Organized outdoor socially-distanced activities are also offered daily. Examples include mindful hiking, walking meditations, mindful movement, star gazing, work meditations (optional), and more… (Specific organized offerings vary).

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant putting an extended hold on hosting traditional format residential meditation retreats. While some meditation centers have successfully transitioned to offering online retreats, the format can be challenging for many. Amidst the distractions and habituations of the home environment, it can be difficult to create the container necessary for sustaining and deepening a continuity of mindfulness.

If online or solo retreat practice is challenging because of your living situation, or you would simply prefer to practice in a private location amidst nature, there is an option to practice your online (or solo) retreat on your own at Big Bear Retreat Center.

FACILITY & ACCOMMODATIONS

Big Bear Retreat Center is located a 2.5-hour drive from Los Angeles, nestled in the ancient Juniper woodlands of the San Bernardino Mountains at a 7,000-foot elevation (four mountain seasons) near the town of Big Bear, California. With an emphasis on inclusion and accessibility, the 93-acre property provides a refuge for people of all faiths and walks of life.

Big Bear Retreat Center is offering a limited number of its 3 bedroom / 2 bathroom meditation cabins for rent, on a first-come first-served basis, for use during online and/or solo retreats. Each cabin has a living area and full kitchen. The cabin and portions of the grounds (with wifi access) would be your own private space to participate in the online retreat virtually via your computer or phone.

In addition to your private cabin, you will also have full access to the grounds, trails, meditation hall (limited capacity), and outdoor dining spaces.

The facilities, including the cabins, are regularly sanitized and are operated in accordance with public health official standards.

MEAL OPTIONS DURING YOUR STAY

There are two options for meals at BBRC:

1. Fully-Catered Plan – We provide freshly-prepared contact-free delicious healthy vegetarian meals delivered to your cabin 3 times daily, and stock your cabin with coffee, tea, and snacks
2. Bring Your Own Plan – You bring (and prepare) all of your own food and snacks.

ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES DURING YOUR STAY

Organized outdoor socially-distanced activities are also offered daily. Examples include mindful hiking, walking meditations, mindful movement, star gazing, work meditations (optional), and more… (Specific organized offerings vary).

POLICY ON SHARING YOUR CABIN WITH OTHERS DURING COVID-19

Big Bear Retreat Center’s default is to allow one person per cabin.

However, you have the option of bringing a limited number of additional guests (no more than six people per cabin). All occupants of the same cabin must be part of the same “quaran-team” — a small number of people who have committed to exclusively gathering with one another during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to rigorously observing the guidance of public health officials concerning COVID-19 safety and social distancing protocols.

Big Bear Retreat Center treats the safety of all of its guests with utmost importance. If bringing additional guests, each guest will be required to sign a document confirming understanding of, and accepting responsibility for, strict adherence to these protocols).

There may be other people practicing similar solo retreats at the Center but all people will be required to wear masks on the property and to maintain social distance when in proximity to others.

WINTER TRAVEL

Please see our Getting to BBRC page.

For additional questions, please contact our Retreat Manager.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please see our FAQ page.

For additional questions, please contact our Retreat Manager.

BACKGROUND: NOW OFFERING HYBRID SOLO RETREATS

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant putting an extended hold on hosting traditional format residential meditation retreats. Big Bear Retreat Center has transitioned temporarily from group in person retreats to offering an independent space for individual (and household) bookings for participating in online retreats or your own practice. With 10 separate cabin buildings on about 100 acres of forested land, we are able to accommodate a distanced, independent, and private retreat stay.

This is a wonderful option if participating in your home environment is challenging and distracting, or you would simply prefer to practice in a private cabin amidst nature and a retreat center. We are happy to provide the environment and container for sustaining and deepening a continuity of mindfulness.

ABOUT THE CENTER

Big Bear Retreat Center is located a 2.5-hour drive from Los Angeles, nestled in the ancient Juniper forests of the San Bernardino Mountains at a 7,000-foot elevation (four mountain seasons) near the town of Big Bear Lake in Southern California.

The Center is immersed in nature located amidst about 100 acres of forested land with direct access to several hiking trails connected to our property. With an emphasis on inclusion and accessibility, provides a refuge for people of all faiths and walks of life.

RETREAT CABINS

BBRC offers 10 private independent retreat cabins.

Cabins are generally equipped with:

• 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
• Accommodations for 4-8 people from the same household or ‘pod’ in each cabin
• Full kitchens
• Living room
• Wifi
• Central heating
• A deck outside in nature

In addition to your private cabin, you will also have full access to the grounds, trails, meditation hall (limited capacity), and outdoor dining spaces. *shared space availability and closure are dependent on weather and other factors*

The facilities, including the cabins, are regularly sanitized and are operated in accordance with public health official standards. See our COVID POLICIES and FAQ for up to date practices and expectations.

MEALS AT BIG BEAR RETREAT CENTER

There are two options for meals at BBRC:

1. Fully-Catered Plan – We provide freshly-prepared contact-free delicious healthy vegetarian meals delivered to your cabin 3 times daily, and stock your cabin with coffee, tea, and snacks
2. Bring Your Own Plan – You bring (and prepare) all of your own food and snacks.

ORGANIZED ACTIVITIES DURING YOUR STAY

Organized outdoor socially-distanced activities are also offered daily. Examples include mindful hiking, walking meditations, mindful movement, star gazing, work meditations (optional), and more… (Specific organized offerings vary).

POLICY ON SHARING YOUR CABIN WITH OTHERS DURING COVID-19

Big Bear Retreat Center’s default is to allow one person per cabin.

However, you have the option of bringing a limited number of additional guests (no more than six people per cabin). All occupants of the same cabin must be part of the same “quaran-team” — a small number of people who have committed to exclusively gathering with one another during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to rigorously observing the guidance of public health officials concerning COVID-19 safety and social distancing protocols.

Big Bear Retreat Center treats the safety of all of its guests with utmost importance. If bringing additional guests, each guest will be required to sign a document confirming understanding of, and accepting responsibility for, strict adherence to these protocols).

There may be other people practicing similar solo retreats at the Center but all people will be required to wear masks on the property and to maintain social distance when in proximity to others.

WINTER TRAVEL

Please see our Getting to BBRC page.

For additional questions, please contact our Retreat Manager.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please see our FAQ page.

For additional questions, please contact our Retreat Manager.