47th ANNUAL SUMMER SOLSTICE HEALING RETREAT

Cultivate Kindness

Thursday, June 18th - Sunday, June 21st

Welcome to SSHR!

For 47 years, Breitenbush has hosted Summer Solstice Healing Retreat. SSHR is like a family reunion where we share music, workshops, healing modalities, laughter, conscious childcare (in Youth Village), Karma Yoga and the kind of world we wish to live in 365 days a year. SSHR reminds us that such a world is possible.

Pricing: This year’s SSHR is $250-$1000 per adult, $100 for children 4-12, $150 for teens 13-18. Children under 4 are admitted free. 

Registration begins on Sunday, March 15th at 5:00 PM. If you are unable to camp in a tent, or in your vehicle, it is essential that you register on March 15th. Let us know on your registration form why you need non-camping lodging. We take into consideration age, health-issues, family situations and other factors. Breitenbush is not able to offer indoor lodging to everyone who wants or needs it. We wish we could. It is a tradition (and necessity) at SSHR that the majority of attendees camp in Strawberry Meadow. We have added lots of vehicle camping in Solar Flats. If you want to camp in your vehicle you must fill out this form.

Registration Deadline: Registration for Summer Solstice Healing Retreat ends on Friday, June 4th. No transfers or refunds after June 4th. Come join the magic.

Have you been attending for decades? Would you like to join us for the first time? 

  • This webpage is THE spot for SSHR information. 

  • This site will be updated as we have additional information to share. 

  • The job of the SSHR Registrar and the SSHR Event Coordinator is time consuming. Please use this webpage to answer your questions before contacting us at sshr@breitenbush.com. Please don’t contact the Breitenbush Office, they won’t have the information you need.

  • Breitenbush is still rebuilding after the devastating fire of 2020. We have set the minimum price low because we know that SSHR is the only time some folks can afford to visit Breitenbush. We want to maintain this opportunity for lower-income guests but we ask that those who can give more do so. We’ve accomplished a lot since the 2020 Lionshead Complex Fire burned down half of our buildings, melted most of our vehicles, destroyed our maintenance facility, tools & machinery, and dispersed our staff. Rebuilding Breitenbush will take years. If you are able, please make an additional donation at registration to support our rebuilding efforts. The new Sanctuary will still be under construction during this year’s Summer Solstice, and we will be offering a tour of the building during the gathering.

Cancellations & Refunds: Cancellation and refund requests submitted at least 14 days prior to the start date of this event will be accepted, and the full balance will be refunded minus a $50.00 service charge. Requests submitted less than 14 days prior to the start date of this event will be accepted, but will not be eligible for refunds. We appreciate you letting us know so that we can shuffle lodgings.

DAILY SCHEDULE

THURSDAY

4:00 - 11:00 PM Registration/Parking | Front Gate

6:00 - 7:30 PM Dinner | Green Tent

6:30 - 7:30 PM Spiral Tubs and Sauna cleaned

7:30 - 8:20 PM Opening Ceremony | Front Lawn

8:30 - 10:00 PM Sacred Sound Journey with Tom & Aiyana | North Wing

FRIDAY

7:00 – 8:00 AM Morning Tea and Fruit (no bells ring) | Green Tent

8:30 – 10:00 AM WORKSHOP 1

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Brunch | Green Tent

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Spiral Tubs and Sauna cleaned

11:45 AM – 4:45 PM Youth Village activities | Vista Meadow 

12:00 - 1:30 PM WORKSHOP 2

2:00 - 3:30 PM WORKSHOP 3

4:00 - 5:30 PM WORKSHOP 4

5:00 - 6:30 PM Dinner | Green Tent

5:30- 6:30 PM Spiral Tubs cleaned

7:15 PM Children’s Talent Show | North Wing

8:00 PM Know Talent Show | North Wing

SATURDAY

7:00 - 8:00 AM Morning Tea and Fruit (no bells ring)

8:30 - 10:00 AM WORKSHOP 1 

10:30am - 12:00 PM Brunch | Green Tent

11:00am - 12:00 PM Spiral Tubs and Sauna cleaned

11:45am - 4:45 PM Youth Village activities • Vista Meadow  

12:00 - 1:30 PM WORKSHOP 2

2:00 - 3:30 PM WORKSHOP 3

4:00 - 5:30 PM WORKSHOP 4

5:00 - 6:30 PM Dinner | Green Tent

5:30 - 6:30 PM Spiral Tubs cleaned

7:30 PM Ritual - Cultivating Kindness | Front Lawn

Followed by: Dance Party! | Front Lawn

Followed by: Procession of the Ancestor Tree | The Inner Path Altar to The Floodplain Fire Pit

9:30 PM Bonfire, Ritual and Music Circle | Floodplain Fire Pit

SUNDAY

8:30 - 10:00 AM MORNING WORKSHOP (no bells ring)

9:00 - 11:00 AM If you are in a Breitenbush accommodation, please have it empty by 11:00 AM. There is a $40 fee on late checkouts.

