We invite those who partner with us into stillness to embody the quiet of the mind. It allows you to fully ground in your practice and it also leaves an indelible impression on those who are coming to sit in community. We are all then able to witness what it is to live and be in stillness. 

​​how we show up:

• listen with openness, fresh ears + eyes
• explore what’s shared, differing views/experiences with inquiry
• assume with loving eyes
• clear, loving intention in words
• vulnerability is welcomed
• responsibility for impacts of your words and choose a path of repair
• share learnings (not messengers); your experience 
• mindful of speaking space
• keeping what’s shared here

Please plan to arrive between 2pm and 4pm on the day of your arrival unless otherwise stated in your pre-arrival communications. Allow for plenty of time and account for traffic when planning your drive (especially on Fridays!). If you need to arrive later than 4pm, please let us know.

Your cabin and room details will be provided on arrival at the registration table.

Retreat schedules vary depending on the group and organizer. Full retreat schedules are not available prior to the retreat. Checkout time for cabins is typically 9 or 9:30am and retreats generally end by 11am

Please see our Getting to BBRC page for more information on driving directions, public transportation, winter driving, shuttles & rideshares.

Residential cabins have 3-4 bedrooms with twin beds and a limited number of ensuite bathrooms, many rooms will share a single bathroom. Each residence cabin has a shared kitchen, and living room. No cooking equipment will be provided.

We are a primarily meditation retreat center and our accommodations are nice, clean and modest. There is sometimes a mirror and a small clothes-hanging area in your room. Shoes are not allowed in residence cabins and the meditation hall. 

Every building offers outdoor decks to enjoy our natural environment and trails throughout the land, and adjacent national forest, for nature walks. It is not common to intersect with the local wildlife while on our trails but it can happen. Coyotes and wild Donkeys are the most common, we do not recommend that you interact or feed the wildlife (birds and squirrels too). 

Please be aware that we are at 7,000 feet in elevation. If you are sensitive to altitude, we  recommend bringing any necessary medication or supplies to help you adjust to this  environment smoothly.  This includes melatonin or aids for sleeping. 

You can see a full campus tour HERE.

LINENS:

The center provides all the linens: towels, bed sheets, blankets and pillows. You do not need to reserve these ahead of time. Guests may bring their own personal linens (optional).

DOOR CODE: 

Cabins have keyless locks with door code(s) that will be shared with you upon arrival. Each bedroom locks from the inside. 

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES:

Big Bear Retreat Center does have some limitations, so if you are concerned about  your mobility or ability to navigate the retreat and the center, please reach out before the retreat. This way we can better understand what is needed to support you as we would like you to be able to participate in this retreat as fully as possible. If you need support and you haven’t yet let us know, please email us. 

Meals are provided and served for all guests at the dining hall. BBRC provides three freshly prepared, healthful, nourishing and supportive meals a day. The kitchen also offers additional snacks in the dining hall which is open 24/7. Coffee is served daily.

The kitchen does its best to accommodate as many diets and flavors, using vegetarian protein as our base. Guests are also welcome to bring their own snacks or particular ingredients for the duration of the retreat. In each cabin, as well as the dining hall, there is a refrigerator and pantry space to store your own snacks. Please reach out if you have any questions or extreme dietary restrictions.

Due to our location on the mountain, we source our ingredients at least a week in advance which means that it is hard to accommodate last minute changes. Please ensure your dietary restrictions are up to date before arriving at the center –  at least one week prior to your arrival. We ask that you not change your dietary plan after the retreat has started, unless it is absolutely necessary.

• (optional) Personal Food and Snacks may be brought to support you during retreat but are not necessary. Meals at the center are generally vegetarian unless otherwise organized by your group. 
• Flashlight or headlamp, the retreat center is lit at night and we do typically offer extra flashlights and lanterns.
• Toiletries – shampoo/conditioner/soap the center has a limited amount available
• Bathrobes are encouraged since most bathrooms are shared.
• Warm layers of winter clothing for night and early mornings, temperatures drop year round
• Sunscreen and hat. At our elevation sun exposure is a greater risk and will remain high if there is snow on the ground. 
• Socks or Slippers for meditation hall and cabin 
• Shoes that are easy to slip on/off for indoor spaces. No shoes are allowed inside cabins or the meditation hall. 
• Reusable water bottle. The center has filtered water readily available, we recommend staying well hydrated in order to combat the effects of altitude. 
• Reusable thermos for hot beverages 
• Hiking boots or comfortable sneakers for walking around center or trails
• In particular during winter months (Nov – May), bring warm layers, gloves, hats and winter jackets.
• Melatonin, sleep aid, or earplugs (if needed)
• Personal medication
• Anything that may help you acclimate to the altitude (7000 ft)

ADDITIONAL PACKING LIST FOR MEDITATION RETREATS

• A traditional wristwatch to keep time during breaks. There are clocks in each hall and residential cabin as well as alarm clocks in each room. 
• No chemically scented toiletries or perfumes (unscented shampoo, conditioner and bodywash will be provided)
• (optional) Personal Meditation Supplies – the center has a limited supply but generally one for each participant of the zabutons and zafus (cushions)
• (optional) Blanket for the meditation hall – center has a limited supply around 1 per person
• (optional) Yoga Mats and props – center has a limited supply of about 1 per person

If you leave anything behind, please email Lost and Found at: guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org. We will keep items for 30 days. BBRC will ship items, but you will be responsible for all the costs related to shipping your lost item.

