If you have the time to head out to West Marin County, north of San Francisco, and you are of a spiritual or meditative nature and want to spend some true quality time with your family, Spirit Rock's Family Retreat is unparalleled.

For full disclosure here, I have to tell you that for six years I volunteered at this Buddhist retreat center (of the Vipassana tradition) as a co-counselor for the 'tween group. And I loved every minute of it -- through the fun, the drama, the exhaustion, the giddiness -- every minute that is life with 10-13-year-olds. I'm taking a couple years off with my baby, but cannot wait to return and be involved again.

What is the Family Retreat? Best encapsulated on their web site:

"This five-day, four-night retreat is for families with children ages 5-15 and will include periods of family activities, young people’s groups, parent meditation/teachings and free time. Dharma activities include songs, stories, skits, games, art, time on the land, a campfire, council practice, parent discussions, meditation for parents and children, and dharma talks."

From a volunteer's perspective, it is a safe place for families to be with other families, to learn, to support each other, to have tons of fun, to play, to be quiet, to interact with people that they might not get to interact with on a day-to-day basis (when else do you and the fam get to hang out with cool monks?). The teachers are world-class, and the environment is stellar (just take a look at the pics!).

This is a residential retreat, which means that food and boarding are included. Food is vegetarian, filling and delicious, and great care is taken to work with folks with food allergies. Rooms are clean and spare. Activities all cater to different age groups, and plenty of downtime is provided for families who want to hike or go to the beach or just take a nap together.

Meditation is taught on many levels -- this is a group space, and every family has work meditation, which means pitching in with meals, clean-up, working the land etc. No one is left out or excused, but also, many hands make quick work of the chores. One has plenty of time for other meditation, too -- sitting or walking.

Music is an intrinsic part of the retreat -- whether drum circles that call people to activities, or the gong that announces time to get up, or singing with Betsy Rose and her guitar many beloved songs that expresses the teachings of how to be a peaceful, good person in this world.

Teachings (adult, too) are themed each year around various teachings of the Buddha -- but are never preachy or religious. I'd say it is more an exploration of the dharma, and how it works for each family, and what we all struggle with. Simplicity was a great theme one year -- especially important to start before one arrives -- no electronic toys or gadgets or sweets are allowed on the retreat grounds (Parents, read: no Blackberry, no iPhone, no iPod etc.). Once the kids get over the initial drama of not having so much input, it is *amazing* how much fun they have playing ball, tag, running through sprinklers, or spending time in the art tent creating wonderful pieces.

I love waking in the morning and looking out the window to see deer (oftentimes parents with twins) and turkey wandering through the trees. The smell of the bay trees is heady. The weather is often warm (the retreat is usually the last week of July or first week of August), and once in awhile you'll experience a quick summer storm. I also love the people I get to know better and better each year.

If you live close enough, Spirit Rock has daylong family retreats that give you a bite-sized version of what the residential retreat may offer. Also, their teen program is amazing, and even the teens think it's cool. :)

Directions to Spirit Rock can be found here.