Tag: retreats

On Veteran’s Day weekend, November 6-9, we will gather at the Quaker Center in Ben Lomond, CA, to explore how creativity and writing can bring about healing and cultivate resilience, renewal, and peace in ourselves and in the world.

We invite you to join us in honoring the history of this retreat, called into being by Thich Nhat Hanh and stewarded by Maxine Hong Kingston and Wendy Johnson for 25+ years, as we begin a new chapter and imagine how we can continue this tradition with a new generation.

Below is some more information about the retreat, and the registration form is here: https://forms.gle/XQvERBwEnXj1B5rc7

Please share this invitation with your sanghas!

Co-creating the Container: This year, we envision a smaller group of ~30 people who are excited about collectively co-creating a new path forward for this retreat. We welcome attendees to share a practice with us – facilitating a workshop, reciting the 5 Contemplations, guiding a walk, singing, or something else that brings resilience and joy. Please note that we will not be inviting Dharma teachers to lead the retreat or to offer Dharma talks this year.

Practicing Together: Retreat activities will include morning meditation, mindful movement, walking meditation, dharma sharing, eating meditation, and working meditation. We enjoyed a long period of noble silence last year, until the end of lunchtime, and we’re hoping to do that again. Depending on what people are moved to offer, there may also be writing & art workshops, music, and other creative activities.

When & Where: The retreat will start in the afternoon on Friday, November 6, and will wrap up after lunch on Monday, November 9. Once again we will be at Quaker Center in Ben Lomond, California, although this year we are reserving only half of the retreat center to accommodate our smaller group.

Cost: Fees this year will be $400 for a bed (in a 2-bed room) or $350 for campers. This is very close to our actual costs (est. $390 per person, including all meals from Friday dinner through Monday lunch). 

25% and 50% scholarships may be available to those who need financial support to attend. Our ability to offer scholarships will depend on donations from those who can afford to support others in attending. We estimate that we will need about $1,500-$2,000 in donations to cover scholarships. Anything left over will be used to support scholarships to future retreats. 

Inclusivity and Diversity: We aspire to create an inclusive space that is diverse in many dimensions. Please do your best to answer the questions in the registration form about the identities that you hold, as these questions will help us shape a retreat body that is diverse and inclusive.

Please register by Friday October 2. Melanie and Dylan will review all completed registration forms and confirm your registration by mid-October. At that time, we will send details on payment and lodging.

Registration link: https://forms.gle/XQvERBwEnXj1B5rc7

Dharma teacher Valerie Brown will be offering a retreat at Quaker Center this coming year. Please share this invitation with your sanghas!

This is an in-person retreat, May 29-31, 2026.

Immersed in the stunning beauty of the redwoods in spring, this retreat explores issues of life transition, vocation, passion, purpose, meaning, direction, and underlying patterns, to live in greater alignment with your deepest values, to listen to your own inner wisdom, and to have the courage to act with integrity and authenticity.

For more information, see this link:

About the facilitator. Valerie Brown is an author, Buddhist-Quaker Dharma teacher, facilitator, and executive coach specializing in leadership development and mindfulness practices with a focus on diversity, social equity, and inclusion. A former lawyer and lobbyist, Valerie transformed her high-pressure career into serving nonprofits to create trustworthy, authentic, and compassionate workspaces. For more information about Valerie, please visit  www.valeriebrown.us.