9:30 - 11:00 AM Breakfast (this is the last meal served during the Gathering) | Green Tent

11:30 - 12:30 AM Children’s Closing Circle | Youth Village
Children need to be signed in and out of Youth Village. They will not be joining the Adult Giveaway Circle.

11:30 - 12:30 PM Adult Giveaway Circle | Front Lawn

1:00 PM Please collect all of your belongings by 1:00 PM.

1:00 PM Spiral Tubs and Sauna will close for cleaning

1:30 PM Lost and Found | Workshop Central 

Please check that you haven’t left anything before you leave.

ALL CARS MUST BE OUT OF THE PARKING LOT BY 2 O’CLOCK

Thanks for sharing your magic. See you all next year!

Arrival

  • SSHR begins at 4PM on Thursday. If you arrive before 4 you will be welcomed by SSHR Council Volunteers at the Breitenbush turn off of Forest Service Road 46. SSHR is coordinated by the SSHR Volunteer Council in conjunction with the Breitenbush Community. It is a community-run event and you’re an important part of this community. Attendees make SSHR happen through engaging in Karma Yoga, offering Workshops, Alternative Healing and just adding your kind, generous energy to the event.

  • Just before 4PM our Volunteers will lead cars up to the Breitenbush entrance. A Registration Volunteer will greet you and check you in. The driver of the vehicle will be given a parking tag for the vehicle (and a tent tag if they are camping in the meadow.) Once everyone in your vehicle is fully checked in, and given appropriate tags, a parking team member will guide you to your parking spot. During SSHR the designated driver may be asked to move their car to let another attendee out in case of an emergency. Our Parking Crew are Tetris Masters!

  • Folks staying in their personal vehicle will be led to their spot by a volunteer. In order to get Vehicle Camping instead of Tent Camping you need to complete the Vehicle Camping Form. Vehicle Campers are not permitted to have tents in the vehicle camping area. Designated camping spots are the only areas where tents are permitted.

  • Once you’re parked you probably need to find a cart so you can move your gear to your accommodations. Please be mindful (and thoughtful) that there are a limited number of carts and a lot of folks need them. Please return carts to the Cart Shed or Parking Lot as quickly as possible so everyone can move their gear in harmony.

  • The Registration and Parking Teams spend most of SSHR in the Parking Lot. They appreciate when musicians play, and workshops happen, in the Cart Shed. What a sweet way to do your Karma Yoga!

Meals

Breitenbush serves two meals a day, with an additional light food offering from 7-8 Friday & Saturday mornings. You’re welcome to bring snacks, but please keep them in air-tight containers or in your vehicle. Squirrels and other critters chew through tents and scavenge for food around the Lodge. You’re in the forest. Open containers make a huge mess and can cause other problems.

BRING YOUR OWN DISHES, CUPS  AND UTENSILS

At least twice as many guests attend SSHR than usual. To keep costs and staff-overload down you are responsible for washing and providing your own dishware. There are hooks to hang dishware bags near the sink area.

The Bell System: The bells let you know what’s happening.

  • 3 Rings = Mealtime

  • 6 Rings = Workshops Begin 

Karma Yoga

Everyone is asked to do 4-6 hours of Karma Yoga during the event. The Karma Yoga Tent is located at the base of the Lodge steps. There are sign up sheets for a variety of jobs such as serving food, monitoring the dishwashing sinks, cutting strawberries for Saturday night’s shortcake, projects with Breitenbush staff and much more. Along with specific tasks, we ask that you generously lend a hand whenever you see someone in need. It takes a village and SSHR creates the kind of village we all wish we could live in all of the time. Please practice kindness & generosity. You may sign up for the No Talent Show at the Karma Yoga table.

Workshops

Workshop Central is located on the west end of the Lodge Deck. There you can check out the Workshop Schedule or sign up to teach a workshop. An average of 75-80 workshops are offered during SSHR; from ecstatic dance to enneagrams, erotic spiritual play to alternative energy, singing, drumming. The range of workshops is astounding!

Do you have something you’d like to share in a workshop? Pre-register to offer your workshop (HERE)

Alternative Healing

Do you practice energy work, nutrition, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, tarot, astrology? Whatever your modality, come share your gift with someone in need. Alternative Healing is located in and around the Forest Shelter. The sign-up sheet for Friday & Saturday is located at the entrance to the Forest Shelter. Those in need of healing may sign up for ONE session during SSHR.

