Gathering Location

Cal U, California, PA (south of Pittsburgh)

Cal U (California University of Pennsylvania) is located on 294 acres in the borough of California, Pa., just 35 miles south of Pittsburgh on the banks of the Monongahela River.

California, PA on the Monongahela River

A Quaker influenced by Hinduism might say "there is that of God in every river" and here in the Monongahela valley the river has always been the flowing life force, feeding, transporting and nurturing inhabitants.

Hindus hold all rivers sacred, and no place more sacred than the place two rivers come together, a "confluence" in English. Confluence, PA is a nearby town on the Youghigheny River (say "yawk-a-gay-nee" or just say "the Yock" to sound like a native), which has its own confluence with Monongahela a few miles downstream from California, PA. The “Mon,” honored as Pennsylvania's River of the Year for 2013,  flows northwards towards one of the most significant confluences in America, the city of the three rivers, Pittsburgh, PA. Thus is California, although in Pennsylvania, a western town; whatever you put in the river here flows to the Mississippi.

The Monongahela and nearby rivers and the mountain streams wind through the scenic Laurel Highlands of western Pennsylvania.

Field Trips at the Gathering

Read about field trips offered during the Gathering.

Places to Visit

See a list of nearby places you can visit on your trip to the Gathering.