{"id":198752,"date":"2025-01-27T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=198752"},"modified":"2025-11-20T23:27:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T07:27:29","slug":"keva-niver-boheme-retreats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/video\/keva-niver-boheme-retreats","title":{"rendered":"Founder Spotlight: Keva Niver, Boheme Retreats"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"cb-itemprop\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" \n  width=\"560\" \n  height=\"315\" \n  src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/OaB8pljtq9g\" \n  title=\"YouTube video player\" \n  frameborder=\"0\" \n  allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" \n  referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" \n  allowfullscreen>\n<\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cComfort\u201d and \u201ccamping\u201d are words that don\u2019t always go together: For many people, sleeping on the ground or eating rehydrated food are worthy sacrifices to enjoy the experience of waking up in the woods. For others, however, discomfort comes from feeling unwelcome at the campsite, or even unsafe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Black campers, for example, are less likely to seek overnight stays in nature when they don&#8217;t see others who look like themselves. According to the <a href=\"http:\/\/koa.uberflip.com\/i\/1362448-2021-north-american-camping-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">2021 North American Camping Report<\/a>, sponsored by <a href=\"https:\/\/koa.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kampgrounds of America (KOA)<\/a>, only 12% of camping households in the United States that year were Black. While this marks a notable increase from 6% in 2012, it highlights a persistent disparity, as Black campers are far less likely than white campers to find others in camping spaces who share their identity and experiences. <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalhealthfoundation.org\/breaking-down-lack-diversity-outdoor-spaces\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Reasons for this disparity<\/a> include a history of racist legislation barring people of color from U.S. public lands; the need for costly equipment that can be hard for folks from marginalized communities to attain; and lack of access to nearby green space or transportation to state and national parks.\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is exactly what inspired self-proclaimed \u201cRV girl\u201d Keva Niver to open <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bohemeretreats.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Boheme Retreats<\/a> with her husband, Rudel Felicien. The couple, who started taking longer RV road trips during COVID-19, loved the time they spent in nature, but had a harder experience pulling into campgrounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Del-Keva-1.jpg?w=1024&#038;resize=1024%2C1024\" alt=\"A Black couple stands in front of a water source holding fishing rods\" class=\"wp-image-198907\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Keva Niver and Rudel Felicien, Boheme Retreats founders<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAfter every trip, we would look at each other and be like, \u2018Did you see anyone else that looked like us?\u2019\u201d Niver says. \u201cAnd it was always, \u2018No.\u2019 That was really the catalyst for us.\u201d After posting pictures of their journeys on Instagram, Niver says friends and acquaintances started reaching out with questions, even asking to borrow the family\u2019s RV. Niver realized that other campers of color (or camping-curious folks) would likely spend more time outside if they had a welcoming, safe place to do it.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That dream of an oasis of inclusion and accessibility became Boheme Retreats in 2022. This Catskills, New York, glamping site comprises beautifully restored and outfitted vintage campers, all designed as safe, peaceful and enriching getaways especially for new outdoorspeople, folks from historically marginalized communities and their allies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/bohemeretreats-19.jpg?w=1024&#038;resize=1024%2C684\" alt=\"Two renovated RVs nestled in the woods, for glamping\" class=\"wp-image-198903\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Niver\u2019s urban planning, design and renovation background helped inform Boheme\u2019s every detail, from the campers\u2019 warm and elegant contemporary interiors (softly glowing light from pendant lamps, framed art, colorful accent furniture) to the inviting community atmosphere that surrounds the site. She believes that removing some of the more intimidating aspects of camping\u2014which many see as barriers to getting outside in the first place\u2014can help more people reconnect with the healing and relaxing powers of fresh air, sunshine and birdsong.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOne of the big things that I noticed is that a lot of people are interested in camping, but a lot of people don\u2019t want to sleep on the ground. And then it\u2019s, \u2018Oh, I need a tent.\u2019 \u2018I don\u2019t\u2019 know how to make a fire.\u2019 So, we\u2019re able to set up an experience for people where they can just bring themselves. They can show up not knowing how to make a fire and there\u2019s someone there to help them,\u201d Niver says. \u201cWhen you get rid of some of those barriers, people are more likely to give it a try. And then they\u2019ve done it, they feel empowered, so maybe they will try a tent the next time. But it just opens the doors for them to have that first good experience.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, Boheme Retreats offers folks the opportunity to experience a welcoming, inclusive outdoor community\u2014often for the first time. \u201cEvery time I would travel to these RV parks, not only was there no one who looked like me, but there were no <em>owners<\/em> that looked like me,\u201d Niver says. \u201cSomething I\u2019ve heard from a lot of people who come to stay is that they know that when they show up, at least there\u2019s going to be one person there, you know? It makes a huge difference in creating spaces that feel more welcoming.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Waterfall.jpg?w=768&#038;resize=1024%2C1365\" alt=\"A person stands in front of a waterfall surrounded by forest.\" class=\"wp-image-198904\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2023, Niver joined a cohort of 18 founders to participate in the <a href=\"\/path-ahead\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">REI Co-op Path Ahead Ventures<\/a> Embark program. <a href=\"\/path-ahead\/embark\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Embark<\/a> is a program designed in partnership with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foundedoutdoors.