Attend a Retreat
at Big Bear Retreat Center
Testimonials from past retreat guests
Retreat Calendar
Find YOUR retreat, your teacher, your community.
We offer a wide variety of retreat styles and offerings!
We offer these icons as a way to quickly help you better find your retreat and determine retreat type.
Lodging Pricing (by room type)
Sliding Scale Pricing (flexible)
Dana Pricing (donations at any amount)
Community / Kinship Retreat
Silent Meditation Retreat
Relational or Workshop Retreat
Hybrid Online Retreat
Online Only Retreat or Event
2025
Meditation Retreat
Sliding Scale Pricing
Community / Kinship Retreat
Living Recovery in Unsettling Times
Combining Buddhist Practices with Recovery and Healing
Vimalasara Mason-John & Kevin Griffin
May 22-25
All experience levels and practices are welcome.
Meditation Retreat
Lodging Pricing
Hybrid Online Retreat
Deep Belonging
Connecting with Ourselves, Each Other and The Natural World
Christiane Wolf, Greg Serpa & Jennifer Cho
June 2-8
All experience levels are welcome for this silent meditation retreat.
Lodging Pricing
Hybrid Online Retreat
Coming Home to Our Senses
a silent insight meditation retreat
Trudy Goodman, Gullu Singh, Gabrielle Hammond (movement) and Lienchi (LC) Tran
[Hybrid Retreat: In-Person + Online Options]
a silent insight meditation retreat
Starts: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Ends: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Meditation Retreat
Lodging Pricing
Hybrid Online Retreat
Coming Home to Our Senses
Trudy Goodman, Gullu Singh, Gabrielle Hammond (movement) and Lienchi (LC) Tran
Starts: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Ends: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
All experience levels are welcome for this silent meditation retreat.
[Hybrid Retreat: In-Person + Online Options]
Contact us if finances are a barrier in any way, nobody is turned away due to finances: guestservices@bigbearretreatcenter.org.Â
SUMMER
2024
Finding Freedom and Authenticity in How We Relate:
Relational Mindfulness
Deborah Eden Tull & Enrique Collazo
Relational Mindfulness
Saturday, October 26th
(9:00am – 12:00pm PST)
(9:00am – 12:00pm PST)
Q&A with the Teachers:
Buddhism and recovering from addiction, habitual behaviors, strong emotions and illness
Vimalasara and Kevin Griffin
Buddhism and recovering from addiction, habitual behaviors, strong emotions and illness
Saturday, March 30, 2024 (12pm Pacific)
Q&A with the Teachers:
Buddhism and recovering from addiction, habitual behaviors, strong emotions and illness
Vimalasara and Kevin Griffin
Buddhism and recovering from addiction, habitual behaviors, strong emotions and illness
Saturday, March 30, 2024 (12pm Pacific)
Half Day Online Retreat:
The Dharma is Made for These Times:
An Exploration of the 4 Distortions of Perception
Ayya Santacitta and Celeste Young
The Dharma is Made for These Times:
An Exploration of the 4 Distortions of Perception
Sunday, June 23, 2024 (10am – 1pm Pacific)
Ancestors Welcome Here
Ancestral Healing Retreat for White Practitioners Committed Racial Justice
Ream and Kimber Simpkins
Ancestral Healing Retreat for White Practitioners Committed Racial Justice
Starts: Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Ends: Sunday, December 8, 2024
*sliding scale registration fees with flexible pricing options
Ream and Kimber offered a half-day online retreat on this topic. Learn more about their practices and approaches:
DECEMBER
Awake in the New Year:
A Dharma & Dance Retreat
Interactive + Silent Retreat for transitioning into the New Year
Deborah Eden Tull and Enrique Collazo
A Dharma & Dance Retreat
Interactive + Silent Retreat for transitioning into the New Year
Starts: Monday, December 30, 2024
Ends: Saturday, January 4, 2025
“Energy is our most precious resource, for it is the means through which we transform our creative potential into meaningful action.” Tarthang Tulku
2025
MARCH
The Sacred Path of Connection & Belonging:
A Women’s Nature Retreat
Heidi Bourne & Laurie Cousins
A Women’s Nature Retreat
Starts: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Ends: Sunday, March 9, 2025
This in-person Women’s Springtime Nature Retreat is open to both beginning and seasoned practitioners, to all female-identified persons over the age of 18, including LGBTQIA+.
