Ace Camps Travel
Optional Activity + Meal Selection Form

Creative Retreat with the Designers of Ruby Star Society
Alentejo, Portugal | October 5 to 11, 2026

Please complete this form as soon as possible and no later than Friday, August 28, 2026

Free Afternoon Optional Activity Selection

On the afternoon of Thursday, October 8, we’ll have a picnic lunch, followed by an afternoon of free time. If you’re interested, we have two optional activities you can sign up for. Space is limited to 15 individuals per activity, so please help us understand your first and second choice. If you prefer the afternoon to do your own thing, that’s totally fine. The optional activities are just that…optional.

Optional Activity 1: 'Empreita de Palma' Basketweaving with Ysaline Ophoff of atelier balancê:
Born in Belgium and with a background in architecture, Ysaline Ophoff now lives and works in Portugal. In 2019, Ysaline to put her curiosity for the art of basket weaving into practice. She immersed herself in this ancient craft with local basket weavers in the Brazilian Amazon. In this optional activity, you’ll learn Empreita de palma—a traditional Portuguese basket weaving technique, using palm leaves from the Palmeira-anã (Chamaerops humilis), a native palm plant from the Algarve region. We’ll start off learning about the origin, history, technique, and material of this age-old craft. Then, we’ll work hands-on, learning the different steps from braiding the leaves to sewing them into a little basket. When we’re done, you’ll have your own small creation to bring home with you.

Optional Activity 2: Guided Nature Hike along the Dunes and Coastline with Finn Rasqin of Finn's Routes:
As a local nature guide in the Southwest Alentejo region of Portugal, Finn’s passion extends from the breathtaking coastline to the serene countryside, embracing the rich biodiversity of diverse ecosystems, and cherishing the people and their traditions. On this guided hike, you’ll discover the beauty of the Atlantic coastline. Along the way, you’ll encounter a diverse array of flora, including medicinal and edible plants. This ciruclar hike is approximately 5 miles, along sandy trails, with a few inclines. You’ll need hiking shoes or tennis shoes to walk comfortably on the trails, as well as a refillable water bottle.

Fireside Chat Questions

Throughout our time together, we’ll be hosting a series of fireside chats with the Designers of Ruby Star Society. Do you have specific questions you’d like answered? If so, please share below and we’ll do our best to incorporate them into our programming.

Meal Selection

To help our partners prepare the best meals for you, we need your help making some of your meal selections in advance. We’re seeing this request more and more for group meals, as it helps kitchens prepare in advance, accommodate dietary restrictions and preferences, and eliminate food waste.