Looking for a retreat with your family?
The Mountain may be on your horizon!

Explore the 80+ acres of The Mountain's spacious campus.
Enjoy a private room or family bunkhouses.
Travel endless trails to scenic waterfalls.
Take classes at our organic farm.
Find a good book in the library or
write a tale of your own, as an artist on retreat.

The Mountain is here for you.

Beverly Cree Appointed as Acting Executive Director 

Fellow Mountain Supporters, I am delighted to announce that your Board of Trustees has appointed Beverly Cree as Acting Executive Director of The Mountain effective October 16. Beverly has a long history of leadership at The Mountain, having served for six years on each of the Board of Trustees and the Mountain Endowment Board (including serving as President of the Endowment Board) alongside her many years of service as a volunteer and participant in many Mountain programs over more than 30 years. Before retiring, Beverly spent her career researching and teaching childhood development and psychology. Among other degrees, she holds a PhD in Human Development and Family Studies.

Beverly has begun working alongside Ted, enabling us to have an orderly transition in the work of The Mountain. Additionally, the Board has started the search process for permanent leadership, with more information to come as available.  Please join me in welcoming and supporting Beverly in her new role. With gratitude for your involvement in The Mountain,

KC Boyce Chair, Board of Trustees

Missing The Mountain?

Take a tour from a birds eye view. 

If you are enjoying what we are offering via virtual content, or want to support our continued quest to be an exemplary retreat, camp and learning center for when you return, consider supporting us with a small monthly contribution. 

What's on the Horizon?

Learn Italian Cooking from a World-Class Chef

October 17

Join us at The Mountain for a hands-on approach to al fresco Italian dining! If your favorite food and wine event may have been cancelled this year, The Mountain Retreat and Learning Center can fill that gap with a COVID-friendly, farm-foraging Italian dinner that will feed your culinary heart!

Join Chef Sandra Stefani, originally from Pisa, Italy. Sandra arrived in Washington DC in 1979 and started her career at the famous Italian Restaurant Cantina d’Italia, learning to cook “hands on” from the late great Chef Joseph Muran de Assereto. 

Together, tour and learn more about the mission of The Mountain, connecting community to food by picking fresh ingredients from The Many Hands Peace Farm on site. Chef Sandra will then teach you how to prepare a four-course dinner, which you'll enjoy with wine and good company al fresco with spectacular mountain views.

Accommodations available for a night in the lodge after dinner.

Limited space available. 

Understand White Privilege and Become an Anti-Racist 

Sep 23 - Oct 28

It's not too late to join our six-week series on Wednesdays from 12 noon - 1:30 

Acquire guidance and answers to these questions and more:

• What is white privilege?
• Why is it so difficult for white people to talk about racism

and how can we do better?
• What is the difference between a racist, a non-racist and an anti-racist?
• How can each one of us authentically become an anti-racist?

Learn how to be more. Learn more. Do better.

Knee High Naturalist 

Fridays in October 10-11am 

Families with young children (suggested age 3-5 years) are invited to join in this program, which combines stories, walks, and activities for their little ones. Each week covers a different seasonal topic. Be prepared to go outside rain or shine!

Registration is required for each week for an accurate count of attendees. The program can accommodate up to 10 adults and children each week. If you have an older child who will need to accompany you to the program, please indicate on registration. The Mountain provides a study space and WiFi so older students can work on schoolwork or quiet activities.

Visit the Highlands Biological Station website for available dates.

UU WomenSpirit Virtual Event

Reconnect with your deepest self  in a virtual sacred space.

October 16 - 18, 2020

Stay home and join us for the first ever virtual event for UUWomenspirit!  Friday evening to Sunday morning, we will welcome the Divine Feminine at home, and through Her, connect with each other from afar. You will be inspired, challenged, and delighted by workshops throughout the day on Saturday in a special, shorter format, suitable for the virtual medium. We will worship together mornings and evenings. Plans include fun new social activities, as well as familiar favorites like Tea and Talk, and, of course, Cabaret. So prepare your altar or magical spot at home because UUWomenspirit is coming to you! 

