Jamestown: Where ocean and sky awaken new horizons
You asked for it, and it's here. A US based retreat venue!
Given the overwhelming success of our previous retreats, we are delighted to announce our first US-based retreat: Jamestown, Rhode Island is a magical waterfront experience.
Right across the bay from historic Newport, RI, and located on picturesque Conanicut Island in Narragansett Bay, this camp sets the tone for retreat vibes. This private coastal camp is a space just steps away from the water and is perfect for those seeking inspiration in both the tranquil silence of a quiet camp and the vibrant buzz of a coastal town. Jamestown is an ideal venue to shrug off the old and embrace the new.
Lead by people who've been there
Richard Banfield
Entrepreneur, author, and artist. Richard is a recovering CEO who has built companies, launched 100's of products, helped teams find purpose, and now helps people design the second act of their lives with intention and creativity.
Devon McDonald
Venture capitalist turned catalyst for connection, clarity, and courageous living. Devon brings grace, energy, and a gift for creating space where real transformation can happen. She’s raising three kids and building a life rooted in authenticity.
Together, they bring real-life experience, warmth, and wisdom to every part of this retreat. As Richard says, "Our approach is to create a classroom where everyone is the student. No gurus, nor masters, just curious minds that are open to possibility."
Mike Hirshland
Mike is the founder of a venture capital firm and several other innovation programs, a Buddhist meditation teacher, and a passionate student of constitutional theory and practice. Mike thrives on building beneath-the-surface connections between people and connecting ideas that are not typically associated. His current such project introduces private, public and non-profit leaders to contemplative practice.
Mary Grace Levin
By day an executive at one of the world's largest retailers, by night a seasoned yoga instructor. With nearly 20 years as an executive in the fashion industry at TJX Companies, Mary brings a grounded, real-world understanding of balance, leadership, and life’s demands. She began teaching yoga during the pandemic, when her own practice deepened into a powerful tool for resilience and self-connection. Mary has a deep passion for helping others calm the fluctuations of the mind, return to the wisdom of the body, and reconnect with the present moment.
More than a getaway—this is a turning point.
Workshops & Rituals
Thoughtfully guided outdoor sessions, daily meditation and reflection practices, and lots of free time to just be.
Cultural Adventures
American Cup boat rides. Local food tastings. Hikes and historic site visits.
Restorative Moments
Meditation, yoga, journaling, sunset BBQ, soaks in the sound, and weather permitting, boat rides along the coast.
Optional Experiences
Cycling trips, kayaking, or fishing.
What people say after they leave the retreats
This retreat is for you if:
You’re navigating a major transition—career, relationship, identity—and want to learn the skills to navigate and find out what comes next
You’ve succeeded by traditional standards you know you have more to give and crave a path of creativity, calm, and clarity
You want more than a break;
you want a breakthrough supported by people who want the best for you and for themselves
Day 1: Arrival & Setting Intentions
Theme: Meet and reflect
Throughout the Day: Arrivals and check-in
7:30 PM: Welcome Cocktails and dinner together
Day 2: Grounding & Exploration
Theme: Solidifying Your Foundations
7:00 AM: Yoga and guided meditation
9:30 AM: Breakfast together
10:30 AM: Workshop: “Taking Stock of Your First Harvest”
12:30 PM: Lunch
1:30 PM: Mystery adventure
3:30 PM: Free time to explore the area, visit the local town, or yoga with a guide
8:00 PM: Dinner and conversation, followed by fireside conversation
Day 3: Designing What's Next
Theme: Planting New Seeds
7:00 AM: Yoga and meditation session
9:30 AM: Breakfast together
10:30 AM: Workshop: “Design Your Life”
12:30 PM: Transfer to mystery location followed by scenic lunch
1:30 PM: Workshop: “Experimentation: Designing Small, Actionable Steps”
4:00 PM: Leisure time
8:00 PM: Dinner and conversation
Day 4: Integration & Departure
Theme: Bringing It All Home
7:00 AM: Yoga and meditation session
9:30 AM: Breakfast together
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Departures and transfers (if needed)
If you'd like to extend your trip let us know and we'll connect you to our favorite travel agents.
“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”
— Joel Arthur Barker Ratcliffe
Applications are open now. We limit the group size for this retreat to 20 people. Once we receive your application, we’ll reach out for a short alignment conversation. If it feels like the right fit, we will send you a private payment link to finalize your spot.
FAQs
Second Harvest is for people in the middle of life who look successful on paper but feel misaligned inside. They are typically in their 40s–60s. They’ve built careers, businesses, families, or reputations. They are competent, responsible, and respected. They’ve done what was expected of them and done it well. What’s changed is not their ability, but their relationship to how they’re spending their time. They feel a quiet exhaustion rather than a crisis. Motivation still exists, but meaning feels thinner. The old goals don’t pull like they used to. They don’t want another productivity system, self-help framework, or motivational push. They’re not broken and they’re not looking to be fixed. They’re thoughtful, curious, and self-aware enough to know something needs to shift. They value depth over hype, real conversation over performance, and experiences that feel human rather than transactional. They’re willing to slow down, reflect honestly, and take responsibility for what comes next. They’re not trying to escape their life. They’re trying to redesign it.
Second Harvest creates the space and structure for people to step out of their routines and look clearly at where their energy, time, and attention are going. Through small groups, honest conversations, and carefully chosen experiences, we help participants reconnect to what actually matters to them now, not who they used to be or who they think they should be. The outcome isn’t a dramatic reinvention or a list of goals. It’s clarity, steadiness, and a grounded sense of direction they can take back into their real life and act on immediately.