Get Set for Relationship Success!

Half of all marriages fail. But it’s no mystery why.

What is it?

Hosted by relationship expert and couples therapist, DJ Hilley, LMHC, Relationship Success Workshops are designed to provide you and your partner with the tools to set up your relationship with skills and strategies for healthy connection, proactive communication, and effective conflict management.

what will we learn?

You will learn how to recognize helpful vs unhelpful habits in yourself, find opportunities to connect and repair during and after conflict, and keep your intimate connection alive through the years. As a couple, you’ll create your own personalized relationship handbook to refer to for years to come.

Why should we do it?

Long-term partnership is, in and of itself, an adventure. Like all great adventures, preparation is as important as the ability to adapt when things invariably get tough. There is a reason half of all marriages end in divorce.

The skillset to successfully navigate long-term relationships is something most of us don’t naturally have when entering our partnerships. The good news, though, is we can readily learn and acquire them.

Invest early and build a strong foundation for long-term relationship success.

We love because it’s the only true adventure.

- William Gladstone

 

About

CAMPP Apostle Islands Adventure Weekend runs from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. After an introductory meeting and the first couples topic, Friday night will be spent in your own lodging. Saturday will be filled with kayak instruction, lunch, kayaking to the island, and engaging in two more couples topics through the afternoon and evening. Sunday we’ll cover our final topic before the kayak trip back to Bayfield.

No camping or kayaking experience is needed, but you must be physically able to kayak for up to three hours at a time. You will receive training on safety and rescue procedures, some of which can be challenging. Please see “Kayak Instruction” below for more details. Other than that, just bring yourself, your partner, some gear (see below), and readiness for a unique and growth-oriented adventure weekend!

 
 

  • FRIDAY

    Welcome & Orientation - We’ll meet at 6pm on Friday for introductions and an overview of the weekend. Then we’ll cover Topic 1: Habits & History - an introduction to the world of relationship research and an overview of the habits embodied by successful couples, as well as a brief discussion of how our early love experiences (upbringing) inform our way of giving and receiving love.

    SATURDAY

    Kayaking Safety Instruction with Trek & Trail Guides (3 hours) For more details, see Kayak Instruction below.

    Lunch & Departure - As we paddle out to the island, we’ll make time to check out the beautiful scenery along the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

    Arrival on the Island* - Once we arrive, you may enjoy a brief hike around the Island to stretch your legs, or simply relax on shore. Then we’ll settle in around camp for Topic 2: Survive & Thrive - exploration of how couples maintain connection and navigate growth and change as individuals and as couples.

    Dinner - prepared by Trek & Trail Guides

    After dinner, we’ll gather by the fire for Topic 3: Intimacy Doesn’t Have to Fade Away - contrary to popular belief, sexual and intimate connection isn’t destined to decline. In fact, researchers have shown that there are distinct habits that sustain intimacy throughout the years.

    SUNDAY

    Breakfast & Breaking Camp - Trek & Trail Guides

    Coffee and Topic 4: The Individual Habits - a big takeaway from relationship research is that successful couples are comprised of effective individual partners. We’ll review the individual skills needed for navigating conflict - then apply them on the kayak tour back to the mainland.

    *Location may vary according to weather.

    Please note: If you know adventure, you know that Mother Nature sometimes makes her own plans. As such, the itinerary below is tentative and may be modified as needed according based on the weather. Safety is the number one priority. And fittingly, a healthy readiness for things to change and to adapt is a necessary part of successful relationships. So come with an idea and with an open mind, knowing we will all make the best of whatever Lake Superior throws at us.

  • As mentioned above, Trek & Trail will provide a morning of training to ensure safety during the kayaking portion of the trip.

    Per Trek & Trail Staff:

    “The training instruction on Saturday can be fairly intense, as it does involve demonstrating a 'wet exit'. This involves capsizing the kayaks and exiting underwater by removing the sprayskirt. Obviously, this can be emotionally and physically intense for some, and so we try to be as up front as possible about that expectation so there are no surprises.”

    If you have questions about this training, please reach out to Trek & Trail directly at info@trek-trail.com.

  • Bayfield is a tourist town filled with a wide variety of lodging to fit your individual needs.

    You’ll find DJ staying at Dalrymple Campground, located just .6 miles from Trek & Trail and about a mile from Downtown Bayfield. Camping is first come, first serve and there are some fantastic sites overlooking Lake Superior and Basswood Island. And on top of that, it’s only $30/night - best deal you’ll find in Bayfield.

