Anne of Green Gables | Prince Edward Island, Canada

Anne of Green Gables is the story of a red-haired orphan who arrives on Prince Edward Island by mistake. Through sheer spirit and heart, she makes herself impossible to send back. More than a century later, Anne still reminds us what it looks like to show up fully as ourselves despite a world commanding us to shrink.

The inhabitants of Green Gables would say Anne Shirley talks too much, feels too deeply, and imagines too boldly. But it's her highly sensitive soul that transforms everyone around her, especially Marilla and Matthew. On this pilgrimage, we'll explore the theme of self-kinship through Anne's boundless wonder, big emotions, and fierce desire for belonging. 

Pilgrims will explore the talents and "scrapes" of being a person who many experience as too much. Through centuries-old reading practices, we'll consider the possibility of Anne's neurodivergence. We’ll appreciate her quirky, whimsical brain in a step towards deepening our own self-kinship. We'll examine the impact Anne's giftedness has on the community around her, and investigate our own kindred spirits and longed-for bosom friends.

We'll ask ourselves questions such as: Were you ever told you were "too sensitive," and how did that and other careless labels impact your identity? How do we honor our big feelings without being swept away by them? What happens when we stop trying to fix the Spicy One® inside us and start delighting in her? What do you wish people had understood about how your brain and nervous system worked best as a child? How do we keep "scope for the imagination" alive in our adult lives? What does it look like to accept our authentic selves unapologetically even when others don’t?

Let us gather the highly sensitive kids, the dreamy attention-deficit divas and the loud fangirls (or boys!) who notice the whispers of wind in the trees and can info-dump for hours about puffed sleeves and Matthew's quiet love.

On Prince Edward Island, we'll celebrate Anne's "unyieldingly stubborn" personality while embracing our own.  Come spend time with your beloved inner child along the red-dirt roads and seaside paths that inspired L.M. Montgomery.

We expect to walk up to 8 miles per day, but some days will require less walking. The weather in PEI in September has an average low of 50° F and an average high of 61° F. We will walk/utilize the outdoors come rain or shine, and we recommend that pilgrims prepare for varying temperatures and potential rain. Our plan is to immerse ourselves in the nature which inspired Montgomery’s stories, so although we will have comfortable lodging, we will prepare for adventure and expect to be tired at the end of each day.

The full tuition of the trip is as follows:

• Private Room $5,500

These private rooms are designed for single occupancy. If you wish to share a room with a family member or partner, please reach out to Common Ground at commonground@notsorryproductions.com before purchase.

Meeting Up
We will meet in Charlottetown after lunch on September 27th before taking a bus to Kindred Spirits Inn. We will end programming before lunch on October 1st. Specific meeting time and location will be offered privately to pilgrims upon payment.

Travel Expenses & Arrangements
Each pilgrim is responsible for handling their own travel expenses and arrangements prior to our meeting on September 27th and after we say goodbye on October 1st. Flights are not included.

Accommodations
Throughout the pilgrimage we will stay at the wonderfully quaint Kindred Spirits Inn, a peaceful family-owned property located in the heart of Cavendish. Neighboring the Green Gables Heritage Place, the inn offers cozy rooms, verdant grounds, and a serene walking path to the coast.

Scholarships
We occasionally offer partial scholarships for pilgrimages. If you are interested, please fill out our form here.