Happy Families Change the World
Thay had the vision to bring mindfulness to the life of every family. Happy Families Change the World is an initiative to bring together the work that we’ve done for decades in our Family Retreats and Children’s Programs. Now we are working on a comprehensive online course designed for adults, children, tweens, and teens to learn and deepen their mindfulness practice.
Learn Mindfulness at Home As a Family
The Happy Families Change the World course is an 8-week online mindfulness program designed for families and children, created through a collaboration between Dartmouth College and Deer Park Monastery.
In this course, Sister Grace (Sr. Phu Nghiem) and Brother Stream (Br. Phap Luu) share simple, accessible mindfulness practices to help families connect, reduce stress, and cultivate a sense of peace and joy together at home.
The online video course is also part of a scientific study examining the effects of mindfulness and it will soon be available to families worldwide.
Ultimately, the hope is that we all recognize that we are part of one global family—a family united by peace and shared joy. Life is too precious to be overshadowed by trauma or conflict, and this course offers a path toward healing and harmony. One family at a time, we can create a more compassionate world.
– Wouter Verhoeven, Founder of Evermind Media and Director of Happy Families Change the World course.“Mindfulness has the power to transform and to improve lives, not only of individuals, but yes, also of families. How much would the world change if all families practiced loving speech, deep listening, mindful eating, mindful consumption, taking care of strong emotions, and total relaxation?”
Families Visiting Deer Park
On Days of Mindfulness, we welcome adults and children of all ages to attend. Sometimes we offer a children’s program for children aged 6-12 on Days of Mindfulness. Check our Events Calendar for upcoming Days of Mindfulness and read the event details to confirm if there will be a children’s program offered.
The Family Retreat
Our Annual Family Retreat is designed for families of all kinds, and singles and couples are also warmly welcomed. With dedicated programs for adults, children, tweens, and teens, every member of your family will have the chance to deepen their mindfulness practice in a supportive environment.
Parents and adults can explore mindfulness through activities such as Dharma Sharing, Total Relaxation, and Dharma Talks, while younger participants will enjoy age-appropriate mindfulness practices, games, and group sharings tailored to their needs.
One of the most special aspects of our late teacher Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings, and Deer Park Monastery itself, is the accessibility of the practice to everyone. Whether this is your first meditation retreat or you've attended many, whether you're an adult or a teen, you'll find the retreat here at Deer Park both relaxing and insightful.
During the retreat, the adult program is for those ages 18 and older, while the teen program is for ages 13-17, the tween program is for ages 10-12, and the children’s program is for ages 6-9. Children 5 years and younger are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, as there is no official program for this age group.
Our Family Retreat typically takes place in June and fills up quickly, so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter below to stay updated and secure your spot.
Teen Camp
At this annual summer retreat, teens practice as a family with our monastic and lay residents, learning to be truly alive and empowering the people around them to do the same. They learn skills to help them embrace and transform strong feelings of fear, anger, and despair, and to be happy, healthy, and free. Learn more about Teen Camp here.
One teen shares his miraculous story from Teen Camp a few years ago. Read the full story here.
Explore Online Courses
From time to time we offer multi-week courses related to mindfulness, the teachings and life of Thich Nhat Hanh, and a variety of similar subjects. Please see our schedule of upcoming courses.
Plum Village App
Take the Deer Park Monastery and Plum Village community with you wherever you go. The Plum Village app is designed to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and joy through guided meditations, deep relaxations, practice poems, bells of mindfulness, and other practices — all through a mobile device.
