I love the Evergreen State and am impressed by the wide variety of places connected to land and/or water for a nonprofit to retreat. Here’s a few suggestions for some places that look fantastic:

King County

Cascade People’s Center (Seattle): Located next to a community garden and park in a rapidly developing South Lake Union, this location “has a large community room fashioned with laminated wood floors that compliment its warm earth tone painted walls.  The space welcomes natural light from three built-in skylights and large windows from the south and west sides of the building.

Center for Wooden Boats (Seattle): “Hosting an event at CWB means your guests will enjoy panoramic views of Seattle’s skyline to the South and waterfront views of South Lake Union to the North.” 

Camp Long (Seattle): “Located in West Seattle, this 68 acre park offers visitors an opportunity to enjoy nature, hike in the forest, camp overnight in rustic cabins, rock climb, and learn about natural history. Rental facilities include a lodge with one meeting room, kitchen space, 10 cabins, two covered picnic areas, group fire ring, and climbing rock.”

Brightwater Center (Woodinville): “The sustainably-built Brightwater Center features multi-purpose meeting areas for conferences, weddings and other special events. The Center is surrounded by a 70+ acre natural area with ponds, wetlands and walking trails and has a large meeting space that accommodates up to 260 people, which can be broken down into three smaller rooms.”

Rainbow Lodge (North Bend): “Nestled on 40 acres in the tall timber at the base of towering Mount Si, Rainbow Lodge Retreat Center is unique.”

North

Whidbey Institute (Whidbey Island): “A home for transformational learning” with a mission “to nurture the conditions for transformational learning, and our purpose is to be a Place for those called by the responsibility and transformative potential of these times.”

Doe Bay Retreat (Orcas Island): “Our beautiful waterfront escape offers plenty of space to relax, get grounded, play and make memories. We have a variety of accommodations to suit the needs and desires of your group, including a large retreat house, a variety of cabins and yurts, and numerous camping sites to make your event more affordable for participants.”

North Cascades Institute (Sedro-Woolley): “Learning Center classrooms, labs and libraries offer spectacular views of the surrounding landscape and provide excellent conference space and meeting accommodations. Throughout the interior and outside spaces of our LEED Silver Certified venue, the natural world and striking landscape of the North Cascades are close and accessible.”

Camp Orkila (Orcas Island): “…the perfect respite for you to experience the wonder of the outdoors through traditional camp activities, quaint cabin lodging, healthy and delicious meals, and quality outdoor time together with family and friends. Not to mention the picturesque views of northwest waterways and majestic evergreen forests!” 

Fort Worden (Port Townsend): “Fort Worden State Park and its epic natural setting of Port Townsend—dubbed “the Paris of the Pacific Northwest” by Sunset Magazine—is the kind of destination that stays with one for a lifetime. Originally designed as a military base to protect Puget Sound, Fort Worden has evolved into an iconic and cherished state park…”

IslandWood (Bainbridge Island): “Flexible, light-filled meeting spaces feature all the essential amenities for a successful off-site meeting or conference with 360 degree views of the meadows and forest outside. Beyond the boardroom, the five natural ecosystems that make up IslandWood’s wooded campus offer ample opportunities for deeper focus and teamwork.”

Washington State Parks (See locations below): “State Park’s retreat centers were estabshed as youth camps in the 1950s for student outdoor educational activities. We now offer these lodges with clustered cabins and other rustic facilities to many groups looking for overnight accommodations with their outdoor recreational activities.”

• Cama Beach (Camano Island): “sweeping views of Saratoga Passage, Whidbey Island and the Olympic Mountains.”
• Camp Moran (near Mount Constitution on Oracas Island): “Provides opportunities for mountain biking, hiking, fishing and swimming.”
• Cornet Bay (Deception Pass): “Provides opportunities for fishing, hiking and kayaking.”
• Fort Flagler (Marrowstone Island): “Offers three dormitory-type camps for groups of all sizes. Visitors will have opportunities for clamming, hiking and exploring the fort’s barracks.”
• Ramblewood (Olympic Peninsula, Sequim Bay): “Features fishing, beach combing, and hiking.”

South

Camp Colman (Key Peninsula): “the property includes over a half mile of Puget Sound beachfront with views of the Cascade Mountains, an enclosed six acre lagoon, an expansive lodge, and quaint cabins nestled among the evergreen trees.”

Harmony Hill (Union): “Harmony Hill began with Gretchen Schodde’s dream to create a retreat center where people could experience renewal and deep well-being.”

Washington State Parks (See locations below): “State Park’s retreat centers were estabshed as youth camps in the 1950s for student outdoor educational activities. We now offer these lodges with clustered cabins and other rustic facilities to many groups looking for overnight accommodations with their outdoor recreational activities.”

• Brooks Memorial (just north of Goldendale): Nestled in a forested mountain setting on Satus Pass, this location offers trails and fishing in the Upper Satus River.:
• Camp Delany (Sun Lake-Dry Falls State Park): “A desert oasis in the Grand Coulee area of the Columbia Basin, 7 miles southwest of the Grand Coulee Dam and features hiking and biking trails.”
• Camp Wooten (on the Tucannon River in the Blue Mountains) “This facility offers hiking, canoeing and swimming in an indoor pool.
• Millersylvania (just south of Olympia): “The spacious facility situated on the shores of Deep Lake, provides opportunities for swimming, fishing, canoeing and hiking.”
• Puffer Butte (in the Blue Mountains): “This remote location set at an elevation of 4,500 feet offers summer and winter recreational opportunities, including hiking, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.”

Any suggestions for places I missed? Please contact me with your suggestions. 

I’m a part of Pacific Pattern, which serves nonprofits an networks up and down the Pacific Flyway, which includes the Evergreen State. If your origination or collaborative needs a facilitator and/or strategy consultant, please contact us.