WILD: An Arctic Retreat
SEPTEMBER 27 - OCTOBER 3, 2023
(*Air travel is Sept 27th and October 3rd)

join us 63 miles above the arctic circle for an
​all-inclusive unforgettable retreat with other
like-minded folks in the T1D community, into the depths of alaska's brooks range
... all with the goal to support camp for kids with T1D

SIGN UP NOW

In September 2022, we hosted our first-ever WILD Retreat with an awesome family of four (two parents and two 15-year-olds). This retreat can be for one parent and one T1D teen, or entire family of 3 or 4 people.

Travel seven hours north of the nearest grocery store, cross the arctic circle, and travel 63 more miles to the village of Wiseman. There, from the comfort of Arctic Hive — an off-grid retreat center — you’ll get the chance to see the Northern Lights, in an area deemed as having some of the best Aurora displays in the world.

​Imagine having the time to do some gentle yoga daily in a stunning geodesic dome, while the wood stove warms the air. As you open your eyes from your meditation cushion, you take in the incredible snow-capped peaks through the massive bay window overlooking the Brooks Range. 

Deep breath.

Afterward, you wander up the hill to your cabin with a cup of piping hot, locally roasted organic coffee and some fruit where you have time to sit and journal, read or prepare for your day. ​You have the space to notice the plentiful Black Spruce trees dotting the landscape and you feel the warm glow from the stove heating the cabin. You have sweeping views of Alaska's Brooks Range, the majestic Koyukuk River, and beyond.

You gather with a small group of like-minded retreaters in the igloo for a delicious home-cooked breakfast, while your guides break down the plan for the day. 

During our 6 days and 5 nights together, you’ll be challenged (in the best way!) by outdoor adventures like hiking, cultural immersions in the village of Wiseman, and daily yoga designed to meet you where you're at.

​No experience necessary, and all activities are optional (yes, even the yoga!) so you are assured to have enough space and time to breathe. 

MEET YOUR HOSTS

Meet Mollie & Sean Busby

We're inviting you to come to our home in far northern Alaska and experience what few people in the world will ever get to see (let alone, explore): The glory of Alaska’s arctic Brooks Range from our basecamp: Arctic Hive.

AND... this trip isn't only a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Northern Lights in Alaska's Brooks Range, and spend a week in community with like-minded folks in the T1D community.

It's a chance to give back to a cause that's near to all of our hearts — helping kids with T1D feel like kids, and experience action sports with others who are just like them. The initial deposit for each retreat participant covers the costs of this adventure, and all proceeds of the fundraising requirement will go toward Riding On Insulin's mission, helping more kids surf and ride with T1D.

... press play below to get an insider's view into what our retreats are like:

ON THE AGENDA

Day 1 (September 27)
You'll fly from your preferred location to Fairbanks, Alaska! Your flight and one night in a shared hotel room is covered as a part of your retreat experience. You'll land in Fairbanks and shuttle to the hotel to meet up with other retreat guests for dinner and meet-and-greet (depending on your time of arrival).


​DAY 2 (September 28)
We'll depart Fairbanks first thing in the morning, with a quick stop at a grocery store so everyone can grab any snacks they want for the week. Much of our first day is spent getting up to the Arctic because the drive north of Fairbanks takes between 7-9 hours.

On the epic drive up the Dalton Highway (Of "Ice Road Truckers" TV fame), you'll get to cross the mighty Yukon River, cross the Arctic Circle — of course have your photo taken, and see the most gorgeous, dynamic landscapes featuring arctic tundra, Black Spruce forests, and rolling hills until the massive Brooks Range comes into view.

The experience driving the "Haul Road," as it's affectionately called, is one few people have ever experienced and is sure to delight and thrill!

On our first night in camp, we’ll have a delicious first meal together after everyone gets settled into their cabins.

Days 3-6 (September 29th-October 3rd)
Four full days at Arctic Hive will include hiking around the village of Wiseman and its surrounding wilderness, taking in the views and experiencing radical aliveness away from the distractions of cellphones and computers. There's no cell service in this village, or at Arctic Hive, so the temptation of home, work and life won't even be present. 

