Explore BC // Woods on Pender, Pender Island

Pender Island has called me back time and time again. 4 times in 2.5 years, to be exact. As you know by now, I have a soft spot in my heart for the Southern Gulf Islands, and Pender is no exception. But perhaps the most unique element on this island is the incredible glamping experience at Woods on Pender. Just hop on a ferry from Tsawwwassen, and in two hours time, you step onto the magical shores of North Pender Island.

Woods on Pender consists of a collection of airstreams, cabins, bunkies, shastas, and a charming motel. There is an experience for everyone. On my first visit, we opted to rent an airstream with a private hot tub. However, some of the airstreams are paired with beautiful bunkie cabins for an added room for the kids (or another couple!). Each air stream is equipped with a fire bowl and hammock, and many of them have private hot tubs.

You can also pop into the massage airstream for some therapeutic muscle relaxation, head to the camp food truck for a bite to eat, or sit down at the Woods restaurant and enjoy the most flavorful farm-to-table meals.

One of my favorite oceanside spots to explore is Brooks Point Regional Park. Situated on South Pender Island (the two islands are connected by a short bridge), this beach is accessed through a magical woodland walk. Once you emerge from the forest, you’re greeted with long grass and rocky beaches full of treasures. It’s a great spot for a picnic!

I’d also highly recommend taking a hike up the popular Oak Bluffs trail on North Pender Island. This short hike is sure to get your blood pumping, but before you know it, you’re enjoying stunning views of Moresby Island and Victoria.

As nighttime falls at Woods on Pender, the true magic of this place comes alive. Campfires, hammock hangs, and a dip in the hot tub as the stars appear overhead. I can’t think of anything better!

The mornings on Pender are my favorite. Gorgeous sunrises, a good cup of coffee, and wildlife around every corner. These hues were a special treat during my second visit to the island.

It’s always nice when the journey sports just as many views as the destination. I always enjoy ferry rides (even if I don’t enjoy the cost!). The ferry to the Southern Gulf Islands received an upgrade a few years ago, and it’s a really nice way to take in the sights and sounds of the ocean as you journey to Pender. Get used to it, too, because once you visit the Southern Gulf Islands, you keep going back.

Dwell on Pender // Our community retreat to Pender Island

Years ago, I felt a tug on my heart to foster a deeper sense of community among my fellow wedding photographers. In our industry, it can be far too easy to compare ourselves to one another and grow isolated by discouragement and feeling like we don’t measure up. Wedding season can be a difficult and exhausting time, especially without friends by your side. I became to dream about what this could look like, and soon enough, Dwell was born. I approached a group of women, some of whom I knew and some who I didn’t, and asked them if they’d be interested in retreating into the BC wilderness for a weekend to rest, worship Jesus, create, and grow in community with one another. I invited them into vulnerability with friends and complete strangers, and they all said yes.

As you know, I have a deep love for the Southern Gulf Islands, so of course I made Pender Island our home base for our weekend away. We packed our cars full of gear and boarded a ferry together- nervous energy and all. Thankfully, the moment the ferry departed, we were invited up to visit with the captain and crew and a few of us even got to steer the ferry (a dream come true for Kat!)

A generous thank you to the incredible Camp Brand Goods for outfitting us on our adventures! I’ve loved Camp Brand for years, and truly appreciate their commitment to fostering community and storytelling. They featured our journey on their blog, the Good Times Journal, if you’re interested in checking it out!

All 9 girls in attendance of this weekend are incredibly gifted photographers. Please feel free to browse their incredible work here:

Michelle Karst Photography

Art and the Aerialist

Danaea Li Photography

Hello Tomorrow

Alba Photography

M&him

Meghan Bustard Photography

Lesley Laine Photography

We rented a beautiful home on the ocean on South Pender Island. Perhaps my favorite part was the gorgeous sunroom overlooking the beach, which is where we spent a large majority of our time. Another special thanks to the incredible Salt Spring Coffee, which kept us caffeinated with coffee and mugs for all! I’ve been drinking this organic and fair trade coffee for years! After fueling up, we spent the last remaining hour of daylight on the beach, capturing some creative portraits of one another.

Mornings were probably my favorite time on our retreat. There is something about sharing a meal around a table full of laughter and friends that is soul-filling. After breakfast each morning, we would spend some time in worship and listening to teaching in the sun room.

On Pender Island, there are adventures around every corner, so we took advantage of the many trails and explored to our hearts content. Our first afternoon was spent having a seaside picnic and checking out an enchanted forest (legitimately what it was called, and I have to agree!). Then, it was back to our little slice of airbnb heaven for some relaxing in the hot tub!

It goes without saying that when 9 photographers get together, there will be some fun creative things happening. We played with lights and smoke bombs one evening and experimented to our hearts content before heading in to build a fire and share our stories with one another. Each evening, if we felt comfortable enough, a few girls would share their life stories with the group. This time spent together was probably the most fruitful of the entire trip. We laughed together, cried together, and even UGLY cried together. The bond built through hearing how God has worked in our lives knit us together so tightly. It was an uplifting and encouraging time. It only grew my love for these girls more and more.

On our last day, we took things slow and packed up. We took a quick hike up some cliffs overlooking the ocean. Check out my great selfie shot- long arms come in handy!

Sadly, our time came to an end far too quickly and we began the journey home. We parted as friends with roots grown deep, and it has only continued to deepen and grow in the two years since. Only a few months after this retreat, four of us became pregnant! We journeyed through pregnancy together, and now motherhood. I suspect that’s part of the reason it has taken me two years to finally tell this story, since I was one of the women who became a mom during that time. A difficult pregnancy and adjustment into motherhood (while running a business) has caused me to slow down and accomplish far less than I probably would like. But, in all honesty, I feel like it has taken me two years to fully sit with the magic of this gathering and process it to the point of forming words. The community forged in this trip has blossomed into a circle of women who support one another and lift each other up. They even threw us a joint baby shower and the four of us were spoiled with love and presents for our babies. It’s been two years, but these stories and memories are stronger than ever, and I am so looking forward to retreating with these ladies again in November (and hopefully a few more women as well!).