After meeting Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass returned to his father’s farm in New Hampshire in 1969

Word spread quickly. People came in droves, drawn by his energy, camping in tents, and gathering to explore the Bhakti path.

This summer, once again, we’re recreating that sacred, nostalgic spirit with a weekend of glamping at Just Love Forest in Poetry, Georgia.

Join us for a special year to consecrate Just Love Forest Ashram. Expect three days of chanting, Aarti, meditation, breathwork, and forest therapy. The weekend culminates with a day of camaraderie with satsang and quiet reflection in nature, all held in the stillness and beauty of 716 private acres.

This is a contribution-based gathering, rooted in trust, generosity, and love.

Give what you can. Come as you are.

AUG 28th - 31st Just Love Forest, Poetry, Georgia

SCROLL BELOW TO SEE SPEAKERS AND WORKSHOP LEADERS

Join Us

4th annual Ram Dass

Summer Camp

A Gift to the Satsang

This year’s Ram Dass Summer Camp will include a special Consecration Celebration of Just Love Forest Ashram, as a sunset to sunrise ceremony to formally dedicate this land.

This will include a special all-night Hanuman fire vigil inspired by the Bhakti tradition of Jagran, where we’ll gather from sunset to sunrise for devotional singing, readings, poetry, and quiet reflection around the sacred fire.

This is designed to be accessible.

Guests are welcome to participate in whatever way feels nourishing and aligned for them, whether staying for the full night or simply joining for a portion of the experience.

The base cost for self-camping is $150 per person. This includes all meals and programs and helps cover the travel costs for our team. Self-camping means you bring your own camping gear and set up your own tent or sleeping arrangement.

For those who would like a more comfortable option:

♡ A teepee tent with an air mattress and all meals is available for $300 minimum.

♡ A premium bell tent with a queen Tempur-Pedic mattress and all meals is available for $400 minimum.

*Early Arrival (optional): Arrive Thursday @ 4 PM instead of Friday and enjoy a pre-treat dinner, singing circle and accommodations for $50+tax

*Late Departure (optional): Stay Sunday night with dinner and breakfast, departing Monday by 10AM for $50+tax

Please note that these rates are offered at 50% less than the typical cost of a retreat to make this gathering as accessible as possible.

If you feel called to join but need financial support, we welcome you to volunteer during the weekend to help make it possible. Our intention is for everyone to be able to attend if they feel the call.

Your contributions, whatever the form or amount, help sustain the community, the traveling team, and the Just Love Forest sanctuary.

Thank you for being part of this living offering.

Listen to our 2025 Kirtan

flow

thursDAY, august 27th

4:00pm: Optional Arrival

One Day Early (+$50)

Dinner, fire and kirtan
FriDAY, August 28th
2pm, 3pm & 4pm EST : Arrival times
5pm: Welcome dhuni fire ceremony with Grant & community movement in the meadow with Stephy Joy
6:30pm: Puja & Aarti in the meadow
7:30pm Dinner
8pm: Introductions and Kirtan in the Yurt
10pm: Quiet Hours for Sleeping
SaturDAY August 29th
7am: Silent Meditation with Bala
7am: Movement in the meadow
8am: Puja & Aarti in the yurt
9am: Breakfast
10am Satsang Chat with Bala: What is Awakening?
12pm: Lunch

1pm - 5pm: Summer Camp Experiences

1pm: Movement as Love with Sarah in the yurt
1pm: Plant walk meetin the kitchen
2:30pm Breath work experience with Matt Casey in the yurt
2:30pm Outdoor Yoga Stephy Joy meet in the meadow
2:30pm Movement with Hannah in the large campfire circle
4pm Breath work experience with Naga Das in the large camp fire circle
4pm Sound bath with Sarah in the yurt

