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Registration opens Friday, May 8, 2026 at 6:00 pm ET.

The Nature of Practice: An Awareness and Wisdom Insight Meditation Retreat

Join us for a four-night residential insight meditation retreat at AMC’s Medawisla Lodge and Cabins in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness.

Teachers: Susa Talan and Chas DiCapua, Open Door Insight Meditation Teachers

When: Thursday, September 3 at 2:00 pm - Monday, September 7, 2026 at 2:00 pm

Where: Appalachian Mountain Club’s Medawisla Lodge and Cabins on the Medawisla Access Road, one hour beyond Greenville, ME (directions)

Sample Schedule

Arrival: Thursday, September 3 between 12:00 and 2:00 pm​

11:00 - 12:00 pm: Plan on passing through Greenville, Maine

12:00 - 1:00 pm: Arrive at AMC Medawisla Lodge and Cabins on Second Roach Pond

1:00 - 3:00 pm: Retreat check-in at lodge; yogi job sign up; move-in time

1:00 - 3:00 pm: Orientation to facilities, lakefront, and trails

3:30 - 4:00 pm: Yogi job orientation and training

4:00 - 5:00 pm: Welcome session/orientation 

6:00 - 7:00 pm: Dinner

7:30 - 8:45 pm: Opening sit; teacher introductions and talk; enter silence

Friday, September 4 - Sunday, September 6 (in silence)

  • Schedule will be posted daily.

  • Guided group meditation; awareness in every posture; dharma sharing and Q+A

  • Unstructured time to explore and practice in nature

  • Individual or small group interviews with teachers

  • Evening dharma talks

​Monday, September 7

  • Morning sit and continued awareness practice

  • Return cabin linens and check out by mid-morning

  • Closing session after check out, ending at noon with break from silence

  • Dharma hall clean up followed by group walk to waterfront

  • Goodbye circle and dedication of merit; bag lunches provided by AMC Lodge

  • Yogis are welcome to use waterfront/lodge/camp facilities/hiking trails the rest of the afternoon

Housing Options

Private Room in Bath in Cabin or Bathhouse Cabin

  • Requests may be made for a single private room, if available, in either cabin type for an extra fee. 

  • To share a private room with a queen bed, one person signs up for the room and also purchases a Bedshare ticket for the second person. See Shared Room Information below.

  • NOTE: There are only two Bedshare (queen bed) tickets available this year.

Shared Room in Bath in Cabin or Bathhouse Cabin

  • Retreat roommates in cabins will be assigned randomly based on gender and housing preference.

  • You may sign up to share a cabin room (two separate beds) with a partner/friend. See Shared Room Information below.

Shared Space in Bunkhouse

  • Each of the two bunkhouses has four sections, with two bunk beds (four beds) per section.

  • Sections are separated by three-quarter walls and hallway privacy curtains.

  • Many sections will have only two people in them.

  • Bunkhouse registrants must bring their own linens, comforters or sleeping bags, as well as towels and washcloths.

  • Pillows, pillowcases, and extra blankets are provided.

Room and Board Rates

  • To make this retreat accessible to all, we offer sliding scale pricing.

  • Please select a payment between the Basic (minimum) and Sustainer (suggested) amounts.

  • Your generosity at the Sustainer level—or via an additional donation at checkout—supports our scholarship fund, our teachers, and the Open Door community.

Shared Room Information

  • Retreat roommates will be assigned randomly based on housing and gender preference.

  • Special roommate requests are not guaranteed; however, if made on the same day during open registration, every effort will be made to accommodate the request.

    • Register on the same day as your requested roommate.

    • Choose the same type of housing ticket.

    • Provide the person’s name and contact information (phone number and email) on your registration form.   

  • If you wish to share a queen bed in a Private Room with a friend or partner (Bedshare), here’s what to do: 

    • Choose a Private Room option (Bath in Cabin or Bathhouse Cabin).

    • Enter the additional person’s name and contact information (email and phone number).

    • Have your partner register for the Bedshare.

    • Try to register at the same time. Or if registering for your partner, register and close-out the purchase of your ticket first, then purchase the Bedshare ticket for your partner and fill out their information.

    • Note: We have only two Bedshare tickets available (queen beds).

Waitlist

  • If retreat housing is full or the housing you require to attend the retreat is not available, please purchase a $2.00 placeholder ticket for the retreat Waitlist.

  • Feel free to enter any additional information in the "preferred housing" question of this ticketing option.

  • While there are limited spaces for this wilderness retreat, we have had quite a bit of movement off the waitlist in years past. We will be sure to contact you if housing becomes available.

Dana

As you plan your financial commitment to the retreat, please note that costs do not include dana for teachers or tips for AMC staff members, both of which will be encouraged at the end of the retreat.

  • Bring check(s) or cash and envelopes for teacher dana, as there is no internet connectivity at the wilderness lodge.

  • Tips for the AMC staff can be offered using cash, check, or credit card. 

  • If you wish to offer dana electronically before or after the retreat, you can find information about ways to offer dana to the teachers and to Open Door on our website under Donate.

