The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center, Inc

Spring Senior High CON
2026-03-27 - 2026-03-29
Youth Conventions or “CONs” are weekend long events planned by youth with adult support for youth from third grade to high school. At heart, a youth con is an experience in building covenantal community and empowering youth leadership.
Supported by the larger work of The Mountain, each con has a different theme and focus, but they all incorporate community building, fun, worship, and exploration of spirituality. Each event has its own covenant and is in covenant with The Mountain’s safety policies. Youth experience both the safety of being in a covenantal community and the responsibility to repair relationships when difficult situations arise.
Youth have the opportunity to serve in leadership roles to help plan events, help run events, help the CON community live in covenant, or be peer chaplains for emotional support.
When
PALs Training: TBD
Elementary (3rd – 5th graders): February 20-22, 2026
Intermediate (6th – 8th graders): March 6-8, 2026
Senior High (9th – 12th graders): March 27-29, 2026
Registration opens: Coming soon!
Registration deadline: 2 weeks prior to CON start date.
If your youth coordinator has given you a transfer code number please enter the number at the payment portion of the registration process
In our registration system, select Youth CONferences
Fee
The Mountain is excited to continue the pilot program started in the fall to better cover the costs of running The Mountain while still making it an accessible place for all who want to come.
Youth
Traditional Cost: $100/person (Covers part of the cost of the weekend)
True Cost: $215/person (Covers the whole cost of the weekend)
No Cost: Free
Advisor
Supporter 2: $100/person (Covers part of the cost of the weekend)
Supporter 1: $50/person (Covers part of the cost of the weekend)
No Cost: Free
Please email youthcamp@themountainrlc.org with any questions or concerns regarding this new price structure.
Click Here to Register!

2025 TVUUC Annual Retreat
2026-03-13 - 2026-03-15
The annual Tennessee Valley UU Church retreat. More information and registration coming soon!

Metro Atlanta Contemporary Quilters
2026-03-12 - 2026-03-15
MACQ’s annual retreat to The Mountain. More information and registration coming soon!

Spring Intermediate CON
2026-03-06 - 2026-03-08

Spring Elementary CON
2026-02-20 - 2026-02-22

UU Columbia Work Week
2026-02-13 - 2026-02-22
Members of the UU Columbia church gather at The Mountain to help us open back up for the spring. All skill sets welcome. Build community while making a difference!

UU Emerson Choir Retreat
2026-02-06 - 2026-02-08
The annual retreat of the UU Church of Emerson’s choir. More information coming soon!

Winter GSV Retreat
2026-01-16 - 2026-01-18
More retreat information coming soon!
When: January 16 – 18, 2026
Registration: Now open!
Registration deadline: January 2, 2026
Gay Spirit Visions Website
Click Here to Register!

The Calm Within: A Clarity of Mind Mahamudra Meditation Retreat
2025-12-05 - 2025-12-07
The Calm Within: A Clarity of Mind Mahamudra Meditation Retreat at The Mountain Retreat Center in Highlands, NC
Friday, December 5 – Sunday, December 7, 2025
Take a break from the busyness and excessive productivity of everyday life, and retreat into the clarity and calm deep within our own mind.
During this special weekend mountain retreat, attendees will be guided in meditations on the nature and clarity of our own mind. These sublime meditations are effective methods for improving concentration and counteracting negative mental habits that result in stress, anxiety and fear.
By training in these meditations, our mind becomes progressively more subtle and peaceful, causing us to experience a profound inner stillness and tranquility. Eventually, we will discover our own inner potential for lasting peace, happiness and true freedom.
These meditations are part of the Mahamudra tradition, the very essence of Buddha’s teachings. Gaining the slightest experience of these blessed instructions will revolutionize our life, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Sessions will be skillfully guided by the Resident Teachers of Southern Kadampa Centers. Sessions include a brief teaching, silent time for meditation and time for question and answer. All sessions are suitable for beginners and those with some experience of Kadampa Buddhism.
Everyone is welcome!
This regional retreat is organized by Kadampa meditation centers and branches in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday
3:00-7:30p.m. | Check-in at The Mountain’s main office
6:00-7:15p.m. | Dinner
7:30-9:00p.m. | Introduction and Session 1
Saturday
8:00-8:45a.m. | Breakfast
9:00-10:15a.m. | Session 2
11:00a.m.-12:15p.m. | Session 3
12:30-1:45p.m. | Lunch
4:00-5:30p.m. | Session 4 and Q&A
6:00-7:00p.m. | Dinner
7:15-8:30p.m. | Session 5
Sunday
8:00-8:45a.m. | Breakfast
9:00-10:00a.m. | Session 6
11:00a.m.-12:30p.m. | Session 7 and Conclusion
RETREAT TEACHERS
Gen Kelsang Norbu was ordained in 2006 by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, and was requested by him to be the Resident Teacher of KMC North Carolina. He earned the title ‘Gen’ in 2012, indicating that he is a senior ordained teacher in the New Kadampa Tradition of modern Buddhism. He is known for his loving and gentle nature and holds a very clear and sharp understanding of Buddha’s teachings.
Kelsang Dechok is a senior ordained teacher of Modern Buddhism. She has studied and taught in both the US and the UK for many years. She was ordained in 2006 by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, and was requested to be the Resident Teacher of KMC Georgia in 2023. Whether it be through guided retreats or classes, her playfulness and sincerity allow students to see how the teachings can benefit them in their busy modern lives.
Gen Kelsang Tabkay has been a practitioner of Kadampa Buddhism and student of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso for 18 years. Ordained as a Buddhist monk in 2013, he is the Resident Teacher of KMC South Carolina and previously, KMC Phoenix. He has also guided many retreats at the International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon. He is known for giving accessible and practical teachings, dedicating himself to bringing peace into the hearts of others.
Kadam Sharon Lovich has been practicing meditation and Kadampa Buddhism since 2003 and is the Resident teacher of the Je Tsongkhapa Kadampa Buddhist Center in Asheville since 2017. She has engaged in numerous focused meditation retreats and is known for teaching others how to develop a peaceful mind with great skill, lightness, and humor.
Ethan Lechner has been a practitioner of Kadampa Buddhism since 2008. In that time, he has traveled throughout the world to receive teachings from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and the tradition’s most senior teachers. Ethan is appreciated for his warm, humorous, and relatable style of teaching Dharma.
ABOUT THIS RETREAT
What is a retreat?
In meditation retreat, we take a break from our normal busyness to gain experience of a particular meditation practice.
In a retreat, we have the opportunity to gain deeper concentration by letting go of our usual busyness, preoccupations and worries, to experience a spacious and life-enhancing perspective.
Even with poor concentration, we are generally more peaceful, relaxed, and happy on retreat than in our ordinary fast-paced, externalized lives.
Whether you’re a beginner or simply want to enjoy retreat in ideal conditions, every aspect of these retreats are structured to help you refresh your mind through meditation. During the breaks enjoy meaningful conversation and the beauty and tranquility of the North Carolina Highlands.
How to prepare
A wonderful way to prepare for this retreat is to read Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s text Mahamudra Tantra or The Oral Instructions of the Mahamudra.
Retreat Sessions
Sessions run between 60 and 75 minutes. The sessions combine practical instruction and time for meditation that will allow you to:

