Building Belonging in Nature: The Story Behind Boheme Retreats

Can you take us back to the beginning – what inspired you to create your glamping concept, and what gap did you feel existed in the outdoor hospitality space?

Boheme Retreats was born from a mix of love for the outdoors and a deep feeling of not belonging in it. I’m an avid RVer, hiker, and surfer, but every time I pulled into an RV park or outdoor space, I was often one of the only people who looked like me. That absence was loud. I loved nature, but I didn’t always feel welcomed by the culture surrounding outdoor recreation.

At the same time, I saw glamping exploding in popularity, beautiful spaces, thoughtfully designed experiences, but very few of them reflected or intentionally centered Black and Brown communities. The gap wasn’t just about aesthetics or comfort; it was about representation, safety, and belonging. There were plenty of places to “stay,” but very few spaces that said, you belong here.

You’ve spoken openly about the challenges of finding land as a woman of colour in this industry. How has that experience shaped your journey as a founder?

Those experiences absolutely shaped my journey, but they didn’t stop it. When I was met with repeated “no’s” while trying to purchase land, often rooted in bias rather than viability, I made a conscious decision not to let those barriers define the outcome. Instead of pausing the vision, I chose an alternative path.

For the past four years, Boheme Retreats has operated on leased land, thinking outside the box to bring our concept to life. Leasing allowed me to prove the model, build revenue, refine the guest experience, and establish real demand without waiting for traditional access to ownership to open up. 

You began by leasing land before transitioning towards ownership. What lessons did that early phase teach you about risk, scale and sustainability?

Leasing also forced me to become deeply brand-focused in a way I might not have otherwise. Because the land wasn’t permanent, everything we built had to be intentional and transferable. We couldn’t rely on a single location to carry the experience the brand had to do that work.

That mindset pushed us to create spaces and experiences that were location-agnostic but still deeply rooted in belonging. From the way our vintage campers are designed to how guests are welcomed and how community is centered, every touchpoint had to feel unmistakably Boheme, no matter where we landed. The brand became the anchor, not the land.

From a risk and scale perspective, that was invaluable. Leasing taught me how to build something that could move, adapt, and still retain its identity. It allowed us to scale thoughtfully and to prioritize sustainability through consistency and trust rather than permanence. Now, as we transition toward ownership, that brand-first foundation ensures we’re not just acquiring land we’re planting something that’s already proven it can thrive anywhere.

This year marks a major turning point with a new property and a crowdfunding campaign. Why was crowdfunding the right route for this next stage of growth?

This moment felt too important and too communal to fund in a traditional way. From the beginning, Boheme Retreats has been built with and for community, so crowdfunding felt like a natural next step. Rather than relying solely on a small group of institutional investors, crowdfunding allows the people who believe in this mission, many of whom have been guests, partners, and supporters from day one to participate in the growth in a meaningful way.

We specifically chose a fractional co-ownership model because it reimagines land ownership in a way that aligns with our values. Land ownership has historically been inaccessible to Black and Brown communities, especially within outdoor hospitality. Fractional co-ownership lowers the barrier to entry and creates a collective pathway to owning a tangible asset, the land itself, rather than just buying into a brand or a short-term experience.

Your all-inclusive women’s summer camps have become a defining part of your offering. What prompted you to create them, and why do you think they’ve resonated so strongly?

The women’s summer camps are a newer addition to Boheme Retreats,we introduced them in 2025 after listening closely to what our community was asking for. Many women told us they loved the idea of getting outside but felt intimidated, underprepared, or simply unwelcome in traditional outdoor spaces. For women of colour especially, there was an added desire for spaces that felt safe, affirming, and ease-filled.

At the same time, we kept coming back to the idea of summer camp, that childlike nostalgia many of us either experienced briefly or wished we had. Camp represents freedom, play, connection, and stepping away from everyday responsibility. We wanted to recreate that feeling for adult women, without pressure or performance, but with a focus on wellness and care.

The camps are fully all-inclusive by design, lodging, meals, activities, and guidance, so women can show up, unplug, and fully exhale. There’s room for laughter, rest, play, and trying something new, whether that’s hiking for the first time or sitting by a fire late into the evening. That nostalgic sense of camp combined with community and nature creates an experience that feels both joyful and deeply grounding.

What surprised us was that beyond the impact, the camps also became a smart business lever. In a largely weekend-oriented market, midweek occupancy had been a challenge. These multi-day camps held Sunday- Thursday allowed us to activate slower periods while staying completely aligned with our mission.

