Children's Change Makers Retreat

⚡ This is more than a retreat. It’s a reset button for your life and your mission. Press Pause to reconnect with your passion and then Press Play to recalibrate your energy with new skills, tools, and strategies to transform your life and the lives of the children you work with.

This is where professional development meets personal transformation.This in-person retreat will be held at the beautiful Elmers Court Hotel & Spa in Lymington in New Forest, England. Picture sailing yachts, marinas and cobbled streets with an ice cream parlour on every corner. A very special place!

Come and surround yourself with like minded professionals who share your passion for supporting children. In the past, our attendees have included doctors, teachers, adult life coaches, business owners, social workers and psychologists. The unique blend of experience and backgrounds , creates a deeply transformational opportunity. Not only will you see different perspectives, but you will also gain clarity on your next steps with your new toolkit of skills.

“I just want to thank Zelna and everybody that took part. I have had an absolutely fabulous time. It’s been so empowering and more than I thought it would ever be and I really want to make a difference now to children’s lives and be a change maker and keep in touchwith everybody and connect. I have learnt so much and the first thing I will do is take all that I have learnt and put it into my family life with my children and take it from there.”

Carmelina Silvestri, Yoga Teacher & Kids Life Coach, Bedfordshire, England, Attended in March 2019

To ensure a deeply personal, mentorship-rich experience, spaces are capped at 12 participants. Step into an environment where you can reset, recalibrate, and rediscover your energy and passion. This retreat blends immersive training with play, rest, and adventure. Every moment is designed to fuel both your personal wellbeing and your professional growth so that you have clarity for your next steps.

This isn’t a sit-back-and-stretch kind of retreat. Over 5 immersive days, you’ll be fully engaged in experiential, interactive learning.

You’ll take part in:✨ Dynamic breakout sessions for reflective practice and peer-to-peer learning.✨ Individual strategy work to map out your personal blueprint.✨ Interactive conversations that spark fresh ideas and new perspectives.✨ Practical planning exercises so you leave with clarity and action steps. ✨ Fun immersive adventures that carry the element of surpise and joy.

The day I enrolled myself I thought I was "investing" to help children.....Far from truth! I was investing for me, to find me, to become capable enough, to match myself to the vibrations of children .... to be able to see what they see... to be able to perceive life through their hearts. A mere thank you to Zelna, can never justify the gratitude I have in my heart.”

Saritha Thulisidas, Architect and certified Kids Life Studio® Coach, Trondheim, Norway, Attended in October 2018

🏡 Your home for the week: A 4-star English manor house & spa, once a spy school and reform school for "troubled" children, now your playground for growth.

🌳 The setting: England’s iconic New Forest, with wild ponies, cobbled streets, and the ocean on your doorstep.

🎓 Your guide: Author of The Secret Parent, Zelna Lauwrens has worked with children since 1996 and trained professionals since 2003 in 47+ countries. With a background in Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, a former Special Needs Teaching and School Counsellor, she is recognized globally as a pioneer in Play Based Coaching®.

🎉 Your days: Training, adventure, connection, and laughter. From coaching workshops to forest hikes, from yoga to hot tea with new friends.

“This is a must for anyone with a passion for working with children. Often we notice that there is so much work to be done with children, but have no idea where to start or how to get involved. This is an ideal opportunity. The training provides you with the skills and theoretical knowledge needed in a fun and enjoyable way. With the assistance and involvement of Zelna you never feel left alone to struggle. She is there every step of the way with guiding feedback.”

Millinda Coffee, Clinical Psychologist, Windhoek, Namibia Attended in April 2014

Accommodation:

Shared self catering 2 or 3 bedroom apartment style accommodation sleeping 4-6. Private rooms available with own bathroom or go with the flow twin sharing. Each apartment has it's own kitchen and dining room for preparing and sharing meals along with a cosy lounge for night time board games or sipping hot tea and nibbling on English Shortbread.

Travel:

If you come by car, parking is available onsite. Lymington Train station within 5 minutes walk. Closest airports Southampton or Bournemouth within a half hour drive. Gatwick and Heathrow Airport around two hours away.

Food:

Daily Lunch and refreshments provided. You will be responsible for your own breakfast and dinner in your self catering apartment kitchen - this isn’t one of those feed your soul, detox, drink green juice kind of retreats! So nourish yourself with food you love with no judgement! Even a glass or two of wine welcome! We can connect you with your apartment mates so you can menu plan for breakfast and dinner and cook together if you choose! Or….Splash the cash with no cooking or washing up dishes….Optional use of in house hotel restaurants or local Eateries within walking distance in Lymington town. Who knows where you end up but know you won’t go hungry!!

👉 Secure your place and join a global movement of Children’s Change Makers.

👉 Early registration recommended to guarantee your spot.

Inclusions:

• 4 nights single or shared accomodation in 4 Star Historic Manor House Spa Hotel (It was a spy school and a reform school so expect the unexpected….)
• 5-days Play Based Brain Building and Brain Balancing activities - (shhh….its a secret…every retreat is different! Yup we know the controller in you is struggling with this. Trust us you will love it!)
• 5 nutritious lunches with refreshments (Ranging from conference style lunches to fish and chips on the quayside and homemade sandwiches from the local deli, you won't go hungry!)
• Free time available for some pampering with access to leisure facilities including jacuzzi, sauna, indoor heated pool and outdoor pool if you are into cold water dipping (excludes beauty treatments…sorry…that’s for another type of retreat not this one!!)
• Want to whack a ball around for fun - tennis courts, pitch and putt green and croquet (not the one you eat the other one.)
• Choice of yoga and fitness classes (If bending your body like a pretzel at sunrise or sunset floats your boat!)
• Towels and toiletries….(unmm yes…collectible miniature bottles you can take home and never use. You know it!!)
• Fully equipped apartment kitchen with fridge and dishwasher (ugggg…practical and needs to be said…moving along)
• Fairtrade Herbal Tea & Coffee, milk and sugar provided.
• Press Pause & Play Toolkit (swag with a playful vibe!!)
• Play Based Adventure activities (all abilities and fitness levels considered so don’t worry)
• Opportunity to connect with thousands of wild ponies in the iconic New Forest along with some tree hugging if that’s your jam! Maybe even make a human friend or two along the way!! Oh and you may even spot some wild deer and a roaming wild pig or two…)

Exclusions:

Travel and travel insurance for own account. Breakfast & Dinner & Refreshments at these meals not included. Refreshments provided at lunch only and exclude alcohol. Spa treatments bookable directly with hotel. Additional Activities. Telephone or room charges for additional items.

Fee:

This retreat is capped at just 12 Children’s Change Makers to ensure personalised mentorship. Varied fee dependent on accomodation type. Discounted fees for all Kids Life Studio® Certified Coaches.

Once those spots are filled, doors close. No waiting list. No extra seats.

If you’re ready to:

✅ Stop running on empty✅ Step into your purpose✅ Transform your work with children

👉 Then this is your moment.