Leading the Future for Peace
A unique summer camp experience for the whole family
17th to 23rd August 2025
The most extraordinary experience of your life
Seven days in the foothills of the Pyrénées, with some of the most forward thinking artists, thought leaders and entrepreneurs, participating in an immersive and experiential learning journey that will bring joy to your family and healing to our world
Summer Camp for Peace
For all who care about the future of our world
Leading the Future for Peace is an extraordinary week-long summer camp programme for parents and children, led by two award-winning female artists, who harness the power of the arts to bring messages of peace and healing around the world.
Expanding beyond any learning experience you will have had before, these women find a way to bring music, theatre and songwriting to explore ideas of peace as an internal quality that we all have access to, showing that separation is an illusion, and allowing us to empathise with others, for the healing of trauma within us all.
The experience of a lifetime
In a year that has had many of us on our knees with fear about the future of our planet, a regenerative and restorative retreat, bringing together children, young people, and families, from all over the world, to take part in an extraordinary 7 days of theatre and music-making, workshops, seminars, performances and day trips, for the retreat of a lifetime in south west France.
Summer Camp for Peace
Led by guest artists Laurie Rubin and Jenny Taira, you will come together with others from around the world to explore ideas of peace and global harmony, overcoming conflict and bullying, empathy and understanding ‘the other’, and how to build more tolerant societies, instilling in young people the values of cooperation, empathy, understanding, and giving adults the tools to foster these skills in young people, as well as in themselves.
Both young people and adults have found Laurie and Jenny’s work to be profoundly inspiring, enlivening, and self affirming. These two artists not only lead participants through powerful workshops that engage hearts, minds, and spirits, but also lead by their own example, sharing authentic stories from their own lives and inspiring participants of all ages to play full out in their own lives
Laurie and Jenny centre young people in their work as they are our future leaders who have the power to effect social change. They instill in young people the importance of our diverse history, acceptance across varying life experiences, and the need for equitable representation and treatment of all people. This is the pathway to building a more peaceful world.
What you and your child will get
COLLABORATE with a diverse cohort that values partnership, respect, and empathy.
RESPOND to the needs of the group knowing their own needs will also be met.
ENGAGE in a process that enhances critical and creative thinking.
AWAKEN and share the unique artistic qualities inherent in each of us.
TRANSFORM challenges into opportunities with joy and hope.
EMPOWER themselves and each other knowing what they do impacts the world.
Laurie Rubin
Laurie Rubin is an opera singer, arts educator, and author who was born blind. Her career has taken her to some of the greatest concert halls and opera houses around the world, including Carnegie Hall, the John F. Kennedy Center, Wigmore Hall in London, New York City Opera, and Greek National Opera. However, Laurie’s life has taken her on a circuitous, rigorous path that wasn’t always positive. Her blindness often caused her to face difficult pangs of isolation, passive aggressive bullying, and discrimination at times. She believes that it is the more difficult aspects of her life that she has learned and grown from the most. Her memoir, “Do You Dream in Color? Insights from a Girl Without Sight” chronicles her journey through exploration of the world as a blind child and difficult middle and high school years through the ascendance of her career in classical music. She attributes the power of the human spirit for her resilience, strength, and determination to be her best self and to walk her desired life path. Laurie has given numerous workshops in schools in which she tells stories from her life, weaving them with pieces of music, and engaging students from elementary school through college in activities that help to develop a better understanding of empathy, compassion, and self awareness with the ultimate goal of building confidence and self esteem.
After the publication of her memoir, Laurie went on to collaborate with her wife and musical partner Jenny Taira on the creation of a musical, entitled “Peace On Your Wings,” based on the true story of 12 year old Hiroshima atomic bomb victim Sadako Sasaki and her thousand paper cranes. The show has toured ten cities in ten years, including the city of Hiroshima where Sadako’s story took place. Through the journey of this musical, Laurie and Jenny have developed an understanding of how peace is a crucial and integral part of the education process. They’ve learned how conflict on a micro level can influence conflict and violence on a macro level. “Peace On Your Wings” has been an example to them of how theater and music are more than performing on a stage, and that both contain key components that change attitudes, minds, and lives.
