Group Retreats
The Occidental Arts & Ecology Center is a rustic and beautiful place to convene organizations, networks, public agencies, foundations and other groups working towards social and environmental change. Just 70 miles from both Oakland and San Francisco, OAEC is a unique gathering space for effective and transformative retreats, workshops or strategic planning meetings in a truly stunning environment.
Booking Details
Group Size
- The ideal group size for our facilities is 16-32. We have minimum and maximum participant limits that vary depending on the calendar and the specific needs of your group. Please call to inquire.
Minimum Stay Requirement
- Minimum two-night stay.
- Arrival and departure times are negotiable.
Pricing
Day Use and Private Tours
- We offer private tours for a fee (waived for overnight rentals.)
- We can sometimes accommodate day use meetings and workshops for certain values-aligned groups. Please call to inquire.
Limitations
- OAEC hosts organizations whose work towards environmental and social justice is in line with our strategic priorities. We unfortunately cannot accommodate all requests. We do not host weddings, parties, or personal or family retreats. In addition, we do not host yoga or therapy-based retreats.
- We are not open to proposals to teach courses at OAEC. We do work with groups that offer courses to their own public, but the group must handle its own outreach, registration and pre-course organizing.
- No pets please! Because of the sensitive environment, diverse wildlife and native poison oak, we have a no-pet policy, except for leashed service dogs that meet the ADA definition of a service dog.
Accessibility
Please let us know in advance if anyone in your group has accessibility needs (physical, medical, etc).
COVID-19 Protocols For All Retreat Participants and Guests Coming to OAEC:
OAEC is adhering to COVID-19 related mandates and recommendations issued by both the state of California and the Sonoma County Department of Public Health. This guidance, and thus OAEC’s policies, may change as the date of any retreat approaches.
As of February 15, 2022, the Sonoma County Department of Public Health has lifted the mask mandate and does not require the use of face masks for everyone indoors. It is up to the retreat group to decide if they want retreat participants to wear masks indoors. While some of the retreat time will likely be spent outdoors in the fresh air, retreat participants will spend much of their time at OAEC in shared sleeping accommodations and use common indoor spaces such as meeting rooms, dining facilities, bathrooms, etc.
If you are experiencing Covid symptoms, please do not come to OAEC. We are currently asking all retreat guests to antigen test 24 hours prior to arriving at OAEC. The Group will self-manage testing.
OAEC’s Retreat Manager and the point person for your group who is organizing the retreat will stay in touch with any updates to OAEC’s policy. If your group is interested in booking a retreat with us and you would like to learn more about our COVID protocols, please reach out to .
We appreciate your understanding and collaboration as we navigate how to best support everyone’s health during this still-changing pandemic.
WHO WE WORK WITH
OAEC hosts organizations whose work towards environmental and social justice is in line with our strategic priorities. Some groups that have done their organizational retreats here include:
- Amazon Watch
- Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)
- Audobon Canyon Ranch
- Biomimicry Institute
- Bioneers
- Break Free From Plastic Movement
- California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN)
- California Foodshed Funders
- California Naturalist Training
- Causa Justa – Just Cause
- Center for Biological Diversity
- Center for Story-Based Strategy
- Ceres Trust
- Chorus Foundation
- Climate Justice Alliance
- Climate Workers
- Daily Acts
- Designer Fund
- Ecology of Awakening
- ETC Group
- Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria
- Fibershed
- Folke Bernadotte Academy
- Forward Together / Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice
- Food for Thought
- FracTracker Alliance
- Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA)
- Kairos Leadership
- Movement Generation Justice and Ecology Project
- Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)
- North Bay Organizing Project
- National Housing Law Project
- Pachamama Alliance
- Peak Plastic Foundation
- Permaculture Skills Center Ecological Landscapers
- Pesticide Action Network
- Rainforest Action Network
- Race Forward
- Rewilding California Convening
- Ruckus Society
- Seed Fund
- Sierra Club
- Sierra Watershed Progressive
- Sonoma County Conservation Action
- Sunrise Project
- Sustainable Economies Law Center
- The Cultural Conservancy
- Thousand Currents
- Threshold Foundation
- Tompkins Conservation Advisory Council
- Transition Resource Circle
- Trout Unlimited
- Urban Tilth
- Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights
- Water Foundation
- Water Solutions Network
- Wild Farm Alliance
- Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms
- Women’s Earth Alliance
CONTACT US
For inquiries about renting OAEC facilities for your workshop or retreat:
Please fill out this retreat inquiry form, email or call the OAEC office at (707) 874-1557 x101.
More Information:
- OAEC Contact & Directions
- OAEC Visitor Information
