Program & Site Info
Led by Erin Carper, this camping retreat blends movement, mindfulness, singing, and art including:
Building a relationship with the land
Creating a group container for safety and trust
Practicing mindfulness
Experiencing guided visualizations - deepening connection to place & personal resource
Sharing the practice of Council / time for individual sharing around relationship to nature
Individual guidance for solo time on the land
Individual reflections and personal time
Guided hiking with naturalist focus
Optional movement and singing as a group
Replicable practices that you will be able to come back after you leave this retreat / land
All are welcome regardless of whether you are new to retreats, camping, meditation, etc.
This retreat will reside at Black Mountain Ranch’s Deer Camp in Marin, CA. Our campsite is positioned on a hill a bit removed from the busyness of the ranch so we won’t interact with staff onsite. However, we may come across grazing cattle. We’ll spend time hiking the trails that connect to camp and our resourceful cook will serve 3 vegetarian meals / day along with access to snacks, tea and coffee throughout each day. Our close-to-nature camp facilities are rustic (composting bucket toilets, propane hot water shower, minimal outdoor kitchen, etc).
Our sliding scale lodging include regular camping options and a BYOTent options. Visit our registration for more - Available Feb ‘26.
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 for more - Available Feb ‘26
Retreat fees do NOT include compensation for Erin (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 Teacher 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 March 12, 2026 we're able to provide you a full refund minus an administrative fee (less than $100). If you request a refund between March 12, 2026 and May 12, 2026, we'll provide you with a 50% refund minus an administrative fee (less than $100). We’re unable to provide refunds after May 12, 2026.
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 Teacher
Erin Carper is a Eco Somatic & Rites of Passage Guide. She completed the Somatic Ecopsychology and Wilderness Quest Apprentice Program with Amy Biesemeyer, MFT and Dave Talamo, MFT, of TerraSoma Ecopsychology Training Institute in 2019. She continues to study Earth based ceremonial practices, holistic coaching, Hakomi, Internal Family Systems, and other mindfulness-centered somatic therapeutic skills. In addition, she is a certified Wilderness First Responder and a certified California Naturalist. A lover of song and music, she joyfully brings her flute and voice along to share.