“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.
APRIL
Ethics and Love in Interpersonal Life
a silent insight meditation retreat + dharma program
Matthew Brensilver
[Hybrid Retreat: In-Person + Online Options]
*Retreat followed by 6-week online class series (included)
a silent insight meditation retreat + dharma program
*Retreat followed by 6-week online class series (included)
Co-sponsored by Insight Retreat Center (IRC) and Big Bear Retreat Center
Starts: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Ends: Sunday, April 20, 2025
Retreat fees are dana-based, donations at any amount above $0 to register.
This retreat is followed by a 6-week online class series only for those that attend the retreat.
Simplicity and Stillness:
Cultivating the 5 Spiritual Strengths
a silent insight meditation retreat
Celeste Young & Devon Hase
[Hybrid Retreat: In-Person + Online Options]
Cultivating the 5 Spiritual Strengths
a silent insight meditation retreat
Starts: Thursday, April 24, 2025
Ends: Wednesday, April 30, 2025
MAY
Coming Home to Our Senses
a silent insight meditation retreat
Trudy Goodman, Gullu Singh, Gabrielle Hammond (movement) and Lienchi (LC) Tran
[Hybrid Retreat: In-Person + Online Options]
a silent insight meditation retreat
Starts: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Ends: Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Meditation
Retreat
Sliding Scale
Flexible Pricing
Community /
Kinship
Retreat
Living Recovery in Unsettling Times
Combining Buddhist Practices with Recovery and Healing
A silent insight meditation retreat
Vimalasara Mason-John & Kevin Griffin
A silent insight meditation retreat
Starts: Thursday, May 22, 2025
Ends: Sunday, May 25, 2025
This retreat pricing is offered sliding scale with flexible pricing options. All are welcome.
*** Registration closes soon – Monday, May 19th! ***
JUNE
Meditation
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Hybrid Online
Retreat
Deep Belonging
Connecting with Ourselves, Each Other, and the Natural World
Christiane Wolf, Greg Serpa and Jennifer Cho
Starts: Monday, June 2, 2025
Ends: Sunday, June 8, 2025
*** Registration closes soon! ***
In-person registration closed (contact us for potential last minute spots)
Online registration closes Sunday, June 1st
Meditation
Retreat
Relational / Workshop
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Hybrid Online
Retreat
Unfolding the Great Heart
Bhakti Chanting, Buddhism and the Practice of Connection:
A Sacred Invitation to Return to the Source of Your Inner Strength
Meditation (partial-silence), Relational and Chanting Retreat
Spring Washam, Henry Shukman and Nina Rao
A Sacred Invitation to Return to the Source of Your Inner Strength
Meditation (partial-silence), Relational and Chanting Retreat
Starts: Monday, June 9, 2025
Ends: Saturday, June 14, 2025
*** Registration closes soon! ***
In-person registration closes Monday, June 2nd
Online registration closes Sunday, June 8th
Meditation
Retreat
Dana Donation
Pricing
Opening the Heart, Deepening Wisdom
Stepping Into Heartfulness and Freedom
Kim Allen and Diana Clark
Co-sponsored by Insight Retreat Center (IRC) and Big Bear Retreat Center
Starts: Saturday, June 21, 2025
Ends: Thursday, June 26, 2025
Retreat fees are dana-based, donations at any amount above $0 to register.
