Board Games Retreat: A Post-Holiday Unboxing & Open Play Weekend

Don't let the holiday blues get you down, and especially don't forget about those beautiful new board games on your shelf! Join us for the first Changeling Gaming Unboxing Retreat in partnership with Springwood Cottage Resort, a perfect picturesque place for a cozy weekend getaway surrounded by nature to get those new games on the table, with catering provided by Dining & Dragons.

Come as a group or solo, and we can help pair you up with community tables throughout the event. It will be an incredible weekend of discovery as we dive into the latest releases and hidden gems. From strategy and adventure to cooperative and party mode, there will be something for everyone!

Note: This event is recommended for ages 14+

What to Expect:

• Unboxings!: These 3 days will be a special gathering for board game enthusiasts eager to unwrap their new titles and learn new games. Share the thrill of unboxing your brand-new board games together as a board gaming community, and let’s celebrate each box opening as it reveals exciting components, fresh rules, and immersive themes.

• Games Library: Don't have a game to bring & unbox? Don't worry! Springwood has over 800+ games in their personal collection that you can also play from, so there will be plenty of options all weekend long.

• Guided Play Sessions: Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a curious beginner, join guided sessions led by Changeling Gaming Experts, who’ll walk you through game mechanics, strategies, and tips to boost your gameplay and assist with those new rule books.

• Cozy Accommodations: The retreat is designed for relaxation and connection. Enjoy cozy lounge spaces, scenic outdoor spots, and designated social hours for bonding over shared gaming passions. This will also be no ordinary setting for board games. Guests will be staying in cozy cabins surrounded by scenic views.

• Unwind & Reconnect with Nature: In between gaming sessions, guests may choose to take in the fresh country air at this lakeside picturesque setting, explore the local nature trails, go snowshoeing or ice skating on our pond rink (own skates required), play Crokicurl, or star gaze as they warm up by the outdoor campfire.

• Bespoke Catered Menu: Also a foodie!? You are in luck! For this event we will be joined by Dining & Dragons so that you have the most delicious food all weekend long so you can keep gaming on!

Schedule: See the agenda above for a full listing of events offered throughout the retreat. Note that the agenda lists optional activities provided by Changeling Gaming that you may choose to join. Participants are welcome at any time to play board games on their own schedule and set up in designated 24-hour cabins. Participants may also choose to schedule their own nature adventures with the support of Springwood Cottage Resort staff upon arrival.

Reservations:

To host this event, we are partnering with Springwood Cottage Resort and Dining & Dragons to bring you the best weekend retreat experience. This means that tickets will be customizable for your stay! So, how will they work to reserve?

• Step 1: Please RSVP your spot using Eventbrite’s ticket sale option.
• Step 2: A representative from Changeling Gaming will be in touch to assist with the booking of your event services, including catering, rooms, and transportation.
• Step 3: Changeling Gaming will place your final booking with Springwood Cottage Resort who will take payment for your booking. RSVPs using Eventbrite are only for starting the reservation and do not confirm your official attendance. Only once payment has been sent to Springwood will your booking be finalized.

Pricing:

General Admission, Per Participant: $295 CAN + HST

Discounts:

• Nov 16th - Nov 22nd: Changeling Members get 1 week to pre-purchase. In addition, they will receive a 10% EARLYBIRD discount on their general admission. Our Changeling Membership includes event discounts for our paid members and advanced ticket sale opportunities! After just two events in a month, our members save, with a potential for over $80 monthly! Don't miss out, and sign up today to start saving and get ahead of the line to book your reservations!

• Nov 23rd - Dec 1st: Tickets released to the general public. Will include BLACKFRIDAY discount of 10% on general admission.

Room Bookings:

• Private room - Single or Double Occupancy: 1 double or queen bed, $295+HST CAN per room for 2-night stay
• Hostel Bed Single Occupancy: $195 CAN per person for 2-night stay (May request rooms with other guests, and gender-specific options upon registration)

Catering: Included with General Admission.

Lodging at Springwood Cottage Resort:

Nestled on the banks of Kennebec Lake along the South most part of the Canadian Shield and surrounded by mature trees and gorgeous views, sits Springwood Cottage Resort. A perfect place to connect with nature, disconnect from technology, and of course, PLAY GAMES! Originally “springing” from a Frontenac fishing lodge with a few “rustic” cabins, Springwood is now a cottage resort with 17 fully equipped cottages and a Bunkie, 8 of which are open year-round. With a gorgeous variety of winterized cabins and a large common games room, we could not ask for a better place to have a retreat.

For your stay, the cabins will be subdivided into individual room bookings so that we can invite the most folks to join us for the weekend. Upon reserving your admission, you will have one of three options to choose from: single-occupancy room, double-occupancy room (Queen or Double bed), and “hostel” style rooms (2-4 people with own bed - eg. bunk beds).

*Pricing is available through ticket RSVP Add-Ons.

Note: Cottages will be shared amenities. Participants should dress appropriately for wintery weather conditions as they will be venturing outside along a rough, wintery terrain between cottages throughout the weekend and will have the option of experiencing outdoor activities, such as bonfires, snowshoeing and more!

Catering Provided by Dining & Dragons:

Included in your admission is full catering, so you can keep on gaming all weekend long! Joining us to provide a delicious fine dining, bespoke menu is Nick Heckbert, the owner and head chef of Dining & Dragons. A firm believer in no limits to what can be created with food, Nick is always excited to curate to one’s preferences and needs to the point of invention, making him the perfect person to pair food with our games. In fact, his most important belief is, just like games, that food is FUN, and that sharing a meal should always be enjoyed. An experiential goal which is in exact alignment with what this weekend retreat is all about. The menu created for this event is a wonderful mix of familiar, comforting foods and an elevated and exciting approach. Cozy food for a winter retreat that promises to satisfy and keep you playing to your heart's content.

*See the agenda for the full meal plan.

Transportation:

By Car: Springwood Cottage Resort is centrally located just off Highway 7. It is approximately 2.5-hours North-East of Toronto, 1-hour North of Kingston, 1.5-hours West of Peterborough and 1.5 hours East of Ottawa. Parking is available onsite. Where possible, we encourage participants to carpool.

By Bus: Flixbus, a public bus route, passes the resort as it runs between Toronto and Ottawa several times per day, stopping in nearby Madoc. For any participants who choose to travel by bus, a member of the retreat team will pick up and drop off in Madoc for the following bus times,

Friday January 17th (Arrival Day):

1. TOR Union departing 11:00 to Ottawa, stopping in Madoc
2. Ottawa departing 13:30 to Toronto, stopping in Madoc

Sunday January 19th (Departure Day):

1. Ottawa departing 13:30 to Toronto, stopping in Madoc
2. TOR Union departing 11:00 to Ottawa, stopping in Madoc

Photography Disclaimer:

By entering the event space, participants shall be considered to have provided consent to be recorded and/or photographed. If you wish to remain off-camera, please let your host know when you arrive on-site.

About Changeling Gaming:

Changeling Gaming is a collective of board game instructors who host both public and private game experiences in Toronto and together create game content for YouTube. Our mission is to help folks find the right games for their tables and to create safe, accessible, and welcoming community spaces to play games and make new friends along the way.

To learn more about us, please visit our Linktree.