5pm - 6pm: Personal Time

6pm: Forest Therapy Experience - Journey to Bhakti Mountain Summit for Jagran (an all-night Hanuman fire vigil)
7:30pm: Aarti & Dinner on Bhakti Mountain
8pm: All night Jagran with Kirtan and Readings Begins on Bhakti Mountain
☼ Sunset is at 8:15pm EST ☼
☀︎ Sunrise is at 7:14am EST ☀︎
10pm and 1am shuttling via car available for those wishing to return to basecamp to sleep
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30th
☀︎ Sunrise Ashram Consecration Ceremony is at 7:14pm EST ☀︎
9am: Breakfast on the mountain
10am: Puja & Aarti on the mountain
11am: Closing Circle with Kirtan on the mountain.
12pm Return down to Basecamp ecovillage
12:30pm Lunch in Basecamp
1pm: Personal time to Hang with Satsang, Informal Kirtan & Possibly a Field Trip to Little River Canyon (a stunning waterfalls area 25 mins away)
Standard Departure by 5pm unless staying ovenight
Optional Late Departure: Overnight Sunday stay with dinner and kirtan at 6pm / Depart by 10am Monday +$50

OUR INTENTIONS IN OFFERING THIS SPACE

The intention of our spiritual summer camp is to mirror life in a forest ashram. This an invitation for self discovery in nature and community for up to five days. This isn’t religious. There are only spiritual tools that we are sharing. We offer these tools for people to listen to their own hearts and follow the truth of their intuition.

We are all travelers of our own paths coming together to rest, reflect and share what we know. Although we have people leading sessions, there are no “teachers,” for we are all the teachers. We are coming to hear from one another as part of the “satsang” - the community of spiritual seekers supporting one another.

We surrender to the forces and schedules of nature. We are guests of the forest and we treat all of its beings with thankful reciprocity and respect while having fun. The mindset here is wild tending.

We are sacred beings, each one of us a miracle of life and consciousness. Knowing this, we treat each as the divine beings that we are. This means that we all support one another on our journeys, encouraging us to find deeper compassion, understanding and equanimity.

We give freely what we can in our knowledge, experiences and resources. In being part of a forest ashram for up to five days, we recognize each other as the family we are.

We get to always ask, how can we help?

And most importantly, we always get to live courageously with soft and open hearts.

Ram Dass Summer Camp photo Gallery

Several white teepees are set up among trees in a forest with sunlight filtering through the leaves.

SUMMER CAMP AWAITS

Ashram Amenities

⚘ 3 Days + 2 Nights Accommodations* self camping or in your own single twin mattress tipi tent or tempurpedic queen mattress canvas bell tent, plus enjoy group activities and meals all weekend:

⚘ 6 Nourishing Plant-Based Meals (Friday dinner - Sunday lunch, unless arriving early or staying late)
⚘ Ceremonial Yurt Gathering Space
⚘ Personal Time for Reflection + Heartfelt Connection
⚘ Inclusive Community of Experienced Guides and Spiritual Seekers of All Levels

*Early Arrival (optional): Arrive Thursday @ 4 PM instead of Friday and enjoy a pre-treat dinner, singing circle and accommodations for $50+tax

*Late Departure (optional): Stay Sunday night with dinner and breakfast, departing Monday for $50+tax

Save your spot!

2026 Registration for the

RAM DASS SUMMER CAMP

Self Camping

Suggested Contribution of $150 or more plus tax

Twin Nylon Bell Tent

Suggested Contribution of $300 or more plus tax

Deluxe Queen Bell Tent‍ ‍

Suggested Contribution of $400 or more plus tax

+ add-on*

Early Check in

Thursday, August 27th @ 4 PM

Suggested Contribution of $50 plus tax - includes pre-retreat dinner, kirtan and accommodations

Late Check out

Monday, August 31st @ 11AM

Suggested Contribution of $50 plus tax - includes post-retreat dinner, kirtan and accommodations

Payment plan options are available.

Please contact bala@justloveforest.com with your questions. 🙏🏽

Join the 2026 Ram Dass Summer Camp Today!

A man with long hair and a beard, wearing robes, sitting outdoors on grass with his eyes closed, in a prayerful or meditative pose, with a background of trees and foliage.

Check in Time

Friday August 28th @ 2 PM, 3 PM or 4 PM

Check out Time

Sunday August 30th by 5 PM

*Early Check In Time (+$50)

Thursday, August 27th @ 4 PM

*Late Check Out Time (+$50)

Monday, August 31st @ 10 AM

A group of people gathered outdoors in a grassy area with trees, during sunset, some standing, some sitting, some taking photographs, with mountains in the background.

HOSTED BY BALA & The satsang

We all have life wisdom to give and share. These are the beings who will guide shared conversations and experiences with us. We’re grateful to have a beautiful collection of their paths and gifts to offer.

