MEN’S SPIRITUAL RETREATS IN NATURE
Rated ★★★★★by our Primal participants
For men seeking brotherhood, spiritual connection, and wilderness skills. Designed for courageous men that want to find the warrior within.
HELPING MEN GAIN MENTAL RESILIENCE & PURPOSE
Congratulations for listening to the call to be a better man. My name is Joel and I have spent my life pursuing adversity and spirituality in the wilderness to better understand my mind, body and soul. I am passionate about facilitating gatherings for courageous men who want to explore themselves.
I will guide you toward becoming more grounded, conscious, and aligned so that you will have the tools to respond to life more effectively. Through nature immersion, brotherhood, and challenge, my wilderness retreats in Central Oregon help you connect with yourself and nature in a deeper way.
No performance.
No guru culture.
No empty positivity.
Just honest work that helps you become stronger mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Take your first courageous step…
“The space Joel holds is profoundly safe and welcoming, allowing everyone to drop their armor, tune into their authentic selves and remember what it means to be truly alive”
-Greg Lowell. La Pine, OR
IS THIS FOR ME?
This work is simply about becoming more grounded, self aware and authentic through courageous self exploration. I created this space for men who feel that same pull toward something deeper, honest, and real. For men that want to experience the warrior within themselves.
What makes this work unique is the integration of wilderness challenge, nature connection, spirituality, self-discovery, and authentic human connection. Rather than offering answers, I provide a space and framework for you to develop greater self-awareness, reconnect with your authentic self, and move forward with greater clarity, purpose, and intention.
It is an honor to share what I have learned and walk alongside others on their journey of growth and transformation.
Meet your guide: Joel van der Loon
Since I was a young boy, I always felt different. I couldn't explain why. It wasn't until much later that I began to understand what I was truly searching for—a life devoted to transformation, purpose, and spiritual growth.
For 14 years, I traveled the world, immersing myself in different cultures and wild places. I lived alongside the Hadza hunter-gatherers of East Africa, learning from one of the world's last remaining ancestral tribes. I trained and competed in combat sports, discovering that being a warrior has far more to do with humility, discipline, and presence than aggression. I spent countless days and nights alone in the wilderness, living from the land and allowing nature to become my greatest teacher. Those experiences eventually led me to spend 40 days alone on the television series Alone.
For more than a decade, my life has been grounded in wilderness, bowhunting, and spiritual practice. Meditation, shamanic drumming, and psychedelic medicines have all served as tools for self-inquiry, healing, and expanding awareness. Nature has remained my greatest teacher, my medicine, and my church.
Although I am a certified spiritual life coach, my deepest education didn't come from certifications. It came through divorce, failure, and confronting the beliefs, fears, and conditioning that had quietly shaped my life for decades. That inner work taught me that true strength isn't found in controlling life—it's found in surrendering to it.
Today, my mission is to help others reconnect with themselves through nature, challenge and honest self-reflection. I don't claim to have all the answers, but I know what it feels like to lose yourself—and I know the path that helped me find my way home.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT US
“Joels teaching style is patient, precise, and deeply grounded-He has a rare ability to translate years of real-world experience into lessons that stick.
—Jeff Stratman
Sisters, OR
“Joel’s method of instruction is clear and concise. You get the most amount of knowledge in the least amount of words. I highly value that as a United States Marine and an instructor myself.”
—Brian Wood
San Diego, CA
“What stands out most is Joel’s ability to meet people wherever they’re at. Whether you are brand new or already experienced, he knows how to teach in a way that actually sticks.
—Bijan Taherkhan.
Bend, OR
“Any man seeking a heart centered transformative experience in the natural world, definitely sign up for one of Joel’s gatherings”
—JesseGardner .
Portland, OR
CORPORATE & TEAM BUILDING
I offer private, custom-built experiences for individuals and groups in Central Oregon.
I’ve trained everyone from military and law enforcement to families, scouts, corporate teams, school groups, and individuals with disabilities—each experience tailored for real impact, confidence, and growth.
Prefer to train elsewhere? I can travel to you and help secure an ideal training site nationally in the US.
Request a quote by contacting us below and include your preferred dates, location, and group size. Let’s build something exceptional.
