aaa THESE ARE POSTS NOT PAGES – Summer Quick Links (post)

May 26, 2026 by Milo Shapiro

This page includes the most requested links so you don’t have to go searching for them again.
We recommend bookmarking this frequently-referenced page:

1] The Gathering Invitation containing the link to register:
https://tinyurl.com/cmg-2026-summer-invitation .

2] Lodging info: Click here.

3] Variety show submission form (and info about show): https://theCMG.org/cmg-variety-show-forms

4] Workshop form (and info about giving workshops): https://theCMG.org/workshop-forms .

5) CMG’s Alcohol and Marijuana Policy: Click here.

6) Terminology: If you’re new to CMG, knowing some of the terms and acronyms we use can be helpful.

7] Cancellation info: www.theCMG.org/cancel

Nothing above answers your question? Email us! summerinfo@theCMG.org

To be added later:

“Glad You’re Coming!” letter

Schedule and Map

Page name: summerquicklinks summer quick links cancel

Webmaster references:

2] The “Glad You’re Coming” letter, exclusively for men who are already registered: click here.

5] A DRAFT of the schedule for the weekend plus a camp map: click here
(please don’t print it to bring; we continue to refine it right up to the day before. Outdated copies have led to confusion at camp. You’ll be given the final version upon checking-in…and even that will likely change a bit via announcements)

Summer Housing Options

June 27, 2025 by Milo Shapiro

A little history, for those who THINK they know this camp:

CMG has been to Enchanted Hills thrice previously (the weekend that Princess Diana died in 1997, again in 1998 [“old” Enchanted Hills], and again in 2019). But even since 2019, they’ve built A LOT. Let’s just say, you might not recognize the place! If you remember the “Lake Cabins”, they’re still there. But there are many, many [many, many] NEW options that we have yet to experience! None of that makes it easy to describe to you. But we’re about to try…

Before going into the indoor housing options, here are the
THREE OUTDOOR HOUSING OPTIONS at the Basic Price ($465)

For these three, you’ll need to bring your own bedding, but you’ll have your own private space. Each man must be registered individually, and there’s no price difference between these options.

1] Tenting (Basic Price):
Prefer the great outdoors and privacy? You’re welcome to bring and pitch a tent in a designated area that’s tucked away from the main camp.

2] Vanning (Basic Price):
If you’re vanning, your van stays in a nearby lot,

3] RVing (Basic Price):
There are just a few spots (no hookups), so act fast!

INDOOR HOUSING OPTIONS
ALL indoor housing options, from Basic to the highest end, include sheets, blanket, one pillow, and a pillow case. We believe you’re on your own for towels, though, so pack those.

Basic Dormitory (Basic Price = $465):
Stay in a shared room with four Twin bunks (8 men total). Bathrooms are in a separate building. A limited number of Full-Size bunks are available—first come, first served. You can also share a Full-Size bunk with a friend; both pay the Basic price.

Standard Upgrade (+$105):
These rooms offer Twin or Queen beds (shared occupancy). You may request a Queen, but unless you have a roommate, we can’t guarantee solo use. Shared bathrooms are conveniently located in the same building.

Deluxe Upgrade (Twins +$170; Queens +$185):
Enjoy a stay in our classic “Lakeside” cabins. Each room has its own private bathroom shared only with your roommate.

Premium Upgrade (Queens only, +$235):
The most private option. Two rooms available: one with a Queen for single or double occupancy, and one Double Queen for groups of four. Private, attached bathrooms in both. If demand is low, we may offer single occupancy at double the price. Lodging is charged per room, while meals are charged per person—like a hotel setup.

MindSpa: The Healing Powers of Drag

October 8, 2020 by Richard Hall

California Men’s Gatherings MindSpa Series Presents:

The Healing Powers of Drag

Date: Tuesday, October 13th, 2020

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Location: Zoom/Online

RSVP: Please RSVP/Register in advance with Jamie Simmons

Cost: Requested donation of $5 to help cover CMG’s ongoing online operations.
Donate HERE! No man will be turned away for lack of funds.

The Healing Powers of Drag

Join special guest Kyle Celio, also known as “Sue Casa,” as we explore the healing powers of drag. On the surface, drag may have been just a funny, entertaining part of a pre-COVID night out. But dig a little deeper and we may experience drag as transgressive, liberating, a way to speak truth to power, or a direct challenge to toxic masculinity and fem-phobia.

Many of us at CMG have dipped a toe (or a high heel) into drag, perhaps dressing up at a Gathering for the first (or 1000th) time. Drag can be an initiatory experience and bring forward parts of our personality that were previously hidden. It can also be a lot of fun! Kyle, who also happens to be a psychotherapist, will share some of the positive gifts of drag—how it has given him self-esteem, stability, and healing—as well as challenges around integrating drag into his life. You will have a chance to ask Kyle questions and also share stories around the experience of drag in your own life.