A man sitting cross-legged on the grass outdoors talking, with a game or musical instrument in front of him, and a woman sitting nearby on a blanket.

I’m Bala, the founding steward of Just Love Forest.
My spiritual journey began about seven years ago and led me from Southern California through India and eventually to Maui, where I was blessed to spend time with Ram Dass. During that chapter of my life, I received the spiritual name Balarama, though most people simply call me Bala.
From my relationship with Neem Karoli Baba, Just Love Forest emerged through years of surrender, listening, practice, and a deep longing to create spaces where people could reconnect with nature, stillness, community, and the heart. Stewarding this land has become my dharmic path, and it continues to teach me every day.
Everything changed for me just before Christmas in 2017. During a spontaneous meditation while sitting quietly in my family’s closet, I experienced a profound awakening that completely shifted the way I understood myself and the world around me. There were no substances involved, only silence, presence, and something far greater than I could explain.
Since then, my life has become an ongoing practice of devotion, service, and learning how to live more honestly from the heart. I don’t claim to have everything figured out, but I’m deeply grateful to walk this path alongside others.
Just love, always,
Bala

Nivay Sahaye is a steward of the land at Just Love Forest whose path is grounded in seva through caring for the land, preparing meals, tending sacred space, and supporting community through devotion and service. Deeply inspired by Hanuman and Neem Karoli Baba, his work weaves together bhakti, nature, simplicity, and remembrance of our relationship with one another and the Earth.

zander cole (they/them) is guided by sacred wisdom traditions and offers kirtan, film, music, and art in the journey toward collective liberation. The heart of zander's services lies in singing the divine names during kirtan and they have chanted alongside globally recognized kirtan wallahs.
They serve as Nina Rao’s assistant, the content manager and community organizer for the Sacred Community Project, an organizer for the Brooklyn Kirtan Collective, and tutor children with dyslexia.
Check out their budding work on their website: http://zandercole.com
or substack: https://zandercole.substack.com/

Hannah is a yoga and meditation teacher, mental health professional, and facilitator of embodied healing practices.
Her work is deeply influenced by the teachings of Ram Dass, who first introduced her to the practice of identifying with the Loving Witness: that which sits behind the experience of the present moment with open, nonjudgmental curiosity. Her training in yoga, somatic work, and shamanic practices informs how she guides others in softening the mind and allowing the body to be with and gently move through what arises.
She views deep stretch as an opportunity to build a kinder relationship to the body, heart, and mind—one rooted in listening and compassion. Through breath, gentle nervous system support, and a balance of long-held postures and mobility, her classes create space for physical, emotional, and mental release. She provides optional hands-on support to help the body soften and settle.

Hannah’s offerings are accessible to all levels and support each person in meeting themselves exactly where they are. Her work is an invitation to return to the wisdom of the body, trusting that the Earth beneath us will hold us and all that we carry

A man with long curly hair and a beard is sitting outdoors in a wooded area, holding a small white figurine with a black top in his hands, looking thoughtfully to the side.

At JustLoveForest, I’ve served as a dedicated steward of the land—protecting, learning from, and co-creating with the local ecosystem. With 14 years of foraging experience in Georgia, I’ve taught over 1,000 people how to safely and respectfully identify, harvest, and build relationships with wild plants and mushrooms. My work at JustLoveForest has focused on honoring biodiversity, including the discovery and documentation of rare and endangered native species. I also helped establish a native herb garden to support pollinators, promote ecological resilience, and reconnect people to the healing power of plants. Rooted in reverence and reciprocity, my foraging practice blends ecological restoration with spiritual and gut-healing traditions.

A woman smiling outdoors wearing a white cap that reads 'Yoga for All The Sacred Center' and a light blue shirt, with tall grass and cloudy sky in the background.

Sarah Loomis is a spiritual guide, wellness coach, and longtime personal trainer who sees the body not as a project, but as a home. Since 2008, she’s been helping others reclaim health as a soulful, daily rhythm—not a destination. Her work blends movement, meditation, ritual, and rest, inviting people to experience health as a way of being in right relationship with themselves and the world. In her free time, Sarah can be found seeking inspiration and healing through chanting, drumming and connecting with nature.
Seeing Movement As Love
This session invites you to move from a place of love, not force. Together, we’ll explore what it really means to relate to your body with kindness and intention. You can expect a soft landing in your body, intentional movement that honors what you need, and space to notice what shows up. We’ll close with room to share, reflect, or simply be seen. No pushing. No fixing. Just movement as a form of care and love.

