# Event Details - **Event Name**: Northern Gaming Retreat Spring 2026 - **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 15 May, 2026 at 01:00 pm – Mon, 18 May, 2026 at 04:00 pm (-04:00) - **Event Description**: Join in for a weekend getaway to play games, make new friends, enjoy bespoke catering, and unwind in scenic North Eastern Ontario.About this Eventhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WqrcqdRc8M“This retreat was so fun. I met so many amazing people who share my love for board games, and the retreat team were so accommodating. They went out of their way to make sure we had fun without feeling constrained. I left feeling like I wanted it to last longer.”Changeling Event Type: Northern Gaming Retreat. Age recommendation 14yrs +Join Changeling Gaming for a Gamers Retreat in partnership with Springwood Cottage Resort, a perfect picturesque place for a relaxing weekend getaway with bespoke catering provided by Dining & Dragons.Come as a group or solo, and we can help pair you up with community tables throughout the event. From strategy and adventure to cooperative and party mode, there will be something for everyone! https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/120a1d30-1e6c-11f1-b605-efb0707b8452-rimg-w1200-h600-dc151619-gmir.jpg What to Expect: These 4 days will be a special gathering for gaming enthusiasts and storytellers eager to try new games or return to old classics.Games Library: Springwood has around 1000 board games in their personal collection that you can play from, so there will be plenty of options all weekend long.Guided Play Sessions: Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a curious beginner, join guided sessions led by Changeling Gaming Experts, who’ll walk you through game mechanics, strategies, tips to boost your gameplay, and assist with new rulebooks.More than Boards: Changeling Gaming Experts will also be hosting role-playing and social deception games throughout the weekend, including Dungeons & Dragons, and Blood on the Clocktower.Cozy Accommodations: The retreat is designed for relaxation and connection. Enjoy cozy lakeside lounge spaces, scenic outdoor spots, and designated social hours for bonding over shared gaming and other awesome nerd passions.Unwind & Reconnect with Nature: In between gaming sessions, gamers may choose to take in the fresh country air at this picturesque lakeside setting to explore the local nature trails, try seasonal waterfront activities, or stargaze as they warm up by the outdoor campfire. With plenty of outdoor options to explore, gamers can enjoy the resort independently or during scheduled group meetups.Bespoke Catered Menu: Also a foodie!? You are in luck! For this event we will be joined by Dining & Dragons head chef, Nick Heckbert. He will be making up the most delicious food all weekend long so you can keep gaming on! Food is a passion for Nick, so expect a personal experience, with menu accommodations to any dietary need.Spring Seasonal Special Events: What’s unique about the Spring Northern Gaming Retreat?Even more retreat!: The event is extended over the long weekend to be 4 days and 3 nights for our gaming getaway.Themed Game Selections: Board Games will be in theme with the coming of a new warmer season, including games centred around gardens and animals.Restful Activities: This season has warm, rainy days, fresh and brisk mornings, and gorgeous sunsets. So outdoor programming will be focused on restful and rejuvenating activities to help shake off the Winter, and welcome the Spring.Note: Participants should dress appropriately for weather conditions as they will be venturing outside along a rough terrain between cottages throughout the weekend and will have the option of experiencing outdoor activities, such as canoeing, bonfires, hiking, and more!“Such a fulfilling experience to be surrounded by other folks who share the same passion as I do for board games. The event was perfectly executed so I can relax and enjoy playing all the games I wanted.”How to Register:To host this event, we are partnering with Springwood Cottage Resort and Dining & Dragons to bring you the best weekend retreat experience. This means that tickets will be customizable for your stay! So, how will they work to reserve?Step 1: Please RSVP your spot using Eventbrite’s ticket sale options.Step 2: A representative from Changeling Gaming will be in touch to assist with the booking of your event services, including catering, rooms, and transportation.Step 3: Changeling Gaming will place your final booking with Springwood Cottage Resort who will take payment for your booking. RSVPs using Eventbrite are only for starting the reservation and do not confirm your official attendance. Only once payment has been sent to Springwood will your booking be finalized.Admission & Lodging:Your purchase will include: 4 Days and 3 Nights at Springwood Cottage