connect with an experience of true inner peace
develop basic techniques that can help you to create a consistent habit of meditation
leave with practical inner tools to apply what you have learned to your daily life

During the Breaks
Between retreat sessions take time to relax and carry your experience of peace, enjoy the tranquility of the grounds and connect and discuss with like-minded people.
Make it a Digital Detox Weekend
Are you feeling over-stimulated by the modern world and your phone is rarely out of your hand? Are you losing time to tech-based distraction? Is your phone draining you of energy to live with clarity and focus? Instead of sinking into habitual distraction, now is the time to take back control of our mind. Consider leaving your phone in your car and taking a break.
Morning Silence Practice
During this retreat we will be practicing silence in the morning, until after lunch. Silence is not just about not talking, it is about developing an inner quality of stillness.
In silence, we engage with the meditation object in a more intimate way. We start listening to the Dharma from deep within our heart which gives us a special inner experience of the teachings. Penetrating insights arise and since we are able to hold onto them with firm mindfulness we find Dharma experience pervades and nourishes our heart at a very deep level.

REGISTRATION DETAILS
Registration Deadline: November 23, 2025
Registration opens: August 11, 2025
Registration fee includes:

double or single room, or indoor camping bunkhouse
bed linens, towels and shower amenities
all program fees
vegetarian dinner on Friday
vegetarian breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday
vegetarian breakfast on Sunday
access to The Mountain grounds, facilities and hiking trails

Adult costs:
IMPORTANT: Expect simple, rustic accommodations, with basic amenities and a focus on nature. Contentment is an essential part of a successful meditation retreat. It will be cold, so please bring a space heater, additional blankets or sleeping bag, and anything that will help you be more comfortable.
Single Room (limited availability)
$490 per person
Single Occupancy rooms are now full. If you’re open to sharing a room, please register for Double Occupancy. If you will only attend the retreat with a private room, please sign up for the waitlist in Campwise. If you’re willing to sharing a room but want to be notified if a single opens up, please register for Double Occupancy and then email your private room request to james.williamson@themountainrlc.org. Extra private rooms, if available, will be assigned about 1-2 weeks before the retreat.
Double or Triple Room
$350 per person
If you don’t specify a roommate when you register, one will be assigned to you in the same gender.
Indoor Camping/Family Bunkhouse
$290 per adult
This is an indoor camping experience in a rustic cabin. Cabins have an indoor bathroom and shower and mini-split heating unit. Perfect for families!
Children and young adults:
Children may attend the retreat at a cost of $150 per child. We regret that children under 16 are not allowed in the main meditation room during sessions. A video link will be available in a comfortable quiet area reserved for families.
Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by two (2) nominated responsible adult carers over the age of 18. Those who are aged 16 and 17 years must be accompanied by an adult over 18. You will be asked to provide the names of the carers/accompanying adult at the point of booking, and will be unable to complete the booking without it. This retreat is a public event and the care and safety of children and young adults remains at all times the responsibility of their parents/nominated carers/accompanying adult. For insurance purposes, NKT-IKBU and the Retreat Organizers cannot take responsibility for children and young adults. Children (of all ages) must be under adult supervision at all times.
How to register:

Go to The Mountain’s Portal
On the top right click on Registration Portal.
Create an account
Complete your personal profile
Under “Program Classifications” select OTHER RETREATS
Select your room option
Specify dietary needs, housing options and mobility needs
Specify roommate options. If this is left empty one will be assigned to you
Submit payment. Your spot is not secured until payment has been submitted.

