An all-ages retreat with an emphasis on families and children!

Come together to renew and strengthen our capacity to draw nourishment from simple things, to care for the tender places in our hearts, and to celebrate the wonder and beauty of summer.  This retreat is a time to nourish and protect the relationships that are truly meaningful and important to our happiness, our joy, and our peace.

Held in a peaceful and joyous community atmosphere, we will share meditation, mindful meals, group discussions, walking meditations in the forest and listening to teachings on mindfulness and compassion in the Plum Village tradition. Together we will explore how to to bring mindfulness practice into our daily lives.

The beautiful property also offers a chance to enjoy quiet time in nature or refresh yourself on the pond.

Our annual Ceremony of Compassion will be held on either Saturday and is open for outside guests to join us, it will include chanting and releasing prayer lanterns onto Blueberry Pond.

We hold a ceremony to transmit the Two promises and the Five Mindfulness Trainings early on Sunday morning if there are requests to do so.

The Two Promises
I vow to develop understanding, in order to live peacefully with people, animals, plants and minerals.
I vow to develop compassion, in order to protect the lives of people, animals, plants and minerals.

The program of the retreat will flow in and out of activities designed for the whole community to practice together and activities for separate age groups (when the Teen Program and Children Program program separate off from the adults to enjoy their own practice, fun and activities).

The Children Program will be available for families with children 6 and older.  If younger children (4-5) are able to flow along with the program in a way that doesn’t disperse the program focus then they can join the program with the supervision of one of their parents or caregivers. The program will blend meaningful mindfulness practice and time in nature with games, creative projects and summer fun.

The Teen Program is available for all teenagers, with the option for older teens to attend adult activities if they wish.

Please note, that in between teen/children program activities, parents and guardians are responsible for their children.

Logistics:

Arrival for the retreat is Wednesday, July 22nd, from 3pm to 6pm. Departure is on Sunday July 26th, after lunch at 2pm. Please provide your own transportation to and from MorningSun.

This is a relatively small retreat and has filled early in previous years. It is likely registration will be closed well before the retreat begins, so please make plans early.

You will receive confirmation of your space upon registration and receipt of payment.

Accommodations: 

• Dormitory Beds:  We have several rooms available in El Cielo (our retreat building) (beds for 10-14 people depending on whether folks are alone, or couples, or in a ‘pod’).  We also have a few dormitory beds available in Harmony Yurt, our simple living yet comfortable yurt.
• Camping:  Our campground is primitive, with flat sandy sites, outdoor showers and composting toilets. You must provide your own tent and camping equipment. Campers will also have access to the first floor toilet and clothes washing machine in El Cielo.
• Commute: You may also choose to commute in and out if you live locally. Please register for the program below (as a commuter), and also book your local accommodations separately (you need to do both).
  • You may book at hotels and rentals offered by airbnb, vrbo, etc in the area. Please note that you need to provide your own transportation to and from MorningSun during your program if you register as a commuter.

Cost: Program and Accomodations are bundled together in a Self Selecting Sliding Scale. See below for financial support options:

Financial Assistance: Anyone who wishes to attend the retreat will be welcomed, no matter of financial ability. If the lowest tier on the sliding scale is still too high for you, you may ALSO self-select a percentage for financial assistance within the registration form (20% or 40% reduction). If you need a full scholarship, please contact us via email.

REGISTRATION FORM

For now, pencil things in on your calendar and start making plans…

OUR REGISTRATION FORMS WILL BE OPEN IN MID FEBRUARY 2026

For more questions, please email us at morningsunoffice@gmail.com