The Ojai Foundation :: Sanctuary

PATH OF SERVICE PROGRAM

At its heart, The Ojai Foundation is a service organization. We couldn't steward the land without the help of our volunteers. To this end, we offer an opportunity to join our community and explore the role of service in one's life. The emphasis is on teamwork, voluntary simplicity and hands-on-service; the context is creating safe and nurturing support for the Center's programs and guests. The goal is an experience of increased purpose and meaning in one's life.

Our rustic little village has literally been built by the good efforts of thousands of mostly volunteers over the last 25 years. Please come and join us, for a couple of hours or a few days or more.

Path of Service is for individuals who are aligned with The Ojai Foundation Community Intentions (link to pdf file) and who wish to offer their time and energy to maintain and beautify the land and its structures. We need help with deep cleaning, garden maintenance, trail maintenance, and building projects.

The Path of Service programs at The Ojai Foundation offer an opportunity for people to experience first-hand the three facets of our work ... The Way of Council, marking life's transitions, and deepening our connection to the natural world. Participants are invited to apply for Work Retreat programs (offered three times a year), Days of Service (a great way to give back for a day) or Work Exchange programs (ongoing, as available). For more information on the Path of Service programs, contact The Ojai Foundation Path of Service Coordinator, Rachel Dawson, at pathofservice@ojaifoundation.org, or 805-646-8343, ext. 134.

Path of Service Guidelines

The following guidelines provide an idea about what is expected of participants who are on the Land as part of the Path of Service programs. Of particular importance is your ability to participate in the spirit of this place, with community practices such as:

Daily meditations 7:30 - 8:00 a.m
Daily check-ins and attunements
Monthly community potlucks and councils
Maturity and openness to The Ojai Foundation community life
Ability to be flexible and responsible to community process and intentions. Willingness to communicate openly and honestly with staff and others around any issues that may arise
Awareness and interest in broader picture of The Ojai Foundation
Cooperative spirit with the use of limited facilities
Opportunity to participate in community ceremonies and events that spontaneously arise
Overnight or extended living arrangement: tent, or other sites as requested and available. Participants provide their own bedding
Participants provide their own food. Upscale camp kitchens with stove and refrigerator available. Sorry, no ovens. (Community meal sharing as co-created)
No drugs are permitted on the land and alcohol is discouraged

Work Retreats

2 week immersion

Winter: February 14-29 apply before: February 5

Summer: August 15-29 apply before: August 5

$250 includes housing for 14 nights plus 40 hours of service on the land

Step out of time for a moment to immerse yourself in heartfelt community living. These two week retreats provide participants the opportunity to be of service to the land as they learn the ceremonial practices and philosophies on which The Ojai Foundation bases its work in the world. Work retreatants live close to nature, in voluntary simplicity, creating an atmosphere of mindfulness and mutuality. Within the two week work retreat program, participants receive intensive instruction and guidance through workshops and ceremonial practices.

Our 40 acres of beautiful semi-wilderness land offers upscale camp kitchens with refrigerators and stoves, shared bathrooms with showers and many places for personal reflection. Participants provide their own bedding and stay in shared yurts and domes.

Offerings to the participants include:

Land Walk and Orientation to The Foundation
The Way of Council
Medicine Wheel Teachings
Mindfulness Practices
Permaculture Teaching
Sweat Lodge (Sacred Stone People Ceremony)
Personal Ceremonial Visioning & Reflective Time
Daily Meditation
Land & Building Projects
Co-Created Community Meals
Arts Evening

For more info about Work Retreats, please contact the Path of Service coordinator at The Ojai Foundation, 805-646-8343 ext. 134 or send your questions or application Application to pathofservice@ojaifoundation.org For details on what to bring and directions, see Preparing for Your Arrival Preparation.

Days of Service

No Fee/ Great opportunity for Service Learning and group volunteer days

9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day

January 12, 13

March 22, 23

April 19, 20

Come for the weekend or just a few hours. We will begin with a land orientation and overview at 9:00 a.m., perform a few hours of mindful service work on the land, then complete our day with a picnic near our rustic kitchen. Please wear rugged, cool clothes that you don't mind getting dirty and sturdy, closed toe shoes. Bring a sunhat, a water bottle and a no waste picnic lunch. Please r.s.v.p. and arrive by 8:45 a.m. so that we can begin on time. All ages are welcome! Weekday volunteer opportunities are available on a pre-reserved basis.

For more info about Days of Service, please contact the Path of Service coordinator at The Ojai Foundation, 805-646-8343 ext. 134 or send your questions or application Application to pathofservice@ojaifoundation.org For details on what to bring and directions, see Preparing for Your Arrival Preparation.

Work Exchange

2 week minimum

No Fee/ 20 Hours per week service in exchange for camping and living in community

Our Path of Service Work Exchange program offers an immersion in Council-based community, living close to nature, and exploring right livelihood. In addition, it provides time for self-renewal, reflection, and hands on work on The Foundation Land in the beautiful Ojai Valley. Service may include individual & team work projects such as program support, land & facilities maintenance, building projects, trail and garden maintenance, etc.

In exchange for 20 hours of work per week, you will have the opportunity to live in a small community, share in daily mediations, monthly councils and other offerings such as potlucks and poetry swaps, while living in service to a vision of education, renewal, and the honoring or life's many passages.

Work Exchange participants receive a tent site (volunteers provide their own tents) and are offered the use of facilities, including shared bathrooms with showers, upscale camp kitchen, refrigerators and stoves. All Work Exchange participants must agree to follow our Guidelines for Living on the Land. (link to pdf file). Length of service is negotiable. Work Exchange opportunities are offered as available. After the first week, there will be a mutual evaluation of the match among staff and program participants.

5 miles to town/ carpooling is possible
Maximum 5 people, no pets
Mostly vegetarian diet
Work Exchange closed during Work Retreat Progam months

For more info about Work Exchange, please contact the Path of Service coordinator at The Ojai Foundation, 805-646-8343 ext. 134 or send your questions or Application to pathofservice@ojaifoundation.org For details on what to bring and directions, see Preparing for Your Arrival.