The Sacred Path of Connection, Belonging & Love: A Women’s Springtime Nature Retreat
With Heidi Bourne and Laurie Cousins
March 7 - 11, 2026
This retreat is open to both beginning and seasoned practitioners, to all female-identified persons over the age of 18, including LGBTQIA+.
Registration closes on February 21, 2026. If joining after this date, please contact us.
Together we can bring change to the world, gradually replacing fear and hatred with compassion and love. Love for all living beings. – Jane Goodall
We warmly invite you to join us for a spacious silent retreat dedicated to nourishing the connections with ourselves, each other, and the beauty of the natural world. We’ll slow down, soften into stillness, fill our compassionate hearts, and reconnect with the natural inherent rhythms of rest and renewal that live within us and all around us.
Gathering near the time of the vernal equinox offers a poignant opportunity to experience the natural transitions of oneself and the Earth. The gentle awakening from the darker, quieter days of winter into the expanded light of spring opens a space for restful introspection and deep listening alongside the emergence of new beginnings and fresh, creative energy.
It is an ancient practice for women to come together and hold a sacred space. Honoring the women who have come before us, sensing our compassionate connection, and receiving the strength and support of the collective, lets us bear witness to our own innate authenticity and intuitive feminine wisdom.
Drawing on the perspectives of Buddhist practice, secular mindfulness, and the wisdom of the natural world, our retreat will be held in sacred Noble Silence. Each day includes meditation with particular emphasis on heart practices, gentle mindful movement (yoga or Qigong) and daily dharma wisdom talks. There will be ample time for rest, relaxation, and personal reflection in the gorgeous surroundings of Big Bear Retreat Center. Weather-permitting, each day will include formal practice periods outside.
HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND TEACHERS
I treasure the retreats with Heidi Bourne & Laurie Cousins. Their dedication and love for the practices, their clear and warm teaching styles, their knowledge, compassion, and humor deeply enrich my life and keep me coming back year after year. – Melissa R.
It’s hard to put into words just how precious and sacred it is to spend time with other women in a silent retreat surrounded by nature and supported by Laurie Cousins and Heidi Bourne. They are very skilled teachers with expansive warm hearts. Time in retreat nurtures my whole being and helps me meet my life in all its complexities with steadiness, compassion, and wisdom. Retreats with Laurie and Heidi are one of my favorite times of the year. – Ally Z.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON THIS RETREAT
This is a silent mindfulness retreat with alternating sitting and walking meditation, instruction, dharma talks, work meditation, and practice discussion with the teachers.
Learn more ABOUT RETREAT & SEE A SAMPLE SCHEDULE.
GENEROSITY: Retreat Costs and Fees
Registration fees for this retreat support the cost of developing and offering BBRC programs, which include lodging, meals, and staff compensation. Teacher compensation is included for this retreat in your registration fees. We price fees to make programs as financially accessible as possible.
Is cost a barrier? Nobody is turned away at Big Bear Retreat Center due to finances. We ask that financial assistance be prioritized for those who self-identify as BIPOC, hold marginalized identities, or are in financial need. For more information, please contact us at guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org.
SIMPLE YET COMFORTABLE, NESTLED IN NATURE
Accommodations
We offer several lodging choices nestled in nature for each retreat.
Meals
Our meals are freshly prepared to support your retreat experience.
Preparing for your retreat
We offer several resources and information to best help you plan your time on retreat with us.
Getting to BBRC
We have several resources to support your travel. Visit Getting to BBRC & Rideshares and Shuttles for more.
FEEL WELCOME AND INCLUDED: A PLACE TO BELONG
Our intention is to be as accessible as we can, even in ways that we may not be aware of yet. We hope this is a space of inclusivity where people feel welcome and held. For us, it is a practice of consistent attunement, presence and care to our community. However you identify – race, gender, sexuality, disability, mental health, and so on – it is our wish to meet your needs for belonging.
Please consider this about our environment:
– The center is on a hill with outdoor walkways between dining, gathering, and residential spaces.
– We are located at an elevation of 6,500 feet altitude in a ski town in the mountains of Southern California.
– We experience weather of all four seasons.
– We are located about 2 hours from Los Angeles and near 3 major airports. Learn more about getting here.
– We have a commitment to everyone’s mobility needs. Please contact us about ADA accessibility.
Visit our Planning Your Retreat page to learn more about accessibility and other resources. Contact us if we can support ahead of time.
HEAR MORE ABOUT BIG BEAR RETREAT CENTER
Big Bear Retreat Center is exceptional in every way. The accommodations are outstanding, food exceptional, staff very responsive and helpful and the teachers are always so loving and knowledgeable. Just a top notch retreat experience!! – Sheila
I love Big Bear Retreat Center. It’s my dharma home away from home. Everything about it – staff, teachers, food, accommodations, setting – is exceptional. A true gift to the community!!
Big Bear Retreat Center is indeed a refuge. A safe space to open your heart. – Laura
Teachers & Facilitators
Heidi Bourne is a meditation teacher in the Insight Meditation tradition and is the founder and guiding teacher of Pacific Mindfulness. She has been teaching since 2005 offering classes, series courses, nature retreats, trauma sensitive and resiliency focused professional programs. Heidi is especially interested in the integration of the common sense, accessible and timeless teachings of awareness, ethics, and compassion into the complexity of our everyday lives. She is known for her grounded, down-to-earth humor and presence. Heidi holds certification in mindfulness facilitation, trauma resiliency, and Trauma Sensitive Mindfulness. She has a background in nursing and over 35 years in small business leadership.
Learn more about Heidi Bourne
Laurie Cousins has been guiding individuals, families, and communities for over fifteen years as a mindfulness teacher, integrative somatic practitioner, and trauma-informed advisor through class series, programs, retreats, and trainings across the country. As a certified Mindfulness Facilitator and Mindful Self-Compassion teacher, she is passionate about helping people heal by cultivating an inner ally and leading with a wise heart. Mentored by Susan Kaiser Greenland, Laurie shares mindfulness with youth, educators, and families, and teaches mindful parenting in Los Angeles schools. Rooted in a trauma-sensitive and holistic approach, her work is inspired by contemplative wisdom traditions, somatics, motherhood, and the…
Learn more about Laurie Cousins