Meditation in the Desert
Touching the Earth at Cochise Stronghold
February 16–23 (8 day retreat)
Sponsored by Sky Mind Retreats
Cost:
$600 - $450 (sliding scale) camping
$850 - $650 (sliding scale) Indoor accommodations
$1,100 - $900 (sliding scale) Casita Manzanita
Scholarships available.
Retreat Teacher: Susie Harrington
Cook: Valerie Holze
Venue: Dharma Treasure Retreat Center, located east of Tucson near Cochise Stronghold.
Further Information:
Please feel free to contact the registrar Daniel at DDD3.
At this time this retreat is full, and the waitlist has recently opened. If you apply to be on the waitlist you have a very good chance of getting a spot, as we will have cancellations. Please complete the Online Registration Form to reserve your space on the waitlist.
To reserve your place please complete the Online Registration Form and deposit.
Your registration will be considered complete and your space reserved when the form and your deposit have been received. You will receive a confirmation that you have a spot on the retreat within a week (sooner if we are available!). If you don’t receive a notification, please contact us.
Reservations are confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. If the retreat is full, we will notify you that you have been placed on the waitlist. The deposit is refundable for those on the wait list.
The sliding fee reflects a minimum cost where the donations of contributors to Sky Mind allow for a lower fee, while the higher cost represents full cost of the retreat. A non-refundable deposit is due with your registration form.
All in-person retreats adhere to current COVID protocols as recommended by the CDC. With COVID, everything is in constant flux and change! After registering for a retreat we will continue to keep you updated. Currently we require all retreat participants, teachers, and staff to be fully vaccinated and submit proof of a negative test (any type) taken no less than 24 hours. prior to the opening day of the retreat.
The Fine Print
Deposit
The deposit and completed application form will reserve your place unless we go to a waitlist. The registrar will confirm your space. Reservations are confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please fill out a separate form for each person. If the retreat is full, you'll be placed on a waitlist. If that happens, don't be disheartened, as there will probably be cancellations. No deposit is needed for the waitlist.
Payment
A non-refundable deposit of $150 is due at the time of registration. The balance of your payment is due in full by November 18th 2023. Please wait for the confirmation of your accommodation choice before paying the balance due so you can make an accurate payment. Confirmation will be sent on November 5th.
Refund and Cancellation Policy
If SMR finds it necessary to cancel a trip due to under-enrollment or other unexpected conditions, your deposit and any payments on the balance of the fee will be returned.
We often have a waitlist; in order to respect those on the waitlist and to encourage timely cancellations, we have the following cancellation policy:
- Cancellations received 60 days or more before February 16th, opening day of the retreat, will receive a full refund, less $150 deposit.
- Cancellations 60 – 30 days before February 16th: we will retain 75% of the base fee for the housing option assigned, and refund any payment above this amount.
- 30 days or less before February 16th, if requested, we will offer a refund of any payment above the base fee for the assigned housing option.
- If you cancel from the waitlist your deposit payment of $150 will be refunded except for credit card processing fees (if your payment is submitted by credit card). If you have paid by check, your check will not be cashed until you are accepted into the retreat.
- If you find it necessary to cancel due to possible Covid sickness, or a positive test, we want you to cancel and we will work with you to refund as much as we can. If it is at the last minute, we may have some non-refundable costs such as purchased food. We will work together on a case by case basis.
Trip Insurance
You may wish to purchase trip insurance, available online, and at any travel agency. It will protect your investment in non-refundable costs if you have to cancel or if the retreat is canceled due to circumstances beyond our control. Cancellations for Covid-19 related issues are generally only covered in the ‘cancelation for any reason’ clause, so be sure if you choose to buy a policy that it includes this. Most policies also cover medical evacuation costs in case of sickness or injury - a good deal for travelers in remote locations.
Obligations of Retreat Applicants
This is a non-profit, cost-sharing retreat sponsored by Sky Mind Retreats. We will all be responsible for our own safety and the safety of the group in a remote setting. For this reason, please consider your physical condition. You will need to be able to take care of yourself, as well as be helpful to the group on a day-to-day basis. Because of the remoteness and in consideration of the other retreatants, we ask that you be in good health and physical condition adequate for the daily moderate exercise of primitive car camping. Please evaluate your circumstances and call or email if you are unsure of the appropriateness of this retreat for you. We want it to be accessible, and will work with you if your situation needs extra support.
You are expected to carefully review all information furnished, understanding that this is a meditation retreat rather than a recreational outing, requiring a commitment to noble silence and practice. Part of our practice will be to mindfully commit to non-harming, so that our impact on the environment is minimal and the rights and privacy of other retreatants are respected. All SMR events are strictly non-smoking. Alcohol and drugs are also not allowed.