The Mountain's Grateful Gathering
2025-11-26 - 2025-11-30
Join us for a long weekend of acknowledging and celebrating the gratitude in our lives. Even through challenging times, there is much to be grateful for, be it friendships, family, community, opportunities for learning, The Mountain, and many other things in our lives.
The program includes workshops, entertainment, hiking, building connections with old and new friends, worship service, and outdoor adventures.
This is a great opportunity to invite family and friends to share time together, and no one has to cook or clean up after the holiday feast.
About The Grateful Gathering at The Mountain: An Intergenerational Program Thanksgiving Week
We are looking forward to gathering with people familiar with The Mountain, as well as welcoming new people to this special place.
In a spirit of gratitude, as we are immersed in our extraordinary natural environment, we will learn, discuss, and share ideas and life stories about our individual and group relationships with the Earth and one another.
The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center is an ecologically-conscious retreat and learning center located on 4,200 foot high granite cliffs on the Eastern Continental Divide in the Blue Ridge Mountains, surrounded by the Nantahala Forest. We offer a unique opportunity to learn about and enjoy the ecology and geology of the area. Perched on the Eastern edge of the Highlands Plateau, this temperate rainforest includes an Old Growth Oak Forest, one of the oldest in the U.S. Our four ecosystems, with the highest flora and fauna diversity (over 10,000 species) in North America, have nurtured multiple cultures including the Cherokee Nation.
We look forward to you joining us for this Grateful Gathering adventure.
Topics to consider in this gathering are personal and organizational values, gratitude felt and expressed, and learning more about our own and other cultures in relation to living our values.
Program for Children and Youth
All meals will be with families. Activities between meals will focus on environmental exploration, creative opportunities, and discussions about our world, the people, plants, and animals.
When
Wednesday, November 26 – 30, 2025
Registration: Now open!
Registration deadline: November 12, 2025
Reservations
Reservation Fee includes: Lodging, meals, use of assigned facilities
Make sure to reserve your spot early; participation is limited
4 night event (Wed-Sat nights)
Adult Double Occupancy: $480/person
Adult Single Occupancy: $740/person
Youth 12-17: $260/person
Child 4-11: $200/person
3 night event (Wed- Fri nights)
Adults Double Occupancy: 3-nights: $345 per person
Single Occupancy (Limited Availability): $555.00 /person
Youth 12-17: $195.00/person
Children 4-11: $150/person
Toddler 0-3: Free
2 night event (Wed-Thu nights)
Adult Double Occupancy: $230/person
Adult Single Occupancy: $370/person
Youth 12-17: $130/person
Children 4-11: $100/person
Toddler 0-3: Free
Thursday Commuter Rate
Includes Programming and Dinner
$50/person (Purchase a ticket by scrolling down this page!)
Last Year’s Schedule:

Click Here to Register for Overnights
Thursday Commuters ONLY: Purchase a ticket below!

Divine Embodiment
2025-11-20 - 2025-11-23
Divine Embodiment: Men Exploring the Connection between God and Eros
We come together not to define Divinity, but to embody it. Come as you are. Leave more fully who you are.
Click Here for More Information and Registration

