plan. Rooted 2026 is the first one, and we're building it with the intention of making it an annual tradition. Come help us start something worth repeating.
Whether you're here to attend, to lead a workshop, or to lend a hand — there's a place for you at Rooted.
Rooted 2026 is just the beginning. Sign up to be the first to know as details unfold — pricing, programming, presenter announcements, and everything in between.
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