Queer Men’s Day Long Programs
Nature immersions in the Coastal foothills of Occidental, CA
Queer Men’s Solstice Nature Immersion- Saturday December, 20th 2025
Join us for a solstice retreat among the redwoods— a day to cultivate and celebrate authentic queer men’s community, attune to the return of the light, and reconnect with the unfolding light of your own life.
We will begin and end our day cozy and indoors in council—gathered in circle—at Sam’s home in Occidental. Throughout the day we’ll weave council (circle sharing), story, mirroring (a reflective listening practice), somatic inquiry (with self + with others), and time on the land. A portion of the day will be an extended solo wander in nature. You’ll carry with you a simple intention, which we will clarify together earlier in the day.
We’ll wrap up around 5pm. Afterwards, those who wish are invited to go out to dinner together.
This is a space for intergenerational queer men seeking deeper connection with other queer men and with themselves.
You do not need outdoor experience.
This is a sober and non-sexualized space.
We are calling in a circle of GBTQ men. In other words: people who identify as “queer” and as a “man”—in whatever way those words live in you. We aim to be inclusive. If you’re not sure whether this fits you but you feel drawn, please reach out.
Registration
To register, please go to contact me page, or email sambalka3@gmail.com with:
• your interest
• your phone number
• where you’ll be coming from
Carpooling
If you’re coming from the city or beyond, we encourage carpooling.
If you need a ride, let us know in your registration email—we’ll help connect folks to coordinate rides.
Reciprocity / Costs
We invite participants to choose a tier based on their personal financial circumstances to offer reciprocity for this event:
Lower Tier (for those for whom cost may be a barrier)- $50
Middle Tier - $100
Highest Tier- $150
As we expand our programming, we hold accessibility and diversity at the center. For all of our programs we offer additional scholarship to the BIPOC community, as well as folks under 40. Please reach out if you wish to register and need additional financial assistance below the lowest tier- if you want to be here, we want to help make it happen.
Weather
This event, for the most part, will be rain or shine! We have multiple different ways planned to spend our day depending on what the weather brings, ranging from a number of hours outdoors, to a smaller dose of outdoor time. Weather permitting, we also hope to have a solstice fire. Regardless, prepare for the possibility of December rains, and the likelihood of cooler temperatures. We promise, it always feels so good to bundle up, brave the elements, and feel a part of the season.
Future Queer Men’s Programs
This program is in collaboration with the School of Lost Borders queer men’s programming.
Upcoming offerings include:
• Four Directions of a Queer Man – 10th anniversary, May 2026
• Queer Men's Fast – Inaugural program, August 2026
• Nature Immersive Day-Long Programs – Next is on Saturday, February 21, 2026
• Myth Weaving – December 30, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026 (hosted separately, by guides of SoLB queer programming)
