Save the dates for the 2026 sesshin:
June 12 - June 20, 2026

Registration will be open in early 2026

Our annual 7-day (8 nights) silent Zen sesshin on Samish Island.  Led this year by Nomon Tim Burnett and Shudo Chris Burkhart.

A note to the Red Cedar Zen Sangha from Norman

Dear sangha,

I am sorry to say I will not be coming to Samish Island for sesshin in 2026. It seems that 2025 was my last sesshin there, after I am not sure how many years, how many decades, how many people, how much life lived.

I love Samish and I love all of you, and I am sad that I will not be back again. But at last summer’s sesshin I had a very strong and clear feeling that it was my last time. 

For some years Tim and I have been talking about when the end would come. And I have been feeling increasingly uneasy that my being at Samish prevents the community somehow from its full expression. Not that Tim or anyone else has said or even felt this. But I have felt it.

Everything that begins ends and, sad as that may be, it is also happy because it means there is a bright future as we walk ahead, carrying the past with us.

I will not be disappearing completely. I am still alive and healthy and will be continuing my practice. I trust my friendships with all of you will continue.

And I’m glad to hear that you plan to continue offering this sesshin and I have every confidence in Tim, Chris, and all of you as you carry on this wonderful tradition of an annual full week sesshin.

Thank you so much for all these years of practice together. They have been the treasure of my life. I don’t know why I have been so lucky to have practiced with you so harmoniously and so beautifully for so long. I am proud of that, and of you and what you have established in Bellingham.

May it continue for many generations!

This powerful sesshin includes seven days and eight nights of silent practice of sitting and walking meditation in this beautiful church camp on the water on Samish Island in the Skagit Valley.

The retreat includes dharma talks and dokusan and practice discussion with the teachers, plenty of sitting and walking meditation, and delicious vegetarian meals. A deep time for practice and reflection with the support of sangha and teachers. All held in a beautiful outdoors oriented environment on the water.

Many photos of Samish are available on our Photos page.

The following information is from a past Samish sesshin to give you an overview before registration opens.

To keep current on this and all our events, please join our email list!

Please note that this sesshin will be Zoketsu Norman Fischer's last time teaching with Red Cedar as he moves into fuller retirement.

Schedule:
You may attend the entire retreat or just the first or second half. Second half attendance is only appropriate to those who have sat sesshin with us before. We are unable to offer other attendance choices. Signing up is making a commitment to be part of the retreat for the entire period you signed up for.

Full Retreat - Friday 5:00pm to Saturday at noon

First Half - Friday  5:00pm to Tuesday at 5pm

Second Half - Tuesday at 5pm to Saturday at noon.

Prerequisites & Requirements
This is a rigorous and structured experience. To benefit from being at Samish Sesshin please abide by the following requirements.

• You should have attended at least one full day formal meditation retreat before attending this 7-day, 8-night retreat. Please do not register if you have never sat a full day of formal meditation (in Zen or other traditions is fine).
• If you have never attended Samish sesshin please start at the beginning by attending the full retreat or the first half, and do not attend just the second half.
  Orientation and instructions are offered at the beginning only.
• No attendance options other than the three listed above can be accommodated. 
• This is a silent retreat without talking, reading, writing, computer or cell phone use. Please be prepared to follow this guideline fully.
• Following the full schedule is a core practice of Zen. Some alternate schedules can be arranged with the Ino in cases of health and other needs.
• Plan on remaining at Samish Island camp during the entire time of your sesshin attendance, not leaving for errands or appointments, etc., and remaining at the camp through final clean up at noon on Saturday unless illness or unavoidable travel arrangements prevent this.

Housing:
There are currently four different housing options to choose from:

E-Cabins are recently built multi-room cabins with a bath shared with one other room. E-Cabins are in short supply in this retreat. Please choose a rustic cabin if that is possible for you in order to leave the e-cabins for those with health challenges. Or consider sharing an e-cabin. 

e-Cabin Exterior

e-Cabin Interior

Rustic Cabins - simple plywood cabins built in the 1950's. Camp style bathrooms in a separate building. Most rustic housing will be private (not shared), however, if couples or friends are willing to share a cabin this can make a difference in accommodating everyone if the sesshin is full.

Rustic Cabin, exterior

Rustic cabin, interior

RV site with hookups - you can bring your own RV and connect to the camp's services.  A lower cost option.

Tent - you can bring a tent and camp on the lawn. A lower cost option.

Samish Island Campground

We have rented the Community of Christ's wonderful camp at the eastern end of Samish Island for over a twenty-five years for our residential retreats. A wonderful place where sea meets sky.

11565 Scott Rd, Bow, WA 98232
Map and Directions