Note: If your modality doesn’t need a private room, we encourage you and your client to meet next to the sign up sheet, and then find a quiet outdoor spot where you can share your gifts.

Youth Village

SSHR is a multi-generational event. Three of our SSHR Council members grew up attending this event. Youth Village offers a safe and creative space for 4-18 year olds during afternoon workshops. If you have children attending Summer Solstice please complete this form.

Parents must sign their children in and out of Youth Village. Parents must sign their children in before leaving them. Younger children can be accompanied by a parent. Youth Village offers a wide-variety of crafts and fun activities with an excellent adult to child ratio. Safety is key!

We offer a special space for teens at the Bell Hotel. There is a mandatory Teen Space orientation with Taylor and other Youth Village Volunteers on Thursday night at 7:30. Come eat snacks, connect with friends old and new, and learn about using the teen space.

Except during Youth Village hours, childcare is the responsibility of parents. Breitenbush requires that children under 13 must be supervised at all times by an adult 16 or older. Children under 4 must have an adult over 18 with them at all times.

Rituals & Entertainment

Thursday Evening at 7:30 there is an Open Ceremony on the Front Lawn. Come sing and move with us. Much has changed around Breitenbush. Attend this ceremonial circle to learn where safety features are and how to have a fantastic SSHR.

Join Tom & Aiyana for an immersive Sound and Soul Awakening Journey—a vibrational embrace designed to reset your nervous system, clear your energy, and bathe you in the resonance of Pure Love. This isn’t just music—it’s an experience of sonic sensations and group energy clearing that invites healing, insight, and a profound sense of belonging.

✨ Ground into the deep, primal resonance of didgeridoos.

✨ Be enveloped by waves of gongs, dissolving tension and opening pathways of renewal.

✨ Let crystal singing bowls and Native American flutes lift you into spacious presence.

Lay back, snuggle in, and receive. With didgeridoos, Tibetan and crystal bowls, gongs, hand pan, flutes, shamanic drum, and channeled voice they’ll weave a sonic field that melts tension and opens your heart.

Bring blankets and pillows for your comfort. Arrive early to settle in. Snuggle up with loved ones or claim space for yourself. Come as you are, leave feeling lighter, grounded, and attuned to the energy of the Solstice Celebration. 💛

SoundandSoulAwakening.com

Friday Evening is the Talent Show in the North Wing. 

We start with The Kids’ Talent Show at 7:00. No advanced sign-up is needed. Come be delighted by adorableness!

At 8:00 we have the Know Talent Show (it used to be The No Talent Show but that was a complete misnomer.) There’s a sign-up sheet at the Karma Yoga table until 4:00PM on Friday. If you don’t sign up ahead of time, you can perform after everyone has shared their magic. The SSHR Community is incredibly talented and supportive. Be brave. Have fun!

Saturday Evening is the Ritual on the Front Lawn. 

Our theme this year is “Cultivate Kindness” - How can we embody the loving kindness of Summer Solstice Healing Retreat all year long?

Immediately following the Ritual, we will have a Dance Party on the Front Lawn.

Sunday Morning we will prepare to say goodbye. Please be out of your accommodations by 11AM. 

The Adult Giveaway Circle is a treasured SSHR tradition. Bring a favorite something you’re ready to part with and place it on the parachute on the Front Lawn. During our closing ritual you will be handed a wand and can choose a special memento to take home with you. Please be mindful of how long you look, others are waiting their turn. Let something special find you. 

sshrjamfiller.jpg

What About Covid?

Thanks for asking! It’s still around and we want to keep Breitenbush and our SSHR Community safe. If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms or have tested positive for COVID, please stay home. Send an email to sshr@breitenbush.com with the subject line COVID and your name and let us know your plight.

We are a caring community. Feel free to mask up, especially during larger inside gatherings such as Thursday night’s Sacred Sound Journey and Friday night’s Talent Shows. Let’s keep each other safe in every way possible.

Nudity and Consent

During SSHR, nudity is allowed in most public spaces at Breitenbush. The exceptions are: the parking lot, kitchen, meal line, Lodge interior, and at Youth Village. We’re all naked underneath our clothes, and we get to shed them during SSHR if we want to.

Nudity is not an invitation for sexual overtures. We want this event to feel safe for everyone. If you feel someone is approaching you inappropriately, use your voice and tell them to “stop”. If someone offers a massage and it starts feeling yucky - say “STOP”. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, do not suffer in silence. Speak with a member of the SSHR Council or someone who makes you feel safe. We will investigate. We’ve banned participants who have behaved inappropriately in the past, and we will intervene and expel any offender from the gathering if their behavior warrants it. We will talk about consent during the Opening Ceremony on Thursday evening.

