Meditation, Community, Nature

The Sacred Path of Connection, Belonging & Love; a Women's Springtime Nature Retreat

Begins: Mar 7th, 2026
We warmly invite you to join us for five days and four nights at Big Bear Retreat Center for a spacious silent retreat dedicated to nourishing the connections with ourselves, each other, and the beauty of the natural world. We’ll slow down, soften into stillness, fill our compassionate hearts, and reconnect with the natural inherent rhythms of rest and renewal that live within us and all around us.

Gathering near the time of the vernal equinox offers a poignant opportunity to experience the natural transitions of oneself and the Earth. The gentle awakening from the darker, quieter days of winter into the expanded light of spring opens a space for restful introspection and deep listening alongside the emergence of new beginnings and fresh, creative energy.

It is an ancient practice for women to come together and hold a sacred space. Honoring the women who have come before us, sensing our compassionate connection, and receiving the strength and support of the collective, lets us bear witness to our own innate authenticity and intuitive feminine wisdom.

Details & Registration are available on the Big Bear Retreat Center website.

DATES & DETAILS
Saturday, March 7th to Wednesday, March 11th, 2026
Big Bear Retreat Center
Big Bear Lake, California

Drawing on the perspectives of Buddhist practice, secular mindfulness, and the wisdom of the natural world, our retreat will be held in sacred Noble Silence. Each day includes meditation with particular emphasis on heart practices, gentle mindful movement (yoga or Qigong) and daily dharma wisdom talks.

There will be ample time for rest, relaxation, and personal reflection in the gorgeous surroundings of Big Bear Retreat Center. Weather-permitting, each day will include formal practice periods outside. Each day our catered vegetarian meals will be nutritious, varied and carefully designed to support contemplative retreat practice.

Additionally, all of the lodging will be in private, simple, and elegant rooms - some with private bathrooms, some with shared bathrooms. Choose your lodging when you register.

Together we can bring change to the world, gradually replacing fear and hatred with compassion and love. Love for all living beings.
– Jane Goodall

Big Bear Retreat Center is a 2 hour drive from Los Angeles. Nestled in the ancient Juniper forests of the San Bernardino Mountains at an elevation of 7,000 feet near the town of Big Bear Lake in Southern California, the Center is immersed in nature amidst 100 acres of forested land with direct access to several hiking trails connected to the property.

FEES (includes housing, meals, and teacher compensation)
Private Room, Private Bathroom – $2,000.00
Private Room, Shared Bathroom – $1,600.00
Double Shared Room, Shared Bathroom – $1,160.00
Triple Room, Shared Bath – $860.00

REGISTRATION
Registration for this retreat closes on February 21st, 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.
The Women's Springtime Nature Retreat is open to both beginning and seasoned practitioners, to all female-identified persons over the age of 18, including LGBTQIA+.

At the conclusion of the retreat there will be the opportunity to offer dana (financial support) for our chefs, Big Bear Retreat Center, as well as contributing to the Pacific Mindfulness Community Scholarship Fund. This is entirely voluntary and though greatly appreciated, not a requirement to attend this retreat.

The Teaching Team

Heidi Bourne is a meditation teacher in the Insight Meditation tradition and is the founder and guiding teacher of Pacific Mindfulness. She has been teaching since 2005 offering classes, series courses, nature retreats, trauma-informed and resiliency-focused professional programs, and teaches regularly for Spirit Rock Meditation Center. Heidi is especially interested in the integration of the common sense, accessible and timeless teachings of awareness, ethics, and compassion into the complexity of our everyday lives. She is known for her grounded, down-to-earth humor and presence. Heidi holds certification in mindfulness facilitation from UCLA, trauma resiliency from the Trauma Resource Institute, and is a member of the International Mindfulness Teachers Association. She has a background in nursing and over 35 years in small business leadership.

Laurie Cousins is a mindfulness teacher, integrative somatic practitioner, and trauma-informed educator based in Los Angeles. Part of her education and professional training include the mindfulness centers of UCLA and UCSD and she teaches their signature evidence-based programs of Mindful Awareness Practices and Mindful Self-Compassion. Laurie is mentored by Susan Kaiser Greenland and a lead teacher of the International Inner Kids Collaborative. As a certified CRM Teacher of the Trauma Resource Institute and specializing in the field of trauma and addiction recovery for over 15 years, Laurie offers a holistic approach in her teaching and private practice through somatic-centered healing, trauma-sensitive compassion training, and resiliency building. Laurie draws from her passion for the natural world, contemplative wisdom traditions, and motherhood to help guide people and families to overcome adversity, embrace their innate resiliency, and cultivate joyful connections and purpose.