About the Weekend
What can I expect from the weekend?
This is an event that everyone will play a part in shaping, but the leaders will coordinate the venue, organize the communal cooking of vegetarian food and help facilitate programming. The goal is to create a space for healers to come together in a beautiful setting, create community, spend time healing each other and ourselves. We hope to foster a spirit of play, connection and curiosity. The weekend will include shared meals, opening and closing circles, workshops and playshops led by fellow participants, small group activities to connect with healers in similar fields, and unstructured time. Some people will join all weekend, some for the day. All healers are welcome.
Who qualifies as a "healer"?
We define the term "healer" broadly while also wanting to stay true to the spirit of this event being "by healers, for healers". Some examples of "healers" include: Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers, Therapists, OTs, PTs, CNAs, Substance Abuse Counselors, Acupuncturists, Massage Therapists, and Chiropractors. If you work in Health Policy and identify as a "healer" you are welcome. If you trained as a healer and are retired or on a break from work you are welcome. If you work in a profession that interacts with health such as teaching, law, art, law enforcement, etc then we appreciate what you do and how you collaborate with us but this event is not specifically designed for you.
What is expected of me?
We invite you to unplug for whatever time you are with us, and we ask that you try not to use screens in shared spaces. Activities will be peer-led, so please sign up if you have something to lead, and enthusiastically participate in workshops and playshops. All meals will be prepared by participants, and so you will be assigned to a cooking or cleaning group. Please be in touch with any other questions you have. We are doing this for the first time, and so welcome your co-creation and appreciate your grace.
What am I responsible for bringing?
If coming for the day, please bring: a mess kit (plate, bowl, cup, cutlery). Layered clothing and sun protection
If camping for the weekend, please bring: Tent , sleeping bag and sleeping pad, mess kit (plate, bowl, cup, cutlery). Layered clothing and sun protection.
What is the transportation situation?
Slide Ranch has limited parking so carpooling is strongly encouraged. We will be in touch a couple of weeks before the event with details about this. If you do not have transportation, please be in touch with us to try to work out a ride from a local transit stop such as the Larkspur Ferry Terminal.
Will you accommodate dietary restrictions?
We will serve vegetarian food and strive to accommodate all dietary restrictions proactively communicated at least a week before the event. Please respond in the survey or email us to request accommodations. You are welcome to bring your own personal food and drinks to augment what we provide.
I have never camped before and am nervous.
We want to support people who have a range of camping experience. If you are new to camping, please indicate this on the survey for the opportunity to be paired with a camping mentor. If you have camping experience or gear to share, please also communicate this to help someone camp for the first time.
How much does Healing for Healers cost?
To cover the expenses of renting Slide Ranch, shared supplies and food for the weekend we are asking for the following contributions:
- $300 if you are camping for one or both nights
- $150 for day visitors only
Will there be refunds for changed plans or weather?
We plan to have the event rain or shine, barring extenuating safety concerns. As a new event, we are relying on the financial commitments made when people confirm their attendance. If you are unable to attend, we hope that you see your contribution as making the event possible for other attendees. If we end up with extra funds, we will apply unused funds towards your attendance next year or offer a refund.
Are there scholarships, a sliding scale or work trade?
Please contact us if the cost is a barrier to your attendance and we can have a further discussion.
Are you offering CEUs/CMEs?
As a new event, we are not offering CEUs/CMEs this year. We know they are important and we hope to offer them in future years.
Can I bring my kids/family/pets?
This space is dedicated to your rejuvenation, and designed for healers. In that spirit, it is an adults only event, and Slide Ranch does not permit pets on the grounds. If your partner is a healer they are welcome to join!
About Slide Ranch
What is Slide Ranch?
Slide Ranch is a scenic 134-acre farm and environmental education center nestled along the Marin County coast. Healing for Healers will be located on their Dome group site, a rustic campsite with a geodesic dome and meadow, surrounded by expansive coastal views.
How accessible is the site?
The Dome group camping site is a 5-10 minute hike on an uneven, unpaved, relatively narrow trail from the parking lot to the campsite. There are wheelbarrows to help carry your gear. Please contact us if you would like to discuss specific questions about the physical accessibility of the venue.
How “rustic” are we talking?
The site where we will be camping has one composting toilet we will all share. Composting toilets do not do well with large amounts of urine, so Slide Ranch encourages people to urinate in the surrounding woods or walk back to the parking lot (5-10 minutes) where there is a port-a-potty. There is very limited electricity at the site, powered by small solar panels, and we ask that people not rely on this to power their mobile devices. There is no running water at the campsite, but we will be wheelbarrowing in ample water to drink, wash hands, and cook with. Some carriers have limited cell service. The property is on GGNRA land and is open year-round to the public so if you have questions you are welcome to go there yourself before the event to check it out!
About the organizers
Josh Pepper (MD, MS) and Charlie Berman (LCSW) are two Bay Area healers and longtime friends who grew up going to retreats in nature together. Last fall Charlie was at a retreat outside Yosemite and experienced a sense of peace and connection that he wanted to share with the Bay Area health worker community. On a hike in Marin, Josh helped him explore this idea and Healing for Healers was born. Healing for Healers is a volunteer-led project that hopes to be self-sustaining and last for years to come.
While Healing for Healers is an independent project, we are drawing inspiration from retreats, camps and groups we've been a part of throughout our lives, including HEART-IM, Camp Tawonga, Camp Grounded, Being with Dying, and Healers Art.
We are excited for the group to create it’s own culture and for the new experiences and traditions all participants bring!