Important Things To Know

SUPER IMPORTANT DETAILS

for 2025 SISTERSPIRIT RETREAT ATTENDEES

Hello there from Rev. Abigail and the Dream Team!

It’s getting close! 2025 SisterSpirit is quickly approaching and we are excitedly preparing for your arrival!  There’s lots of juicy information in this letter – created to answer all your questions!

Please read this letter carefully, as there are some very important steps and updates that you must know prior to traveling to Seabeck Conference Center and while onsite with us for the event. Keep this letter handy! 

COVID-19 safety measures: Seabeck recently changed their policy regarding COVID-19 testing. Testing is no longer required prior to attending the retreat center.  However, we strongly encourage you to test before you attend and during the retreat if you exhibit cold- or flu-like symptoms  Seabeck requires that anyone positive for COVID-19 must leave the campus to protect their staff and other attendees. 

Cancellations: If you are unable to attend the retreat for any reason, it is important that you contact Marylyn Kirk at 408-504-5121 or Cathy Gucker at 541-222-0863 (texting is ok) as soon as you can so that we won’t worry about you. If you cannot attend, but have a substitute who can, we need to know as soon as possible so appropriate arrangements can be made.  There is limited cell phone reception depending on your carrier. If you cannot reach us, please call the Seabeck Conference Center at 360-830-5010 and leave a message.

Refunds: SisterSpirit Retreat Refund Policy

SisterSpirit is committed to offering an enriching and transformative experience for all our participants. We understand that plans can change, and we want to ensure a fair and transparent refund process. Please review our refund policy below:

1. Cancellation by Participant:

• More than 45 days before the retreat start date: Full refund, (minus the nonrefundable pre-registration payment), minus a 15% processing fee.

• Between 10 and 45 days before the retreat start date: 50% refund (minus the nonrefundable pre-registration payment).

• Less than 10 days before the retreat start date: No refund. However, if you are unable to attend due to illness or unforeseen circumstances, we may offer a partial credit toward a future retreat, at our discretion.

2. Transfer of Registration:

• If you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to another individual at no additional cost. The new participant must be registered at least 7 days before the retreat start date.

3. Cancellation by Retreat:

• If we are forced to cancel the retreat due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., force majeure, health and safety concerns), you will receive a full refund of the retreat fee.

• If the retreat is rescheduled, you will have the option to either transfer your registration to the new dates or receive a full refund.

4. No-Show:

• If you do not attend the retreat and have not informed us of your cancellation, no refund will be issued.

5. Special Considerations:

• In case of medical or personal emergencies, please contact us as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate you with alternative options or credits where feasible.

We believe in the power of personal growth and transformation, and we strive to make our retreat experience accessible and supportive for all. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please reach out to our team at sisterspiritlove@gmail.com.

Arrival and Departure: Please arrive at Seabeck on Thursday, April 3rd, between 1:15-3:30pm to check-in. This will provide adequate time for you to check in at the Historic Inn lobby and unload your gear before our first gathering. Travel time from SEA-TAC is approximately 2 hours (68.5 mi) via I-5 S and WA-16 W, and no ferry crossing is required. If traveling from North of Seattle, please allow plenty of time to take the Edmonds/Kingston Ferry or the Seattle/Bremerton Ferry. The Ferry schedules can be found at:  https://wsdot.com/ferries/schedule/. Our closing ceremony will be on Sunday morning followed by lunch. Please honor your commitment to arrive on time and remain until the end of the retreat on Sunday.  Plan to depart Seabeck by 2:00pm on Sunday. Seabeck policy requires that all attendees have left the campus by 2:00pm. 

Carpool: Please make your own carpool arrangements. We will soon provide a google doc where you can connect with other attendees. It's fun to share a ride with someone and make a new friend while being environmentally friendly. Be sure to share the cost of gas, tolls, car rental or ferry expenses with your driver. If you have a car with extra space for passengers, please consider helping and add your name to the carpool list. Many of our attendees are from out of state.

Shuttle Transportation: If you fly into the Seattle (SEA-SeaTac) airport, you can take a shuttle to Silverdale (nearby city to Seabeck) with Bremerton-Kitsap Airporter Shuttle. Upon arrival at SeaTac airport, head down to carousel 3 baggage claim. You will see a kiosk with the words Kitsap Airporter. Pay for a $39 one-way ticket to Silverdale. The shuttle stops at the airport at the top of the hour from 4am-9pm. Hand your ticket to the driver of the shuttle bus (a white bus with Kitsap Airporter on the side.) You will need to make a reservation for your return trip from Silverdale to the airport. Schedule, reservations, and fares can be found at: https://www.kitsapairporter.com/ Once you arrive in Silverdale, take a taxi, Uber, or Lyft from Silverdale to Seabeck. You will need to make your own transportation arrangements.

