You are the fire.

Not the spark.
Not the ember.
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The whole blaze.

Bonfire & Embers exists for growth-minded humans ready to expand beyond the roles they’ve outgrown.

Through wilderness immersions, movement-based experiences, and intimate coaching, we create space for clarity, courage, and a life that feels fully alive — not just impressive.
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wellness in the wild nature retreat landscape

Less Noise.
More Life.

Nature-led experiences for individuals and families ready to slow down, reconnect, and expand — together.
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Bonfire & Embers brings people back to what is real. Time outside. Shared presence. Movement. Conversation. Stillness.From personal resets to family adventures, everything we offer is designed to feel grounded and deeply human — without the pressure to prove, produce, or perform.
Our Story
Melanie Merkling soulful retreat guide & coach
Soulfire Experience group testimonial moment

Time in the wild

Away from screens, noise, and constant demand — offers an ongoing invitation to slow down and listen. In that space, what truly matters becomes clearer. Your soul's fire is a beacon of possibility, calling you to step into your greatness and make your mark on the world. Together, we'll fan the flames of your passions, amplify your strengths, and create a life that radiates with purpose, power, and fulfillment.

Bonfire is shaped by this way of living: grounded, intentional, and rooted in real life."

Melanie Merkling
Melanie Merkling soulful retreat guide & coach
Entrepreneur, Guide
& Curator of Wild Places

Meet Melanie Merkling

Melanie Merkling is the founder of Bonfire & Embers — a nature-led experience brand devoted to presence, refinement, and a more intentional way of living.

A seasoned entrepreneur and single parent, Melanie has spent years building companies, leading through uncertainty, and raising her children with equal commitment. She understands ambition. She understands responsibility. And she understands the quiet cost of constant acceleration.

Over time, she began choosing something different.

Extended seasons of slow travel, wilderness living, and stepping away from noise became a recalibration — not an escape.

Bonfire & Embers was born from that shift.

Melanie believes wellness is not something to optimize or perform. It is something to inhabit.

Through time outside.
Through shared meals.
Through meaningful conversation.
Through movement and stillness.

Today, she curates intimate, thoughtfully designed experiences for individuals and families who value depth, clarity, and a life that feels spacious — not rushed.
Bonfire & Embers

Choose a Different Pace

This is not a program.
And it isn’t a prescription.

It is space.

Space to step beyond the noise. Space to remember what matters. Space to recalibrate.

Through immersive experiences in wild places and intimate, curated gatherings, Bonfire & Embers invites you to slow down — and move forward with intention.

nervous system regulation nature session

Wellness in the Wild

Rooted in the belief that nature is restorative by design, Wellness in the Wild creates space for reflection, grounding, and renewal. These experiences prioritize simplicity, presence, and time outside as a way to reconnect with what matters most.
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nervous system regulation nature session

Family Adventure Trips

Guided, all-inclusive trips that prioritize presence over productivity—featuring scenic routes, intentional downtime, shared meals, and space for families to experience the journey together.
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women reconnecting in nature retreat

Grounded Support

Spaces designed to help you pause, reflect, and move forward with clarity.
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Soulfire Retreats:
A Signature Experience by Bonfire & Embers.
Multi-day immersive gatherings created to offer space for deeper connection, restoration, and perspective.
Soulfire Retreats bring together small groups in carefully chosen natural settings — creating room to slow down, step away from everyday demands, and reconnect with yourself, with others, and with what matters most.

Private Sessions:

A limited number of one-on-one sessions offering grounded, strategic support for building a life that feels aligned, sustainable, and deeply true.

These private engagements create a consistent space to slow down, clarify direction, and make intentional decisions — supporting both personal depth and the practical shaping of how you live and work.
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LATEST POSTS

Fireside Chats

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Wellness in the Wild: Why Nature Works When Nothing Else Has

Move beyond the metrics of modern wellness. From navigating major life transitions to reducing team friction, explore how stepping into the wild downshifts the nervous system and allows true insight to surface organically.

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When Life Changes Direction: How Nature Creates the Clarity We Can’t Think Our Way Into

Clarity doesn’t emerge under pressure; it emerges when the nervous system feels safe enough to listen. Learn why the brain requires the 'neutral ground' of nature to navigate major life transitions and identity shifts without the noise of everyday roles.

Read post

Why Teams Align Faster in Nature

Strategy isn't the only thing a team needs to succeed; they need a regulated nervous system. Explore how nature removes the 'performance pressure' of the office, allowing teams to align through shared experience rather than forced conversation.

Read post
View all posts

Experiences Shared

Discover the real impact of Bonfire & Embers through the voices of our vibrant tribe.

Melanie is super-human. I'm constantly blown away by her depth of insight, her knowledge, and her ability to help entrepreneurs work through and around barriers. She certainly has set my soul on fire! But what makes it more amazing is how she balances her capabilities with the presence she brings to her role as a single parent. Like I said...super-human!"

Soulfire Experience group testimonial moment
Eric Roman
CEO & Founder, Dr. Eric J Roman

Mel has a unique ability to see past the distractions and find the essential. Her ability to craft her entrepreneurial life in harmony with her family life is unparalleled. Since working with Mel I’ve experienced more success, more passion, and more fun than I thought was possible. Run, don’t walk, to work with her!

Soulfire Experience group testimonial moment
Ben Brown
Fractional COO

Mel had a gift for seeing around corners and identifying blind spots and then building a simple strategic plan for getting what you want. I’ve personally seen her whiteboard entire businesses from scratch, and then hand over an execution plan on a platter. She has a brilliant mind, and is a master at helping people to see where they might get stuck along their journey. If you have the chance to work with Mel, I have no doubt she’ll get you going in a direction toward fulfillment and living a life you love!

Soulfire Experience group testimonial moment
John Davie
Growth Strategist and Investor

Mel is one of the most brilliant intuitive individuals I’ve worked with. She has an amazing ability to understand my needs and to provide a clear roadmap for achieving my goals. Her insights and expertise have been invaluable in helping me navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. With her support and guidance, you can be confident in your ability to to succeed. There's truly no better person to have in your corner than Mel.

Soulfire Experience group testimonial moment
Luke Peniston
Father and Serial Entrepreneur
Fireside Reflections
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