Each of our Gatherings—Spring, Summer, and Fall—is an extended weekend retreat where men explore different ways of looking at life and expand concepts of self while having a lot of fun at the same time. Some men even call our Gatherings “Summer Camp for Men.”
In the words of one CMG brother, “at a gathering, we create a safe, supportive space to connect, develop, and find ourselves loving belonging to a diverse, welcoming community of men.”
Who Attends?
CMG’ers come from all across California and from out of state and other countries as well. The men who attend CMG Gatherings (and our hundreds of local events) are a diverse group of varying ages, beliefs, religious traditions, cultures, ethnicities and spiritual practices. We have differently-abled men and men from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
You’ll find a wide variety of ages to our men, though CMG is primarily attended by men over 40. That said, if you are over 18, we heartily welcome you, as we value including and inspiring our next generation of men!
CMG members are predominantly gay and bisexual men. We welcome all adults who self-identifies as male – gay, bisexual, straight, transman, genderqueer, intersex, gender fluid – who wishes to participate in a community of men.
What happens at a gathering?
An all-volunteer Planning Committee is formed for each Gathering that designs each retreat to include large group activities with smaller workshops with a wide choice of topics, perspectives and activities (even a few being clothing-optional from time to time). A Gathering weekend may also include pool parties (in season), dances, a talent show, hikes, heart circles, Puppy Piles, yoga and much more. The choice of activities allows each man to create his own personal experience.
For some, a Gathering is like going to summer camp — for some who may not have had a chance to go as a kid… or to do it all over again in a safe, supportive space. For others, it’s non-stop workshops and self-exploration. The California Men’s Gatherings environment allows for deeper connections with other men and a special place where men can let down their guard, open up their heart and just have fun.
What are the expectations of men at a gathering?
As you consider coming to our event(s), it is wise to be aware of some of the cultural and organizational expectations of our group, including our policies on alcohol and marijuana. We recommend that you check out our Terms and Conditions page to learn more.
Read Marco’s experience of his first time at a gathering HERE.
Read Jack’s story about his first time at a gathering HERE.