with Will Meecham
an in-person program
September 25-27, 2026
Join us for a weekend of silence. We’ll take a weekend to unplug from the distractions of daily life, and reconnect with ourselves, the redwood forest, and Spirit.
Vegetarian food will be prepared by Chef Tod Nysether. Housing will be provided in the Orchard and Redwood Lodges.
Click here to register!
What will happen at this retreat? We’ll gather after dinner on Friday to introduce the weekend, and share some of our hopes and intentions. Following this first session, we’ll enter into silence together.
Saturday will be minimally programmed, and you will be able to decide how to use your silent time. We encourage you to reflect on your own spiritual state and journey, and consider what activities would be most useful to you; for example: silent worship, walking meditation in the forest, visiting our Labyrinth or the Meditation Cottage, reading a spiritual text, or finding a good place to sit and be. There will also be invitations: a silent Quaker Meeting for Worship, art supplies, and areas for stretching and yoga. We will share meals together in silence.
On Sunday morning, we will end our time of silence. Those who wish to share impressions and insights (or continue in silence) in a group closing circle will be welcome to do so. Before departure, we’ll enjoy an outdoor lunch together..
Start and end times. Please arrive anytime from 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 25th, 2026, to register and get settled in. We’ll have dinner at 6:00 p.m. and gather to begin the retreat at 7:30 p.m. The retreat will go through lunch on Sunday, September 27th.
What makes a Quaker Silent Retreat Quaker? A Quaker silent retreat is an invitation to spend time in a period of silence and do what you are led to do with this contemplative quiet. This will be a lightly-programmed retreat. It will not include presentations, teacher-student conferences or guided meditation (although meditation is at all times welcome). Some people may choose to avoid eye contact while in silence, such as at a Vipassanna retreat, but there will not be strict rules around that.
This retreat is open to anyone 16 and over. All are welcome to attend, whether you consider yourself to be a Quaker or not, and whether you have a faith community or religious practice. If you are seeking to develop your own spiritual discipline and faith, you are especially encouraged to come, but you do not need to have a spiritual practice or meditate regularly to join us this weekend.
Childcare will not be provided at this program. We hope that parents will attend and hope they will be able to make other plans for their children this weekend.
About the program leader.
Will Meecham is a former physician, trauma survivor, accidental mystic, and long time meditator. He has fond memories of attending silent retreats here thirty years ago, and feels led to help return this beloved tradition to Quaker Center.
Program cost. Quaker Center program fees are on a sliding scale, and the amounts listed below are suggested ranges. To read more about Quaker Center program costs, click here.
Standard rate: $200-350.
Welcome rate: $75-150.