Location

This year the NVC and Diversity retreat will take place at the Black Mountain Preserve retreat center, located in the mountains near the Northern California coast. We have chosen this site because of its beauty, compatibility with our mission, and affordability (as part of our attempts to make this program as accessible as possible).

Black Mountain Preserve is accessible from the San Francisco, Oakland and Sonoma County airports. We will provide registrants with ride-share support to coordinate travel to and from Black Mountain Preserve. Click here to view a Google map to view the location of Black Mountain Preserve. DO NOTE: the retreat center gives detailed directions on their website and warns that using google maps or mapquest often results in errors. Click here for detailed directions on the Black Mountain website to the retreat center: http://www.blackmountaincenter.com/directions.html.

Our lodging and meeting halls are surrounded by majestic redwood trees, local wildlife, wonderful hiking trails to explore over 480 acres of redwood forest, including old growth areas, and beauty everywhere you look.

The accommodations are very clean, comfortable, dormitories with separate men's and women's bathrooms, and a few private and semi-private rooms with adjacent bathrooms. Most people can expect to share space with 2 or more people, although a very limited number of single rooms may be available depending on enrollment.

Food

Black Mountain Preserve serves delicious, nourishing vegetarian meals. Meat will be available at one meal daily (there is an additional charge for this option). There is a limited availability for those with special diets not easily accommodated with catered dining to store and prepare their own food.

Black Mountain Preserve's website has a host of information about their retreat center as well as links to local attractions. Please click here to visit their site.