Other possibilities:
- Hood River ... these are close (1.7 miles from each other)
- Sleeps 29 in hood river in very nice accomodations! https://www.vacasarentals.com/unit.php?UnitID=346&adults=18
- Sleeps 20 in hood river in very nice accomodations! https://www.vacasarentals.com/unit.php?UnitID=107&adults=18
- Government Camp
- Sleeps 30 https://www.vacasarentals.com/unit.php?UnitID=205&adults=18
- Sleeps 24 https://www.vacasarentals.com/unit.php?UnitID=906&adults=18 ... this is the place we stayed for seed 2009
Geography
- East of Portland: Windward, Camp Trackers, Camp Namanu
- South of Portland: Silver Falls, Camp Westwind, Cape Lookout
- Also consider Cedar Ridge, which is an hour northwest of Portland
- Also consider the Whidbey Institute, which is northwest of Seattle on Whidbey Island
- Also consider http://www.seabeck.org/
Values Windward Camp Westwind Whidbey Institute Silver Falls Conf. Center Cape Lookout Camp Trackers Cedar Ridge Camp Namanu
available at solstice 2015 (if not then, when?)(mid summer (roughly August 5th)) Yes but tricky No ... summer camp Yes Yes Yes Fri afternoon-Sun afternoon
Probably ... their first day camp for 2014 is June 23
kid-friendly (safe, flexible, options for kids) Fantastic! Adequate Seems okay, there were kids at Whidbey Bioneers 2013 Yes, including kid-friendly trails Yes Yes Yes Fantastic!
community (shared meals, opening/closing circle) Yes Yes Yes, they do both at Whidbey Bioneers and are very proud of their food Yes, meals and a meeting hall included with group lodging Yes Yes
Yes, there is even meal service if desired
beautiful and inspiring (e.g., stirring natural setting) No Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Pretty good, on the Sandy river close to bull run ... trails through old growth
free (allows dance, singing, rockets ... you know ... spectacles!) Yes Moderate Some limits due to wildfire risk Moderate Mostly Yes
Yes
accessible (easy to get to for those coming from elsewhere including proximity to an inexpensive airport) 2hr from PDX 2hrs from PDX Okay, about 90 minutes from SeaTac but requires a ferry ride Pretty good, 30 minutes from I-5/Salem and 90 minutes from PDX 2hrs from PDX 45min from PDX
45-60min from PDX
apart (not something you just come to for an hour or two each day) Yes Yes ... ferry across a river Yes, on an island Yes, in a state park with lodging Yes Yes
Yes
not too uncomfortable (decent weather conditions, indoor sleeping accommodations for people for whom camping would be an issue) No Yes Yes, includes both camping and indoor lodging Yes, all indoor lodging (camping isn't a listed option) No No
Yes
affordable (has to fit within the budgets of the convening organizations) Yes Expensive Probably not, unless they reduce rates due to being a co-convener Yes, food+lodging is $100 or less per person per night Yes Yes
Expensive ~$6000, but has capacity for 300 people ... so if we ask for $100/person definitely doable (60 people covers the cost completely)
neutral (the people who run the venue shouldn't be too ideological or religious, at least not in a way that clashes significantly with our values) Yes Yes Their ideology is a good match Probably, no obvious problems Yes Yes
Yes ... inclusiveness is part of their prominently stated values