Most leaders don’t burn out because they don’t love their work. They burn out because they never leave it.
When I attended Camp Essence in June 2024, I signed up without fully understanding what I was walking into. I just knew I was at a point in my life as the COO of a multi-location company where I felt defeated, uninspired, and disconnected from the things that once brought me joy. I wasn’t sure what I needed — only that something had to change.
As leaders, we often carry an invisible weight: maintaining culture, reviewing numbers, supporting team members, and sustaining growth. Even when surrounded by incredible staff, the responsibility can feel relentless. I’ve coached salon owners who admit that even planning for rest feels exhausting. High performers don’t struggle with motivation — they struggle with permission to pause.
That’s exactly why Camp Essence was created.
Leaders Are Overconnected + Under-Resourced
Before Camp Essence, most leadership spaces I entered focused on growth, performance, and metrics. Valuable? Absolutely. But rarely, was there space for reflection, restoration, or reconnection to purpose. I would leave conferences with more ideas — and more overwhelm — returning to work already behind.
I had unknowingly subscribed to the belief that success came at the expense of rest and play. Research in positive psychology shows that burnout intensifies when recovery and joy are absent from our lives. Without intentional pauses, even meaningful work can start to feel heavy.
I arrived at Camp Essence in a season of burnout and quiet disillusionment with leadership. It was the first space where I was invited to be a human, first. Through time in nature, reflection, and meaningful conversation, I noticed the constant mental noise begins to soften. My thoughts slowed. My clarity returned. I remembered what it felt like to enjoy my life — not just manage it.
What Camp Essence Actually Is (and Isn’t)
Camp Essence is a retreat designed for ambitious women who want to reconnect to creativity, clarity, and themselves. The experience is equal-parts reflection, play, and meaningful conversation. Time spent hiking in the Rockies, journaling, creating, and simply being present allows the nervous system to reset and the mind to breathe.
This isn’t forced vulnerability or performative “self-care.” It’s an intentional space to step away from constant output and return to yourself. The result? Leaders leave with renewed energy, deeper clarity, and genuine connection — not just networking, but relationships that last long after the weekend ends.
Why This Matters for Leaders
When we’re constantly producing, managing, and solving problems, we can lose touch with the very parts of ourselves that make leadership meaningful. Camp Essence offers something many high performers rarely experience permission to pause long enough to hear their own thoughts again.
For me, the impact was immediate. I returned home clearer, lighter, and more connected to my purpose — not because I gained more information, but because I finally had space to integrate what I already knew.
You’re Invited
Several years ago, I arrived in Durango as an attendee searching for something I couldn’t quite name. This year, I’ll return alongside Jennifer and Jason Culverhouse to help guide and support the next group of Camp Essence attendees.
Because the first July weekend filled with exactly the kind of leaders we hoped for, we’re opening a second Camp Essence experience in July 2026.
If you’ve been craving space to reset, reconnect, and return to your work with renewed clarity and joy, consider this your invitation. Camp Essence offers a rare opportunity to step away from constant responsibility and rediscover what brings you back to yourself.
If something in you feels curious — or even a little tired — you can learn more by reaching out to me at acastaneda@summitsalon.com or Jennifer at jculverhouse@summitsalon.com.
The best leaders I know aren’t the ones who never burn out. They’re the ones who learn how to come back to themselves.