The Commons Camping Retreat

The Commons: Third Space (Hayes Valley) Event Link The maximum anticipated land cost is approximately $130 per person for the full Thursday–Sunday retreat ($32.50/day). Depending on attendance, Commons support, and opportunities to exchange volunteer stewardship projects for part of the cost, your actual price may be lower—or potentially free. 🌲 The Commons Camping Retreat September 24–27, 2026 · Shimmerback Ranch, near Willits, CA 🌿 About Event What happens when we take The Commons out of the city and into the woods? For four days, we’re heading north to Shimmerback Ranch—nearly 150 acres of forest, creek, trails, and gathering spaces about 2.5 hours from San Francisco—to experiment with a slower, more communal rhythm of life. Think of it as a temporary Commons village: waking up among the trees, cooking and eating together, swimming in the creek, making things with our hands, sharing skills and ideas, tending the land, and having the kind of long, wandering conversations that become possible when nobody has somewhere else to be in an hour. During the day, we’ll invite members to offer workshops, creative practices, facilitated conversations, crafts, music, and whatever else they’d like to share. Some time may also be devoted to hands-on stewardship projects around the property—an opportunity to learn practical skills while giving something back to the land hosting us. And when evening arrives? We’ll gather around food and fire, make music, and—far from our usual sound-sensitive neighbors—perhaps finally answer the important civic question: what does a Commons rave look like in the middle of the woods? ✨🌲🔊 This retreat is an experiment in community beyond the walls of 540 and 550: a chance to rest, play, collaborate, and discover what becomes possible when we have a little more time and space with one another. 🕰 Flow / Schedule This will be a Thursday–Sunday retreat, with plenty of spacious, unscheduled time built in. Thursday, September 24 Arrival, camp setup, orientation, shared dinner, and settling into the land. Friday & Saturday 🌲 Slow mornings and shared meals 🛠 Member-led workshops and skill-sharing 🎨 Art, crafting, building, and creative projects 🌿 Optional land stewardship projects 💧 Creek swimming and time to explore or simply rest 🍲 Communal cooking and meals 🎶 Music, jams, dancing, and nighttime gatherings Sunday, September 27 A final morning together, shared cleanup and stewardship of the space, packing up, and heading home. A more detailed schedule—and opportunities to propose workshops—will be shared as the retreat takes shape. 👥 Facilitators The retreat is being organized by Cody Hasty and The Commons, with the weekend itself shaped collaboratively by the members who attend. Rather than bringing in a fixed program of teachers, we’re imagining something closer to a community unconference: Commons members sharing the skills, practices, questions, and creative pursuits they care about. Want to teach something, facilitate a conversation, DJ a set, lead a craft, cook for the group, organize a game, or contribute another offering? We’d love for you to help shape the weekend. 💫 Who This Is For This retreat is for Commons members who want to spend meaningful time together outside the rhythms of everyday city life. You do not need to be an experienced camper, outdoorsperson, workshop facilitator, or wilderness mystic. 🌿 Come if you’re excited to: • deepen friendships and make new ones • learn and share skills • create things alongside other people • spend a few days surrounded by nature • contribute to communal meals and shared responsibilities • dance, play, rest, swim, wander, talk, or simply exist around a campfire together The heart of the weekend is participation rather than performance. You can offer a workshop or just show up ready to lend a hand. 🎒 What to Bring (Optional) A detailed packing list will be shared with attendees before the retreat. For now, plan for several days of camping and outd…