Program & Site Info
Join us for a unique meditation retreat combining traditional Buddhist practices with recovery work in nature. Primarily conducted in silence, the retreat focuses on insight meditation and heart practices, along with interactive exercises, talks, and meetings. Led by Kevin Griffin & Paula Snow, we learn to practice mindfulness in all activities, whether formal meditation, movement, speaking, listening, or eating.
Participants practice Noble Silence outside of the interactive exercises and 12-Step-style meetings. All recovery paths are welcome, whether Twelve Step, Recovery Dharma, substance, process, or relationship-oriented. The intensive nature of the retreat allows for profound personal openings, insight, and transformation. The support of the community carries us through the sometimes challenging, sometimes inspiring elements of this deep inner work.
Participants must be at least 30 days sober and clean. But no prior meditation experience is required.
This retreat will reside at Shelterwood Collective, a Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ-led community forest and retreat center. Comprised of 900+ acres, Shelterwood Collective is nestled above the Russian River in Sonoma County, CA, on Unceded Kashaya and Southern Pomo territory.
Our sliding scale lodging options are listed below. Unless specified otherwise, lodging is all inclusive with a bed, bed frame, bedding and pillow. Visit our registration webpage for more (LINK AVAILABLE IN JAN 2026)
Single bedrooms in shared cabins with bathrooms
Single pre-built glamping bell tents (w/ elevated cot, sleeping pad, sleeping bag and pillow)
Twin bed in large shared bunk-room with bathroom (up to 3 ppl / room)
Twin bed in large shared bunk-room (up to 4 ppl / room)
BYOTents or Vans (participants to bring their own sleeping ammenities - cot, pad, sleeping bag and pillow)
Retreat Cost
Our retreat fees only cover basic costs: food, cook, site fee, administration costs, and other incidental expenses. These fees are priced on a sliding scale (based on the lodging you choose) to allow each participant to pay for what is most appropriate for themselves. We also provide a scholarship option for those who are unable to pay our lowest sliding scale fee. Visit our registration webpage for more - LINK AVAILABLE IN JAN 2026.
Retreat fees do NOT include compensation for Kevin & Paula (time spent planning & teaching) or for Off-Grid Retreats (time spent organizing). On the final retreat day, you will be invited to share dana (AKA to donate) to the Retreat Teachers and to Off-Grid Retreats.
Dana, the Pali word for generosity, has supported Buddhist cultures for 2500 years. In Asia, monks & nuns offer teaching and lay people fill their begging bowls each morning as they walk through the village on alms rounds. It is a beautiful exchange in which the hearts of both giver and receiver are opened in joy and gratitude.
Cancellation Policy
If you request a refund before January 25, 2026 we're able to provide you a full refund minus an administrative fee (less than $100). If you request a refund between January 25, 2026 and March 25, 2026, we'll provide you with a 50% refund minus an administrative fee (less than $100). If you request a refund after March 25, 2026, we're not able to provide you with any refund.
To keep the retreat as affordable as possible, our retreat fees are set to simply cover the expenses of putting on the retreat—renting the venue, compensating our cook, etc. When someone drops out, we still incur all of those expenses. For this reason, we are unable to make exceptions to our cancellation policy—even when you have a very good reason for canceling. Thank you for your understanding.
Retreat Teachers
Kevin Griffin is best known as the author of One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps. A longtime Buddhist practitioner and 12 Step participant, he is a leader in the mindful recovery movement and one of the founders of the Buddhist Recovery Network.
He trained with leading Western Vipassana teachers Jack Kornfield, Joseph Goldstein, Ajahn Amaro, etc. His teacher training was as a Community Dharma Leader at Spirit Rock.
He began teaching meditation in 1996 while working as a technical writer. He teaches internationally in Buddhist centers, treatment centers, professional conferences, and academic settings. His events range from evening classes, to daylong workshops, and longer silent retreats.
Paula Snow is a graduate of the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. Her practice is rooted in traditional Buddhist lineages and extensive training in Asia. Her instruction has both ancient precision and modern accessibility.
Paula is currently training to teach Dharma & Recovery with Kevin Griffin and has 10 years in recovery. She serves as an International Ambassador to Bhikkhunis actively supporting equality in the global monastic community.
Kevin & Paula may lead an abbreviated retreat teaching. Email asha@offgridretreats.org for Zoom info.