#116: Designing an Intentional Retreat (Part 1) ft. Vanderkamp Partners

In this episode of Cultivate CNY, host Alex Canavan sits down with Joe, Troy, and Dan—the visionary partners behind Vanderkamp, an immersive wilderness retreat set on 850 remote acres in Upstate New York. This trio has transformed a historic church camp into a destination that redefines what retreat, hospitality, and connection to nature can look like in Central New York.In Part One of this special two-part feature, the partners share how a Zillow search for hunting land accidentally led to discovering Vanderkamp, why they believe "if you're agreeing all the time, you're gonna create crap," and how their complementary skillsets—design obsession, operational excellence, and relentless curiosity—came together to build something truly unique. They discuss why attention is our most valuable resource, how corporate teams transform from "stuffy engineers to 7am breathwork sessions," and why keeping the retreat intimate at just 20 rooms (instead of a more profitable 100) is essential to preserving what makes it special. With insights on partnership dynamics, iterative design processes, and creating spaces that encourage people to slow down and reconnect, this episode offers a masterclass in building with purpose over profit.💡 A conversation about collaborative creation, the power of intentional retreat, and designing experiences that bring people back to themselves.🎧 Be sure to tune in next Monday for Part Two—an immersive onsite tour of the Vanderkamp property.Check out VanderkampLearn more about our sponsors: Cannon Advisory GroupEmpower FCUCommonspace WorkAqua Spa Float Center & Wellness Boutique⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apply⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to be a guest on Cultivate CNYReady to gain access to exclusive discounts on some of our favorite women-owned products and services in Central New York? Introducing the 2025-2026 CNYWN ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Member's Card⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! SHOP & SAVE AT 30+ women-owned businesses ACROSS CENTRAL NEW YORK Connect with Alex Canavan, the host of Cultivate CNY on her ⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠Follow Cultivate CNY on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support this podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the CNY Women's Network on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the CNY Women's Network on TikTok:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   / cnywomensnetwork  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠This episode is brought to you by the⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠CNY Women’s Network.⁠ CNY Women’s Network is a Syracuse-based media company that prioritizes community and collaboration between woman-owned businesses. We connect, promote, and celebrate businesses in Central New York.Email [email protected] to learn more about how CNY Women's Network can amplify your brand.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Collective by CNY Women’s Network, a membership community for growth-minded women.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use the code: CULTIVATE10 for 10% off your first month or your first year with The Collective.This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Diam Media Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