Jenny Taira
Jenny Taira is an award winning clarinetist, pianist, and arts educator. She is one of the co-founders of Ohana Arts, a performing arts program and youth theater company, now in its 14th season, which aims to cultivate peace and an international family in the pacific through the universal language of the arts. Jenny served as composer, co-bookwriter, orchestrator, and arranger on the groundbreaking new musical, “Peace On Your Wings,” based on the true story of 12 year old atomic bomb victim Sadako Sasaki and her thousand paper cranes which has toured ten cities in the US and Japan. Jenny has music directed over 20 shows and has served as conductor for the Ohana Arts pit orchestra for the past 14 years.
In this seven day workshop with Laurie and Jenny, participants will participate in a musical experience in which listening and interacting with music, as well as delving into creative writing will help them explore peace, unconditional love, compassion, empathy, self acceptance, and acceptance of others.
Watch a powerful video that Laurie and Jenny made on bullying from one of their past projects with young people.
This retreat will include excerpts from Peace on your Wings, a groundbreaking production on the story of the atomic bomb, as a cautionary tale of the dangers of global conflict.
The Most Magical Experience of Your Life
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Setting the Stage
Arrival in Pau and transfer to Clos de Gaye
Introduction to The Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership, Clos de Gaye, and our lead artists, Laurie Rubin and Jenny Taira
Laurie to share her story of bullying and discrimination in an inspirational talk and workshop to set the scene for the week
Dinner in the gardens at Clos de Gaye
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The World As We Would Like It To Be
‘Frozen Picture’ Workshop exploring the nature of conflict and the skills needed to build more peaceful societies
Picnic and Afternoon walk through the mountains
Getting Past Trauma - reflection and sharing
Evening performance from Laurie and Jennie
Post-performance discussion
Dinner
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But How Do We Get There?
Both Sides Now - a workshop on empathy building on the words of the famous song
Lunch in the Rose Garden
Crane Folding workshops in memory of Sadako Sasaki
Writing a Prayer for World Peace
Dinner under the stars
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Peace on our Wings
Transfer to the Basque coast
Morning discussion on the beach on what it would take to build a roadmap for peace lead by young people
Lunch discussion on building new narratives for change
Afternoon walk through St Jean de Luz
Dinner
Transfer back to Pau
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Leading The Future
‘Understanding The Other’ - Workshop with Laurie and Jenny
Lunch
Preparing the show and rehearsal
Dinner
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Taking Action on the World Stage
Preparing the show and rehearsal
Lunch
Dress Rehearsal
Performance on the field at Clos de Gaye, overlooking the Pyrénées with invited members of the public - an unforgettable experience that invites each one of us to make a commitment for peace
Pizza Party and disco
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When the show ends, what begins?
Reflection and Renewal
Lunch discussion on building new narratives for change
Departure
Trip to the Chateau de Pau (optional)
FAQs
Friends and Relationships
What trait to you like about yourself most?
What trait do you not like about yourself?
What was the most hurtful thing someone has said to you?
What was the most hurtful thing you said to someone else?
What prompted you to say something hurtful?
Creative Writing
Students will be asked to write stories, passages, poems, or monologues based on life experiences that relate to conflict, whether inner conflict, conflict with another individual, or experience with a larger, more global conflict. Participants will be asked to share their passages with the group.
Spirituality and the Definition of Unconditional Love
Sharing perspectives on the purest form of love, kindness, compassion, and empathy. Questions to explore: “If there is more to the world than what we see, what would we hope for?”
“Who am I and how do I fit in?”
Laurie will share passages from her book, specifically focusing on the more difficult middle school years, and concluding with the excerpts that share what she learned from those experiences and how they helped her succeed.
You and your family will leave inspired, connected, with precious memories of magical experiences, and clear ideas of next steps that you can take as a family to build a better world
All retreats and high-impact summits are lead by Caroline Watson, visionary founder of The Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership, and the Global Arts Impact Agenda. An award-winning entrepreneur, Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum (Davos) and a talented performer herself, using the arts to effect large-scale social change across the world, Caroline is the owner of Clos de Gaye and a masterful hostess and creator of extraordinary experiences.