In-town activities are balanced out with ample road adventures to mountain passes on the Dalton Highway. The weather during this time of year is usually chilly — right around freezing temps after the fall colors have died down. The ground is prime for hiking thanks to the hard-packed tundra (which is otherwise very squishy to walk on). It's likely that we'll experience our first snowfall during this time, too! Although it isn't quite time to dogsled on snow, you will get to experience life with a working dog team — and get to take a Huskie Hike in the woods with dogs! If you want, there are always lots of pets and snuggles to be had! 

You'll take a private tour of the village with an Alaskan legend, living the subsistence lifestyle in Wiseman. Evenings are marked by game time in the Igloo, optional restorative yoga/stretching after the long days hiking, and one evening we'll channel our creative energy into arctic crafts!

We will dine together twice a day in the igloo, and we will typically pack up lunch to go with us, wherever we're headed for the day. Although many activities are custom-planned depending on the specific weather we're dealt with (which is how life in Alaska is!), you may find yourself at a bonfire on the river, experiencing yoga under a blanket of stars and dancing Northern Lights in the Yoga Dome, sharing a beer/glass of wine over a board game with new friends and more.

This retreat is a reflection of how we (Sean and Mollie) live our life in wild places — the perfect combination of activities, relaxation, and good company. 

Throughout the retreat, you’ll fuel up with nourishing vegetarian cuisine, custom crafted by Mollie — who is certified in plant-based nutrition and an avid cook who loves to entertain! This will give your body the most balanced fuel so you can think, see and move clearly for the weekend — and the food has been a highlight for guests who have stayed with Arctic Hive. All dietary needs will be accommodated, and there will always be tea, coffee and snacks available.

Know that although we have activities planned daily, everything is optional — so if you need time to wander in the woods and take some "me-time," you are more than welcome to do what is best for your mind, body and spirit. This retreat is your chance to breathe deep, reset your perspective and fill your cup.

​Day 7 (October 4th):
We will pack up and depart Arctic Hive in the morning, and make the same drive back down to Fairbanks — experiencing new stops along the way depending on weather. We close out the trip with dinner on the town in Fairbanks, and drop off at the airport later that evening. Part of the "true" Alaskan experience is leaving on a red-eye flight home! 
Your flight will likely leave Fairbanks between midnight and 2am, and you'll spend this final day en route back to your home — feeling reset and ready to tackle the world!

BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATIONS

Here at Arctic Hive, we have three 12x12 cabins to keep you cozy warm during your stay with us — there are mountain views in every direction, and plenty of windows to see the wild landscape and the northern lights! Each cabin will be home to two retreat attendees — there is a twin bed on the main floor, and a double bed in the loft. All cabins are off-grid, heated with Swedish Nordic oil stoves that keep the space warm and cozy , with solar/battery powered lighting with inverter batteries for charging small devices. There is no cell phone reception from the cabins — although we do have access to 3G cell service in the Igloo for short check-ins and phone calls to family if needed! Although social media check-ins and quick phone calls are totally fine, we just don't want anyone planning on having sufficient internet for heavy-internet related tasks! 

Depending on the amount of sunlight, you'll have the opportunity to charge small devices via generator or solar power (such as your phone if you use it as a camera). It wouldn't be wise to bring larger electronics like computers, as they draw so much power from the small battery banks.  ​
​
The cabins are located just a short walk up the hill from the Igloo. There is one composting outhouse that's cleaned and attended to daily — along with a few designated "facility trees" in the woods. If you're inexperienced with either of these methods, our team will assure you're up to speed upon arrival!

Pending weather, we also have a 3-4 person wood-fired hot tub available during this time of year! A hot soak after a long day adventuring might be just what your body needs to settle into a relaxing evening in the Brooks Range.

