What we’re about
Connect more deeply to yourself, to the environment and to your community!
We are Off-Grid Retreats - a California nonprofit dedicated to providing camping and other close-to-nature (and comfortable!) mindfulness retreats and experiences. Think of us as a nomadic retreat center. We've partnered with several land stewards around the Bay Area; sites are typically a 3 hour drive from San Francisco. We are proud of our scholarship fund along with our sliding scale prices related to our lodging: Large Glamping Bell Tent, Medium Glamping Tent or BYOTent / Van.
We offer retreats on beautifully rustic and intentional pieces of land depending on whatever season is best suited for camping in the area. We also collaborate with loads of local and certified teachers (i.e. meditation, mindfulness, yoga, etc) to lead our events.
No mindfulness or meditation experience is required to participate in our retreats - Just come with a willingness to learn and to respect and connect to the natural world and communities around you.
Our event and retreat programs vary based on the teacher(s) we're collaborating with. So far we've offered these two types of retreats for 4 days and 3 nights: mindfulness nature-based retreats and traditional silent retreats (but in nature). We always offer a free informational Zoom so those who are interested can learn more about the upcoming retreat's specific program and teacher along with meeting other people who are interested in attending. We are beginning to offer shorter in person events as well in various neighborhood parks in San Francisco. Some of these on the horizon incorporate mindful breathing, mindful walking, mindful birding, guided meditation and so on.
For more information and/or to ask any questions, feel free to contact us here and/or visit our website offgridretreats.org.
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Heart Free as a Wild Deer: Meditation & Somatic Practice Retreat with Sean OakesShelterwood Collective, Cazadero, CA
Sean Oakes, PhD (he/him, queer, of Spanish/Puerto Rican and Northern European ancestry living on unceded Pomo land in California), teaches Buddhism, Yoga, and somatic practice. He received teaching authorization from Jack Kornfield, and focuses on the integration of philosophy, somatics, and social justice discourse with the Dharma. He teaches at Spirit Rock Meditation Center, East Bay Meditation Center, Insight Timer, and elsewhere.
Off-Grid Retreats is a nonprofit headquartered in San Francisco with the mission of connecting people to nature through a mindfulness lens. We support teachers (like Sean) to bring their offerings outside so more people can access guided mindfulness in nature. We offer scholarships and providing sliding scale tickets to our retreats. We also coordinate a nature practice fellowship, rentals and overnights for other nonprofits.
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.
Sean will lead a variety of practices & teachings - Insight Meditation, chanting, Yoga, somatic movement and Buddhist study. Sean intends to lead practices in nature, weather permitting. There are lovely shaded places to gather along with lush trails to walk along.
There is a loop trail that starts / ends at camp. This trail is 3 miles on gravel and takes about 1.5 hours. There is another hike up to a natural clearing that looks out on neighboring ridgetops and a couple that meader along the creek. All of the hikes all require decent mobility. For more accessible paths, individuals are able to walk around camp and/or along the winding path for cars.
No prior meditation experience required. This retreat will be held in the container of Noble Silence. Lodging (single or shared - indoors, glamping or camping) is on a sliding scale. We also provide simple vegetarian meals with substitutions for allergies / diets.
For more info, please go to offgridretreats.org/events/oct2025heartfree
