You have been meaning to do the big trip.

The one where you put the phones away and actually see your kids see something for the first time. The one where you are not managing logistics or checking in for work or counting down to the flight home. The one where you look around a campfire at night and think this is exactly where we are supposed to be.
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You have just never had the time to plan it. Or the right vehicle. Or someone who has already done it enough times to make it feel effortless instead of overwhelming.

That is exactly what Soulfire is for.

Our Story

Melanie Merkling soulful retreat guide & coach

Soulfire Experience group testimonial moment

In August 2022 I spent six days on the Salmon River with no cell service, no emails, and no alarms. It took three days for my nervous system to stop screaming. By day four something shifted. I came home knowing that the space between the noise is where everything real lives.
Soulfire was born in that canyon. Not from a business plan. From finally being still enough to hear myself think."

Melanie MerklinG, Founder, Soulfire Experience.

Founder, Soulfire Experience. Powered by Bonfire and Embers.

Built by someone who has actually done it.

Melanie Merkling has been building businesses since she was twelve. She spent a decade as a retail strategy consultant with a single client worth a million dollars a year. She raised twins as a solo entrepreneur. She traveled abroad for nine months with her kids and never wanted to stop. She bought three vans. She sat around enough campfires in enough national parks to know exactly what happens to a person when the noise finally stops.
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Soulfire is not a pivot. It is not a rebrand. It is the thing that was always true, finally given the container it deserves.

Ground with Soulfire

Choose A Different Pace

Not a program.
Not a prescription.
Just space to step outside the noise and reconnect with what matters most. Through immersive experiences and intentional gatherings, Soulfire creates room to slow down, reset, and move forward with clarity.

nervous system regulation nature session

Soulfire Family Adventures

Five day all inclusiveguided adventures through America's most spectacular national parks. We handle everything. You just show up and be present with your family. Founding family rate available now.

Ten spots. Seven remaining.

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Wellness in the Wild

Two nights, three days in the wild. Sauna. Coldriver. Silent hikes. The version of yourself you have been too busy to meet.

Available as a VIP solo experience or intimate group of up to six. Starting from $2,500 per person.

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Experiences Shared

Discover the real impact of SoulFire 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!"

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!

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!

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.

Luke Peniston

Father and Serial Entrepreneur

I kept buying books, taking courses, working through coaches thinking that what I needed was more. What you finally showed me was that what I actually needed was less.

Anne

Founding family trip testimonials coming Spring 2026. Be one of the first.

Fireside Chats

View all posts

The Lost Art of Wandering

A reminder that when we stop obsessing over efficiency and start following curiosity without a destination, we discover the insights that only appear when we finally stop trying to control the path.

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Learning How to Be Unproductive Again

A radical call to stop treating rest as a tool for more output and rediscover who you are when nothing is required of you.

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What Other Places Teach Us About Being Human

By stepping into different rhythms, we begin to see how much of our urgency and optimization is learned rather than necessary. Explore how distance provides the perspective needed to bring a more intentional, slower way of living back home.

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In Defense of Feral Children

When we resist the urge to entertain our children, games emerge and stories form. Explore why nature is the perfect "unpredictable" setting for kids to navigate risks, solve their own problems, and finally learn how to manage themselves.

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It Doesn’t Matter Who You Are in the Wild

Discover the profound healing that happens when you step into a world that doesn't require you to be "someone," and how "forgetting" yourself helps you remember that you are already enough.

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When the World Feels Heavy, Go Somewhere Quiet

It’s Not Selfish to Seek the Quiet Summary: Stepping back from the noise doesn't mean you’ve stopped caring—it means you’re protecting your inner landscape. Discover how a simple shift in attention can restore your rhythm and help you feel "normal" again.

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Your Kids Will Remember This Forever.

You have been meaning to do the big trip.

Built by someone who has actually done it.

Choose A Different Pace

Soulfire Family Adventures

Wellness in the Wild

Writers in the Wild

Experiences Shared

I kept buying books, taking courses, working through coaches thinking that what I needed was more. What you finally showed me was that what I actually needed was less.

Fireside Chats

The Lost Art of Wandering

Learning How to Be Unproductive Again

What Other Places Teach Us About Being Human

In Defense of Feral Children

It Doesn’t Matter Who You Are in the Wild

When the World Feels Heavy, Go Somewhere Quiet