17/02/2026
"Isn't it free to walk around the lake? Why does your Girls Youth Walk cost $20?".
I love this feedback! As it has provided me with the opportunity, to share a little, as to WHY after 6 years I have decided to change up what we offer our youth here at Wildflower Sanctuary 🙏
After many many years of, regular engagement with our youth - hearing their struggles, wants, needs, goals and the like - I realised, that what I was offering - had to change and grow. I felt there was more that I could do to be of support, but felt limited with both personal space, time and environment.
One of the key areas, I have found, our youth openly admit to struggling with - has been motivation. In many different forms. That could be... Physical motivation, getting our bodies moving each day. Getting outdoors. Off our phones and out into the world. Connecting, in person - with peers.
Motivation towards our goals and some feeling a lack of ongoing support, from our peers, to achieve them. I hear our youth, wanting a cheer squad, that believes in and empowers them 💪
Another, is that for many years, many of our youth, have asked for me to host more regular events in which they could attend. They want to be here. They WANT the support. However, with keeping the age demographics seperate and the primary location of our past events being at my home residence - I could not meet this need.
The weekly Girls Youth Walk encompassing all 3 of our age ranges, now meets, the needs identified in both of these key areas - exceed them even.
And that, is why I Created the Girls Youth Walk.
The walk around Oxenford Lake, isn't just a walk - it's about supporting the needs of our youth. Taking on board everything that I have heard and learnt from our youth these past 6 years and creating a programme that I believe, will meet these needs and support our youth with ongoing positive changes and habits that support their current and future selves.
Why do I ask for $20 in return?
Because reciprocity is important. And a high value of mine. The $20 exchange, goes towards the time each week I spend in advertising and responding to messages and comments etc. The countless hours I spend creating and developing programmes and events. The study and education I have acquired over the years aswell as the skills and knowledge I continue to spend my time and finances on developing so I can be of best support to our youth. Aswell, as the actual physical time involved - during the events.
I am known, for always keeping my prices as low as possible. And I do so, for a few reasons...
1 - it is important to me that all financial demographics can afford to attend and be part of, our events.
2 - Wildflower Sanctuary (to me) is not a business. It wasn't created to make money and be my financial means of support. I created Wildflower Sanctuary, because being of support to our youth - matters to me. AND I understand the importance and value of reciprocity - for both the giver and the receiver. So an exchange, must take place. However I do my best, to keep this exchange, as minimal as possible whilst also not undervaluing myself. (Although MANY say that I am!)
"Okay, but what about all the activities that we usually run during our Connection Circles?"
That, is why we have created the Girls Youth Retreats. Think our Conection Circle offerings.... But BIGGER. More activities & wellness programes, more time & space, more interpersonal connection, more depth - more more more more more!
There is only so much, you can offer, during a 2.5 hr Connection Circle once a month per age group. And I heard our youth, and parents, wanting more. These retreats - now fulfill those needs 🙏
Our Girls Youth Walks are designed to work alongside our Girls Youth Retreats. The walks - providing that much needed weekly access to support - focusing on motivation, empowerment, accountability and connection - keeping our girls feeling supported more regularly and actually moving forward towards their individual goals. Combined with the Retreats, which are held every 2 months, these provide the space and opportunity for the girls to continue their growth and development with our various spiritual and science based practices, foster deeper connections, and more time and space to open up and express freely in a supported environment.
My mission, has always been, to provide a safe space for our youth to express freely, to connect - with themselves, each other and their environment and, to learn various skills and gain various forms of knowledge, that assist in supporting their own unique wellbeing journeys.
Wildflower Sanctuary is blooming 🌸🏵️🪻