The Path Within Retreat
2025-11-14 - 2025-11-16
A Sacred Weekend of Realignment, Stillness, and Inner Remembering
When life gets loud, the soul whispers…
There comes a moment in every journey where continuing forward means slowing down.
Where healing doesn’t look like doing more but like listening more deeply.
The Path Within Retreat is that moment.
Held in the stillness of the North Carolina mountains, this 21⁄2-day immersive retreat invites you
to disconnect from the noise, realign with your truth, and walk your next step with presence and
peace.
No fixing. No performing. No pressure.
Just space to breathe, reflect, and come home to the you you’ve always been.
What We Promise You’ll Receive
This retreat isn’t about pushing you to become something else.
It’s about giving you sacred space to remember who you truly are.
Here’s what you can expect:
✔️ A compassionate and grounded space where you don’t need to prove or perform
✔️ A renewed relationship with silence, stillness, and your sacred pace
✔️ A deeper connection with your own body, breath, and emotional wisdom
✔️ Tools to discern what is truly aligned in your life and what is no longer yours to carry
✔️ Rituals and practices that travel home with you, long after the retreat ends
Outcomes You’ll Walk Away With
By the end of the retreat, you’ll leave with:
🌱 A personal map of your “inner terrain” and emotional cues
️ Clear language for your Sacred Yes and Sacred No
🪞 A greater capacity to be present without needing a plan
📓 A reflection journal filled with insights, truths, and reminders
🔥 A reawakened trust in your path even when it’s winding
Most of all:
You’ll return home with a felt sense of peace, authenticity, and sacred alignment.
What’s Included
✅ 2 nights of restful lodging in the Blue Ridge Mountains
✅ Delicious, nourishing meals (vegan & gluten-free options available)
✅ All retreat sessions, meditations, rituals, and movement experiences
✅ Your personal Path Within Retreat Journal and reflection tools
✅ Silent solo time in nature + group connection circles
✅ Optional pre- and post-retreat group calls for support and integration
The Six Core Sessions
Each session is a sacred invitation inward:
1. The Noise Around, The Silence Within – Embracing inner quiet
2. Losing the Map to Find the Way – Releasing control and certainty
3. Markers of the Inner Terrain – Tuning into emotional and somatic wisdom
4. Walking the Winding Way – Trusting detours, pauses, and slow seasons
5. Sacred Yes, Sacred No – Setting boundaries with love and clarity
6. The You You’ve Always Been – Returning to your truest self
You’ll journey through these with breathwork, journaling, quiet nature practices, and intentional
group reflection.
Retreat Facilitator: William Brown
William Brown is a retreat leader, storyteller, and the founder of Living Beyond and Sacred Journey Coaching and Retreats. With decades of experience guiding others through transition and transformation, William’s approach is soulful, grounded, and invitational. As a Sparketype® Maven/Sage and deeply intuitive guide, William creates safe spaces for authentic connection, presence, and emergence. He believes transformation happens not through force but through presence, curiosity, and inner permission. “This retreat isn’t about helping you become someone new. It’s about giving you the space to finally be who you’ve always been.”
🤝 Guest Session Leaders – Coming Soon
You’ll also be supported by soul-aligned guides offering breathwork, sound healing, and somatic support. Stay tuned as we announce the beautiful humans joining us in co-creating this sacred space.
️The Location: The Mountain, Highlands, NC
The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center is nestled high above the clouds in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains. With forest trails, quiet sanctuaries, a labyrinth, and mountaintop views, it’s the perfect backdrop for inner work, nature connection, and sacred rest.
Investment in Your Sacred Journey
All-Inclusive Retreat Experience: $572.55
🌿 Early Bird: $472.55 if registered by September 30
Your investment includes:
✔️ Lodging + all meals
✔️ Full retreat programming + retreat journal
✔️ Ritual tools, practices, and group connection
✔️ Pre- and post-retreat online calls for grounding and integration
Scholarships may be offered upon request.
Retreat Flow
Arrival: Friday, November 14 | 3:00 PM check-in
Closing: Sunday, November 16 | 1:00 PM departure
Location: The Mountain Retreat & Learning Center | Highlands, NC
This Retreat Is For You If…
● You’re at a crossroads, longing for inner clarity
● You feel spiritually curious but need space away from dogma
● You’ve been busy helping others and forgot to listen inward
● You want a spiritual experience that honors your pace and process
● You’re ready to say YES to yourself quietly, fully, and unapologetically
Reserve Your Spot Now
Space is limited to honor depth, intimacy, and presence.
You don’t need to be perfect, prepared, or polished.
You just need to be willing to take the next sacred step.
👉 Register Now
📩 Questions? Email us at admin@livingbeyondfoundation.org
Registration deadline: October 31, 2025
You are not behind. You are not too much. You are not
too late.
You are simply being called home—
to the path that was always within you.
Let’s walk it together.
Click Here to Register

Fall Senior High CON
2025-11-14 - 2025-11-16
Fall Senior High CON
Youth Conventions or “CONs” are weekend long events planned by youth with adult support for youth from third grade to high school. At heart, a youth con is an experience in building covenantal community and empowering youth leadership.
Supported by the larger work of The Mountain, each con has a different theme and focus, but they all incorporate community building, fun, worship, and exploration of spirituality. Each event has its own covenant and is in covenant with The Mountain’s safety policies. Youth experience both the safety of being in a covenantal community and the responsibility to repair relationships when difficult situations arise.
Youth have the opportunity to serve in leadership roles to help plan events, help run events, help the CON community live in covenant, or be peer chaplains for emotional support.
When
PALs Training: September 26 – 28, 2025
Elementary (3rd – 5th graders): October 17 – 19, 2025
Intermediate (6th – 8th graders): October 31 – November 2, 2025
Senior High (9th – 12th graders): November 14 – 16, 2025
Registration opens: Now open!
Registration deadline: 2 weeks prior to CON start date.
If your youth coordinator has given you a transfer code number please enter the number at the payment portion of the registration process
In our registration system, select Youth CONferences
Fee
The Mountain is excited to announce a pilot program to better cover the costs of running The Mountain while still making it an accessible place for all who want to come.
Youth
Traditional Cost: $100/person (Covers part of the cost of the weekend)
True Cost: $215/person (Covers the whole cost of the weekend)
No Cost: Free
Advisor
Supporter 2: $100/person (Covers part of the cost of the weekend)
Supporter 1: $50/person (Covers part of the cost of the weekend)
No Cost: Free
Please email youthcamp@themountainrlc.org with any questions or concerns regarding this new price structure.
Click Here to Register!

SEUUMA Fall Retreat
2025-11-10 - 2025-11-13
Registration: Now open!
Registration deadline: October 27, 2025
Feel free to reach out to us at gsoffice@themountainrlc.org with any questions.
Rates:
Adult Double Occupancy – $330.00
Adult Single Occupancy – $510.00
Youth 12-17 – $195.00
Child 4-11 – $165.00
Toddler 0-3 – Free
Click Here to Register
In our registration system select “Church Retreats” then select your “2025 Fall SEUUMA Retreat” package.

