Awake in the Wild (October): Exploring Wisdom and Awakening in Nature
Description
October 8 - 15, 2026
With Mark Coleman and Susie Harrington
This retreat is offered with a sliding-scale pricing structure and a range of housing choices, making it as accessible as possible. All accommodations are single occupancy, and every option includes meals; lodging is included where noted. Please review the housing categories below to find the best fit for your needs.
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Casita Benefactor Rate (I am resourced and can help another)
This rate covers the full retreat cost while also helping support others who need financial assistance to attend. The difference between this rate and the actual rate is tax-deductible. Your generosity helps expand access to practice at Vallecitos.
All accommodations are single occupancy. The price includes accommodation and meals.
Casita Actual Rate (I can cover myself)
This rate reflects the actual cost of the retreat. All accommodations are single occupancy. The price includes accommodation and meals.
Casita Scholarship Rate (A lower rate would help me attend)
This option offers a 35% scholarship off the actual retreat cost. All accommodations are single occupancy. The price includes accommodation and meals. If you need further scholarship support beyond this level, please choose this housing option, complete registration, and then submit your scholarship application using the link provided afterward.
Yurt Benefactor Rate (I am resourced and can help another)
This rate covers the full retreat cost while also helping support others who need financial assistance to attend. The difference between this rate and the actual rate is tax-deductible. Your generosity helps expand access to practice at Vallecitos.
All accommodations are single occupancy. The price includes accommodation and meals.
Yurt Actual Rate (I can cover myself)
This rate reflects the actual cost of the retreat. All accommodations are single occupancy. The price includes accommodation and meals.
Yurt Scholarship Rate (A lower rate would help me attend)
This option offers a 35% scholarship off the actual retreat cost. All accommodations are single occupancy. The price includes accommodation and meals. If you need further scholarship support beyond this level, please choose this housing option, complete registration, and then submit an additional scholarship application using the directions provided after registering.
Tent Cabin Benefactor Rate (I am resourced and can help another)
This rate covers the full retreat cost while also helping support others who need financial assistance to attend. The difference between this rate and the actual rate is tax-deductible. Your generosity helps expand access to practice at Vallecitos.
All accommodations are single occupancy. The price includes accommodation and meals.
Tent Cabin Actual Rate (I can cover myself)
This rate reflects the actual cost of the retreat. All accommodations are single occupancy. The price includes accommodation and meals.
Tent Cabin Scholarship Rate (A lower rate would help me attend)
This option offers a 35% scholarship off the actual retreat cost. All accommodations are single occupancy. The price includes accommodation and meals. If you need further scholarship support beyond this level, please choose this housing option, complete registration, and then submit an additional scholarship application using the directions provided after registering.
Hermitage - Supporting scholarships and land stewardship
This option supports land stewardship efforts while also helping provide access for retreatants who need additional financial support. The difference between this rate and the actual hermitage rate is tax-deductible. Thank you for helping sustain Vallecitos.
The Hermitage is a secluded cabin overlooking mountains, meadows, and the Vallecitos River, offering a more private retreat experience. The octagonal cabin includes a queen-size bed, nightstand, desk, chair, shelves, sink, and counter. A private outhouse is nearby. This is a single occupancy heated space. The price includes meals and lodging.
Hermitage - Supporting scholarships
This option helps support access for retreatants who need additional financial support. The difference between this rate and the actual hermitage rate is tax-deductible. Thank you for helping sustain Vallecitos.
Hermitage - A secluded cabin
The Hermitage is a secluded cabin overlooking mountains, meadows, and the Vallecitos River, offering a more private retreat experience. The octagonal cabin includes a queen-size bed, nightstand, desk, chair, shelves, sink, and counter. A private outhouse is nearby. This is a single occupancy heated space. The price includes meals and lodging.