"Everything is important, but Nothing matters" were the words the Universe gifted me as I reconnected with this world and my body after the immensely beautiful time spent bathing in the Ocean of Love I refer to as God's Mind.
This intense and awe inspiring spiritual awakening happened for me in 1992. My spiritual awakening allowed me to meet the challenges of 25 years as an Air Force F-16 pilot through rigorous training and intense combat situations, but more than anything it pushed me to explore and endure the massive highs and lows of my own spiritual path. While the meaning of these words have morphed with the passing of time, I have used them as an all important life code through today.
To me, they remind me to still my monkey mind daily in order to reveal the truth of each and every moment as being precious and important, but to accept the inevitable and beautiful change of every-single thing in this material world and Universe.

Aaron (Hari Das) is the chant leader of OM Priya: A shamanic kirtan collective that bridges the ancient path of Bhakti with Shamanic wisdom.
Through tribal rhythms and devotional chanting, we weave ancient mantras from various spiritual traditions with sacred medicine songs to honor the Divine and spirits of the land.

Naga Das
Breathwork Facilitator • Holistic Guide • Devotional Healer
Naga Das (Sean Owen) is a heart-centered healer and founder of All Heart Holistic Group, where he offers breathwork, meditation, and energy healing rooted in devotion, presence, and transformation.
His spiritual path began in early recovery, where on day one of rehab he met Ganesha Deva, a devotee of Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati and Neem Karoli Baba, who became his mentor and guide. Soon after, Ram Dass’s Be Here Now landed in his hands, igniting a journey of tears, meditation, and deep spiritual awakening.
Through years of practice, powerful transmissions came through Ma, Bhagwan Nityananda, and eventually Neem Karoli Baba, who appeared to Naga Das in a vision during a retreat in 2024 - cracking his heart wide open and flooding him with grace. Since that day, Maharaj-ji’s presence has remained with him, guiding his life and work through signs, inner knowing, and a current of boundless love.
Today, Naga Das holds sacred space for others to remember who they are - guiding them through the breath, through stillness, and into the heart. His path is simple:
Love All. Serve All.

Grant Iffander comes to “Just Love Forest” as a devotee of Mother Nature, the elements and of life. Fascinated by the mysteries of the Universe and the patterns of the cosmos, Grant has dedicated a large part of his life to the exploration of spiritual science through Yogic and Tantrik lineages. Having spent the past 11 years in close connection specifically with fire, much of Grant’s inspiration & spirituality derives from this connection to, and the worship of, the element of fire. As an author of two books, semi-professional musician, yoga school director & teacher trainer, Grant’s home is hidden away in the mountains of Costa Rica where he can quietly tend his creative projects and smoldering dhuni (sacred fire) away from the distractions of the modern life; he looks forward to bringing his service & devotion to Ram Dass Summer Camp and Just Love Forest.

A woman with long auburn hair, smiling with an open mouth, wearing a black tank top and large hoop earrings, standing against a plain white wall.

Stephanie Johnson is a passionate movement educator and embodiment guide whose work blends the science of biomechanics with the art of presence. An experienced Bowspring practitioner and professional movement facilitator, she supports individuals in reconnecting with their bodies through intuitive, functional, and heart-centered practices. Her teaching emphasizes dynamic alignment, fluid strength, and the awakening of primal intelligence—helping students build resilience, release chronic tension, and return to their natural, upright posture. With deep roots in the forest and a gift for somatic attunement, Stephanie brings a grounded, joyful presence to every class, inviting people to move not just for fitness, but for freedom, vitality, and belonging in their bodies and the earth.

Community with Satsang

You’ll be part of this special forest tribe of likeminded souls sharing their journeys and learnings they’ve experienced along the path. Come share camping, food and camp fire camaraderie.
Kirtan

Come share in the heart opening practice of devotional chanting. Experience this core part of the Bhakti path of love and devotion. Whether you’ve done this before or not, everyone is included and welcomed to share in the miracle of music.
Nature and Forest Therapy

Share in meditation, yoga and forest therapy in 716 pristine acres of nature preserve. You’ll enjoy some guided group experiences with trained guides and have free time to experience the forest in your own way.