Meditation
Retreat
Dana Donation
Pricing
Disentangling the Tangle
Finding Freedom in Relationship with Ourselves, Others, and the World
Ayya Santacitta and Ayya Santussika
Starts: Monday, June 30, 2025
Ends: Sunday, July 6, 2025
Retreat fees are dana-based, donations at any amount above $0 to register.
JULY
Meditation
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Shelter from the Storm
Cultivating a Steady Heart
Beth Sternlieb and Gullu Singh
Starts: Thursday, July 10, 2025
Ends: Sunday, July 13, 2025
Meditation
Retreat
Sliding Scale
Pricing
Community /
Kinship
Retreat
Creating Refuge in Community
A Retreat for Trans, Gender Nonconforming, Genderqueer, Non-binary and all Gender Expansive communities:
Self-care, Compassion and Community to Support Healing and Resilience
Fresh “Lev” White, JD Doyle & René Rivera
Self-care, Compassion and Community to Support Healing and Resilience
Starts: Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Ends: Sunday, July 20, 2025
The retreat will have an application process to prioritize registration from BIPOC folks through June 15, with the aim to create an intentionally multiracial community with a goal of 50% BIPOC.
Relational / Workshop
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) Intensive for Caregivers
Loving Others Without Losing Ourselves
Lisa Baylis and Megan Prager
In partnership with the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion
Starts: Sunday, July 20, 2025
Ends: Friday, July 25, 2025
Relational / Workshop
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Compassion for Couples
Holding Ourselves and Others with Kindness
Mindful workshop retreat for couples
Megan Prager and Michelle Becker
Mindful workshop retreat for couples
Starts: Friday, July 25, 2025
Ends: Sunday, July 27, 2025
AUGUST
Meditation
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
When Awareness Becomes Natural
A Sayadaw U Tejaniya Practice Style Retreat
Lienchi (LC) Tran
Starts: Saturday, August 9, 2025
Ends: Sunday, August 17, 2025
Meditation
Retreat
Dana Donation
Pricing
Camping
Dharma Dharma: The Unfolding of Nature
Exploring Our Own Nature While Immersed in the Natural World
A Meditation retreat offered in the Thai forest tradition (primarily camping options)
Leinchi (LC) Tran
A Meditation retreat offered in the Thai forest tradition (primarily camping options)
Co-sponsored by Insight Retreat Center (IRC) and Big Bear Retreat Center
Starts: Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Ends: Saturday, August 23, 2025
Offered dana-based (donation) at any amount above $0.
Participants must submit an application, interview with the teacher, and be approved to attend.
This unique retreat will be offered by Leinchi (LC) Tran as a more informal week of practice in community and nature following the more traditional practices of the Thai forest tradition. Retreatants will be camping (1-2 bedroom spots available), following their own practice routine, and have daily interviews with the teacher. Access to one indoor cabin common space (kitchen and restrooms) is available. Only lunch will be served (self-service breakfast will be available) and no dinner will be served.
