INTRODUCTION
CCA stewards a Sonoran Desert wildlands habitat in southeastern Arizona, about 25 miles north of Benson. It encompasses over 600 acres in the uplands of a major watershed of the San Pedro River, and has been preserved for solo and small-group sojourns, or rural retreats. The sojourn site is located in a sparsely populated rural community of people who care for this land and are focused on living in a symbiotic relationship with it and each other. The habitat is available to sojourners seeking solitude and a more intimate experience of the Sonoran Desert. It is for those of any faith, artists, writers, or contemplatives of any persuasion.
“Thank you for this simple and pure experience.”
FACILITIES
CCA offers two hermitages for solo sojourners—the Caravan Hermitage and the Cottage Hermitage—as well as a primitive group retreat campground. The Cottage Hermitage and the group retreat campground are at the Corbett Center, which is located in a sparsely-populated, off-grid area in Hot Springs Canyon, nestled in a mesquite bosque at the end of a dirt road. The Caravan Hermitage is located farther out, tucked into a valley a short walk up a desert wash.
In order to maintain the integrity of the surrounding wildlands, all facilities are intentionally primitive; there is no electricity, cooling, refrigeration, inside plumbing, hot and cold running water, flush toilets, phone, or internet service. Sojourners are requested to not bring cellphones or other devices that interfere with the natural sounds and sights of this setting, and the privacy of the few nearby neighbors.
“The sojourn served as an ideal reflection on the implications of my actions on my surroundings, and also as a refreshing opportunity to realign myself with my body and spirit.”
APPLY FOR A SOJOURN
- Thoroughly review Prepare to Sojourn. (Note that seasonal variations are extreme in the desert, so consider your chosen dates carefully.)
- Read the CCA Land Covenant.
- Review the Calendar for availability of the two hermitages. (Contact us to reserve the group retreat campground.)
- Submit the Online Application.
Donations – While there is no set fee for use of the facilities, we ask that each sojourner donate what is possible within their means to assist us in offering this experience to others.
“I am deeply grateful for the effort, past and present, which made this experience possible; it has given me a renewed sense of profound quietness and perspective.”
HISTORY
The hermitage program has been hosting sojourners since 1995. (Pictured is the historic Francis Gonzales-Leitner Hermitage, which is no longer in use.)
It seems so simple, but it is infinitely easier to find a resort than a quiet place to be alone for awhile. I came here to spend time in meditation, and did so, although, as the days went by I found that being in the desert and listening to the land and the beings ‘out there’ was no less rewarding.
About | Facilities | Prepare to Sojourn | Sojourn Application | History
Header: Aza / Intro: Tom Talbott, Jr / Facilities: Susan Tollefson / Apply for a Sojourn: Tom Talbott, Jr / History: “Historic Straw Bale” — Will Atkins