Our first Youth Healing & Wellness Retreat

Not all participants pictured; photos are for fun and not a requirement

We’re so back! interACT hosted its first-ever youth healing and wellness retreat in August 2024, and we’re returning to California for 2026. Northern California has a rich history as the site of several early U.S. intersex groups and gatherings. interACT is proud to continue this history. The trip is 100% funded for all participants. We can’t wait to be with you!

Who: Up to 18 intersex youth ages 18-29 from across the U.S.,  with priority given to CA residents

What: A gathering to build community and share skills

When: Arrive Sunday, August 9th for programming Monday the 11th, Tuesday the 12th and Wednesday the 13th

Where: A retreat center in Northern California

Why: To rest, play, and explore wellness topics together

If you have any questions not answered by this page, contact YouthRetreat@interactadvocates.org.

What to Expect

Time and space.  An opportunity to travel, see a new place, and build community.

Wellness. It means different things to everyone. Instead of assuming one definition, participants will inform programming in advance of arrival.  Some ideas include skill sharing, guided experiences with outside practitioners, time in nature, and living together for the weekend. 

Unique learning opportunities. While participants will inform final programming, sessions will center on relationship building, therapeutic experiences, and learning new skills. Daytime sessions will complement evening downtime. Past sessions have included self-defense workshops, guided writing, work with an intersex somatic practitioner, and peer skill sharing.

Connection. Strong relationships make strong movements. Learn from and with multiple generations of intersex community. We’ll leave with new tools to connect with our communities, ourselves, and each other.

Retreat Cost

Thanks to the generous support of California’s TGI Wellness Fund, all-inclusive attendance is 100% free for youth. Lodging, programming, group meals, and transportation, including rides from airports, are covered for all participants.

Accessibility Information and Community Agreements

We want you here! Our short application asks what each participant needs to feel cared for, and we will do our best to accommodate. Here are our baselines:

  • Our venue is wheelchair accessible and we have welcomed people using a variety of mobility aids on past trips.
  • We will help coordinate transportation from airports for wheelchair or mobility aid users.

  • Northern California weather tends to be mild, but fog and chills do happen.
  • Programming and meals will be outdoors; pack layers for warmer/cooler air.
  • Note: California weather varies widely. Daytime temperatures can be as warm as 70-100F, and nights can be cooler at 50-70 F.
  • Programming may include individual and communal sessions–feel free to step out at any time.
  • We ask that attendees not wear perfumes or heavily scented products.
  • Quiet spaces and stim toys provided.

COVID-19 remains a significant cause of death and long-term disability. The virus is airborne and spreads like cigarette smoke, especially in close indoor contact. Intersex people are often medically vulnerable, and have a higher incidence of disability. Community care matters. Because we want to keep each other healthy and welcome our community members who practice precautions, we are taking a multi-layered approach:

  • Cleaning the air
    • All programming and meals are held outside by default.
    • If any programming takes place indoors, we will coordinate with the venue to request open windows.
    • Each person will stay in their own room.
  • Testing
    • We ask attendees to take a rapid antigen test 24 hours before traveling. We can arrange to help with costs.
    • We will inform attendees of transmission timelines and best practices for when to time testing.
    • Upon arrival, we will test each attendee with a Metrix PCR test.
  • Masking
    • We will provide N95 masks.
    • We ask attendees to mask during air travel and on their way to the gathering.
    • We ask attendees to mask in shared indoor programming spaces.
    • Masking is welcomed in outdoor spaces, per comfort levels.
    • We encourage participants who choose to unmask indoors together outside of programming spaces to discuss shared risks and comfort levels.
    • There will be other groups staying at the venue.
  • Planning ahead for if there is an exposure
    • Please notify staff ASAP if you experience symptoms the week before arrival.
    • In the event of an exposure while together, we will coordinate with affected participants.

  • We will arrange snacks that cater to all dietary needs.
  • We will work with the hotel’s kitchen once participants report dietary needs.

  • We ask that shared programmatic and living spaces remain alcohol free.
  • If participants ages 21+ choose to leave group spaces on their own time, they are free to explore with the expectation of consideration and respect for others upon return.