OurSong: 2025 Retreat at The Mountain
2025-11-07 - 2025-11-09
OurSong is dedicated to performing high quality music while celebrating our unique gay and lesbian experience and our evolving place in the world.
OurSong is comprised of musicians from all walks of life with varying levels of musical experience. Some members hold degrees in music, some grew up singing in church, some have performed with famous artists and conductors and some have joined OurSong as their first foray into choral music. However, all of us sing with OurSong because we love to sing. We love the gift that making music brings to our lives and we love sharing that gift with our audience.
When
Program: November 7 – 9, 2025
Registration Deadline: October 24, 2025
Registration opens soon!
Registration
Adult Double Occupancy: $260 per person
Adult Single Occupancy: $400 per person
Adult Bunkhouse: $220 per person
Click Here to Register

Fall Intermediate CON
2025-10-31 - 2025-11-02
Fall Intermediate CON
Youth Conventions or “CONs” are weekend long events planned by youth with adult support for youth from third grade to high school. At heart, a youth con is an experience in building covenantal community and empowering youth leadership.
Supported by the larger work of The Mountain, each con has a different theme and focus, but they all incorporate community building, fun, worship, and exploration of spirituality. Each event has its own covenant and is in covenant with The Mountain’s safety policies. Youth experience both the safety of being in a covenantal community and the responsibility to repair relationships when difficult situations arise.
Youth have the opportunity to serve in leadership roles to help plan events, help run events, help the CON community live in covenant, or be peer chaplains for emotional support.
When
PALs Training: September 26 – 28, 2025
Elementary (3rd – 5th graders): October 17 – 19, 2025
Intermediate (6th – 8th graders): October 31 – November 2, 2025
Senior High (9th – 12th graders): November 14 – 16, 2025
Registration opens: Now open!
Registration deadline: 2 weeks prior to CON start date.
If your youth coordinator has given you a transfer code number please enter the number at the payment portion of the registration process
In our registration system, select Youth CONferences
Fee
The Mountain is excited to announce a pilot program to better cover the costs of running The Mountain while still making it an accessible place for all who want to come.
Youth
Traditional Cost: $100/person (Covers part of the cost of the weekend)
True Cost: $215/person (Covers the whole cost of the weekend)
No Cost: Free
Advisor
Supporter 2: $100/person (Covers part of the cost of the weekend)
Supporter 1: $50/person (Covers part of the cost of the weekend)
No Cost: Free
Please email youthcamp@themountainrlc.org with any questions or concerns regarding this new price structure.
Click Here to Register!

Three Awakenings
2025-10-27 - 2025-11-03
The three distinct paths of Inner Alchemy, Prayer, and Meditation can be found in various forms throughout the world’s mystical traditions. The Three Awakenings school brings these paths together in a way that is easier to practice and understand for aspirants that weren’t born or raised in the traditional religions and cultures associated with these methods.
This is a private retreat not open to the public.

2025 UU Fellowship of Hendersonville Retreat
2025-10-24 - 2025-10-26
Celebrate life in all its joy and mystery.
Inspire journeys of truth and meaning.
Engage in practice and service for love, justice, and peace.
When:
Dates: October 24-26, 2025
Registration: Now open!
Registration deadline: October 17, 2025
Festivities will begin with a dinner on Friday evening and end with lunch on Sunday afternoon.
Registration Details:
Adult double occupancy: $240 per person
Adult single occupancy: $380 per person
Adult Bunkhouse: $200 per person
Ages 12-17, $140 per person for two nights
Ages 4 -11: $110 per person for two nights
Ages 3 or younger are free
All children must be supervised by and sleeping in the same room as parent/guardian
Commuter rate: $120 per person
Click Here to Register
In our registration system, choose “Church Retreats” and then your 2025 UUFH Package.

2025 UUC Columbia Retreat to The Mountain
2025-10-24 - 2025-10-26
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, SC is holding their annual congregational retreat at The Mountain this October.
Strengthened by our common humanity and inspired by our seven principles, we promise

to be a safe and welcoming community;
to nurture each other’s hearts and spirits;
to delight in the beauty of our diversity;
to struggle together on our spiritual journeys;
and to challenge each other to live our values

When

Program: October 24 – 26, 2025
Registration: Open now!
Registration Deadline: October 10, 2025

Registration
Registration open to UUC Columbia members, friends, and invited guests
Registration Fee includes

Lodging
Meals
Use of assigned facilities
Participation in program activities

Adult 3 Days / 2 Nights Package Rate

Adult Double Occupancy: $240 per person
Adult Single Occupancy: $390 per person
Adult Bunkhouse: $200 per person

***Private rooms are limited and are based on availability. To request a private room, please register for double occupancy and then email your request to james.williamson@themountainrlc.org. Private rooms will be assigned after registration closes.***
Youth Package Rate

Youth ages 12-17 – $140 per person
Children ages 4-11 – $110 per person
Toddler ages 0-3 – FREE

Youth and Children must be accompanied by a registered parent/guardian
Youth and Children are lodged with an accompanying registered parent/guardian
Reserve Your Space

In our registration system, select “Church Retreats” then your “2025 UUCC Retreat” Package
​Each family member must be registered individually in our partner registration website
Use one username and password per family

Sacred Lomi
2025-10-20 - 2025-10-24
This Advanced Lomilomi Retreat with Sacred Lomi is designed to help Sacred Lomi practitioners deepen their practice, receive from other advanced practitioners and elevate their gifts as healers. The incredibly serene and uplifting energy of The Mountain Retreat, nestled in the majestic mountain forest of North Carolina, is an incredible place for transformation and life changing reflection. This once-a-year event is the only opportunity for students who have successfully completed our Home Study Course to attend one of our Advanced Lomilomi Retreats! For more information please visit: https://www.sacredlomi.com.

