The first Hey Brother Co. retreat took place at a lodge on the beautiful Mississippi River in Rice, Minnesota. With a backdoor opening into a huge yard and waterfront river access, this was the perfect location for the inaugural cohort to meet and dive into their men’s work journey. Facilitated by Johnny Cole, Hey Brother Co. founder, this retreat set the precedent for what HBC was to become.

Participants flew into Minneapolis, MN and convoyed to the lodge on Friday, July 1st. A full itinerary, event schedule, and food menu had been prepared beforehand by Johnny. Upon arrival, participants had time to unwind, jump in the river, find a room, and chat. The first evening rung in a communally-cooked plant-based meal (a theme for the entire weekend) where a formal introductory ceremony took place, and intentions and ground rules were established for the weekend.

Over the following days, the men were led through inner child reparenting breathwork ceremonies, guided meditations, yoga flows, documentary screenings, vulnerability exercises, small-group discussions, and team bonding.

The retreat concluded on Monday morning with all participants returning to their various homes around the country, with tearful goodbyes at the airport.