About Kyle Celio/Sue Casa

Kyle is an LMFT with a private practice in San Francisco. He has been in practice for 17 years, working with all ages and a wide array of issues. In particular, he has been drawn towards working with addiction issues, bipolar disorder, adolescents and couples. He is very curious about the process of self-exploration and helping people understand themselves and further develop their own identity.

Sue Casa is best known as the village idiot. Her success lies in her ability to fail so perfectly. She performs and hosts regularly at various clubs and bars all around San Francisco and is well known for bringing Carrie Bradshaw to life in Sex and the City LIVE! at Oasis. She has also dazzled and upset audiences in LA, Palm Springs, NYC, Ptown, Hawaii, and Fresno.

The CMG MindSpa Series is committed to providing a forum for experiential workshops exploring the connections between Mind, Body, and Spirit. It is usually held on the second Tuesday of each month from 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. If you have an idea for a MindSpa workshop or would like to lead one yourself, please do not hesitate to contact CMG MindSpa Curator, Jamie Simmons, at jamie8431@aol.com.

We’d love to see you there!

All CMG events are drug-free. This event is also alcohol-free if you so desire in your home. Sponsored by the CMG Desert Cities Local Events Committee. All persons identifying as male 18 and older, local or visiting, are welcome. If you would like to propose a local event, please fill out the form found at the Contact Local Events Page.

California Men’s Gatherings and its members stand together with our Black brothers in solidarity: Black Lives Matter. We are with you in this time of pain. We renew our call for racial justice and economic equality. We are committed to listening, learning, understanding, and connecting at the heart in order to bring about the needed changes within our own organization and in society at large.

2nd Online Gathering

September 7, 2020 by Richard Hall

California Men’s Gatherings presents:

98th [2nd Virtual] Gathering!

Friday Night Oct 16th, Programming all-day Oct 17th, and 18th

Love/Diversity?

The CMG Summer/Fall Gathering will focus on diversity and what we love about it and what we find challenging about it. How do we relate to our fellow humans who are different from us, people who look and act and believe in ways that are different from ours? Do we love that which is different or fear it? To what degree are we comfortable with differences? Do we seek them out? If not, why not? What do we feel we need to know or do to feel more comfortable with diversity? Are we doing enough to foster diversity and fight against racism in today’s society? What about the differences that can bring us together? How are we the same? From whiteness to blackness and people of color to sexual and gender identities, the CMG Summer/Fall Gathering gives voice to our diverse perspectives, fosters understanding, and promotes love.

To Offer a Workshop, click HERE.

Workshop Offerings ~ Time Due: Friday, September 25th at 11:59 pm.

To Offer an Act in the Talent Show, click HERE.

Please sign up before Monday, October 5th, at 10 am.

Location: Your computer or phone.

Registration will open on the 2nd of October.

We’d love to see you there!

MindSpa: Managing Anxiety in the Time of Coronavirus

September 7, 2020 by Richard Hall

California Men’s Gatherings MindSpa Series Presents:

Managing Anxiety in the Time of Coronavirus

Date: Tuesday, September 8th, 2020

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Location: Zoom/Online

RSVP: Please RSVP/Register in advance with Jamie Simmons

Cost: Requested donation of $5 to help cover CMG’s ongoing online operations.
Donate HERE! No man will be turned away for lack of funds.

Managing Anxiety in the Time of Coronavirus

Join Facilitator Jamie Simmons, LMFT, and other CMG men for an experiential MindSpa dedicated to taming anxiety. Our world has been turned upside down with the arrival of Coronavirus in ways we couldn’t imagine a year ago. We’ve lost work, income, social connections, and mobility in exchange for a host of new and threatening “what-if” thought-scenarios regarding health, safety and well-being. Add in a tempestuous political season and a simmering climate crisis (just to name a couple of things from the menu) and it’s no wonder anxiety has become a constant companion for many of us.

Anxiety warns us of potential danger. It’s like an alarm clock ringing, warning us to wake up, pay attention, assess the threat, and take action if needed. We ignore the appearance of anxiety at our peril. But once the alarm clock goes off, it doesn’t make sense to leave it on, ringing non-stop, held close to our ear as we walk through our lives day after day. Chronic anxiety is corrosive to body, mind, and soul. In this workshop, we’ll learn how to mute, or at least turn down the volume of the alarm clock of anxiety when it rings beyond what is helpful. We’ll discuss what anxiety is, how we are programmed to be overly anxious, and we’ll explore ways to reduce symptoms of anxiety and increase peace of mind. You’ll have an opportunity to test-drive some of these anxiety-reducing tools in the workshop. We’ll also draw on the wisdom of the group in order to share and receive your tips for dealing with anxiety.

About the Facilitator

Jamie Simmons is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (California License Number 110655). He holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. Jamie is based in Palm Springs and works online with individuals and couples throughout California. For more information about his therapy practice, check out his Psychology Today profile.

We’d love to see you there!