Meditation
Retreat
Sliding Scale
Pricing
Community /
Kinship
Retreat
BIPOC Community Retreat
Ease and Support in Community to Cultivate Inner Freedom
JoAnna Hardy, Devin Berry, Alli Simon and Hakim Tafari
In partnership with Meditation Coalition and Black Being
Starts: Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Ends: Sunday, August 31, 2025
Meditation
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
The Brilliant Weave of the Brahma Viharas and Emptiness
An Open Heart in the Expanse of Awareness
Lisa Ernst and David Cabrera
Starts: Sunday, August 31, 2025
Ends: Thursday, September 4, 2025
SEPTEMBER
Meditation
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Hybrid Online
Retreat
Love and Rest
Finding the Love that Naturally Arises
Beth Sternlieb and Matthew Brensilver
Starts: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Ends: Sunday, September 21, 2025
*Online Retreat Registration Opens Soon*
Relational / Workshop
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Women’s Retreat: Cultivating Kindness
Mindfulness and Self-Compassion through Meditation Practice, Writing and Movement
Susan Steinberg-Oren, Christine Suarez and Lesley Hyatt
Starts: Thursday, September 25, 2025
Ends: Sunday, September 28, 2025
**Early registration discounts end June 30, 2025**
Meditation
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Awakening Mindfulness and Compassion
Cultivating the Wisdom and Compassion to Carry Forward into Our Lives
Diana Winston, Leslie Booker and Vadan Ritter (movement)
Starts: Monday, September 29, 2025
Ends: Saturday, October 4, 2025
**Early registration discounts end June 30, 2025**
OCTOBER
Meditation
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Community /
Kinship
Retreat
Hybrid Online
Retreat
Women’s Retreat: In Wisdom We Walk, In Liberation We Rise
Wisdom, Intuition and Collective Liberation
Spring Washam, Erin Selover and Monica Magtoto (movement)
Starts: Sunday, October 5, 2025
Ends: Sunday, October 12, 2025
*Online Retreat Registration Opens Soon*
**Early registration discounts end June 30, 2025**
Meditation
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Sacred Refuge: An Embodied Devotional Retreat in Nature
An Expression of Our Most Intimate Longing to Awaken
A Silent Meditation and Chanting Retreat
Djuna Devereaux and Yong Oh
A Silent Meditation and Chanting Retreat
Starts: Monday, October 13, 2025
Ends: Saturday, October 18, 2025
**Early registration discounts end June 30, 2025**
Meditation
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Loving Nature and Finding Joy: Nature-based Retreat
Deepening Our Connection to Loving Awareness for Ourselves and for the Earth
JD Doyle and Andrés González
Starts: Saturday, October 18, 2025
Ends: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
**Early registration discounts end June 30, 2025**
Meditation
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Great for
Beginners
Mindfulness for Everyone
A Retreat for Beginners and All Levels of Practice
Partially-Silent Meditation Retreat
Dave Smith and Ann Brand
Partially-Silent Meditation Retreat
Starts: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Ends: Sunday, October 26, 2025
**Early registration discounts end June 30, 2025**
A great option if this is your first retreat!
Relational / Workshop
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Embodying the Heart of Listening: A Relational Leadership Retreat
For Facilitators, Guides, Spaceholders, and Therapists
Restoration Based in Deep Embodied Listening to Ourselves, the Earth, One Another and the Invisible
Deborah Eden Tull
Restoration Based in Deep Embodied Listening to Ourselves, the Earth, One Another and the Invisible
Starts: Sunday, October 26, 2025
Ends: Friday, October 31, 2025
**Early registration discounts end June 30, 2025**
Relational / Workshop
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Luminous Darkness: The Power of Embracing the Unknown
Making Space for New Discoveries, Insights and Transformation
Relational Workshop Retreat in a Container of Silence
Deborah Eden Tull
Relational Workshop Retreat in a Container of Silence
Starts: Friday, October 31, 2025
Ends: Sunday, November 2, 2025
**Early registration discounts end June 30, 2025**
NOVEMBER
Meditation
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Befriending Mortality: Mindfulness of Death
Living an Awakened and Joyful Life through Mindfulness of Death (Maranasati)
Nikki Mirghafori
Starts: Sunday, November 2, 2025
Ends: Thursday, November 6, 2025
**Early registration discounts end August 31, 2025**
Meditation
Retreat
Lodging
Pricing
Resting in Metta
Cultivating an Awakened Heart
Celeste Young and Dawn Scott
Starts: Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Ends: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
**Early registration discounts end August 31, 2025**
DECEMBER
Meditation
Retreat
Sliding Scale
Pricing
Community /
Kinship
Retreat
LGBTQIA+ Retreat: Belonging and Thriving, Being your Own Good Friend
Cultivating Our Capacity to be Our Own Good Friend through Self-Compassion, Mindfulness, Movement and Music
Fresh “Lev” White and Eve Decker
Starts: Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Ends: Sunday, December 7, 2025
**Early registration discounts end August 31, 2025**