Caroline Watson, Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, Harvard, Yale, INSEAD, Oxford
Coach and leadership development expert to global heads of state, corporate executives and world leaders.
Inspirational educator for children and young people
Unfolding your leadership potential
Clos de Gaye
Extraordinary experiences where the world comes together for impact
Welcome to Clos de Gaye, a unique and special place in the far southwest of France, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, close to the border of Spain and the stunning Basque coast.
Clos de Gaye (pronounced ‘guy’) means ‘Place of Happiness’ and it is at once a private home, a residential retreat, a creative and artistic workspace, organic farm, community kitchen, restaurant and tea house, and a convening ground for global leaders, artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and all those charged with the care and governance of our planet. Think of it as the meeting point between the Bloomsbury set’s Charleston and Camp David. It is a place to stay, to play, to share and to transform our world.
The spirit of Clos de Gaye is one of contribution, generosity and accountability. Those that have a seat of the table have arrived there through hard work and a genuine desire to be of service to the world. Time spent here is for you to reflect on what has been achieved so far and to be a springboard into future leadership and the continued desire to be a force for good in the world.
Deep in the heart of the French countryside, embedded in the ‘old world’ rises a new way of thinking about the future. The best of European heritage, beauty and aesthetic, with interiors from all over the world, reflecting our founder’s upbringing in Asia, and bringing energy, dynamism and a sense of inclusion of the new world.
An opportunity to reclaim the very best of European culture and values, with a renewed way of thinking about its relationship with the rest of the world, restoring humanity to everyone.
Each summit takes place against the backdrop of some of the most beautiful corners of south west France and will include visits to the following places:
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The Pic du Midi d’Ossau
Evening picnic on the Plateau de Benou
Stunning views from Clos de Gaye
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Soothing effect of the ocean
Dramatic waves
Award-winning cuisine
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Culture
Heritage
History
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Elegance
Sophistication
Refinement
Accommodation will be provided in our beautiful bell tents or our amazing ‘Stargazer' luxury tents on the grounds of Clos de Gaye
All meals are prepared using fresh, local, and often organic ingredients, sourced either from our kitchen garden or from local providers in the Béarn and Basque regions.
Clos de Gaye is situated in the Jurancon wine region and there will be thoughtful pairings of wine and other non-alcoholic drinks with each meal.
Our spaces are unique, artistic and soulful.
Each retreat is part of a year-long learning journey lead by Caroline herself that comes with a family coaching programme, as well as the online ‘Global Explorers’ programme, based on her own experience as an award-winning leader and entrepreneur.
As a mother herself, Caroline brings tips and tricks to encourage harmonious family relationships, support the creative development of your children and enable them to develop valuable 21st century skills, and coaches and supports the family to unfold their individual AND collective potential.
Caroline’s family will also be part of the programme and are always eager to make new friends from across the world!
Following the retreat, our team members will work with you to shape the inspiration you received during the retreat into tangible and concrete action to make a difference in the world. We will support you over a 3, 6, 9 and 12 month timeline to bring to fruition your vision from the retreat, leveraging our world-class networks, to ensure that your time spent with us has real world impact.
There will also be bi-monthly networking opportunities to continue to grow, learn and share with others from your cohort to ensure the transformation you go through is deeply embedded in your everyday life.
All participants are also invited to be life-long members of our ‘Higher Order’ Leadership community, offering ongoing networking opportunities and continued benefits into the future.
When the show ends, what begins?
These retreats ask the big questions. They are part of a series of high-level ‘retreat summits’ held on the Clos de Gaye estate each summer and autumn, lead by the founder of The Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership, Caroline Watson,
They re-imagine our world.
Transformational experiences, they are an exploration into our deeper humanity.
We use the arts to unlock a deeper level of discussion, and then explore how the arts can also be applied to solving the greatest challenges of our time.
For more information about the full ‘summit retreat’ programme and how your participation will be part of larger world-changing initiatives, click below
Our retreats bring together exceptional people from all over the world - corporate, government and civil society leaders, academics, artists and cultural leaders - all those with a desire to bring about positive impact in our world.