LOGISTICS & INVESTMENT

COVID PROTOCOL:

• We require all guests to provide either: 1) proof of vaccination and/or 2) proof of COVID infection and recovery within the preceding 3 months. Additionally, all guests will present a negative COVID test taken 3 days prior to arrival, a rapid test the night of your arrival into Alaska, and one final rapid test 30 minutes before departure on the charter van from Fairbanks to Wiseman.
• This policy is subject to change, pending current guidelines for our area.​

THERE ARE ONLY
6 SPOTS AVAILABLE!

*YOU MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OF AGE TO ATTEND*
**Teens age 15+ can attend with a parent so long as both individuals register and fundraise the full amount**


​

REGISTRATION HAS TWO PARTS: 

Deposit: $1,000

• Everyone is required to pay a nonrefundable $1,000 deposit to save your spot at the retreat. Because this is your registration fee that covers the hard costs of the event, it is not tax deductible. 

Fundraising Requirement: $5,000

• This retreat is a getaway for folks in the T1D community — but at its core, it is a fundraiser to support subsidies for kids with T1D attending Riding On Insulin ski, snowboard and surf camps. You can pay this tax-deductible amount up front, or fundraise the amount on our easy-to-use online fundraising platform! Once you register, you'll receive an email from our team along with a link to create your fundraising page. Tax deductible donations can be taken electronically, or you can send checks to the Riding On Insulin mailbox to be added manually to your total. 
• All monies must be raised by September 15th, 2022. Whatever difference is left at that time, we will charge your initial card used for your deposit to complete your registration fee.

Total Investment: $6,000
*If you do have a group of 3 traveling together willing to share 1 cabin using a pullout bed (in addition to the existing twin and double beds), we will offer a $600 discount on fundraising for each of the three attendees, on a space available basis.*


​WHAT’S INCLUDED:

• Flight from anywhere in the USA to Fairbanks, Alaska — if you'd like to use miles, or pay for your flight outright, this can count as a contribution to your fundraising page! Note: We typically book using Delta Airlines or Alaska Airlines.
• Ground Transport from Fairbanks to Wiseman
• Ground Transport back from Wiseman to Fairbanks
• Lodging for 6 nights, including hotel in Fairbanks on the first night, and 5 nights stay at Arctic Hive.
• 7 days of dynamic programming and adventure, including but not limited to the drive tour up and back including crossing the Arctic Circle and the mighty Yukon River, hikes, crafts, northern lights tour, mingling with Wiseman village folk, yoga, and more!
• Depending on your arrival time on the 28th, starting at dinner that evening and ending with dinner on October 4th, you'll be provided three delicious meals a day, light refreshments and all the clean mountain water you could ever want, including coffee/tea/snacks throughout the trip. (Dietary needs can be accommodated!)
• All linens, duvet, a hand towel.
• Baby wipes and dry shampoo + 1-2 showers during your stay*. Depending on the temperatures, outdoor showers with on-demand hot water will *likely* be available, but not on a daily basis.
• Yoga mats and props

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED:

• Any travel costs and baggage fees prior to your arrival in Fairbanks.
• Alcohol— but you are welcome to grab what you want at the grocery store before we leave Fairbanks!
• Travel Insurance, should your trip be interrupted for reasons beyond your control... we HIGHLY recommend getting some insurance. ​
• The cost associated with you negative COVID-19 test dated within 3 days of your arrival into Fairbanks (more info on this above, under COVID protocol)​​
• Any souvenirs you may buy along the way
• Any gear you may need for this trip that you don't already have! We'll send you an extensive packing list, and we'll help make sure you're arriving prepared.

READY TO SNAG YOUR SPOT?

Ready to get your spot on this one-in-a-lifetime adventure? Click the button and you'll be taken to our registration page, and your card will be charged upon completion for the initial $1,000 deposit. You will receive an email from a member of the Riding On Insulin team within 48 hours to discuss any questions you have up front, and to make sure you get your fundraising page set up! 

SIGN ME UP

​Or... if you have questions you want to discuss before registering, fill out the below form and we'll get back to you within 48 hours!