Immersive Training Retreats at
Humming Grove Sanctuary
For teachers and parents who want to go beyond inspiration and into lived practice. These intimate small-group retreats in Santa Fe offer hands-on arts-integrated training, creative renewal, and professional development in a deeply supportive setting.
Through music, movement, song, storytelling, and rhythm, you will experience a powerful approach to teaching that awakens creativity and deep engagement in children.
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If you would like to quickly explore the details, you can jump to the sections below.
📅 Dates
July 9–13 — Early Childhood
July 23–27 — Elementary
📍 Location
Humming Grove Sanctuary
near Santa Fe, New Mexico
👩🏫 Who Is This For?
Teachers, parents, teaching artists and camp creators of children ages 2–10
🎓 Professional Development
Participants receive an 18-hour PD Certificate
💰 Pilot Retreat Rates
Offered at near-cost to support a small, aligned circle of participants
Commuter $150
Residential $350
Participants are invited to help share and promote these remarkable trainings through photos, brief video clips, and testimonials
🌐 Free Virtual Training
We recommend beginning with a free virtual training if you are new to Talking Hands Talking Feet .
✉ Application
Complete the short form to apply for the retreat.
What Makes This Retreat Different?
This retreat offers embodied experience and deep training.
What makes Talking Hands Talking Feet unique:
• Practical tools you can implement immediately
• A substantial library of educational songs and activities
• A proven methodology (Codes in Color)
• A community of creative educators
• A nature sanctuary designed for reflection and creativity
• Training from the founders who developed this original work
This is not simply professional development.
It is training in a dynamic educational methodology.
Professional Development Certification
Participants receive a Certificate of Completion documenting 18 hours of professional development.
Most professional development leaves teachers with ideas —
but little that actually transforms the classroom.
Teachers today face:
• disengaged students
• rigid curriculum structures
• little time for creativity
Yet children learn best when the arts are used as vehicles of learning everyday
The Retreat Experience
This three-day retreat is designed as an immersive learning experience where you don’t just hear about the method — you experience it.
You will participate in:
• joyful group learning sessions
• hands-on training in multiple art forms
• collaborative exploration with other educators
• restorative reflection in the beautiful setting of Humming Grove Sanctuary
• enjoyable and healthy meals together
• humor and laughter
We intentionally limit the retreat to 9–12 participants to support meaningful learning and community.
Upcoming Retreat Dates
Early Childhood Focus (Ages 2-5)
Thursday 9th July 2026– Monday 13th July 2026
Designed for educators and parents of young children.
Early Primary Focus (Ages 5-10)
Thursday 23rd July 2026- Monday 27th July 2026
Designed for educators and parents of elementary-aged children
Retreat Flow
Thursday
Arrival & welcome dinner
Community circle & orientation
Friday – Sunday
• morning and afternoon Immersive, hands-on training sessions – 3 hours each
• Reflective integration time
Friday & Saturday evenings are free to explore wonderful Santa Fe.
Sunday concludes with a celebration dinner.
Monday
Breakfast & departures
The Two Pillars of Our Signature Training
Our Signature Talking Hands Talking Feet workshops are built on two powerful foundations:
Content
A Vast, Ready-to-Use Creative Library
You gain access to a rich and ever-growing body of arts-integrated educational content, including:
• Educational songs with movement choreography
• Brain and body “tune-ups”
• Rhythm and coordination sequences
• Storytelling and improvisation games
• Community-building movement pieces
This is not theoretical training. These are living tools you can bring into your classroom, homeschool, or program immediately.
Every structure is designed to support:
• Kinesthetic learning
• Creative engagement
• Focus and regulation
• Joyful participation
You leave with material in your hands – and in your body
Methodology
A Highly Effective, Transferable Methodology
Content alone is not enough.
We train you in how and why it works.
Our methodology training includes:
• The Codes in Color framework
• The 5-Color Support Handbook
• Developmentally aligned implementation strategies
• Embodied facilitation techniques
• Practical Agility through rhythm and movement
• “Learning through the back door” (Stealth Learning) principles
You don’t just learn activities.
You learn how to:
• Design learning experiences and ecologies
• Adapt material for different age groups
• Support multiple learning styles
• Integrate arts into academics naturally and effectively
This combination of content + methodology creates lasting confidence and versatility.
When creative content is supported by a clear, repeatable framework, something powerful happens:
You become a more responsive, confident, and inspired educator.
Humming Grove Sanctuary
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Nestled amidst the picturesque scenery of Santa Fe County, New Mexico, Humming Grove Sanctuary is a multi-faceted oasis where education, artistry, and peaceful, purposeful gatherings come together.
Teachers attend immersive Training Retreats here in an intimate setting designed for deep learning, meaningful connection, and personal renewal.
Accommodations for up to 9 guests
• Beautiful studio-style shared sleeping spaces
• Comfortable gathering areas
• Indoor and outdoor workshop spaces
• Quiet nooks for reflection and restoration
Pilot Retreat Rates
These early retreats are part of a special pilot phase as we begin sharing this next level of our work. We are inviting a small circle of teachers and parents who resonate with this approach and are comfortable allowing their experience to be documented through photos, brief video clips, and testimonials to help us share these remarkable trainings with a wider community.
For this reason, we are offering these retreats at rates that reflect basic food and lodging costs.
On-Site Immersive Experience
$350
Includes:
• Tuition
• Workshop materials
• On-site accommodation
• Breakfast (Friday–Monday)
• Lunch (Friday–Sunday)
• Welcome dinner (Thursday)
• Celebration dinner (Sunday)
• Certificate of Professional Development (18 hours)
Commuter Option
$150
Includes:
• Tuition
• Workshop materials
• Breakfast (Friday–Monday)
• Lunch (Friday–Sunday)
• Welcome dinner (Thursday)
• Celebration dinner (Sunday)
• Certificate of Professional Development (18 hours)
Does not include:
• Transportation
• Airfare
We are happy to coordinate shuttle options from/to Santa Fe if needed.
Who This Is For
Early Childhood Retreat (Ages 2–5)
• Preschool teachers
• Montessori educators
• Early childhood program directors
• Homeschool parents of young children
• Teaching artists working with early learners
• Parents seeking creative, developmentally-aligned tools
Elementary Retreat (Ages 5–10)
• Elementary educators
• Homeschool parents of primary-age children
• Teaching artists working in K–4 settings
• Camp directors
• Creative facilitators serving school-age children
New to Talking Hands Talking Feet?
If you’d like to experience our approach before committing to a Training Retreat, we invite you to join one of our free live virtual trainings.
These interactive sessions offer a chance to:
• experience a Talking Hands Talking Feet activity
• learn practical tools you can use right away
• meet us and ask questions
• connect with other educators
Many participants choose to attend a Zoom session first before joining us at Humming Grove Sanctuary.
We keep our retreats intentionally small (9-12 participants) to support meaningful learning and community.
Come to Santa Fe
Breathe
Create
Learn in community
Return home ready to lead with clarity, rhythm, and joy.