Cameras are not allowed near or at the Hot Spring Pools and Sauna. Please ask permission before taking photos, especially if the subject is nude.

Medical Help Is Available 24/7

We are blessed to have the Breitenbush Fire Department (BFD) nearby. We have trained emergency medical providers on radio throughout SSHR. If you need medical assistance you can ask anyone with a radio to call for help for you or use an emergency call box. Emergency call boxes are located at the Gatehouse, Lodge Lobby, and Spiral Tubs. 

There is a medical tent with basic first aid supplies available behind the Food Service Tent. Members of the Breitenbush Fire Department (the BFD) Medical Team are available 24-hours a day for medical emergencies. There is a radio available on the table if you, or someone else, is experiencing a medical emergency.

There are emergency radio callboxes available 24/7 at the following locations:

  • Along the path near the Spiral Tubs.

  • In the Lodge Lobby, to the right of the Dining Hall doors.

    • Personal food utensils (plates, bowls, cups, forks and spoons)

    • Camping equipment (tent, sleeping bag, pad, pillow, rain-fly and tarp)

    • K95/KN95 masks encouraged

    • Towel, non-glass water bottle & biodegradable toiletries

    • Flashlight, natural insect repellent & sunscreen

    • Warm clothes and rain gear.

    • Boots, work gloves, and tools for outside work

    • Something to give at the Giveaway Circle

    • Musical Instruments

    • Ritual Garb

    • Blankets and cozies for Thursday night’s Sacred Sound Journey and Saturday night’s Ritual

    • Pets

    • Alcohol/other recreational drugs

    • Camp stoves of any sort

    • Candles & incense

    • Scented perfumes, etc

    • Electric appliances

    • Glass containers

    • Bicycles

    • This retreat is an intoxicant free event, no recreational drugs or alcohol.

    • We DO NOT have public phones available. The nearest phone is in Detroit, 10 miles away. Cell phones do not work at Breitenbush.

    • Our accommodations have no locks, so please leave your valuables at home or in your car.

    • Swimsuits are optional and most people do not wear them.

    • For SSHR, nudity is allowed in all areas, with the exception of the parking lot, Lodge, Youth Village and meal lines.

    • If you do use sunscreen, please be sure to use only natural and unscented products and use a washcloth to wipe it off before soaking.

Conserve Our Resources

Isn’t it cool that Breitenbush is off-the-grid and uses alternative energy! PLEASE make this possible by conserving electricity and water. Use the porta-potties and help us keep them clean. Take quick showers. 

Be Mindful Be Safe

Be mindful where you dispose of your food waste. We have bears around here and we had a cougar on the prowl a few years ago during SSHR. 

You’re off-grid in a forest that recently went through a fire. Please stay on the paths unless you’re working on a Karma Yoga project. We continue to cut down trees that pose a danger.  The ground could appear solid and be hollow below the surface due to roots that have burned away underground. Please don’t stray from established trails. All of the forest hiking trails are still closed.

The Breitenbush Store

Coffee? Snacks? The Breitenbush Store has lots to offer. Help support Breitenbush by purchasing yummies and treasures. The Breitenbush Store is located in the Lodge. The hours are posted on the door. 

Final Note:

DO NOT APPROACH THE KITCHEN TEAM OR ANY STAFF MEMBER WITH COMPLAINTS OR SUGGESTIONS! Thank You’s Are Terrific!

If you have a complaint, please talk with any Council Member, Stacy, or Czarena at the Karma Yoga Tent. PLEASE don’t complain to the Breitenbush Staff.

Breitenbush is still recovering from the financial devastation of Covid and the fire. It’s operating with a much smaller workforce and the Breitenbush Staff works hard. If you’re unhappy about something - tell Sandy about it in Karma Yoga or talk to Stacy. We will address your concerns through the proper Breitenbush channels. 

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Please be out of your accommodation by 11am on Sunday, and plan to be out of the parking lot by 2pm. There will be a $40 late fee.

🎶 The Cars Leave the Parking Lot at 2 o’Clock! 🎶See You All Next Year! 🎶

THANKS FOR YOUR PRESENCE & BLESSINGS ON YOUR JOURNEY

May This Be The Best Solstice EVER!!!

Do you have a question that wasn’t answered here? Email questions to SSHR@breitenbush.com 

The Office Team doesn’t have the answers to SSHR questions. They won’t be able to help you.