Special Dietary Needs

Please know that AMC Lodges cannot accommodate severe food allergies due to logistical and kitchen space limitations that may result in cross contamination.

  • All meals will be vegetarian, so there is no need to alert AMC if you prefer vegetarian meals.

  • Any special dietary needs or special meal requests must be arranged in advance by emailing AMC’s Kevin Smith by August 1, 2026 with the subject line: “Open Door Dietary Request.”

  • If you have questions, please call AMC at 603-466-7610.

Scholarship Fund

Open Door is committed to making this retreat accessible to those who feel called to attend. This year, there are a limited number of scholarship spots available on a first-come, first-served, honor-based system.

  • Scholarship tickets for bunkhouse lodging are offered at a base rate of $100, with the option to contribute more if you are able. 

  • Simply choose the scholarship ticket at checkout and pay what feels right for you—no additional steps or back-and-forth needed.

If the $100 base rate is still out of reach, or if scholarship spots have already been filled, please email us directly. We’ll do our best to support you.

Health/Infectious Disease Policy

  • All retreat participants are encouraged to bring their prescription medications and over-the-counter medications. There are no medical facilities nearby and the closest pharmacy is more than an hour away from the lodge, with limited hours and supplies.

  • Please bring hand sanitizer and wash hands frequently. We retreat in close quarters for hours at a time, so it's important to demonstrate care and compassion for all in our daily habits and hygiene.

  • Attendees are asked to bring and if necessary wear N95 or KN95 masks during indoor activities based on disease prevalence at the time of the retreat and/or teacher concerns. 

    • Anyone who develops a sore throat or cold while at the retreat should immediately mask to protect others. We ask that retreatants notify the retreat staff of any coughing, fever, or GI illness. 

    • Open Door supports anyone who chooses to remain masked for the entire retreat for their own health reasons. 

    • Yogis who become ill at the retreat may be asked to leave the dharma hall, shared accommodations, and, possibly, the retreat should symptoms become severe. 

  • Please contact Open Door if you have a significant exposure to Covid or a cold or cough in the days preceding the retreat. In the two days before the retreat, call the AMC Medawisla Lodge directly (207-349-0437) and leave a message for retreat leaders.

  • Check this website one month before the retreat for changes in infectious disease conditions and any updates to the policy. 

  • In the isolated setting and tight, shared spaces of the wilderness retreat, there will be an extra emphasis on creating a safe “container” for everyone – teachers, yogis, and AMC staff alike. If you come down with a cold, flu, Covid, or other contagious disease in the days leading up to the retreat, please care for yourself and others by staying home. This practice of metta will be deeply appreciated. 

Cancellation Policy

Please read before registering. We recommend canceling before July 1 to maximize your refund from Open Door.

Cancellations

  • Cancellations must be in writing and submitted to Barbara Shinn.

  • The retreat registration fee of $150 is non-refundable and goes toward administrative costs. 

‍ ‍May 8 - June 30

  • If we are able fill your spot with a person from the waitlist you will receive a full refund minus the $150 registration fee.

  • If we cannot fill your spot with a person from the waitlist, you will receive a refund of 50% of the reservation minus the non-refundable $150 registration fee.

July 1 - September 3

  • Cancellations as of July 1 will not receive a refund due to Open Door Meditation Community’s financial responsibility to pay AMC in full for the entire camp rental.

  • If a person on the waitlist is able to take your spot, we will do our best to connect you with them to negotiate payment directly to you (minus the $150 registration fee). Please note we cannot guarantee such a connection will be possible as we approach the dates of the retreat.

Cancellation fees will be set aside as scholarship funds for those requesting financial assistance to attend the retreat.

Changes

Changes in accommodations may be requested up to August 1, 2026. 

  • Change requests must be in writing and submitted to Barbara Shinn.

  • We will do our best to make the adjustment according to availability. 

  • If the change cannot be made, the original reservation remains intact and is the responsibility of the retreatant. Please see the cancellation guidelines above. 

Registering for the Retreat with ZEFFY

We are using ZEFFY, a ticketing platform (like Eventbrite) for non-profit organizations. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Retreat Team using the subject line, “Zeffy Registration Question.”

  • IMPORTANT: Before you pay for your retreat ticket on the final check out page, you will encounter an autofilled 17% add-on surcharge. This is NOT a donation to Open Door Meditation, but rather to ZEFFY to cover their processing fees.

    • Feel free to change this autofilled amount by clicking on the drop down arrow next to it and choosing “Other.”

    • You are encouraged to offer a small(er) amount of your choice to support this ticketing platform for non-profits like Open Door.​

Contact Information

Open Door Support: For specific questions about lodging, roommates, program, etc., email the retreat team.

AMC Staff: General questions about housing, wilderness camp, meals at Medawisla

  • Call (603) 466-2727 and select option #2 (Group Sales)

  • Go to the AMC website and search articles or use the new chat feature

  • Email our AMC contact person, Kevin Smith, regarding dietary requests and other questions.