Founder & Facilitator:
Susan Duffhues
Sue Duffhues is an ACC-accredited Life and Wellness Coach and a Recreation Therapist with over 30 years of experience developing therapeutic programs for diverse individuals and communities. Her work is grounded in the belief that true well-being comes from nurturing the whole person, integrating all seven domains of wellness: spiritual, physical, social, emotional, intellectual, environmental, and vocational.
Throughout her career, Susan has been dedicated to creating meaningful, inclusive experiences that support healing, growth, and connection. Her approach blends evidence-based therapeutic practices with nature-based wisdom, guiding individuals to reconnect with themselves and the world around them.
With a deep love for adventure, travel, and the wonders of our beautiful Earth, Sue draws inspiration from the natural elements and the universal rhythms of life. Her passion for exploration, both outward and inward, has shaped her ability to support others in stepping beyond limitations and into possibility.
The Fifth Element Retreat is a reflection of Sue’s own journey; a guided redirection of her hopes that has evolved into a living dream. Through this work, she is devoted to helping others believe, achieve, and receive their highest potential, bringing their dreams into reality with joy, wholeness, happiness, love, abundance, harmony, and power.
Sue believes in the transformative truth of I AM, a space where intention becomes reality and where each person is invited to reconnect with their authentic self and the limitless possibilities within.
About Us
potential. Along the way, they are guided to renew, reconnect, and return to self through nature, movement, reflection, and intentional practices. Nature immersion, holistic wellness experiences, and mindful connection help restore balance to the nervous system, deepen self-awareness, and inspire personal growth. Each experience is designed to awaken the senses and support a return to your authentic self. At the heart of The Fifth Element Retreat is community. Here, families, friends, and strangers come together in a space of respect, curiosity, and support. As participants learn from nature and from one another, they begin to see their own strengths more clearly and open to new possibilities.
The Fifth Element Retreat is more than a getaway, it is a place to reflect, reconnect, and renew. A place to rediscover your purpose, nurture meaningful connections, and move forward with gratitude, confidence, and a renewed sense of self.
I created The Fifth Element Retreat from a desire to help others reconnect with their truth, discover their inner wisdom, and live in alignment with their highest potential. Through the Five Elements, Universal Laws, nature, reflection, and community, I invite participants on a journey of transformation, healing, and self-discovery.
In today’s fast-paced world, many feel disconnected from the land, from community, and from their own sense of purpose. Yet nature quietly holds the wisdom we need to return to balance. The rhythms of the earth, the flow of water, the movement of air, the energy of fire, and the stillness of ether remind us that growth, healing, and transformation are natural parts of life.
Set along the peaceful banks of the North Saskatchewan River just west of Edmonton, The Fifth Element Retreat offers a unique off-grid sanctuary at River Events & Rentals. Here, individuals, families, and communities can step away from the noise of everyday life and reconnect with what truly matters, nature and all that it provides.
Through immersive experiences rooted in the five elements; Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Ether, participants are invited on a journey to believe, achieve, and receive their highest
OUR STORY
OUR VISION
Guiding you back to your true nature
Our vision is to cultivate a thriving community where people live in harmony with nature, guided by the wisdom of the elements and the universal laws that shape life. The Fifth Element Retreat envisions a world where individuals reconnect with their authentic selves, discover their purpose, and support one another in creating meaningful, balanced lives.
By creating experiences that nurture connection, to self, to others, and to the natural world, we aspire to inspire a ripple effect of healing, compassion, and mindful living that strengthens families, communities, and the environment for generations to come.
OUR MISSION
The Fifth Element Retreat exists to inspire healing, growth, and transformation by reconnecting people with the elements, nature’s rhythms, and their own inner wisdom. Through immersive experiences with Earth, Air, Water, Fire, and Ether, participants are invited to rediscover their authentic selves, clarify their dreams, and awaken their belief in their true potential.
By learning from and working in harmony with the universal laws of nature, individuals deepen their understanding of themselves, strengthen meaningful connections with others, and cultivate a life guided by purpose, gratitude, and joy.
Our mission is to create a supportive community where people, families, friends, and strangers alike can come together in nature for adventure, and to heal, grow, and move forward with confidence, and a renewed commitment to serving both their communities and the natural world.