By bringing together such a diverse mix of people, your own networks will expand in truly global ways and opportunities for collaboration on large-scale issues across the world will unfold.
Outcomes
● Moving and memorable experiences connecting fellow leaders from very different cultures and backgrounds
● Strengthen family bonds, create shared precious memories and learn and see your partner and children in a whole new way
● Get to know each other as fellow humans by listening to one another, and being heard.
● Explore one’s own backstories in surprising and refreshing ways. Increase understanding of each other's differences, shared values and experiences and what has brought us to our current perspectives, concerns, aspirations, fears, and joys.
● Draw upon artistic experience and creative processes that use the power of human curiosity to traverse expanded terrains, aligning thoughts, emotions and actions.
● Participate in an extraordinary experience, guided by a team of world-class artist facilitators, that is powerful enough that it becomes the start of ongoing relationships, connections and perspective shifting that bring about meaningful change in our world
Getting Here
From your home to Clos de Gaye
Clos de Gaye is situated less than 20 minutes away from both Pau airport and train station in south west France. We are also 50 minutes away from Tarbes/Lourdes airport. Biarritz, Bordeaux and Toulouse are all between 1 - 2 hours drive or train ride.
In keeping with our vision to have a positive impact on the world, all retreats start and end at Gare Montparnasse in Paris, so you can use train travel to ‘set the scene’ on your extraordinary journey and reduce your carbon footprint. We also kindly ask all international visitors to offset the carbon from their plane travel to Paris through a reputable carbon-offsetting scheme.
We suggest that you aim for a plane or train to arrive in Paris on the morning of the retreat date, and to take the 2pm train from Montparnasse to arrive in time for dinner. Transfers from the train station to Clos de Gaye can be arranged ahead of time and the transfer time takes less than 20 minutes.
Dates
17th to 23rd August 2025
Come together with some of the world’s foremost leaders to take part in transformative workshops, discussions, performances and experiences that will change the world.
Investment
25,0000 euros per family to include the year-long family coaching and online Global Explorers programme
The retreat can also be purchased as a one-off for the residential programme alone, at a price of 10,000 euros per family tent (up to 4 people) or 15,000 euros for a ‘Stargazer’ tent (also up to 4 people). For larger families, please enquire so we can find the right size for you.
20% sales tax applies
The retreat can also be paid for through our US-based 501 (c) 3 as a charitable donation and offset against taxes.
Included:
Retreat
All workshops, talks, dinners, and performances
Your Accommodation in a bell tent or Stargazer luxury tent
All your meals, including eating out
Your day trips to the Pyrénées and the Basque coast
Year-long personal development and family Global Explorers programme
All the above plus:
Group coaching and networking with the rest of your cohort for the 12 month period (once a month)
‘Global Explorers’ additional learning content for the 12 months surrounding the retreat experience through a micro-learning app (Gnowbe)
As a socially-entrepreneurial for-profit company, choosing to purchase one of our programmes at The Centre for the Arts and Global Leadership creates employment opportunities for artists and creatives and supports low-income and marginalised communities to also take part in extraordinary experiences at Clos de Gaye and elsewhere in the world, enabling others to also benefit from the life-transforming effects of our programmes.
Possible side trips to add to your itinerary
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Paris
City of Lights, one of the most romantic capitals in the world, and host of the summer Olympics 2024. An easy train ride from Paris with lots to see and do, we recommend a few days stop here en route to Clos de Gaye when flying internationally.
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Toulouse
Just two hours from Clos de Gaye, this gorgeous ‘pink city’ is unique in France for its distinct architecture and vibrant and youthful spirit. Our partnership with the Hotel des Arts provides a wonderful addition to your stay with us.
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Basque Coast
With it’s dramatic landscape and Michelin-award winning cuisine, the Basque coast and the towns of Bayonne and Biarritz, St Jean de Luz and the Spanish city of San Sebastian make for a stunning driving holiday to finish off your trip.
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Bordeaux
Stunning French city in the heart of the famed wine region, world class dining, and the possibility to visit vineyards, chateaux and the surrounding Dordogne and Landes region
Clos de Gaye
Extraordinary experiences where the world comes together for impact
Because our world needs a new kind of leadership
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