First Responder Retreats from Blue Haven

Blue Haven offers private getaways for first responders: police and law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS crews and paramedics, and 911 dispatchers. It isn't a program, a clinic, or a group event. It's a place to stay, run by people who understand the job, and open only to the people who do it.

Why a first-responders-only getaway

Shift work, overtime, and hard calls don't leave much room to decompress. A lot of first responders say the hardest part of time off is actually switching off. Blue Haven is set up for that. Every guest is a verified first responder, so you can relax without explaining yourself, and the setting does the rest: pine forest, mountain air, and a lake nearby.

What a stay looks like

Your stay is yours to plan. Spend the morning on the water at Shaver Lake, hike or fish in the Sierra National Forest area, sit outside with coffee, or sleep in and do nothing at all. It's a mental-health-minded getaway for first responders and their families: quiet time, family time, and a break from the radio. Blue Haven is a vacation rental, not a treatment or counseling service. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline any time.

Smash the Stigma: Self-Care Is the Number One Thing

First responders spend their careers taking care of everyone else. We believe self-care is the number one thing, and that taking real time off is part of doing the job well, not a sign of weakness. Blue Haven supports efforts to smash the stigma around first responder mental health and to raise suicide prevention awareness in our community. Our part is simple: a quiet, private place to rest, reconnect with family, and step away from the job for a while. It's a getaway, not a treatment program.

Resources That Inspire Us

These are resources we admire. Blue Haven isn't affiliated with them.

• Relentless Courage: Winning the Battle Against Frontline Trauma, the book by retired Sergeant Michael Sugrue and Dr. Shauna Springer, which tells one officer's story with honesty and hope.
• Gary Sinise Foundation, which honors and supports first responders, veterans, and their families.

Cabin or camper

Choose the Blue Haven Cabin at Shaver Lake for a mountain base, or the Blue Haven Camper if you'd rather take the getaway on the road.

How to book

Verify your first responder status first: verify your badge or ID, or enter your Blue Haven code. Then pick your dates on the calendar. Questions? Text us at (559) 248-1911. Learn more on the Blue Haven home page.