Resort, as well as bespoke catering, and access to all retreat activities! Drinks will be BYOD - this is to reduce cost on your admission and give folks the option to bring the beverage of their choice.Community Cabins (shared amenities): For your stay, the cabins will be subdivided into individual room bookings. Upon reserving, you will have one of two options to choose from:Multi Occupancy - Shared Private Rm or Hostel Rm - $665 + tax per personSingle Occupancy - Private Rm - $875 + tax.Share with 1-3 other participants in bunk bed roomsAttendees may book rooms with other guests, and/or gender-specific rooms upon registration.Once registration closes, guests will be assigned to cottages and may be given room upgrades (where available) based on their Changeling Membership Status and then the time of booking.Upgrades:Guaranteed Bed(s) Arrangement $80 + tax per room: The default room is a twin bunk bed. This upgrade allows you to choose your bedroom layout for those who are hoping to lock in, for example, a queen or two twins, etc.Guaranteed Amenities Upgrade $80 + tax per request: This upgrade allows you to choose a particular amenity for your assigned cottage. These are a great add-on option for those who may want a guaranteed hot tub, lake view, etc.Private Cottage $250 + tax per group: This is perfect for those guests who want to not only lock in their room layout but also want to share a cottage with other guests. Additional benefits,You can choose your cottage! So long as the room occupancy is met, ie two people minimum can book a 2-bedroom cottage. Note, selection is subject to availability and with some exclusions for specialty cabins needed to host retreat activities.By being able to pick your cottage, this allows you to lock in your preferred amenities, ie a hot tub or waterfront view etc.During the retreat weekend, you will have the first right of refusal on booking the same cabin for the next same-season retreat in the new year.Add-OnsEarlybird Discount: Save 10% on your Community Cottage purchase until Sunday, April 19th, 2026.Promo Codes: Make sure to add any special promo codes from our partners and friends! If booking within the Earlybird promo period, the 10% discount will automatically be applied.Advantages for early registration: In addition to saving 10% on your booking, you gain,Early access to activity schedules and signups. Be the first to craft your weekend and grab your seats before tables fill up!There are a limited number of queen beds and cabins with hot tubs etc. These rooms and cabins are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, so early registrants will be the first to select their most preferred accommodations.Registration Schedule: Starting at 10 AM each day,Monday, March 16th - Previous Spring 2025 attendeesTuesday, March 17th - Subscribed Changeling Special Events MembersWednesday, March 18th - Subscribed Changeling Board Game Members and gamers who attended Fall 2025 or Winter 2026.Thursday, March 19th - General PublicChangeling Memberships include event discounts for our paid subscribers. After just two events within a 30-day period, our members save, with the potential of over $80 per month! Don't miss out, and sign up today to start saving and get ahead of the line to book your reservation. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events4/banners/154c28d0-1e6c-11f1-b605-efb0707b8452-rimg-w1200-h600-dc634530-gmir.jpg “A wonderful, cozy weekend playing my favourite games with a group of welcoming fellow gaming enthusiasts.”:Springwood is an all season boutique cottage resort with 17 well appointed and tastefully decorated cottages nestled on the banks of Kennebec Lake in Central Frontenac, surrounded by mature trees and gorgeous views. The resort features a large sandy private beach, playground, marina, general store, plenty of gathering areas and a large common games room. With a focus on comfort, it is the perfect place to connect with nature, disconnect from technology, and of course, PLAY GAMES! With all this, we could not ask for a better place to have a retreat.Transportation By Car: Springwood Cottage Resort is centrally located just off Highway 7. It is approximately (with good traffic) 2.5-hours North-East of Toronto, 1-hour North of Kingston, 1.5-hours West of Peterborough and 1.5 hours East of Ottawa. Parking is available onsite. Where possible, we encourage participants to carpool. Once in our retreat Discord, you will be able to connect with other attendees to coordinate ride sharing. https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/158958e0-1e6c-11f1-9288-05a1a3d82dd3-rimg-w1200-h600-dc1a1813-gmir.jpg “I felt welcome, especially in complex games where I was inexperienced.”: Changeling Gaming is a collective of game instructors who host both public and private game experiences in Toronto and together create game content for YouTube. Our mission