2025 NWUU Bi-Annual Retreat
2025-10-17 - 2025-10-19
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Congregation is excited to return to The Mountain for their bi-annual retreat!
Registration status: Now open!
Registration deadline: October 3, 2025
Adult Double Occupancy – $240/person
Adult Single Occupancy (limited availability) – $380/person
Adult Bunkhouse – $200/person
Adult Commuter (Staying off-site) – $120/person
Youth 12-17 – $140/person
Child 4-11 – $110/person
Toddler 0-3 – Free

Click here or go to The Mountain’s website and click on Registration Portal in the top right
Create an account (or login)
Complete your personal profile and a profile for each person in your party (if applicable)
Under “Program Classifications” select Church Retreats
Find your retreat and select your room option
Specify dietary needs, housing options and mobility needs
Specify roommate options. If this is left empty one will be assigned to you
Repeat this process for each member in your party.
Submit payment. Your spot is not secured until payment has been submitted.

Fall Elementary CON
2025-10-17 - 2025-10-19
Fall Elementary CON
Youth Conventions or “CONs” are weekend long events planned by youth with adult support for youth from third grade to high school. At heart, a youth con is an experience in building covenantal community and empowering youth leadership.
Supported by the larger work of The Mountain, each con has a different theme and focus, but they all incorporate community building, fun, worship, and exploration of spirituality. Each event has its own covenant and is in covenant with The Mountain’s safety policies. Youth experience both the safety of being in a covenantal community and the responsibility to repair relationships when difficult situations arise.
Youth have the opportunity to serve in leadership roles to help plan events, help run events, help the CON community live in covenant, or be peer chaplains for emotional support.
When
PALs Training: September 26 – 28, 2025
Elementary (3rd – 5th graders): October 17 – 19, 2025
Intermediate (6th – 8th graders): October 31 – November 2, 2025
Senior High (9th – 12th graders): November 14 – 16, 2025
Registration opens: Now open!
Registration deadline: 2 weeks prior to CON start date.
If your youth coordinator has given you a transfer code number please enter the number at the payment portion of the registration process
In our registration system, select Youth CONferences
Fee
The Mountain is excited to announce a pilot program to better cover the costs of running The Mountain while still making it an accessible place for all who want to come.
Youth
Traditional Cost: $100/person (Covers part of the cost of the weekend)
True Cost: $215/person (Covers the whole cost of the weekend)
No Cost: Free
Advisor
Supporter 2: $100/person (Covers part of the cost of the weekend)
Supporter 1: $50/person (Covers part of the cost of the weekend)
No Cost: Free
Please email youthcamp@themountainrlc.org with any questions or concerns regarding this new price structure.
Click Here to Register!

2025 UUCA Atlanta Men's Retreat
2025-10-17 - 2025-10-19
At UUCA, we believe in you. We believe in justice. We believe in rigorous hope. As Unitarian Universalists, we celebrate our community’s diverse spiritual practices and commit to our shared ethical principles.
This October, we welcome our members to our Annual Men’s Retreat!
Registration now open!
Registration Deadline: 10/3/25
Package pricing includes lodging, meals, & use of facilities:
Adult Shared Room: $240 per person
Adult Private Room: $380 pre person (subject to limited availability)
Commuter Rate: $85 for full day 3 meals & use of facilities, (no lodging) Part days:
Friday Dinner + Evening Programming = $30:
Sunday Breakfast + Lunch = $30.
Click Here to Register
In our registration system select “Church Retreats” then select your “2025 UUCA Men’s Retreat” package.

UU Franklin Day Retreat
2025-10-13
The UU Fellowship of Franklin is excited to return to The Mountain this October and share a day of fellowship with UUTC Brevard. Registration is $65/person and includes lunch, dinner, and use of Mountain facilities. Purchase tickets below to register. Please be sure to inform us of any dietary needs or food allergies in your party.

UUTC Brevard Annual Retreat
2025-10-12 - 2025-10-14
Inclusive. Intentional. INVOLVED.
This is a three-day, two-night fall congregational retreat for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Brevard. We welcome members and friends of UUTC of all ages. There will be fun and fellowship for all, including nature walks, arts and crafts, workshops, singing and music, and a Sunday service.
​View their website
Program Details
Registration open to UUTC members, friends, and invited guests
Program: October 12 – 14, 2025
Registration Now Open
Registration deadline: September 28, 2025
​Arrival Date and Time: Sunday, Oct 12, 3pm – 6pm
Departure Date and Time: Tuesday, Oct 14, after 12pm
Registration Cost
​Registration Fee includes:
Lodging
Meals
Use of assigned facilities
Participation in program activities
Adult Double Occupancy: $240/person
Adult Single Occupancy: $380/person
Bunkhouses Double Occupancy: $200
Commuter: $60 for Monday only; or $120 for full retreat
Online Registration
In our registration system, select Church Retreats then your ‘2025 UUTC Brevard’ Package.
​Each family member must be registered individually in our partner registration website
Use one username and password per family

