Spring Gathering - MANimals!

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

California Men’s Gatherings Presents:

MANimals! ~ Memorial Day Weekend

Friday, May 26th – Monday, May 29th, 2023
Pathfinder Ranch, Mountain Center, CA ~ outside Idyllwild

All-inclusive Registration Costs:

• Early-bird rate of $320 will apply through April 23rd to encourage you to commit nice and early! 
• Standard rate of $335 will be available throughout May 11th for those who cannot commit during early bird.
• Late registration rate of $355 will apply for those who wait until those final two weeks, May 12th or later to register.  

Accommodations and meals

The base registration fee includes a bed in a shared, heated bunkroom, with shared bathroom/shower. You must provide your own bedding. A limited number of semi-private rooms are available but they go fast. A semi-private is two men in a room. There are two bunkbeds but we won't put anyone else in there. You can. They do NOT have private bath but rather share with the others in that lodge [number varies depending on the lodge].

Eight meals in all are served from Friday Dinner to Monday Lunch, with vegetarian and vegan options available.  If you want to bring more for yourself (non-refrigerated), feel free!   In addition, snacks are available 24/7. Want to add to the snack table with your own delights?  We’d love that!  Regardless, you will not go hungry! :-)

How do I get to camp? What should I bring?

We endeavor to coordinate ridesharing for participants both for convenience and for our impact on the environment. If you need a ride or wish to provide one, please indicate that information during registration and we will contact you about a week ahead to coordinate ridesharing. If you are registering late or live in a remote rural area, it may not be possible for us to find you a ride but our track record is fabulous. 

Around 10 days before MANimals, you will receive a “Welcome Letter” email with necessary information about the long weekend, including a program guide of all activities, directions to Pathfinder Ranch, and a recommended list of what to bring (and not bring). Please note: Workshops tend to come in late or even at camp and so will NOT be included in the program guide.

We will be having Phillip Tanzilo leading our Community Assemblies where we'll explore how we all have aspects of different Animals making up our personal MANimals! As a part of that, you'll be using an online tool BEFORE the Gathering to get started. Other times we all [or mostly all] come together are the Opeing on Friday night and the Closing on Monday morning. 

Workshops are available four times during the weekend (so we hope we get plenty) and we want yours!  What could you bring to share about, do together, or make fun with?  Workshops can be anything, limited only by your imagination, safety, and a clear description!  And by popular request, at least one led massage workshop is already confirmed…probably two!

What will the fun include?   

Let’s start with three chances to dress up:

• The “Wear Anything” Dance.  What sounds like fun to you?  Drag?  Leather?  Jockstrap?  Toga?  A giant panda?  Whatever feels fun to wear is welcome.  And for those who have been missing some clothing-optional events from days-gone-by at CMG, remember that this party is fully indoors!  So while the theme says to “Wear Anything”, that could mean just a bow-tie…
   
• The Pajama Mocktail Party.  Dig out those flannels.  Footies, maybe?  Or puppy slippers?  Speed Racer PJs? Or perhaps lingerie is more your pajama of choice?  Whatever says sleepwear to you, even if it’s just a big T-shirt and sweats, come see what everyone chooses.
   
• The Variety Show.  Whether you’d like to be in it or just attend looking fabulous, it’s the program where we’re all the stars and it’s is way more festive if half of the spectacle is the audience (though you can certainly come in jeans and a T-shirt)!  Got a talent or a fun idea?  Bring your act for the show!

    Just those three times?  Heck, no.  It’s CMG.  If you want to treat every meal and workshop like your own costume ball, you just go right ahead...either on your own or with some friends.

What else will be different about the MANimals!?

At the request of a number of people, including first-timers, we’re lightening up on the tone of the Play Zone and saying, “Go get your groove on, Stella!”  Late night is likely to be its prime time, but if you’re between workshops and want to see who else is feeling the vibe, pop into the Play Zone.

That said, our team has a lot on it's plate, so if you love the idea of us having a great looking Play Zone, what could you contribute?  Erotic décor?  Lighting?  A portable glory hole?  Contact our Play Zone coordinator at Gathering@TheCMG.org if you have ideas or items to bring; you can also add your touches at the last moment! 

I've never been to a gathering to know what it's like!  What can I expect?

Definitely look around on www.TheCMG.org to get a better sense of the organization than we can share here.  But the bottom line is that you can expect a warm group of men who welcome more community in their lives, fun together, conversations ranging from silly to heart-centered, time in nature, and new friends both at camp and beyond.

What if I can’t stay the whole time?

If you can’t arrive until Saturday or must leave Sunday, that’s okay (though do let us know if you leave early so we don’t worry!).  Better to come for much of the event than none, right?  But to answer that common question, the rate is the same.

Go to the Emailed Invitation to Read

I have more questions!  How do I ask?

For registration, pricing, scholarship funds, etc....email registration@thecmg.org
For content of weekend questions, logistics, camp issues, and other general CMG questions, write to Gathering@TheCMG.org.