How do you design experiences that give guests freedom rather than obligation – and why is that balance so important, especially for women seeking time in nature?

The very first thing we tell our guests is simple: this is nature, your way. That philosophy guides how we design every experience. We do offer a daily schedule of activities,hikes, workshops, shared meals, but there’s no pressure to be anywhere at a specific time. Nothing is mandatory, and nothing is measured by productivity or participation.

If someone wants to join every activity, that’s welcomed. If another guest chooses to spend the entire week reading a book by the creek, we celebrate that just as much. The intention is to give women permission to listen to themselves, often for the first time in a long time and to engage with nature in the way that feels most restorative to them.

That balance is especially important for women because so much of daily life is built around obligation. Many of our guests are caregivers, leaders, or the default planners in their families and communities. When they arrive, they’re often carrying a mental load before they’ve even unpacked. Creating an environment where choice is prioritized over expectation allows real rest to happen.

It’s not uncommon for women to turn off their phones entirely while they’re with us, some even make me their family’s emergency contact for the week. That level of trust speaks to how safe and supported they feel, and it reinforces why freedom, not structure, is true wellness. When women are given space without demand, nature becomes not another task to complete, but a place to belong.

You’ve recently partnered with Amber after several years of running the business solo. What made this the right partnership at the right time?

I met Amber through a connection on LinkedIn, and our paths crossed again a year later. That second meeting sparked a conversation that made it clear we shared the same vision for Boheme Retreats and a commitment to inclusive, community-driven experiences. After running the business solo for several years, the timing felt perfect Amber brings complementary skills, perspective, and energy that allow us to grow more strategically without losing the heart of what makes Boheme special.

This partnership wasn’t just about adding capacity; it was about alignment. We share a mission, a creative sensibility, and a dedication to the communities we serve. Bringing Amber on board at this stage means we can expand thoughtfully, scale our offerings, and deepen the impact of the spaces we create together.

How important have relationships and introductions been in your journey — and what advice would you give founders about building community within the glamping sector?

Starting any business can feel incredibly lonely, especially in a niche like glamping. For me, one of the turning points came after our first season of operations, when I joined the REI Path Ahead Ventures Embark Cohort. Being in that program wasn’t just about mentorship it was about finding my people. Suddenly, I was surrounded by founders and industry professionals who understood the challenges of building a mission-driven business in the outdoors.

Those relationships were invaluable. They provided guidance, shared hard-earned lessons, and, importantly, opened doors to others I wouldn’t have met otherwise. In this industry, community isn’t just nice to have, it’s a multiplier. The people you meet can connect you to opportunities, partnerships, and resources that accelerate your growth far faster than you could on your own.

Your background in renovation and design clearly influences your spaces. How do creativity and hands-on building shape your approach to accommodation design?

My love of retro cars and campers goes back to my teens, so when I came across Rosa, our 1963 Shasta, I jumped at the chance to do a full gut renovation. It was thrilling to step outside of my 9-to-5 and pour creativity into something tangible of my own, choosing colors, textures, layouts, and details that would make the space feel nostalgic yet fresh.  At Boheme Retreats, our “Bohemian retro” theme isn’t just a look—it’s a feeling that runs through every aspect of our brand, from the vintage campers to the overall guest experience. But the real reward isn’t in the planning or the handiwork it’s in the moment a guest steps inside and squeals, “This is so cute!” That reaction is what makes all the creativity and hands-on work come alive, transforming each stay from a simple night away into an immersive, memorable experience.

Looking ahead, with new cabins, treehouses and expanded capacity planned, how do you see your brand evolving over the next few years – and what does success look like to you?

Looking ahead, Boheme Retreats has always had the vision to expand from a single-location experience into a network of safe havens in nature. Through the purchase of the next location we are also expanding our lodging options, with new creekfront cabins, treehouses, we’re focused on growing in a way that preserves the intimacy, creativity, and sense of community that defines the brand. Each new space is an opportunity to extend our “Bohemian retro” aesthetic and our mission of creating inclusive environments in nature.

For me, success isn’t just about occupancy or revenue, it’s about impact. It’s seeing guests discover confidence and joy in nature, witnessing friendships form around a campfire, and knowing we’ve created spaces where people feel a sense of belonging they may not have experienced elsewhere. On a larger scale, success is building a sustainable, replicable model that proves inclusive outdoor hospitality can thrive across the country. Ultimately, it’s about realizing our long-term vision: a network of destinations where community, creativity, and nature coexist harmoniously, and where our guests always feel like they truly belong.