Find Your Wild on the American River
Join us June 24–28 for an EPIC, slightly-feral adventure on the legendary American River!
Over five days, we’ll be glamping festival-style under the stars, rafting two iconic river runs, hike the Western Sierra, bonding in workshops and share circles, playing HILARIOUS games, and fueling our bodies with delicious nosh.
You’ll get two days of professionally guided whitewater rafting — starting with a beginner-friendly warm-up (Class II–III), then leveling up to a more adventurous but totally doable Class III–IV run once we’ve found our groove as a team.
When we’re not on the river or the trail, we’ll be vibing at our decked-out glamp-camp: unicorn floaties, disco balls, cozy hangouts, a stocked camp kitchen, a gas fire pit, and a whole lot of laughter.
If you’ve been craving nature, connection, courage, and sober shenanigans with a group of sober misfits… this is your sign.
This Retreat is for YOU if:
- You love camping, nature, and don’t mind getting a little dirty.
- You’re outdoorsy at heart....or want to become the kind of woman who does bold, brave things outside.
- You crave adventure that pushes you just enough to make you proud.
- You’re excited to go whitewater rafting (maybe for the first time!) with a supportive, hype-you-up crew.
- You want to build courage, confidence, and trust in your own strength.
- Want to create a sober life that feels so exciting and magical that your drinking days can't even COMPETE!
- You want memories (and photos) that makes you think "Damn, I am a badass!"
- You're ready to contribute to creating a safe, judgement-free zone with respect for everyone's unique sobriety journey.
- You’re craving a sisterhood of like-minded sober misfits who laugh hard, feel deeply, and support each other fiercely.
About the Rafting
Trip 1: South Fork Warm-Up
On Thursday, we’ll kick things off on the South Fork of the American River. This stretch is Class II–III, which is an easy, beginner-friendly section featuring fun, bouncy rapids and plenty of time to relax, soak in the scenery, and hone our whitewater skills!
Between rapids, we’ll build our sober sisterhood with some fun connection games and share circles!
This day is all about easing in, building confidence, and bonding with our crew.
Trip 2: Middle Fork Adventure
On Friday, we level up. We’ll head out early for a full-day adventure on the Middle Fork of the American River, an intermediate run known for its world-class Class III–IV rapids and stunning wilderness setting.
This stretch is STUNNING, with towering canyon walls, forested ridges, fun rapids between sections of calm water.
By this point, we’ll feel solid and confident as a team! We'll be hootin’ and hollerin’ through the rapids, cheering each other on, and feeling like absolute rockstars by the time we pull off the river.
About our Campground
Home base is a camping resort nestled on the American River just outside Coloma, California.
Resort amenities include:
- Access to American River
- Access to private pool
- Access to a stocked fishing pond (if you like to fish)
- Access to hiking trail
- Camp bathroom facilities w/ hot showers
Our group's campsite will include:
- Vibes: Canopies, twinkle lights, disco balls, rugs, inflatable furniture, camp kitchen, unicorn floaties, a camp mascot and MORE!
- Picnic tables
- Chairs for each camper
- Firepit
- Hammocks
- Camp Kitchen
Tentative Itinerary
Day 1 Wednesday
5 pm – Check in
6 pm – Snack, mocktails, meet & greet, and icebreakers!
7 pm – Dinner & hang
Day 2 Thursday
8 am – Breakfast
8:30 am – Depart for first day of rafting. Class II & III rapids.
Noon - Lunch served riverside.
4:30 pm - Arrive back at camp. Decompress. Snacks & NA bubbly.
6:30 pm - Dinner
7:30 - Evening share circle
Day 3 Friday
6:30 am - Breakfast
7 am - Depart for second day of rafting. Class II, III, IV rapids.
4:30 pm - Arrive back at camp.
6:30 pm - Dinner
7 pm - Workshop
Day 4 Saturday
8 am - Breakfast
9 am - Depart for day hike
noon pm - Return for Lunch.
4 pm - GAMES
6:30 pm - Family dinner
7:30 pm - Share circle
Day 4 Sunday
8 am - Breakfast
11 am - Say goodbye (but pinky promise we'll adventure again soon)
*Please note we may modify our itinerary as necessary due to weather, conditions, illness, injury, group dynamics, or other unforeseen incidents.
Meet Your Host
Laura Van Antwerp
Home: Reno, Nevada
Sober time: 8 years
Bio: Laura is a full-fledged adventure junkie who can’t resist the call of the wild! From hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing to whitewater rafting, snowboarding, mountain biking and canyoneering—if it’s outdoors, she’s probably already done it (and planned the sequel).
