about Matt
Matt Stone’s path to experience design was forged in radical presence. A former dive instructor, climbing guide, and paragliding pilot, Matt spent a decade finding clarity paragliding through the Himalayas, climbing big walls in the Andes, and living his own version of the motorcycle diaries.
In 2018, on the island of Florianópolis, Brazil, Matt founded Retreats Compass. The mission was clear: to enable individuals from all walks of life to have transformational experiences around the world to help them: “Change Your Life, See The World, Make A Difference.”
Now based in Pacific Grove, Matt’s work has evolved to bridge personal wellness with community health. Beyond adventure, he has developed substance use disorder and mental health programs for United Way throughout Monterey County. This commitment to healing extends beyond the local community, as he actively supports nature-based solutions and regenerative practices globally.
Today, Retreats Compass has transformed into a specialized wellness partner. Matt distills a lifetime of global adventure and community impact into grounded, elegant environments. By blending nature, structure, and intentionality, he creates the space for individuals to reset, reflect, and experience exponential change.
about Nicole’s Work
Nicole Hope Sylvester is an author, speaker, and stress educator who is deeply passionate about helping people reconnect with themselves through the combined power of nature and the body. Her work centers on body literacy—the ability to understand and work with the body’s signals—as a pathway back to calm, clarity, and inner alignment.
She believes that when people step into nature and begin to truly listen to their bodies, something shifts. The noise quiets, the pressure softens, and a more grounded, centered version of themselves begins to emerge. Through thoughtfully guided experiences, Nicole creates space for this reconnection to happen in a way that feels both natural and lasting.
Blending science with real-life application, her approach helps individuals move out of overwhelm and into a steady, responsive way of living, where clarity, confidence, and a deeper sense of self can take root.
