Family Yoga, Nature, Fly Fishing Retreat

Whitewater State Park

Altura, MN

April 17-19, 2026

Looking for an accessible way to “camp” with your family while participating in yoga, nature play, and fly fishing?

Would you like to enjoy a yoga class or fly fishing lessons while your kiddos are fully engaged in guided nature play with experienced outdoor educators?

We’ve got the ultimate weekend lined up for you and your family!

Outdoor education + adventure, yoga + mindfulness, fly fishing, and quality family time in a beautiful setting is our goal. 

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Whitewater State Park

Enjoy the Whitewater River through play, yoga, meditation, and fly-fishing.

The perfect combination of natural surroundings, family-based activities, nature-based lessons, and guided outdoor play.

People sitting at an outdoor picnic table in front of a brown building with a triangular entrance and stone steps, on a clear day with a blue sky and leafless trees in the background.
Young girl fishing with a stick in a river, with a man and two other children standing nearby on a wooded riverbank.

There’s no such thing as bad weather!

Join Bryana Cook of Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats, Nora Woodworth of Happy Dancing Turtle - Driftless Region, Dan Ryan of Dan Ryan Guide Service, and Alayna Sobieniak & Lance Prado of Root River Rod Co.

Together, we’ve planned the ultimate yoga/nature play education/fly fishing family weekend!

There’s something for everyone in this experience. You will enjoy activities both with your kiddos, and without (while they are fully engaged & cared for).

A man stands on the riverbank with a rowboat and paddles behind him. He is wearing a tan and gray jacket, a cap, and has a slight smile. The river is surrounded by green trees.
A woman enjoying herself in the snow in a wooded area, wearing winter clothing including a gray beanie, white hoodie, and tan snow boots.
Woman sitting on a blanket outdoors, holding a colorful molecular model, surrounded by toys and a children's book, with trees and a body of water in the background.
  • Nature & Mindfulness Teacher

    Nora is an outdoor educator and trained 200-hour yoga teacher.

    She is Happy Dancing Turtle’s program manager & specialist, which entails designing and implementing nature educational programs for youth and adults. Many summers spent outdoors at summer camp led Nora to pursue a B.S. in Conservation and Resource Management, but her love for sharing her passion for nature led her down the environmental education route instead, obtaining an M.S. in Education and a K-6 MN Teaching license. Nora started at the Pine River location but has moved on to the Driftless Region, bringing HDT’s programs with her! She lives in Trempealeau, WI with her husband, Jake and beloved pup, Stryder. When she’s not at work, you’ll find her outdoors (no matter the season!) hiking, paddling, snowshoeing, skiing, camping, reading, hammocking, looking for critters, taking pictures, or just staring and wondering at the marvels of nature!

  • Nature & Mindfulness Teacher

    Alayna was born and raised on Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota, attended college on the shores of Lake Superior at Northern Michigan University, and now lives in Southeast Minnesota just a couple blocks from the Root River. She loves fresh water!

    Alayna’s passion in life is introducing young children to the outdoors. She has her degree in Early Childhood Development and has taught in various settings including forest schools, Waldorf schools, and nature preschools, for the last 15 years.

    She loves to spend time with her family, traveling, practicing and teaching yoga, fly fishing, hiking and cooking local, fresh foods!

    Alayna completed Boreal Bliss Yoga Teacher Training in 2020 and has been retreating with them since 2017!

    She also is also the second generation owner of her family business, Root River Rod Co, Fly Shop and Guide Service in Lanesboro, Minnesota with her partner Lance Prado.  They have two kids: 12 & 3 years old.

  • Fly Fishing Guide

    Lance Prado loves to cast at anything that swims. He is the owner and Head Guide at Root River Rod Co in Lanesboro MN.

    Lance spends most of his days rowing a drift boat and putting people on Trout and Small Mouth bass.

    When he is not guiding, he is helping people in the Fly shop select the right flies and gear and point them in the right direction to have a great day in the Driftless. He loves introducing new anglers to the sport of fly fishing!

    In his free time, he also likes to fish for muskies with his fly rod and takes trips out west and to the salt a couple times a year. When he’s not on the water he’s enjoying time with his family, snowboarding or skateboarding with his daughter, and running. 

Smiling woman dressed in outdoor gear, kneeling with hands clasped, among other hikers.
A man and a young boy are outdoors by a lake, showing off a caught fish. The man is holding the fish and smiling, wearing sunglasses, a white shirt, and outdoor gear. The boy is standing next to him, wearing a blue shirt and dark pants, with a neutral expression. The background features water, trees, and a cloudy sky.
  • Retreat Director & Yoga Teacher

    Boreal Bliss Yoga Retreats Co-Owner, LICSW, E-RYT 500, YACEP, Wilderness First Aid Certified, Children’s Yoga Calm Specialist

    Bryana lives deep in the northwoods in tiny Longville, MN with her husband, Dan Ryan and their two kiddos (4 & 6 years old), dog, cat, chickens, and gardens.

    She is passionate about pursuing outdoor adventure, and loves to celebrate the pairing/benefits of yoga, meditation, and breathwork. As a licensed mental health professional, she loves to connect people with the enormous benefits of yoga and nature.

    Bryana enjoys teaching gentle and fluid vinyasa classes. Yoga philosophy and the subtle benefits of consistent practice are elements that she can never learn enough about.

    For nearly a decade, she takes an annual trek into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) with her friend, Nora. Each year the peace & adventure of this raw wilderness revives her in unexplainable ways.

  • Nature Camp Specialist & Fishing Guide

    Dan Ryan is the owner/operator of Dan Ryan Guide Service located in Longville, MN. He specializes in Walleye fishing, but loves any and all varieties of fishing.