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Founded Outdoors<\/a> to provide community, guidance and grant money for new and aspiring entrepreneurs from Black, Indigenous, Latina\/o\/x, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. While founders of color represent only around 1% of entrepreneurs in the outdoor industry today, visionaries like Niver are ready to change that. Supporting innovative ideas like hers with mentorship, infrastructure, customer connections and capital investments is one way to ensure that, going forward, there will be wider representation in the outdoor industry.\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The outdoors is for everyone: By creating space for founders of color to have the opportunity to learn, grow and network, REI Co-op believes that the outdoor industry can be for everyone too.\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI got in the Embark program after my first season doing Boheme, and it really came at such a good time. Starting a business is hard, and when you feel like you\u2019re doing it by yourself, it\u2019s even harder,\u201d Niver says. \u201cFor me, I felt like I had people behind me. It was a three-month program with other entrepreneurs, most of us just starting out, and it was a place to learn together and have people to vent all your struggles with.\u201d Niver says she found\u2014and has maintained\u2014a community of other founders from the program who support each other through the early stages of their businesses\u2019 growth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Niver and Felicien originally thought they\u2019d buy property and establish Boheme Retreats as a new campground, they seek to have more impact\u2014and further reach\u2014by partnering with existing camps, designating a particular area for Boheme\u2019s campers. Their first location is within Covered Bridge Campsite in Livingston Manor, New York, about two-and-a-half hours north of New York City. They hope to expand into more locations in coming years. This summer, Boheme Retreats is offering the first Retrofolk Adult Summer Camp Experience. This five-day, four-night program features three daily meals (with lunch and dinner wine pairings); a variety of activities including creative workshops and fitness sessions; guided off-site adventures in the Catskills; sauna and massage options; and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Learn more and book your stay at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bohemeretreats.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bohemeretreats.com<\/a>.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/Boheme-Evening-by-Boheme-Retreats.jpg?w=1024&#038;resize=1024%2C1024\" alt=\"A nighttime view of the glamping RV park Boheme Retreats\" class=\"wp-image-198902\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cComfort\u201d and \u201ccamping\u201d are words that don\u2019t always go together: For many people, sleeping on the ground or eating rehydrated food are worthy sacrifices to enjoy the experience of waking up in the woods. For others, however, discomfort comes from feeling unwelcome at the campsite, or even unsafe. Black campers, for example, are less likely [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30740,"featured_media":198855,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,717],"tags":[1686,733,1610,1866,727,2207,725],"internal-tag":[1494],"class_list":["post-198752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camp","category-video","tag-camp","tag-co-op-cinema","tag-glamping","tag-inclusion","tag-latest-posts","tag-path-ahead-ventures","tag-video","internal-tag-co-op-studios"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/video\/keva-niver-boheme-retreats","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Founder Spotlight: Keva Niver, Boheme Retreats","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/video\/keva-niver-boheme-retreats","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/video\/keva-niver-boheme-retreats"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/keva_thumb_still.png?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/keva_thumb_still.png?fit=1396%2C783"},"articleSection":"Camp","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ever Meister"}],"creator":["Ever Meister"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["camp","co-op cinema","glamping","inclusion","latest posts","path ahead ventures","video"],"dateCreated":"2025-01-27T14:00:00Z","datePublished":"2025-01-27T14:00:00Z","dateModified":"2025-11-21T07:27:29Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Founder Spotlight: Keva Niver, Boheme Retreats\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/video\\\/keva-niver-boheme-retreats\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/video\\\/keva-niver-boheme-retreats\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/keva_thumb_still.png?resize=150%2C150\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2025\\\/01\\\/keva_thumb_still.png?fit=1396%2C783\"},\"articleSection\":\"Camp\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Ever Meister\"}],\"creator\":[\"Ever Meister\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uncommon Path \\u2013 An REI Co-op Publication\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"camp\",\"co-op cinema\",\"glamping\",\"inclusion\",\"latest posts\",\"path ahead ventures\",\"video\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2025-01-27T14:00:00Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-01-27T14:00:00Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-11-21T07:27:29Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rei.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/01\/keva_thumb_still.png?fit=1396%2C783","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198752","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30740"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=198752"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198752\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":201216,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/198752\/revisions\/201216"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/198855"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=198752"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=198752"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=198752"},{"taxonomy":"internal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-tag?post=198752"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}