    If camping isn’t your preference, there is no shortage of places to stay. Inns and motels, bed & breakfasts, yurts and boats - you’ll be sure to find something that fits your fancy.

  • Basic

    Our guide service and outfitter, Trek & Trail Sea Kayaking, will provide all kayaking and safety gear.

    Trek & Trail can also provide tents and camping pads. However, if you have your own 2-person tent you’d like to bring, feel free to do so.

    Sleeping Bags should be packable. Old-school sleeping bags can be hard to stuff into a kayak compartment.

    Minimum Packing Requirements

    Toiletries, layered clothing, swimwear, rain gear**, sun protection/sunglasses, footwear, sleeping bag, quick-dry towel, sunscreen (environmentally friendly please, all water drains to the ocean), bug spray, snacks if you’re the hungry hippo type.

    *For those who wish to bring their own gear, you must work with Trek & Trail to ensure gear is adequate and acceptable for their trip requirements. They have the final say to meet their safety standards.

    **Sea Kayaking is an all-weather sport, so be prepared for a “rain or shine” adventure.

  • Payment will take place in two steps:

    1. Payment to Empowered-Communication, LLC

    2. Payment to Trek & Trail Sea Kayaking Adventures. A confirmation email will be sent with instructions for making payment directly with Trek & Trail.

    Costs:

    1. $375/couple to Empowered Communication, LLC

    2. $603/couple plus tax to Trek & Trail Sea Kayaking Adventures. 50% due at the time of registration, 50% due 45 days prior to departure.

    Costs not included:

    Meals Friday, Saturday morning, and after returning to Bayfield Sunday.

    Lodging Friday night.

    Travel to/from Bayfield and to/from Trek & Trail.

    Cancellations

    Cancellations made 45+ days prior to departure will receive a full refund.

    Cancellations made at least 30 days prior to departure will receive a refund of payment minus 15 percent of total trip cost.

    Cancellations made less than 30 days but more than 10 days prior to departure will receive no refund, but 50 percent of the payment may be credited toward a future trip or rental within 1 year.

    Cancellations made less than 10 days prior to departure or no show will receive no refund and no credit.

    Trips are sold as a package, and credits are not given for services not used.

 

CAMPP FAQ

  • Certainly not - all couples are welcome, and certainly not just those with marriage in mind. Commitment and partnership come in many forms.

  • Absolutely! Over more than 40 years, the research on relationships has been replicated and affirmed across cultures and relationship types. Additionally, upon registration participants required to affirm that their participation means supporting an open and welcoming environment for all.

  • Plans are in the works for additional weekends and trip options - we’re just getting started.

    If you are interested in a private group booking, please contact DJ directly at dj@empowered-communication.com

  • Of course! Some modifications may be needed, while some trips don’t work well with uneven numbers - for example, sea kayaks are tandem (2 people). That being said, we believe that relationships come in many shapes and sizes, and all can benefit from the skills and experiences we’ve created.

  • Often people are uneasy around what’s different from what they know. If you’re open to new experiences all around, then this may be an opportunity to grow and expand. That being said, if you do not feel you can be an open and affirming ally to others, CAMPP Adventure Weekends are not for you.

  • CAMPP Adventure Weekends are built with the participation of all relationship partners in mind. Some trips also require an even number of participants, and similarly, discussions will not be geared toward navigating single life or dating relationships.

  • Yes! All adventure activities are led by certified guides whose top priority is the safety of their guests.

    As with any outdoor adventure, certain risks are inherent. However, no one is required to participate in activities they deem to be unsafe. Please note, however, that per adventure guide service policies, no refunds are provided for activities participants choose to opt out of once the weekend occurs.

  • CAMPP Adventure Weekends were created by therapist and adventure enthusiast, DJ Hilley, a licensed professional counselor with more than 15 years of experience and extensive training in the areas of intimate and family relationships, attachment, and interpersonal neurobiology.

    DJ believes that good preparation and skill development are key aspects of any adventure’s success. That, of course, includes our intimate relationships.

    DJ is a practicing professional counselor with The Psychology Center in Madison, Wisconsin. He resides in Appleton Wisconsin.

  • Definitely not. DJ is a therapist during the week, but like most anyone, he gladly takes the weekends off. :)

Denali National Park, Alaska. Photo by DJ Hilley, 2021