Centauri Arts Academy

I went to the Costa Rica location and it was my first writers retreat and it was an amazing and magical experience. The lodge is wonderful --clean, comfortable, and peaceful. Julie was so supportive and fun. As a VERY beginner writer I learned so much. The entire group had so much more experience in writing than I did so I was very insecure about sharing but was not forced to do so. I appreciated the compassion Julie and everyone at the retreat gave me. I highly recommend this retreat. You will not be disappointed.

Absolutely amazing experience. Julie creates a safe space for people of all ages to come, learn, and be inspired. I truly believe that anyone will learn something new here and gain an invaluable experience that will help them in their creative journey.

The arrival of the new brochure for Centauri Summer Camp has been a source of great joy for my daughters, as they select programs for next summer. They have both attended Centauri Camp for the past few years and they love it. They’ve made many great friends at the camp and have learned so much. The counsellors are friendly, communicative, talented, and enthusiastic about making the entire session a positive experience for the campers. I am grateful for the experience of community, friendship, and happy memories, and especially for the confidence and passion for the future that their time at camp has instilled in them. They always return from these experiences engaged and ready for the school year ahead. My oldest daughter is looking forward to the Leaders-in-Training Program next summer and in deepening her connections to the community. They have loved the camp so much that both girls have also begun participating in programs at Centauri Arts Academy in Bloor West Village through the school year. I would recommend this camp to any family looking for a fun, creative, and affirming camp experience for their child!

The Costa Rica writing retreat for adults is so wonderful that I have returned for 4 years. It is inspiring, educational, motivating, and has always been the source of community and new friendships. This retreat reignited my writing after a 20-year hiatus and I haven't looked back since!

My son recently did Creative Writing and LOVED it! It was a perfect time and place for him to discover his creativity and imagination. A very welcome distraction and chance to focus energy in a different direction. My son said he really enjoyed the creative challenges provided by the amazing instructor, Helen.

Outstanding! This was my second retreat and they just keep getting better. I appreciate the quality of the workshop and how curated the sessions were to the needs of the writers. I enjoyed hearing and learning from the other writers. It was a wonderful group. Thank you Julie for an inspirational week.

Inspiring! And learned a ton! Julie is a wonderful instructor -- very supportive, engaged, attentive, caring, willing to share her own experience, and very interested in helping you attain your own writing goals. I did the Mexico writing retreat with my 74 year-old father (he's working on a memoir, I'm working on short fiction) -- neither of us are professional writers, but it was one of the richest experiences I've ever shared with him. I'm an economics researcher/professor, and most of my publications are in science, but the week-long workshop I took with Centauri taught me that others find value and beauty in my fiction-writing, has given me the confidence that it is worth improving and getting it into the broader world, and provided many tools to help me make my writing live/breathe/sing

I thoroughly enjoyed this writing retreat in February 2023 in Costa Rica. It was brilliantly facilitated and I bonded with the people I met at the retreat. I loved all the excursions. I feel refreshed and full of ideas! I cannot wait to continue working on what I started at this retreat. I am signing up for the one in Merida in December. Julie is wonderful!

Lovely. Enriching and inspired week of writing in a magnificent natural wonderland. Julie is warm, a brilliant writer and encouraging teacher. The stories shared that week will never be forgotten!