Programs for Women
Nature immersion courses, workshops, hikes and retreats for women
Our women’s programs and retreats provide safe opportunities for women to explore their interests, experience new adventures, and relax and spend mindful time in nature and in good company.
Nature Art and Reflections Autumn Workshop for Women
EarthSteps and Islam & Earth Present:
2 - Day Nature-Based Art & Reflections Autumn Workshop for Women (18+)
Join us for a cozy 2-day workshop where you gather with your fellow Muslim sisters in a beautiful log cabin to contemplate on the beauty of Allah's Creation and allow your creativity to flow. Participants will have opportunities to engage in collective and individual reflective activities and produce art inspired by the beauty of Allah swt's Autumn creations.
Spaces are limited!
Dates: Saturday October 12th & Sunday October 13th, 2024
Time: 10am to 2pm
Location: Mississauga, ON L5J 4T2
Fee: $125 for both days, materials included
FACILITATOR - Memona Hossain
Memona Hossain is a mother, community-based collaborator and a PhD candidate of the Applied Ecopsychology. She is trained in Eco-Art Therapy. She holds a Master’s in Education from the University of Toronto and has been a lecturer at the UofT's School of Environment. Memona has been involved in Islamic & community based activism for 20+ years and serves on the Board of Directors for The Muslim Association of Canada, Faith & the Common Good and Willow Park Ecology Centre. She is the founder of the Islam & Earth project: www.islamandearth.com
Women’s Hiking Club, Fall 2023
Join us for a guided weekly hike to reflect on Allah’s signs in nature. Wake up your senses, absorb fresh air, get active and build connections. We will learn about the flora and fauna around us, participate in mindfulness activities and play some nature games along the way.
Dates: Sundays, September 10th to October 29th (8 weeks)
Time: 11:30 am to 1:30pm
Suitable for: Women and girls ages 13+ (girls must be accompanied by an adult)
Participants must be comfortable walking on uneven terrain for 2 hours.
Location: Various conservation areas in the GTA.
Embrace Nature, Spring 2023: An Islamic Ecopsychology Course for Women
Facilitated by Memona Hossain
This program is specifically designed to re-invigorate and integrate a nature-connective framework through the Islamic worldview. These sessions are aimed at providing an experience where we interact with a small community of sisters through shared nature-based experiences to help bring hope, resilience, and opportunities for deeper contemplation of the Creation of Allah(swt).
Learning objectives include:
Connecting and interacting uniquely with the creation of Allah(swt)
Exploring Islamic teachings, & verses of the Qur’an & sacred hadith with reflections on nature
Building sisterhood
Exploring ways to gain a deeper understanding of how nature communicates
Understanding how perspectives through nature help us gain insight on how to navigate our own lives
Applying principles of eco-art therapy to produce nature inspired artwork that breaks free from societal constrictions of artistic techniques
Outdoor Watercolour Workshop for Women
EarthSteps and Brushed with Peace held an outdoor watercolour workshop for women by Ayesha Ansari in May 2023. We learned watercolour skills and created a watercolour painting in a beautiful outdoor setting with other women.
Women’s Spring Hiking Retreat 2023 in Killarney
We spent a weekend on a spring hiking retreat with our staff and volunteers in Killarney, Ontario. We connected with each other through games, fireside discussions and canoe/kayak trips. We built resilience through challenging hikes, up cliffs and in downpours. We reflected in quiet silence, journaled and connected with Allah through outdoor prayer. There were challenges, there were discomforts, there was lots of patience. But there was also connection, confidence and contentment.
We conquered “The Crack” in Killarney, one of the most challenging hikes in Ontario. We hiked uphill for 5 and a half hours amid a sea of blackflies and clamoured up a cliff of rocks on all fours to reach the top. The view was breathtaking but our confidence in ourselves and our faith in the Creator was even more rewarding. So proud of our staff and volunteers for conquering this challenge together.
Women’s Winter Retreat 2023
A relaxing and rejuvenating winter retreat for women. We hiked, crafted, shared reflections, enjoyed delicious food, played games and connected with each other and our Creator in a beautiful setting.