    He spent his younger years fly fishing in Southern Minnesota. Most recently he has enjoyed fly fishing for salmon in Alaska.

    Dan has a Master’s degree in Environmental Education. He enjoys teaching through experiential learning. In the off-season, he works at Deep Portage Environmental Learning Center in Hackensack, MN.

    Dan lives in Longville with his wife, Bryana and their two boys, Lucas and Graham. He’s looking forward to making this retreat a full family affair.

What’s Included?

In the lodging options pricing below, the following is included:

camper cabin lodging | children’s nature programming | guided family recreation | yoga classes for families, adults-only, kids-only | outfitted & guided fly fishing | campfire | hiking | drinking water, tea, coffee | full use of Whitewater State Park group center amenities (bathroom + showerhouse, commercial kitchen, group meeting areas, firewood for indoor/outdoor fires) | good old-fashioned fun!!

Excluded:

  • meals - you can opt to add a meal-plan or bring your own food with option to use the commercial kitchen in the group space for the weekend

  • snacks & beverages for your family (drinking water, coffee, and tea is included and available in the group center)

  • bedding - bring personal bedding (i.e. sheets + blankets or sleeping bags, pillows)

  • towels & personal bathroom supplies (toilet paper, flushing toilets, and hot showers included)

  • no wi-fi in the group center area (can drive up the road to the visitor center for wi-fi)

  • cell service is limited in the valley where the group center is located (can usually walk a short distance and find spotty cell service)

Lodging Options + Application

    • Private family room within a camper cabin: 2 people total

    • 2 beds (queen & twin) in your private room with closing door.

    • 1 adult + 1 child

    • Provide own bedding.

    • Heated

    • Toilets/shower house and sinks are located a short walk outside.

    • Dining hall, kitchen, and programming located a short walk outside.

    • Private family room within a camper cabin: 3 people total

    • 2 beds (queen & twin) in your private room with closing door.

    • 1 or 2 adult(s) + 1 or 2 kids: combination equivalent to 3 in total.

    • Ideal for smaller families, or those with younger children and/or high-energy children that need more privacy and a quieter setting for napping or to fall asleep at night.

    • Provide own bedding.

    • Heated

    • Toilets/shower house and sinks are located a short walk outside.

    • Dining hall, kitchen, and programming located a short walk outside.

  • Reserve half of a camper cabin for your family: 3-4 people total. (add a 5th person for $200/per person)

    • 4 twin beds (lower bunk beds).

    • Appropriate for 1-2 adults and 1-2 kids.

    • Ideal for families with older children that are capable of self-regulation and quiet time. There is a short hallway and open doors to each room. The middle room has two twin beds and a closing door.

    • Provide your own bedding.

    • Heated

    • Toilets/shower house and sinks are located a short walk outside.

    • Dining hall, kitchen, and programming located a short walk outside.

    • Cabin description: When you walk in there is an open doorway to a room with four bunkbeds (8 beds in total) to the left, and an identical open door with room on the right: four bunkbeds (8 beds). Additionally there is one bedroom between the two rooms with a door that closes and two beds (one queen + one twin).

  • Camper Cabin buyout: 5-8 people total (additional ppl = $200 per person)

    • An entire camper cabin for your friends/family. More space!

    • Fill a bunkhouse style camper cabin with your family or add your friends' family too!

    • Ideal for families attending together.

    • Ideal for families with older children and/or children that are capable of self-regulation and quiet time. There is a short hallway and open doors to each room. The middle room has two twin beds and a closing door.

    • Heated

    • Toilets/shower house and sinks are located a short walk outside.

    • Dining hall, kitchen, and programming located a short walk outside.

    • Will need to bring your own bedding.

    • Cabin description: When you walk in there is an open doorway to a room with four bunkbeds (8 beds in total) to the left, and an identical open door with room on the right: four bunkbeds (8 beds). Additionally there is one bedroom between the two rooms with a door that closes that has two beds (one queen + one twin).

  • Commute to and from your own home/vacation spot in the area. Enjoy all retreat activities and options. Option meal plan add-on is separate.

  • Meal plans optional addition. A link for payment will be provided to registered retreaters. Meals include:

    • Friday Dinner

    • Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner

    • Sunday brunch

    Adults: $115 per person

    Kids 12 and up: $95 per person

    Kids 3-11: $65 per person

    Kids 2 and under: free (with equivalent adult purchase)

Apply Here

More Info

  • All ages! Bring the whole family: parent(s), child(ren), grandparent(s), and more.

    We provide programming for the whole family, and programming for children based on age groups. We will formalize the age categories based on attending families. The age groups breakdown, may look something like:

    • birth-2 years

    • 3-5 years

    • 6-12 years

    • 13+ years

    You can email with us and let us know if you think your child will not take part in age-based child-only programming. Email is hello@borealblissyogaretreats.com.

  • As soon as possible. You will be able to accept or decline a spot after your application. Your spot is fully reserved once we’ve reach out to you and you’ve submitted a deposit.

    Kindly apply by January 31, 2026 if you'd like a payment plan.  Pay-in-full option by February 28th.  Details included in application.

  • As part of our ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion in the yoga space, we are offer scholarships to retreats. Please fill out a scholarship application under the “scholarship foundation” tab at the top of the website.

  • 6+ weeks notice: $40 fee

    5-6 weeks notice: $80 fee

    4 weeks notice: $100 fee

    3 weeks and less notice : 75% of total amount fee

    14 days or less notice: no refunds available

    We hope that you can appreciate the amount of time, love, and energy we wholeheartedly put into each retreat. Not just during the event, but the many months leading up to it.

    We do not cancel events or refund based on weather. “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”