# Event Details - **Event Name**: Nature's Portals: Take a Journey to the Heart of Nature - **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 02 Oct, 2026 at 03:00 pm – Sun, 04 Oct, 2026 at 02:00 pm (-04:00) - **Event Description**: We invite you to join us this October at Song of the Morning for Nature's Portals: Take a Journey to the Heart of Nature, a special weekend retreat guided by Bruce and Carol Joy Malnor. "Look at the beautiful earth and how nature keeps it in balance—how there is a plan, an Intelligence behind everything in creation." — Paramahansa Yogananda Come experience the beauty of autumn and the many portals through which nature encourages us to come into our own balance. The energy of the changing season encourages us to let go, breathe deeply, and remember our connection to the living world. Throughout the weekend, we'll explore the many ways immersing ourselves in nature helps us expand our awareness, adjust our perspective, and awaken our spirit. We'll drop into the present moment and relax into nature's flow through guided experiences, playful discovery, and peaceful reflection. As the forests surrounding Song of the Morning are transformed by vibrant color, you'll be invited to step into nature not simply as an observer, but as a participant in its restorative power. Whether walking beneath the colorful canopy, sitting beside the river, or gazing into an endless sky, you'll find opportunities to reconnect with nature—and yourself. REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Click the Tickets button on this event page to view lodging options and reserve your spot. TOUCHED BY RIVER AND SKY Experience the nurturing presence of the natural world through practices that cultivate wonder, awareness, and gratitude. Slow down and awaken your senses through Forest Bathing, I Am the Cloud, Listening to Nature, and the Trail of Beauty, discovering the sacred that surrounds us in this special season as you relax into the flow. EXPERIENCE DEEP NATURE PLAY Rediscover curiosity, joy, and childlike wonder through creative experiences that deepen your relationship with the earth. Activities include Meet a Tree, Silent Sharing Walk, Camera Game, the playful UnNature Trail, Animal Ears & Sound Map, inviting you to see, hear, and experience nature in fresh and unexpected ways. FIND THE QUIET NATURE OFFERS Nature speaks most clearly when we become still enough to listen. Through Stillness Meditation, Water Is Like the Mind, Expanding Circles, and opportunities for quiet reflection, you'll discover how silence, presence, and the gentle rhythms of the natural world can calm the mind—a calm, uncluttered mind is one of the best remedies to ease the stresses in life, and the forest will gently remind you to let your cares drop off like autumn leaves. Whether this is your first visit to Song of the Morning or you're returning to Nature's Portals, we welcome you to take a journey to the heart of nature with us. We trust you'll leave with a renewed sense of wonder, a deeper connection to the natural world, and simple practices you can carry into your everyday life. REGISTRATION DETAILS All-Inclusive: Prices are all inclusive and reflect your accommodations, meals throughout the retreat, access to all retreat programs, and the $150 retreat fee. Lodging Fee: To register, please use the Tickets button on this event page. Your lodging payment includes meals and the retreat fee. The $150 retreat fee helps make these programs sustainable far into the future, and we are grateful to keep this cost as accessible as possible through the generosity of our donors. It is included automatically when you register. Dormitory-style lodging is available for those on a budget, with a sliding scale for those in need. Please reach out to our office for sliding scale and partial work-trade opportunities. WEEKEND SCHEDULE | NATURE'S PORTALS: TAKE A JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF NATURE Please note: These times and locations may change slightly. You will receive your final schedule at check-in. FRIDAY • 2:00–4:00 p.m. – Arrive and get settled • 5:00 p.m. – Dinner • 6:15 p.m. – Coming Together (Walk to the Tipi) • 8:00 p.m. – Meditation with the Clear Light Community (Lodge) SATURDAY • 8:30 a.m. – Meditative Morning Walk (Meet at the Domes) • 10:00 a.m. – Brunch • 11:15 a.m. – Forest, River, and Sky Activities (Meet near the Lodge under the tall tree. Bring a water bottle.) • 2:30 p.m. – Snacks and Free Time to rest, relax, or enjoy nature on your own • 3:30 p.m. – Golden Lotus Hatha Yoga Class (Domes) • 5:00 p.m. – Dinner • 6:30 p.m. – Reflection and Sharing Inspiration Activity (Wheelhouse) • 8:00 p.m. – Community Meditation (Lodge) • 9:15 p.m. – Campfire, Nature Stories, and S'mores (vegan and gluten-free options available) SUNDAY • 9:00 a.m. – Closing Activities: Continuing the Journey at Home (Wheelhouse) • 11:00 a.m. – Community Sunday Service (Domes) • 1:00 p.m. – Sunday Dinner - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/vanderbilt/natures-portals-take-a-journey-to-the-heart-of-nature/200030352846718 - **Event Categories**: health-wellness, meditation, trips-adventures, yoga, workshops, brunch - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 8 ## Ticket Details ## Event venue details - **city**: Vanderbilt - **state**: MI - **country**: United States - **location**: 9607 Sturgeon Valley Rd., E., Vanderbilt, MI, United States, Michigan 49795 - **lat**: 45.15596 - **long**: -84.42769 - **full address**: 9607 Sturgeon Valley Rd., E., Vanderbilt, MI, United States, Michigan 49795 ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Nature's Portals: Take a Journey to the Heart of Nature - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/e7d55bdeb1e6eb747b3c1d604a9a0a651eafe0d569044f415fc490fd73fa7169-rimg-w1200-h628-dc5898b8-gmir?v=1788260442 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Nature's Portals: Take a Journey to the Heart of Nature being held? - **A:** Nature's Portals: Take a Journey to the Heart of Nature takes place on Fri, 02 Oct, 2026 at 03:00 pm to Sun, 04 Oct, 2026 at 02:00 pm at 9607 Sturgeon Valley Rd., E., Vanderbilt, MI, United States, Michigan 49795. - **Q**: Who is organizing Nature's Portals: Take a Journey to the Heart of Nature? - **A:** Nature's Portals: Take a Journey to the Heart of Nature is organized by Song of the Morning Yoga & Meditation Retreat. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Nature's Portals: Take a Journey to the Heart of Nature is ideal for curious learners, students, and skill-builders looking to gain hands-on knowledge and practical expertise in a focused, interactive setting. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Vanderbilt, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Nature's Portals: Take a Journey to the Heart of Nature sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Nature's Portals: Take a Journey to the Heart of Nature", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/e7d55bdeb1e6eb747b3c1d604a9a0a651eafe0d569044f415fc490fd73fa7169-rimg-w1200-h628-dc5898b8-gmir?v=1788260442", "startDate": "2026-10-02T15:00:00-04:00", "endDate": "2026-10-04T14:00:00-04:00", "url": "https://allevents.in/vanderbilt/natures-portals-take-a-journey-to-the-heart-of-nature/200030352846718", "eventStatus": "https://schema.org/EventScheduled", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "9607 Sturgeon Valley Rd., E., Vanderbilt, MI, United States, Michigan 49795", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "9607 E Sturgeon Valley Rd, Vanderbilt, MI 49795-9517, United States", "addressLocality": "Vanderbilt", "addressRegion": "MI", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "45.15596", "longitude": "-84.42769" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "We invite you to join us this October at Song of the Morning for Nature's Portals: Take a Journey to the Heart of Nature, a special weekend retreat guided by Bruce and Carol Joy Malnor.\n\n\"Look at the beautiful earth and how nature keeps it in balance—how there is a plan, an Intelligence behind every", "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Song of the Morning Yoga & Meditation Retreat", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/song-of-the-morning-yoga-and-meditation-retreat/25395719" } ] } ] ```