The Center offers half-day, full-day and multi-day retreats designed with the needs of corporate, nonprofit, and public sector groups in mind. We offer professionally catered meals customized to individual dietary needs. We also make our unique site available for annual strategic planning retreats or other executive group meetings where new and inspired thinking is essential. For out-of-town visitors, we can arrange hotel accommodations within walking distance.
Designed around your organization’s goals, our retreats help your employees communicate, build trust, open themselves to new ideas, think strategically, and achieve more productive outcomes. Through creative exercises with simple art materials, wordplay, and interaction with nature, participants tap into their own creative resources and playful abilities.
Enhanced communication, dynamic problem solving, increased energy, greater respect for diverse ideas, greater self understanding, and enhanced awareness of team dynamics are the most likely results from time spent at the California Center for Creative Renewal.
Head Start Management Team
PicART Teaching Team
CAL Works
San Diego County Adoptions Team
Grossmont Hospice Treatment Team
Elizabeth Hospice Treatment Team
San Diego Hospice Treatment Team
Physical Rehabilitation Network Employee Team
Encinitas Unified School District Management Team
University of San Diego Nursing Department retreat -1998
S.D. County Health and Human Services staff retreat - 2001
S.D. Youth and Community Services staff retreats - 2001, 2002
Still Point - 2002
Head Start Directorsʼ retreat - 2002
CAL WORKS staff retreats - 2002, 2003
Encinitas School District Principals and School Board retreat - 2003
PIC ART staff retreat - 2003
A Reason To Survive (ARTS) staff training/retreat - 2004
San Diego Professional Coaches Alliance - 2005
Quilt Visions Board retreat - 2005
Comprehensive Autism Services Staff retreat - 2006
International Survivors of Torture Staff retreats - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Camp Pendleton Management Teams - 2007
KID Co staff retreat - 2009
SDNC California Marriage Family Therapists Board retreats - 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
“This yearʼs management team retreat far exceeded my expectations! Your gardens, your facilitation, the activities you designed and the overall theme fulfilled the goals I set for this year. Your activities brought alive the strength of the teamwork to meet the challenges ahead.”
Douglas P. DeVore
School Superintendent“Thank you again for such a meaningful experience at the retreat center...I learned so much about myself during my time there that would not have happened without your facilitation. What a beautiful space you have cultivated! The growth that started there ... continues on even after the retreat ended. Thank you for all these gifts. You are providing a very meaningful service. As my colleague Michele shared, I could feel my heart growing during the retreat!”
Becky Stuempfig
Hospice of the North Coast“Thank you so much for your skill, expertise and kindness. I hope this is the beginning of a mutually satisfying relationship.”
Beverly Fremont
The Wellness Community, San Diego“We appreciate the ease with which you facilitated discussion and led us in the creative process of expressing feelings with art. We feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience art therapy”
Lois Krause, R.N.
Mercy Hospital Nursing Education & Inservice Council“Thank you for everything, Ellen. You are wonderful!”
Director of the School of Visual Arts
Art Therapy Program“Ellen combines the best qualities which allow clients to proceed with their own process...She has that light touch of warmth. Her clients are fortunate. In my opinion, Ellen and the excellence of her work will become widely known.”
Treva Sudhalter MFT
Clinical Teaching Member, ITTA“I wanted to thank you for a wonderfully relaxing day... Everyone was pleasantly surprised at all the creativity we have. You really did a beautiful job.”
Tricia Milhoan
Head Start Neighborhood House Association
retreat participant“Really quality work...very sensitive, respectful and dynamic.”
Scripps Hospital staff“I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to be the recipient of your gracious and generous hosting. I love offering the workshops, being able to spend time with you, learn from you and especially soak up your garden, get it “into my bones a bit”.
Heather
art therapist, workshop collaborator at the Center