2025 UU Asheville Mountain Gathering
2025-10-10 - 2025-10-12
Join our congregation for a restful weekend of inter-generational connections. Experience the mountain retreat and learning center again or for the first time while deepening relationships with fellow congregants. Take a workshop, go for a hike or just sit on the balcony and enjoy spectacular views of the mountains.
When
Program: October 10 – 12, 2025
Registration: Now open!
Registration Deadline: September 26, 2025
This event will sell out well in advance, please register and pay in full to secure your place
Registration
Registration restricted to Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville members, friends and invited guests
We highly recommend guests to register and pay early to secure lodging. We give priority to those who have mobility and medical issues, but cannot guarantee specific rooms to any guest.
Registration Fee includes:

Lodging
Meals
Use of assigned facilities
Participation in program activities

Adult Package Rate, 3 Days /2 Nights, Friday – Sunday:

$240 per person, double occupancy (shared room)​
$380 per person, single occupancy (private room)​​

***Private rooms are limited and based on availability.***
​Youth Package Rate, Friday – Sunday

Youth ages 12-17 – $140
Children ages 4-11 – $110
Toddler ages 0-3 – FREE
Youth and Children must be accompanied by a registered parent/guardian
Youth and Children are lodged with an accompanying registered parent/guardian

Reserve Your Space
In our registration system, select Church Retreats then select your 2025 UU Asheville package
​Each family member must be registered individually in our registration website
​Use one username and password per family
​

Joy on The Mountain Top - Co-Creators a Delightful Expedition
2025-10-05 - 2025-10-10
Learn More and Register
Come to the mountain and JOYN us in a deep dive into JOY! We will enter our deep dive through experiential processes on a co-creative expedition to a mountain experience of pure JOY!
​We will climb our metaphorical mountain from the beautiful 4,200-foot mountain top in Highlands North Carolina, October 5-10, 2025. The falls colors will brighten our collective imaginations as we delight in exploring JOY together individually and collectively.
​As Barbara Marx Hubbard taught, we are at a point of “breakdown before breakthrough”. Through the dramatic changes in ALL social and global systems-education, financial, climate, governmental, it can become very wearisome. Our JOY “meters” might even be running critically low as we navigate this historic time on our planet.
​We will explore together:
What is the birth of JOY and how can it be entered?
What is authentic JOY?
How can “the shadow” hide JOY and drain personal energy?
How can JOY be embodied more fully?
How can “play” open and reveal the magic of JOY?
During our Convergence, we will De-Light in living through this dynamic time together and support each other in co-creating the mystery and wonder that JOY is revealing through us out into our world.
JOYN the JOY-IN!
INTERESTED?
​DATES, DETAILS & DEALS: CCC Registration, Room and Board (vegan/vegetarian meals with gluten free options) All rooms have 2 single beds and private full bath; limited number of single rooms by special request (Contact Noel)
​CHECK-IN: After 3 PM on Sunday, October 5th
​CHECK-OUT: Friday, October 10th; out of rooms by 9:00 AM; off the grounds by Noon
​PLEASE NOTE: All registration payments accepted by Check, Venmo, or Zelle.
​MONETARY EXCHANGE:
BEST DEAL: (SAVE up to $250 on double room; $350 on single room)
Pay $950 (double occupancy) or $1,300 (single occupancy) by AUG 3
NEXT BEST DEAL: 2 payments:
Double Occupancy: $550 due AUG 3, and $550 due AUG 15
Single Occupancy: $750 due AUG 3 and $750 due AUG 15
PAYMENT PLAN:
Double Occupancy: 3 payments of $400 due AUG 3, AUG 15 and SEP 15
Single Occupancy: 3 payments of $550 due AUG 3, AUG 15 and SEP 15
CANCELLATION POLICY (based on The Mountain policy):
Before AUG 1: Full refund minus $35 administration fee.
AUG 1 through AUG 31: Refund payment(s) minus $250 administration fee.
SEP 1 through OCT 5TH: Refund payment(s) minus $500 administration fee.
NOTE: All funds are fully refundable if event is cancelled.
​​​EMAIL: cocreators@lightpartners.org
Noel Marshall ~ 920.312.0301
Learn More and Register

Farm Event: Wild Foraged - Oxymels & Elixirs
2025-09-19 13:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Have you ever wondered how natural remedies are made? Oxymels and Elixirs are long embedded in our history. Come learn how to sustainably harvest and process natural herbs that you could be medicinally using right now from your own backyard. Learn to treat common colds and seasonal allergies without harmful drugs from the pharmacy. Hear the stories, legends and lore our elders used to tell us of these native plants and most of all take your health into your own hands.
Here we will learn to identify and ethically wildcraft medicinal plants and herbs into healing oxymels and elixirs to boost your immune system and naturally care for your family.

Learn what oxymel and elixirs are
Learn their traditional uses
Learn to identify and forage wild medicinal herbs
Learn to use ingredients from you own refrigerator
Learn to make your own customized product to care for you and your family such as elderberry tonic and fire cider

Rain Policy
All of our events have indoor rain plans as backups in case of adverse weather. Please dress accordingly and bring rain gear if the forecast looks to be really wet!
Refund Policy
If you must cancel your reservation to one of our events then please let us know, at the latest, 48 hours before the scheduled time. If an unexpected emergency occurs then please let us know ASAP by emailing farm@themountainrlc.org. For both options, we can offer you the opportunity to attend a future event.