As a backpacking and hiking guide, a guest speaker at the University of Nevada, Reno, and the proud recipient of the 2022 Windfeldt Inspire Award, Laura brings a mix of expertise, passion, and laughter to every adventure. She's on a mission to empower women to find connection, joy, and HAVE FUN without the booze or hangovers!
Some of Laura’s most epic escapades include conquering Snake Dike on the front face of Half Dome in Yosemite, backpacking nine unforgettable days through the Andes mountains in Peru, and canyoneering in Zion National Park.
When she’s not blazing trails, you’ll find Laura tending to her 132 (and counting) houseplants, fostering dogs with her husband (to the eternal side-eye of their cat), or whipping up laugh-out-loud reels on Instagram at @yoursoberpal.
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder | CPR Certified | Leave No Trace Level 2 | Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) Practitioner | Certified Listening Circle Facilitator
Photo Album
We've had some epic fun adventuring, connecting and laughing together. Check out some of the photos from past year's whitewater retreat!
Word on the Street
See testimonials from amazing women who said YES to joining the Whitewater Adventure Retreat!
Your Retreat Package Includes:
4 nights on a mountain-view campsite on the American River
Room in a large 2-room cabin tent you'll be sharing with a roommate - (upgrade to a smaller, private tent available).
Cot & sleeping pad
Festival-inspired glamping setup with cute rugs, disco balls, inflatable lounge furniture, a kitchen area, and all the cozy, playful touches!! WILL BE SO FUN!
2 days of professionally guided whitewater rafting
1 guided group hike
All meals, snacks and NA bevvies! (4 breakfast, 4 dinner, 3 lunches)
YSP Adventures Whitewater Rafting Crew Hats (because we GOTTA match on the river!)
Goodie Bags
Access to all photos + videos from the trip (including pro rafting photos) so you can stay fully present
Optional camping bundle (additional fee): sleeping bag, silk liner, pillow, headlamp
Not Included:
Airfare to Sacramento airport
Transportation to camp
Travel insurance
Let's Do This!
Private Tent (no cot)
K̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶B̶e̶d̶:̶ ̶$̶3̶,̶2̶0̶0̶ sold out
Shared 2-roomTent (with cot)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the physical requirements?
Attendees much be able to swim and fit the provided life jackets with all buckles fastened. The adult life jackets fit a maximum torso circumference of 52 inches. You'll also need to be comfortable with paddling for a few hours each day. People with a history of heart trouble, asthma, epilepsy, allergy to bee stings, or any other potentially serious medical condition should consult their doctor before applying. People who are pregnant are advised against attending.
How extreme/dangerous are the white water rapids?
There are 6 different classes of whitewater, ranging from Class 1 to Class 6. We'll be doing Class 2 to Class 4. Class III (3) rapid are considered fun and forgiving. Class IV (4) are considered adventurous! Your heart will be pumping, you'll get splashed, and you might pop off the raft (but not likely).
To put things into perspective, lot's of middle school boy scout and girl scout clubs do this whitewater rafting trip. So yes, YOU CAN DO THIS!
How sober do I have to be?
While we welcome women at all stages of their journey with alcohol, it’s important to note that the retreat environment centers around open and vulnerable conversations about sobriety and personal growth.
If you are sober-curious or early in your journey, we ask that you reflect on whether you are ready to engage in a supportive, safe space where sobriety is a shared commitment among participants and openly discussed. Most importantly, we seek to create a safe and respectful environment where everyone feels supported in their unique path in sobriety.
I've never gone whitewater rafting and I'm scared!
It's totally natural and normal to feel anxious about trying something new and adventurous. I carefully chose this trip so that it's safe but also EXCITING!
You'll also be with a bunch of other girlie pops who are also doing it for their first time! In fact, almost half of the group last year was doing it for their first time!
We were NERVOUS but once it was over everyone was like OMFG I CAN'T WAIT TO DO THIS AGAIN! I promise you won't regret this! If it makes your whole body tingle, that's your sign to say YES!
Is a payment plan available?
Yes! We understand that paying the full cost upfront would prevent some folks from being able to attend. We offer a few payment plans that you can learn about here!
PLEASE, if you are struggling to conquer credit card debt or meet your basic needs, this adventure is not for you. I ask that you prioritize your financial healing journey and keep an eye out for our FREE day hikes throughout the year.
If you are struggling with credit card debt, visit this link below to set up a free session with a nonprofit credit counseling service.