SoCal Nature Sangha

ABOUT THE MINDFUL WALK:
We hope you can join us for a 4-ish mile walk around the beautiful San Elijo Lagoon in San Diego. We will also be guiding a 10 minute seated meditation in the middle of the hike. Come enjoy the ocean breeze, hang out with the birds and fish of the lagoon, and take some time to decompress and slow down. No prior meditation experience necessary. There will be portions of the hike walking at a normal pace and shorter sections where we intentionally slow down our pace.

NOBLE SILENCE:
We will be walking most of the way in "noble silence", which means without talking to each other. By intentionally creating a space where we can be together without the requirement to speak, we create the conditions to connect more deeply with ourselves and our surroundings, while still being in community. While it may initially feel awkward, we hope you will find it nourishing and restorative.

ABOUT THE MEDITATION:
We will provide beginner instructions on mindfulness in nature. This includes various invitations to drop out of the thinking mind and be present with nature and our other five senses. All meditation experience levels are welcome, from beginner to experienced practitioner.

WHERE TO MEET:
The address to the entrance and main parking lot is 2710 Manchester Avenue, Cardiff, CA 92007
The event image is a picture of where we will meet, by the entrance sign. There is limited parking at the site, but extra parking directly across the street (any many signs confirming it is the the overflow parking for the lagoon). There is probably only 20-30 parking spots in total available in this area. But there are multiple other entrances and parking areas to this lagoon loop, so if you find the parking is full in this area you might have to drive around a little bit to find another spot nearby and walk back to this meeting spot.

TIMELINE:
9:00 - 9:05 am – Introductions and Instructions
9:05 am – Begin our walk
11:00 am – Our hike will end at this time, possibly earlier.
We will keep track of time so you can relax and enjoy yourself in nature.

WALK STATS & CHALLENGES:
4 mile walk in and out. Mostly flat walk, very little incline. Little to no shade.

WHAT TO BRING:

• Water
• Hat for shade
• A travel chair, towel, or something to sit on the ground that you can also carry with you

ABOUT THE TRAIL
https://www.sdparks.org/content/sdparks/en/park-pages/SanElijo.html
San Elijo Lagoon is a peaceful place to enjoy nature. You can run, hike, birdwatch, take photos, or paint. It is one of the largest wetlands in San Diego. The 979-acre reserve is mainly a shallow-water estuary. It is where the Escondido and La Orilla Creeks meet the Pacific Ocean. From sunrise to sunset, you can explore 7 miles of easy-to-moderate trails.

BATHROOM:
There are portapotties available at the entrance/meeting spot.

HIKE ENTRANCE FEE:
None

PLEASE NOTE:
We start promptly at 9:05am. If you are late, try to find us on the trail. We will be going in a counter-clockwise direction around the lagoon.

DONATION:
We offer this hike for free to the public. However, if you feel inclined to show your gratitude monetarily, you can send Venmo donations to Lauren @Lauren-campbell-56

DISCLAIMER:
Group organizers assume no liability; hike at your own risk. By participating in this hike with us, you hereby agree to assume all risks and liability related to or resulting from any group functions. You agree that neither you nor any third party will hold the group leader or co-leader liable for any injury, loss, or damage to your own person or any members of your family, friends, acquaintances, children, pets, or property, arising directly or as a consequence from a group activity. You also agree that your participation with this group is based on an "at-will basis". Please use your judgment and stay within your ability level to keep safe during the hike.

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ABOUT US
Welcome to the SoCal Nature Sangha! We are certified Mindfulness Meditation Teachers through Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. We want to create a community of individuals interested in practicing mindfulness and presence in beautiful natural spaces around southern California. We hope you will take a break from our fast-paced and high-tech world to join us in embodied movement and to reconnect with nature.