2024 Gathering Info and Resources

Details and Resources

Be sure to check back as we will be updating this page regularly with new information and details about the gathering, as we have them!

Table of Contents

WELCOME TO THE SALISH SEA!

Camp Indianola
Address:
10635 NE Shore Dr
Indianola, WA 98342
 
Website:  https://campindianola.org/
 
You are warmly invited to join us for the 2024 Wilderness Guides Council annual in-person gathering. We are so excited for this gathering and we think it is going to be a potent one! What a gift to be able to meet in person, and to sit together with the land and beaches of the Salish Sea.  This is an opportunity to spend spacious and meaningful time with friends and colleagues, old and new. We will talk about what is coming up in the guiding work, how we are meeting this ever-changing world and tending to the challenges of these times. More details to come as the program comes together! 
 

The camp is located on the traditional homelands Suquamish people. You can learn more about the history and and current situation of the Suquamish people by visiting the Suquamish museum (owned and operated by the Suquamish tribe) and this Smithsonian article: The Struggle for Native Lands in Indianola, Washington

Lodging Options

Camp Indianola has indoor lodging as well as plenty of space to camp; access to trails and beach; spaces for workshops and to meet indoor and out.  Given the time of year, we are grateful for an abundance of indoor choices. The prices listed included your housing choice, 14 meals, and the gathering!

CAMPING

You can car camp, camper camp, tent camp. There will be access to bathrooms and showers, as well.  

$395 (member)
$420 (non-member)

There will also be a few electrified sites RV sites for additional cost. If you are interested in one of these please email us at [email protected]

MADRONA LODGE QUEENS  

These are the sweetest rooms in the newly renovated Madrona lodge. These rooms have 1 queen bed – which you can rent privately or share with another. Bathrooms are shared. There is a short set of stairs required to access this lodge.

The Madrona lodge has 

  • 5 Queen bed rooms
  • 1 Small Bunkroom
  • 3 private single-stall bathrooms
  • 3 private showers with dressing area
  • Living room meeting space with couches, chairs, tables. 
  • Very large deck overlooking the bluff and Salish Sea

Madrona Queen Room

$625 (member)
$650 (non-member)

**Please note that The Mothers Roots team (Chef Janna and her crew) will be staying in a bunkroom in the Madrona lodge as well. So it is a space where a bit of extra quiet is requested, especially in the evening and between meals [because they rise early to fix our breakfast!].

Madrona Queen room partner ticket

When registering if you have a 2nd person who would like to share that queen bed with you 🙂 email us at [email protected] and we will get you set up with a Madrona Queen partner ticket. 

$385 (member)
$395 (non-member)

Madrona Small Bunkroom

This room is for 2 people and both are “Earth Beds” – no climbing!

$490 (member)

$515 (non-member) 

DRIFTWOOD BUNKHOUSE  

The Driftwood Lodge sits by the water and will be a great space to hunker in if the weather turns rainy or chilly. There is a large meeting room with couches, a kitchen and a fireplace.

You can choose Small Bunkrooms that have 2 people in them and also have a private entrance. 

Or to save a little you can choose to be in a Large Bunkroom that will have 3-4 people in them (with a possibility of one more each if the weather turns).

** PLEASE NOTE These Bunkrooms include both Earth beds (bottom bunks) and a few Sky Beds (upper bunks).  In the small bunkrooms, those Sky Beds can be a little challenging to climb into. So when you register, we ask that you PLEASE select a Sky Bunk if you are able bodied enough to climb on up! You may still end up with an Earth bunk as there are more of those, but we want to make sure everyone who needs an Earth bunk gets one. 

Driftwood Large Bunkroom (3-6 people)

$475 (member)
$500 (non-member)

Driftwood Small Bunkroom (2 people)

$490 (member)
$515 (non-member)

THE COTTAGE 

The Cottage is a cozy cabin with a small outdoor deck providing views of the Salish Sea.  It has a kitchen, dining table, and small living room. The Bathroom is shared by 3-4 people. 

Cottage Queen Room

$625 (member)
$650 (non-member)

Cottage Queen room partner ticket                                                           

When registering if you have a 2nd person who would like to share that queen bed with you 🙂 email us at [email protected] and we will get you set up with a Madrona Queen partner ticket. 

$385 (member)
$395 (non-member)

Meals

We are beyond thrilled that this event will be catered by Chef Jana and Mother’s Roots.  We are looking forward to yummy and healthy meals. Coffee and tea will also be provided. Your ticket includes 15 meals – beginning with dinner on October 11th and ending on lunch on the last day. You will be able to indicate your dietary needs when you register. 

Scholarships

Applications were due July 15. HOWEVER, you can still submit an application

Thanks to so many generous donations at gatherings and throughout the year, partial scholarships are available on a limited basis. We have already distributed funds to the folks who applied by the deadline. However, we will continue to fundraise and will offer help as we are able. So please do apply to get on the waiting list.

WGC 2024 Gathering Scholarship Request

We know this could particularly help our Canadian friends as the current exchange rate might be an impediment to participation. LGBTQ+ and BIPOC members are especially encouraged to apply – and this fund is for everyone in our community that truly needs support to attend. We don’t want to miss seeing you due to funds!

Andy Gardner Memorial Scholarship: This Scholarship has already been awarded. 