  • We will have a group chat for participants and staff to facilitate communication while at the retreat.
  • We expect participants to communicate with staff about their location if going off-site independently from the group.

  • Strong relationships make strong movements. That means with ourselves, and with each other.
  • We have a responsibility to consider marginalization, both at large and within intersex communities:
    • anti-Blackness, racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, anti-fatness and other barriers do not affect us all equally.
    • We each carry different past experiences of wellness spaces.
  • To reflect this, we aim to foster a safe(r) retreat space that acknowledges:
    • “Wellness” is subjective and co-created.
    • “Wellness” can be a loaded word, based on co-optation and past experiences.
    • Programming must be based on participants’ needs and input.
    • We all have gifts to offer.
    • We must care for each other across differences of gender, race, religion, ability, background, and more–and to do so requires work.
  • Participants agree to a code of conduct and anti-harassment policy detailed in the application form
    • Harm and mistakes are parts of life, though we will design community agreements as a group to help us feel safer.
    • In the event of conflict, staff facilitators are available to hear participants’ concerns and create a resolution process together.

FAQ

The trip is co-planned and facilitated by Hans and Scout, two intersex organizers and former youth advocates, alongside interACT staff: Bria, Maddie, Apollo, and Erika. Participants will co-design programming.

In the past we’ve also welcomed guest facilitators from within the community including Niki Khanna, a therapist, and Sean Saifa Wall, a somatic practitioner, plus popular local sessions like Kidpower’s self-defense training.

Our goal is to create a group in which no one feels like “the only one.” We look for a broad range of backgrounds, identities, interests, and experience levels with being out as intersex. 

We also look for folks who feel ready to treat the trip as a commitment. Travel asks a lot of people, as does being in a community space, especially if you’ve never met other intersex peers in person before. It’s also very okay if it’s your first time doing either of those things! 

This year we can accept up to 18 participants from anywhere in the U.S. Because of grant funding, Californians get first priority.

This year’s trip is five days: two travel days and three on-site days with programming offered. We eat meals together outdoors. Each day hosts a few workshops, several of which will be voted on by participants. Evenings offer time together to rest, play, or go out on off-site activities.

Another highlight is the trip talent show! We have always been surprised.

The venue has a chef that makes food for many different diets. We can provide sample menus. In the past we’ve worked with resort kitchens to make sure everyone has something they can eat at each meal.

We’ll stay in a beautiful retreat center off the Northern California coast. Our location for 2026 is different from the trip’s first two years. 

Expect a mix between accessibility (ramps, no stairs, private rooms) and nearby access to beaches and forests. This year’s accommodations are individual ADA-accessible “glamping” bungalows with shared bathrooms for our group only. A limited number of ground floor ADA-accessible indoor rooms are also available for those who need them. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at youthretreat@interactadvocates.org

There may be goats.

Fully funded means that you should be able to attend this trip for truly $0. Grant funding covers travel, flights, transportation, venue, programming, and meals. You may encounter small expenses as a normal part of air travel, such as luggage, but let us know if that is a barrier! Many trip members are students and/or lower income.

Yes! Trip members from 2024 and 2025 are eligible to apply again. You must complete a full application. 

We want a balanced group. Returning participants bring valuable knowledge and energy. They may also be asked to help with volunteer tasks, or take on more responsibility in shaping the experience for everyone.

Process and Timeline

We hope to have room for everyone! In the event that there are more than 18 applicants, applications will be reviewed by interACT’s staff and retreat planners, and spots will be offered on the basis of:

  1. California residency: Participation by residents is a priority, but CA residency is NOT a requirement.
  2. Group composition: We want to welcome folks across a broad range of ages and backgrounds. 
  3. Answers to short essay questions: Let us know what attendance means to you.

Here’s what to expect:

  • May 7th: Applications OPEN
  • June 8th: Application deadline
  • June 18th: Accepted applicants notified
  • June 25th: Deadline for applicants to confirm spots before waitlist notified
  • Late June: Programming feedback surveys sent to participants
  • June 23rd-July 14th: We work with participants to purchase flights
  • July 28th: Final programming schedule announced
  • August 2: Virtual orientation sessions
  • August 9th-13th: We come together!