Residential Retreats
Retreats in Nature, Gathered in Community. Big Bear Retreat Center is a restorative space for healing and creativity. We humbly offer a supportive environment to gather in community for movement, stillness and practice, trusting in the power of embodied mindfulness and authentic connection.
Just 2 hours from Los Angeles, a thousand acres of protected land as your home. We offer nourishment, rest and spacious land to hold you. Our buildings are carefully tended, calm and comfortable. Rooms are simple, single or shared. We cook with foods that nourish. Our tranquil land, originally tended by the Yuhaviatam (“People of the Pines”), is nestled in 1,400 acres of ancient Juniper woodland to help you recollect and realign with what matters most.
We are committed to accessibility, omitting none. We offer several scholarship and financial support. Contact us at any time on how we can be support your retreat at BBRC.
Join us for a retreat in Big Bear
Mary & Joseph Retreat Center is located in Rancho Palos Verdes, a 30 minute drive from Los Angeles International Airport. Majestic views include the skyline of Downtown Los Angeles and the entire Los Angeles basin. Nearby are the rocky cliffs of the Pacific, a prime location for whale watching, and several hiking trails open to the public.
With an emphasis on inclusion and accessibility, we provide a refuge for people of all faiths and walks of life.
Read testimonials here.
To offer or join a carpool, click Ride-Share Sign-Up on the retreat's event page.
Big Bear Retreat Center (Hybrid: In-person) Simplicity and Stillness: Cultivating The 5 Spiritual Strengths
April 24, 2025
7 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Advanced Beginner/Intermediate, Experienced, Introductory
Big Bear Retreat Center (Hybrid: Online) Simplicity and Stillness: Cultivating The 5 Spiritual Strengths
April 24, 2025
7 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Advanced Beginner/Intermediate, Experienced, Introductory
Big Bear Retreat Center (Hybrid: In-person) Coming Home to Our Senses
May 15, 2025
6 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Advanced Beginner/Intermediate, Experienced, Introductory
Online (Hybrid: Online) Coming Home to Our Senses
May 15, 2025
6 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Advanced Beginner/Intermediate, Experienced, Introductory
Big Bear Retreat Center (Hybrid: In-person) Deep Belonging: Connecting with Ourselves, Each Other, and the Natural World
June 2, 2025
7 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Online (Hybrid: Online) Deep Belonging: Connecting with Ourselves, Each Other, and the Natural World
June 2, 2025
7 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Mary & Joseph Retreat Center Path of Lovingkindess: A Metta Meditation Retreat
July 4, 2025
4 days 3:00 PM - 3:00 PM PT
Big Bear Retreat Center (In-person) Shelter from the Storm: Cultivating a Steady Heart
July 10, 2025
4 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Big Bear Retreat Center (In-person) When Awareness Becomes Natural: a Sayadaw U Tejaniya Practice Style Retreat
August 9, 2025
9 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Mary & Joseph Retreat Center Clear Seeing: An Insight Meditation Retreat
September 5, 2025
8 days 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM PT
Big Bear Retreat Center (In-person) Love and Rest
September 16, 2025
6 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Big Bear Retreat Center (In-person) Resting in Metta: Cultivating an Awakened Heart
November 11, 2025
8 days 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM PT
Mary & Joseph Retreat Center New Year’s Silent Meditation Retreat
December 28, 2025
5 days 3:00 PM - 3:00 PM PT