The Commons Camping Retreat
🌲 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 outdoor life, including warm layers for evenings, sturdy shoes, personal toiletries, a flashlight or headlamp, and whatever you need to sleep comfortably.
If you have camping equipment, musical instruments, games, art supplies, crafting tools, or something you’d enjoy sharing with the group, you’re welcome to bring them.
Please do not store food or other bear attractants inside tents. We’ll coordinate safe food storage on-site.
Don't own camping gear? Don't let that stop you from expressing interest—we'll see what we can share and coordinate as a community.
💛 Suggested Donation / Exchange
Our goal is to make the retreat as financially accessible as possible.
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.
We’ll confirm the final contribution once we have a reliable headcount.
For those who would rather not sleep in a tent, a limited number of upgraded accommodations—including a bunkhouse, tiny houses, an RV, and glamping options—may be available for an additional cost.
🏛 About The Commons
The Commons is a civic temple for wisdom, belonging, and beauty in San Francisco—a place to practice community rather than simply talk about it.
We believe belonging grows through shared experience: learning together, making things together, caring for spaces together, celebrating together, and showing up for one another.
This retreat takes that experiment beyond our walls. For a few days, instead of simply gathering at The Commons, we get to practice building a little commons of our own.
🚪 Arrival Info
📍 Shimmerback Ranch · near Willits, California
🚗 Approximately 2.5 hours north of San Francisco
Exact directions, arrival instructions, transportation coordination, campsite information, lodging assignments, and a packing guide will be sent to confirmed attendees before the retreat.
Because this is an offsite retreat rather than an event at our usual San Francisco home, please RSVP rather than simply showing up.
We’ll also coordinate carpools and transportation as the group comes together.
🌲 Come for the woods. Bring something to share. Help us build the village for a weekend.