Zen Summer Mountain Retreat and Zazenkai with Joyful Mind Zen Community

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Zazenkai is Saturday July 25, 2026 from 9 am to 5 pm at the Rolling Ridge Retreat Center in West Virginia

Full weekend Retreat is from Noon Friday July 24-Noon Sunday July 26. 

Registration Form

Zazenkai in the Mountains, Saturday July 25 from 9am-5 pm in West Virginia, a 90-minute drive from Rockville. It is also a weekend retreat with Sangha friends if you wish to come Friday early or stay later and leave Sunday at noon. Friday, Saturday night and Sunday are for conversation and relaxing, free time, hiking, or communal time.  

Zazenkai will be July 25 Saturday 9-5 pm and in silence. You can attend as a commuter for the day. Please arrive by 8:30 a.m. and allow extra time for travel. The last few miles are on gravel road. 

This will be held at Rolling Ridge Retreat Center on 400 acres of woods, trails, and streams near the Shenandoah River and Appalachian trail. Ninety-minute drive from Rockville. A beautiful quiet and private retreat house with trails, streams, ponds and hiking. Near the retreat house you can walk to the China Folk house (authentic house and garden brought to the US piece by piece as a cultural exchange). Carpools available.

Options to stay overnight Friday or Saturday. Limited rooms and bunks and space for sleeping bags in living room or meditation hut. Bring your own sheets, towels, or sleeping bags. Potluck sign-up list will be provided for registrants. Retreat center has A/C. Four shared bathrooms. No wifi, some limited cell service (Verizon seems to work). Campfire option. Bathrooms available for campers.

OPTIONS AND FEES:

A) Zazenkai One day Commuter: $35 and bring a bag lunch. Please arrive by 8:30 am. Allow extra time for travel since the roads leading to the Retreat House are gravel. If you arrive at 8 am you can share coffee, tea.

B) Zazenkai plus 2 nights (Full retreat): $80 and bring a shared potluck item on sign-up sheet. You will be assigned a private or shared room, or may camp out front or bring a sleeping bag for the living room or meditation hut (space availability and preferences at registration) Full weekend participants are first priority for getting a room, first come first served. We cannot guarantee a private room until we get the full registration list. Some rooms have bunk beds. Please state your preferences and needs below when you register. Rooms will be assigned after registration closes July 10. Refunds will be available.

C) Zazenkai plus 1 night: $60 and bring a shared potluck item on sign-up sheet. Choose Friday OR Saturday night. If you need lodging for one-night, it will be space available and can include a room or living room space for a sleeping bag, or the meditation hut floor. Rooms will be assigned after registration closes July 10. Refunds will be available.

Payments: Deposits of $60 will hold your space for lodging. Commuters pay $35. Payments in full will be due by July 10th. If you need to cancel lodging, full refunds available. 

For more information and Registration contact Sarah Farmer at registration@joyfulmindzendo.org