Comfort Pack--includes bedding and towels
Round Trip Shuttle--see website for more details
One Way Shuttle--see website for more details
Cancellation Policy: 45+ days = full refund, less nonrefundable $150 fee; 45-22 days = 50% refund; 0-21 days = no refunds. This policy applies to all registered guests, including scholarship recipients.
Practitioners must have done at least one 5-night residential meditation retreat with authorized insight meditation teachers to be eligible.
If you do not meet this requirement, we would be happy to help you find another retreat.
You will receive a practice discussion questionnaire two weeks before arrival. In the meantime, please share anything that would help us understand your support needs. Do you have any personal or psychological situations or diagnoses that could require additional support or affect your retreat?
If yes, please briefly describe how this may impact your retreat. Because of the remote location of our center, this information helps us support your well-being as fully as possible. If not, please enter "No."
If you are a medical professional and would be willing to assist in the event of a medical emergency in our remote location, please note your profession and your willingness to help.
Emergency Contact Name
Please include their relationship to you, such as sibling, spouse, parent, or friend.
Emergency Contact Phone
Have you been to Vallecitos before?
How did you hear about this retreat?
Comments or Special Needs
Terms and Conditions: I have read and understood the terms and conditions for using this site. Please read the terms of use.
Accommodation Options
Tent Cabins
The tent cabins at Vallecitos offer a simple, yet comfortable, low-cost accommodation. The tent cabins are on wooden platforms with canvas walls. Each has a bed, a small table and chair. There are zipper windows in the tent cabins and the front opening can be spread wide to invite in sunlight. All tent cabins have a small propane heater. Tent cabins are single occupancy, stand-alone structures. Please note that tent cabins tend to be colder in the shoulder seasons (May and September/October).
Tent Camping
An economical option intended only for experienced campers. You are required to bring your own tent camping gear, as Vallecitos does NOT supply a tent. Temperatures are highly variable, precipitation is to be expected, and you are expected to be fully self-sufficient. This option is strongly discouraged for anyone new to Vallecitos. Please note that our tent camping spaces, like all Vallecitos housing options, are single occupancy. You may not share a tent or camping space with other retreat participants. Pricing includes meals.
Tent Cabin Benefactor Rate
This option covers retreat costs and helps support others who require financial assistance to attend. The difference between this rate and the actual rate is tax-deductible. We greatly appreciate your help in supporting access to practice on retreat at Vallecitos. All accommodations are single occupancy. The price includes accommodation and meals.
Tent Cabin Actual Rate
This rate covers the actual costs of the retreat. All accommodations are single occupancy. The price includes accommodation and meals.
Tent Cabin Scholarship Rate
This option is a 35% scholarship of the actual costs of the retreat. All accommodations are single occupancy. The price includes accommodation and meals. If you require additional scholarship assistance above this rate, please select this housing option. Complete your registration, and then submit an additional scholarship application (directions are provided after registering).
Hermitage - A secluded cabin
A secluded cabin overlooking mountains, meadows and the Vallecitos River, the Hermitage is the perfect setting for a more private retreat experience. The octagonal cabin is furnished with a queen size bed, night stand, desk, chair, shelves, sink, and counter. A private outhouse for the hermitage is nearby. The hermitage is a single occupancy heated space. The price includes meals and lodging.
Teachers
About Mark ColemanMark is a lifelong lover of the natural world and is dedicated to helping people discover the restorative connection between meditation and nature. For more than 20 years, he has led wilderness nature retreats around the world. Through Awake in the Wild, he also offers yearlong nature meditation teacher trainings in the US and Europe.Training and ExperienceMark has...
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About Susie Harrington Susie Harrington has been immersed in the Insight tradition since 1989 and was invited to teach in 2005. Her foundation is rooted in Thai Forest and Burmese lineages of Theravadan Buddhism, while her practice has also been shaped by extensive study with Tibetan Dzogchen and Mahamudra teachers. She teaches internationally and serves as the guiding teacher for Desert...
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