Who We Are
The backstory of Swift Waters is truly a wonderful, whimsical winding road, but here are the basics!
Back in 2022, Amy Milin, a writer, editor, and events coordinator from NYC, connected with Hannah and Gideon Bontrager – two siblings raised on a summer-and-weekend camp for families that their parents directed in rural PA. We met through mutual connections in the creative hub of Narrowsburg, NY, especially Meredith Moyer.
Amy’s interest in creating a welcoming and accessible space for creatives from all walks of life resonated with the Bontragers, who had spent most of their lives inviting new people to their family’s property and engaging in community activities.
Taking a leap of faith, the Bontragers helped Amy launch Swift Waters out of Gideon’s home in Lackawaxen, PA, where the project still resides.
The retreat has taken different forms as we’ve all learned how to run a space and business together, with the constants of collaboration, creativity, and compassion guiding our way.
Hannah
Co-host | Hospitality Steward
Gideon
Property Manager
Amy
Founder | Director
About the Project
Swift Waters Collective is a grassroots project originally launched by friends and collaborators Amy Milin, Meredith Moyer, Gideon Bontrager, and Hannah Bontrager.
In December 2023, we opened the Swift Waters House to writers, artists of any discipline, and more. Above all, the space is envisioned as a flexible community grounded in authentic connection and creativity, holistic health, and intention.
We are open to anyone who resonates with the project, and stays can be as short as a day or as long as two weeks. Setting us apart, stay fees exist as a sliding scale for all applicants.
In the past two years, we have hosted more than 100 writers and artists from cities, suburbs, and townships, aged 18 - 65, and from those securing book deals and showing in galleries to those who rarely get to take time for their creative side.