Wake Up Retreat 2025

Deer Park Monastery is happy to host our annual Wake Up Retreat, an in-person 7-day retreat for young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 years old.

Whether new to the practice of meditation or a seasoned practitioner, it’s always a wonderful opportunity to come to a meditation retreat. Coming to a retreat, you give yourself a chance to take a break from your normal routine and immerse yourself in a new environment.

An environment such as Deer Park Monastery is conducive for peace, healing, happiness, and community. Not only will you have the support of the monks and nuns in the daily meditation activities, but in this retreat, you’ll also be surrounded by like-minded people of similar age. 

On our long journey of life, we go through different stages. Each stage offers its own challenges and beauties. It’s so helpful to come together with like-minded people of similar age to learn from one another and give support as we embark on spiritual meditation practices and contemplations.

There will be chances to practice sitting meditation, walking meditation, hiking in the beautiful Southern California mountains, sitting in groups, having discussions, and so much more.

We warmly invite all young adults, ages 18 to 35, to come and join us for our legendary annual Wake Up Retreat.

More information about the Wake Up Movement, started by our late teacher Thich Nhat Hanh and the international Plum Village community, can be found on our Wake Up website here.

In this retreat:

• Sitting and walking meditation with live guidance from Deer Park monastics
• Live talks offered by senior monastic disciples of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh
• Spaces to connect with people our age as we look deeply into the challenges and joys that we experience in our daily lives, including specific spaces for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ identifying people
• A transmission of the Five Mindfulness Trainings offered by the monastics of the Plum Village Tradition

Sample Schedule:

-6:00 Morning Sitting Meditation
-7:00 Walking Meditation
-7:45 Breakfast
-9:00 Working Meditation
-11:00 Dharma Talk
-12:30 Lunch
-2:00 Total Relaxation
-3:00 Dharma Sharing
-5:00 Exercise Time
-6:00 Dinner
-7:30 Evening Sitting Meditation

Accommodations and Cost:

• 3-bed dorm: $900 (total cost for 6-nights)
• 6-bed dorm: $660 (total cost for 6-nights)
• Bring your own tent to camp: $510 (total cost for 6-nights)

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Scholarships

Black and Indigenous Scholarships Available

For those who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or as a Person of Color, a limited number of scholarships are available for special retreats, such as the Wake Up Retreat. To extend the opportunity for many people to experience the Dharma, these scholarships are mainly for new practitioners. To apply, please write an e-mail to the registration office (you may click here) describing your financial situation; how much of a scholarship you are requesting on registration; and your aspiration to attend the retreat.