is to help folks find the right games for their tables and to create safe, accessible, and welcoming spaces to play games and make new friends along the way.Activities Schedule:Check-In is available anytime after 1:00 PM on Friday, May 15thCheck-Out must be complete before 4:00 PM on Monday, May 18thThe full schedule of optional activities hosted by Changeling Gaming, Springwood Cottage Resort, Dining & Dragons, and other partners, will become available for sign-up once registration is confirmed.The weekend is yours to design! Either by joining in the pre-scheduled activities or coordinating with other attendees to play board games on your own time. You may also choose to schedule your own nature adventures with the support of Springwood Cottage Resort staff upon arrival.For more on what you might expect, check out our schedule from the Winter 2026 Retreat.“The meals were incredible, not anything like traditional retreat food. Everything was prepared fresh and made to order. I wish I could have tried every dish, and I appreciated that my dietary needs were accommodated.”Catering for the weekend:Included in your admission is full catering, so you can keep on gaming all weekend long! Joining us to provide a delicious fine dining, bespoke menu is Nicolas Heckbert, the owner and head chef of Dining & Dragons. The menu created for this event is a wonderful mix of familiar, comforting foods and an elevated and exciting approach. Cozy food for a Spring retreat that promises to satisfy and keep you adventuring to your heart's content.A firm believer in no limits to what can be created with food, Dining & Dragon's head chef and founder, Nicolas Heckbert, is always excited to curate to one’s preferences and needs to the point of invention, making him the perfect person to pair food with our games. In fact, his most important belief is, just like games, that food is FUN, and that sharing a meal should always be enjoyed. An experiential goal which is in exact alignment with what this weekend retreat is all about.Example Menu Options:Spaghetti Bolognese with Grana Padano6 oz Burger (optional to add cheese or bacon) with FriesVegetarian Rice Bowl with Fried TofuMaple Fried Chicken with Pan Fried Sprouts and WafflesHearty Ratatouille Lasagna (Vegan and Gluten Free) https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events1/banners/18c1a080-1e6c-11f1-b605-efb0707b8452-rimg-w1200-h600-dc2f2d30-gmir.jpg Photography Disclaimer:Please note that photos and videos will be taken at the event for use on social media to show new members what our gatherings are like, and to also share on the Changeling Community Discord, so we can all look back on the fun moments gaming together. If you wish to remain off-camera, please let our team know once on-site so we can direct you to the photo-free tables.Didn't find the answer to your question in the Eventbrite FAQ? Try our Retreat Extended FAQ or join the Changeling Community Discord to connect, ask questions to our Game Experts, and learn when even more gaming events are scheduled!Save the Dates!: Check out our upcoming Gaming Retreats Collection for even more getaway options.https://youtu.be/dcUPufa5hKU?si=SWy_SSqWBl3vqztshttps://youtu.be/ryGYtvGVb7U?si=e2mRmyc6bdoa4o_yOperated by 2796017 Ontario Inc. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/arden/northern-gaming-retreat-spring-2026/100001825964321439 - **Event Categories**: trips-adventures, food-drinks, trekking, workshops, meetups, parties, sports, it, entertainment - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: CAD ## Event venue details - **city**: Arden - **state**: ON - **country**: Canada - **location**: Springwood Cottage Resort - **lat**: 44.74275309999999 - **long**: -76.9418475 - **full address**: Springwood Cottage Resort, 1018 Blue Heron Ridge, Arden, Canada ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Northern Gaming Retreat Spring 2026 - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events7/banners/63bf01e0f1f6f6e9c0b63ab4d0e749125e2778b6eef11fcf424dd571f5b49c3a-rimg-w1200-h600-dc1a4318-gmir.jpg?v=1773379012 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Northern Gaming Retreat Spring 2026 being held? - **A:** Northern Gaming Retreat Spring 2026 takes place on Fri, 15 May, 2026 at 01:00 pm to Mon, 18 May, 2026 at 04:00 pm at Springwood Cottage Resort, 1018 Blue Heron Ridge, Arden, Canada. - **Q**: Who is organizing Northern Gaming Retreat Spring 2026? - **A:** Northern Gaming Retreat Spring 2026 is organized by Changeling Gaming. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Northern Gaming Retreat Spring 2026 is ideal for foodies, craft beverage enthusiasts, and festival fans looking for the best local flavors and experiences. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Arden, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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