Episcopal Church of the Epiphany Annual Retreat
2025-09-19 - 2025-09-21
The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany is an inclusive community called to seek and follow Jesus Christ. We welcome all people in the Eucharistic fellowship of Christ’s Body. We receive strength and encouragement at the common table to carry out Christ’s work of reconciliation in our broken world. Nourished by worship and witness, learning and teaching, fellowship and service, we strive to live out the Gospel’s radical values with gladness of heart.
Church Website
When
​Program: September 19 – 21, 2025
Registration Deadline: September 5
Registration: Now open!
Registration
Registration Fee includes:

Lodging
Meals
Use of assigned facilities

There is a $25 program fee per each adult in addition to the lodging/food costs.
3 day / 2 night Adult Single occupancy
**single rooms are only available by special arrangement with the Rev. Carmie McDonald
3 day / 2 night Adult Double occupancy $260.00 + Tax 6.75%
3 day / 2 night Adult Bunkhouse $220.00 + Tax 6.75%
________________________________________________________________________________________
The cost for children/youth will be partially covered by the church. Please use the appropriate transfer code below for each child/youth. The amount shown below is chargeable to you and includes both nights.
3 day / 2 night Youth rate (12-17) $60 (Transfer code: ECOTEY)
​3 day / 2 night Child rate (4-11) $30 (Transfer code: ECOTEC)
​3 day / 2 night Toddler rate (0-3) No Charge
Families who elect to stay in a bunkhouse will not share that bunkhouse with another family. There will be one family per bunkhouse.
Click Here to Register
In our registration system you’ll find:
“Church Retreats” | “MountainCamp” | “Other Retreats” | “Youth CONs”
Select “Church Retreats“, then select your “Episcopal Church of the Epiphany” package.

2025 Fall 5Rhythms Dance Movement Retreat
2025-09-18 - 2025-09-21
In these fractured, shattered times, where so much is falling apart we can find support, sustenance and fluency in the elements of EARTH FIRE WATER AIR and ETHER which are timeless, always alive and ever shifting, and in our embodied and creative practices which align us with the wisdom that is always available, giving us glimpses of our vastness and connection to everything seen and unseen. Let’s go there, together.
Join Julie Stuart (5Rhythms) and Julie Püttgen (SoulCollage & Family Constellations) for four days of dance movement, art-making, and engaging in community ritual. We’ll weave 5Rhythms, SoulCollage, and Family Constellations together as practices for resourcing, exploration, and integration as we reconnect with the strength and wisdom of the elements, our lineages & ancestors, and our collective untamed intelligence in a beautiful and potent tapestry for you to revel in.
Julie Stuart and Julie Püttgen are wildly creative humans and friends for 25 years, who will offer their decades of experience to gently guide and hold space for movement, art-making, ritual, and community. Join us as we move fluidly between dancing and art-making, igniting our imaginations and freeing our creativity. No prior dance, art, or constellations experience is required at all.
We’ll be dancing at the top of a mountain in the southern Appalachians, the world’s oldest mountains, on ancestral Cherokee land and weaving our explorations with the land and the sentient beings who live there.
This workshop is for people who are new to 5Rhythms or who have danced the practice for decades. It’s for new and experienced constellators, for people who are just starting a SoulCollage practice with us, or who’ve been making and consulting cards forever. We welcome people of all cultures, colours, creeds, all genders and sexualities, all sizes, abilities and life stages. You don’t need to feel strong or energetic to join us. You don’t need to feel like you are an artist to do SoulCollage, and you don’t need to have any particular relationship with your family of origin to benefit from Constellations work.
If you’re interested in contributing to a scholarship fund so that we can offer this workshop to folks who can’t self-fund, you can send money to Julie Stuart which will be passed along directly. Venmo: julie-stuart-12 and paypal: jnbstuart@gmail.com
We can’t wait to welcome you there. Please send Julie Stuart any questions or concerns you may have.
With so much love,
Julie and Julie
Listen to a conversation the Julie’s had about their upcoming workshop: https://youtu.be/XZQyy6N6Khs
Retreat Begins/Ends:
Check in starts at 3 pm, dinner is at 6 pm then dance starts at 7:30 pm. We end on Sunday at 11:30 am and you can stay for lunch at noon then depart.
Registration
Registration: Open now!
Registration deadline: Thursday, September 4, 2025
PLEASE NOTE, this is important:
You will be making TWO payments. One to Julie for the program fee and another to the Mountain for your lodging and meals. When you sign up, you need to register as a participant with the Mountain AND send Julie your program fee payment.
Payment in full for Room and Board is not due until September 4, 2025 but you need to register on the website. The early bird price paid to Julie only applies to the Program fee.
Program Fee paid to Julie Required
Pay Julie directly via Zelle (preferred): julie@makingideasvisible.com
Paypal: julie@makingideasvisible.com
Venmo: @juliestuart-workshops
Early Bird: $395 (register and pay by August 1st)
Regular: $475
Benefactor: $525
5RTA: $345
Crew (with facilitator approval): $325
Thursday evening (5/10) only: $35-$45 sliding scale
Room and Board Cost paid to the Mountain:
Adult Double Occupancy: $390 + tax
Adult Single Occupancy (limited availability): $600 + tax
Adult Bunkhouse: $330 + tax
Commuter (full event): $210 + tax
Click Here to Register!