For emergencies for others to contact you during retreat, you may give loved ones or colleagues the BBRC Office Cell (760-885-9898). Text is preferred or ensure they leave a voicemail as we are often in sessions and unable to answer. They can also contact us at guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org Please note, this number is NOT available to retreat participants once the retreat has commenced. We will cover emergency communications for participants during the retreat.

In the event of a medical emergency the participant will be taken to a LOCAL hospital or Urgent care facility as applicable. We are not able to accommodate requests to other facilities.

Please practice extra precautions in fire safety while on retreat. We ask that there are no outdoor fires in the forest and no candles in your cabin. Each cabin has central heating & we do not allow personal space heaters.

See this page for up to date information

Trained service dogs in ADA-specified service are allowed. Please specify this on your registration or application form so we have maximum time to notify other retreatants, in case any have dog issues or allergies. Our Retreat Manager will also let you know our house rules regarding the care and exercising of your service dog.

Most areas on the property will get clear cell service, except by the front gate. Wifi is  available in some of the common areas. 

If you are on a retreat practicing noble silence, this includes not using your phone. More information will be provided at arrival. The staff office (at the dining hall) is available if use of technology or calls are absolutely necessary during your retreat.

There is one plug-in station (220v) for electric vehicles on our campus as well as normal 110v outlets to plug into. Please bring your own plug-in cord and necessary adapters. There will be a sign up sheet at registration and all EV owners will be assigned a time to charge by retreat staff. Here is a link to Plugshare with a list of all available EV charging stations in Big Bear, 4 of which are free. There is also a Tesla Super Charging Station available in the Village. If you plan on charging your vehicle at one of these off-site locations please do so before or after retreat.

See this page for up to date information

If you wish to contact Guest Services with retreat related questions (reservations details, dietary needs, cancellations, etc.) please email guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org. You may also call and leave a message at 760-209-6818 and someone will get back to you weekdays between the hours of 9a-5p.

The format of Insight silent meditation retreats depends entirely on the teachers, and will incorporate silence for short periods or the entirety of the retreat. Please refer to the specific programming offered by the teacher of your retreat. 

Most Insight meditation residential retreats are practiced in silence. Silence usually begins the first evening after dinner and ends the morning of the last day. The teachers will share more about this practice during the retreat. In order to best support the community and retreat container, we strongly ask that everyone take part in the commitment of noble silence, including not using phones or technology, during the retreat. 

If there are any emergencies and someone on retreat needs to be contacted, loved ones can contact BBRC and we will deliver the message to the retreatant.

Your retreat fees for registration go towards the center accommodations and all costs for running this retreat. All BBRC staff are paid employees. Teachers of our retreats are either paid through dana (donation) at the end of retreat offered by students (not paid through fees) or fees are incorporated in their compensation. This is a teacher’s choice and part of the lineage of their teaching. Please see your retreat’s program page to see specifics on this for your upcoming retreat. 

More about the practice of Dana and Teacher dana: As part of the Buddhist tradition, many teachers offer the teachings freely with no expectations of fees or payment. As a practice of generosity from the heart, participants are invited to offer “dana” (donations-generosity) to the teachers at the end of the retreat. There are no minimums, expectations, or guidelines. It is not required. Teachers do not receive retreat fees, apart from travel reimbursement support. Learn more here about the practice of dana.

All guests are asked to remain on the center grounds (apart from the hiking trails) throughout the duration of the retreat. This is essential for the container and essence of the retreat. We can often support guest needs with common items from our Honor Store or we can purchase items for you. If a situation arises where you need to leave the center, please discuss with a Retreat Manager first. Please do not leave the center without notifying a Retreat Manager, it is essential we have accurate information on who is on campus for emergency safety.

Schedules vary depending on the teacher, but in general one can expect a morning, afternoon & evening practice period. Full schedules are not available prior to the retreat. See a sample schedule here. 

As part of registration, you will complete an online Practitioner Questionnaire. In this required form you’ll submit a photo of yourself and answer questions about your meditation practice and psychological health. This form is confidential.

Sometimes called interviews, Practice Discussions are an opportunity to discuss your meditation practice and retreat experience with a teacher. They usually occur in small groups with a teacher. Specifics will vary depending on the teaching team and length of retreat.

Participation in this retreat will involve a light daily working meditation (approx. 30 minutes each day) to support the community experience. When you arrive at registration, you will pick a daily task to complete with mindful attention. Please let us know if you have any physical challenges that might impact your ability to perform certain tasks. Please also bring closed toe shoes that you can change into in the event you choose a yogi job in the dining hall.

We ask that all retreatants not use chemically scented products during their time on retreat, including chemically scented shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soaps and abstaining from use of perfumes and colognes. This helps those that are affected by these products in the shared spaces. Products with naturally scented fragrances are acceptable (such as shea butter, coconut oil, and essential oils), especially if that is important to personal use during your time here. We will also have a dedicated space in the hall for scent-sensitive folks. If you need any unscented products, the retreat center has these on hand to lend. 

Please keep in mind this includes avoiding, as best you can, washing your clothes immediately before your arrival using chemically scented laundry detergents and fabric softeners.

Unscented shampoo, conditioner and body wash will be provided in each bathroom.