Thanksgiving Gathering

and Feast! 2020

Join us for the 42nd Annual Thanksgiving gathering and feast!

November 25 - 29

The Mountain is hosting a traditional Thanksgiving celebration for family and friends, an annual event since 1979! In addition to a festive and delicious feast on Thursday, our long weekend schedule is filled with fun activities, adventure, and community. Enjoy workshops, evening programs, and arts and crafts. Hardy souls may hike Mountain trails, while many gather around fireplaces for storytelling, playing games, and relaxing. This traditional weekend of blessings and thanks will feature a worship service Sunday morning.

SPECIAL NOTE: Space is limited to 50 people this year.

Please register early if you plan on join us on The Mountain.

Volunteer Work Week 

Many hands make light work! 

November 20-25, 2020

Join us on The Mountain the week before our Thanksgiving program. Several package options are available for stays ranging from just the weekend to a full week stay-over to join in our Thanksgiving gathering. This is a chance to get out and give back this year. We plan to gather in the spirit of service towards the vision and mission of The Mountain. Renew yourself as we work to build up and renovate The Mountain together for the 2021 season. 

Curious about what it's like to volunteer at The Mountain?

Learn from the experience of others.

Mountain Musings

Check out our blog for reflections, poems, and things we know you'll enjoy. 

Reflecting on A More Beautiful World 

Like others, I was concerned about the appropriateness, marketability, and wisdom of planning a third annual, in-person climate justice conference at The Mountain. We transitioned dates and retreat length to be responsive to health safety, and we adopted Charles Eisenstein's writings about "The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible" to combat the doom-and-gloom perspective that's so seductive these days. We reached out to a diverse group of presenters, stitched together a schedule that promoted both idealistic macro and micro thinking, and promoted the event widely to see if anyone would want to come. And we waited and hoped and prepared the space. And they came...! 

Watch our discussion with Charles Eisenstein and download resources shared by the group on how they believe we can move into a more beautiful world. 

What's Growing Down Below

From The Many Hands Peace Farm

We are looking for you!

Building a Mountain Network

This year for many has been a time to invest in ourselves, turn inward, and further develop what we want to bring to the world. Being you is a gift you get to share with the world!

At The Mountain, we have had the honor of hosting so many unique and diverse groups and individuals that we wanted to put together a resource for people like you to connect with others who may be nearby. Below you can find a link to a new local talent and resources page. This is intended to be an online community database for those looking to share their skills and to further communication, bartering, and trading locally. This page can be used to support individuals who are planning events at The Mountain. 

If this appeals to you and you'd like to share your unique offerings with The Mountain community you can fill out the form below to be added to this page. 

 It is stories like these that are core to The Mountain experience of inspiring people of all ages, transforming lives, and building a more compassionate world. Thanks for being a part of it. If you have a Mountain Memory or story you wish to share with The Mountain community, please share at: tanner.csonka@themountainrlc.org 

Our Instagram account is humming along, so follow us; @themountainrlc and tag your favorite Mountain memories with #themountainrlc! We'd love to see your pictures. 

Bellow you can find more about how your congregation can connect with The Mountain. Under Media Resources you can find posters for upcoming programs, as well as text from events to copy and paste into your own newsletters or mailings.

You'll also find presentations and social links. Let us know if you would like a visit from a Mountain representative to engage with your congregation.  

Take a Moment...

Thank you for being a part of The Mountain

If The Mountain has enriched your life, please consider a financial contribution. 

Just over 25% of our budget comes from contributions. This enables us to continue programming and camps fulfilling the mission of The Mountain.

In addition to supporting the annual campaign through a direct donation you may also consider planned giving, stock transfers, or IRA contributions. 

Your support makes a difference. 

 Donate to The Mountain's Annual Fund

or become a Mountain Member.

We hope you had a supreme September.

We look forward to seeing you on The Mountain.