 

Transportation to the Gathering

You can drive the entire way. You can fly into SeaTac
Airport, hop a train to Seattle, then walk onto the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry to cross Puget Sound. We will be able to pick up folks at the Kingston Ferry debarkation area several times throughout registration day. Or take the slow, scenic route on a Greyhound Bus to Indianola.

The best airport to fly into is:

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) Home

 There are a number of ways to drive, shuttle (or kayak!) the camp.
 
  • Edmonds-Kingston Ferry: The 30-minute ferry ride from Edmonds to Kingston is a tourist attraction in its own right. Car fare is $16.00 one way. Foot passengers pay $9.00 from Edmonds to Kingston and pay $0.00 (free) from Kingston to Edmonds. Bicycles incur a $1.00 surcharge and must be ridden onto the car deck. You can view the ferry schedule HERE.
  • Driving from the Ferry: From the Kingston ferry debarkation area, follow traffic onto NE 1st Street. In 1/3 mile, turn left onto NE West Kingston Road. In 0.6 mile, turn left onto S. Kingston Road NE. Drive. In 4 miles, turn left onto Indianola Road NE. In 0.5 mile, turn left on NE Shore Drive. Drive 1.3 miles to the very end of the road, following signs for Camp Indianola. 
  • Take the Ferry, then bike: The bike ride from the Kingston ferry terminal to Camp Indianola is about 6.5 miles. Follow the driving directions above.
  • For those traveling from Canada. If coming from Mainland Canada, the I-5 will take you to Seattle, then to the Edmonds Ferry. If coming from Vancouver Island, the M.V. Coho ferry from Victoria to Port Angeles will be leaving three times daily, at  10:30, 3:30, and 7:30 PM. From Port Angeles, it is a short one and one-half hour drive via Hwys. 101 and 104 to Indianola.
  • Fly and then Bus: From Sea-Tac airport you can take a bus either to the Edmonds Ferry Terminal and catch the ferry to Kingston OR there is an inexpensive Greyhound bus that runs from Sea-Tac to Kingston 4 times a day. We will be running a shuttle from Kingston to Indianola several times throughout registration day.
  • Kayak: If you paddle over, please be sure to land on Camp Indianola property and not Suquamish Tribal Lands.  The boundary is clearly marked on shore.  If you opt to bring a kayak, canoe, or paddle board you are welcome to launch from camp property into Port Madison Bay. 
  • Carpool: We will also set up a carpool finding connections link to support carpooling from the airport or from wherever you may live. Though finding a match is not guaranteed.

Meals

We are beyond thrilled that this event will be catered by Chef Jana and Mother’s Roots.  We are looking forward to yummy and healthy meals. Coffee and tea will also be provided. Your ticket includes 15 meals – beginning with dinner on October 11th and ending on lunch on the last day. You will be able to indicate your dietary needs when you register. 

Cancellation Policy

We can provide you a full refund, less $50 up until 2 weeks before the gathering. 

Weather

The weather in the Pacific Northwest coastal areas can be unpredictable in October. Be prepared for both warm, chilly, or downright cold weather. And of course the is always the possibility of plenty of rain.

Things To Do In The Area

Things to do near Camp Indianola:

      • Located in the town of Suquamish, 30 minutes from our camp this museum offers a cultural overview of the Suquamish tribe past and present and is well worth a visit.
      • Roughly 25 minutes from Camp Indianola, the Bloedel Reserve is a 140-acre wonder of nature. Working with the rugged geography of the land, the founders artfully transformed a rough-hewn Northwest Forest into a harmonious series of curated gardens, structural features, and distinctive landscapes, with nature as canvas and paint. 
  • Located on the Salish Sea, in the town of Suquamish, 30 minutes from our camp The Old Man House was the largest winter longhouse in Washington state. At one time, it was home to the famous Suquamish chiefs Kitsap and Seattle. The beach is a lovely place to visit for a quiet moment of beauty.
  • Entry to the park is roughly 2 hours from our venue. If you are interested in exploring one of 3 national parks within Washington state, Olympic NP is a jewel and well worth a visit.  The park is located within the Olympic Mountains as well as along coastal beaches.  There are endless places to explore!

Food & Drink:

  • Indianola Country Store & Deli 
  • Indianola Farmers Market – Saturday 9am-noon
  • There are a number of restaurants in both Kingston (6 miles away) and Poulsbo (10 miles away). 

Lodging & Camping:

Visa Information

For citizens of South Africa:

Please visit the following link for more information:

https://za.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/

For Citizens of Germany:

https://www.onlinevisa.com/esta-us-visa/german/

 

For citizens of the Ukraine:

Please visit the following link for more information:

https://ua.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/

Suggestions to help with your visa application process

List of documents you might need to submit your application

✓ Passport both international and national

✓  Photo according to U.S. requirements: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html#nonimmigrant

✓ Application fee payment receipt

To support your interview process, bring the following documents to support your answers:

✓   Employment certificate and/or certificate of entrepreneur

✓   Bank account statement

✓   Tax declaration including social security and pension

✓   Invitation for the Gathering

✓    Airplane tickets

✓    Hotel/Airbnb booking confirmation

✓    Documents of ownership of property (if any) and/or rental agreement for your accommodation in your city

Once you register we can also send you additional suggestions for additional ways to prepare for your visa application process.10635 NE Shore Dr, Indianola, WA 98342https://campindianola.org/

Link Back to Event Page and Ticket Purchase

Click HERE to link back to the main event page and to purchase your ticket.