This five-day, four-night retreat is for families with children ages 6-15 and will include periods of family activities, young people’s groups, parent program and free time. Dharma activities include songs, stories, skits, games, art, time on the land, a campfire, council practice, parent discussions, meditation for parents and children, and dharma talks.

For the family retreat to be successful and serve the needs of the retreat community, it is necessary that the selection process balance many variables. Specifically, we seek to create balanced children's age groups, and within those age groups to balance the groups (more or less) with regard to gender, diversity, and family retreat history (new families, and old families, including families who have applied and have not been selected in recent years).

We also include admission of Spirit Rock Family Program Council members to the family retreat in honor of their service and to enhance the retreat experience for others.

Additionally, we have found that because the family retreat is a true retreat experience that brings us face to face with our own experience and may bring up deeply felt emotions, at least one parent/caregiver in each family needs to have sat one or more silent residential retreats or equivalent retreat experience. If you do not have this experience, please check Spirit Rock's web-site at www.spiritrock.org for a list of upcoming retreats; we welcome you to apply for registration for any of our residential retreats.

Online Bulletin Board for Ride Sharing

Also remember that the cost above is priced as a sliding scale. Please pay at the highest level of the sliding scale that you can afford. This allows others who need to pay less the opportunity to attend. Fee is for room and board. Teaching and staffing of the retreats is by donation at the end of the retreat. For more information, see Retreat FAQ.