Informational volunteer meeting, Welcome gathering, and Orientation: If you are interested in being in sacred service during the retreat, there will be an informational volunteer meeting at 4:15pm in the Meeting Room in PINES first floor meeting room, followed by our Welcome Gathering and Orientation meeting for everyone at 5:00pm in the same location. Dinner will follow at 6:00pm in the DINING ROOM at mid-campus. Our first Session and Opening Ceremony will be at 7:30pm in Pines first floor meeting room. For a sample retreat Daily Schedule-click 2025 SisterSpirit Agenda

Meals: If you are a vegetarian/vegan and indicated this on your registration form, there will be appropriate food choices for you. Our caterer has been informed of any special diets or food allergies that you may have listed. There is a small, shared refrigerator in the Dining Room for special food needs or to store required medications. Or you can bring your own cooler. Ice is available on the porch outside the Dining Room for a nominal fee (couple of dollars). There are also refrigerators in Pines first floor kitchen. Remember to label your food. If not labeled it may be shared with others.

Lodging Description: Rooms are first come, first served. Register early for the best selection. Both floors in Pines are ADA accessible with an elevator. Salal and Spruce have both upstairs and downstairs rooms, with no elevator. The Historic Inn rooms are all upstairs with no elevator. Most rooms have a private bathroom, except for the Historic Inn.   Lodging options include single occupancy, double occupancy and triple occupancy. Download the PDFs available on the registration form or on the Seabeck webpage at:  https://www.seabeck.org/lodging 

MeaBathrooms/showers and linens: Bathrooms and showers are shared with your roomate(s). All bedding, pillows, towels, and washcloths are provided. The downstairs rooms in Salal and Hemlock, and all rooms in Pines are ADA accessible. 

What to Bring: The full list of recommended items is on the "What to Bring" page.  

Weather: Early April at Seabeck experiences almost constant cloud cover, with the percentage of time that the sky is overcast or mostly cloudy is about 68%. The average daily high temperature is 52 degrees and average low temperature is 36 degrees. There’s a 50% chance of rain or showers.

Cell Phone and Wi-Fi reception: Cell phone reception is limited especially with Sprint or AT&T carriers.  Wi-Fi service may be spotty. Be prepared to be "technologically unplugged" for a few days, just in case!  Seabeck has a 24-hour phone number to leave with your family, and it is 360-830-5010.

Artisan Faire: On Saturday afternoon there will be an Artisan Faire in Pines. If you have personally created arts, crafts, jewelry, pottery, fiber art, paintings, have authored a book or produced your own music (CDs or otherwise), this is YOUR time to shine. Price your items and bring your displays, your own change, Square or paper credit card authorization forms for sales. We can’t wait to see your creations!  It will be fun to support our sisters in their creative endeavors and purchase some unique items.  Bring some extra cash to go shopping! 

Retreat spiritual leader, guest speaker & musician: Rev. Abigail Schairer is our retreat Spiritual Leader, main speaker, and facilitator. Several of the main sessions will also be facilitated by the Dream Team. Rev. Abigail will also be our wonderful and inspiring featured speaker in 2025!, The amazing Faith Rivera, a dynamic singer, songwriter is our featured musician! Get ready for some powerful feminine energy!

Workshops & free time:  There will be a variety of workshops to choose from where supplies will be provided. You can also choose to skip the workshops and enjoy time to bask in the sun (or rain-LOL), take a nap, read a book, journal, or hike around the area. If you are interested in presenting a 1 ½ hour-2-hour workshop, please apply here: https://form.jotform.com/240075037127146

Gently Used Gift Exchange: Should you have any gently used jewelry, other spiritual items, or books you would like to gift to someone else, please bring them to the Gift Exchange table.  If you find something you like, feel free to give that item a new loving home!

Divine Expression Theater:  Our Saturday night talent show, Divine Expression Theater, will be your chance to try out your entertainment skills. All performance pieces (songs, dances, skits, poetry, stand-up comedy, musical solos, whatever!) are welcome for your 3 minutes of fame. Be sure to bring any props, music, costumes, instruments, CDs, etc., that will enhance your special talents (especially sheet music if you want our fabulous musician to accompany you). Sign up for Divine Expression Theater at Registration when you arrive at Seabeck. (Remember to keep your presentation to Three minutes or less!)

SisterSpirit 2026 Pre-registration:  SisterSpirit 2026 will be held April 15-19. Pre-registration for 2026 will be available at the retreat. You can pre-register yourself and/or a friend or relative for next year for $99 each. This amount will apply to your 2026 registration fee, you will receive a $40 discount off the 2026 retreat, AND you will be able to register a few weeks ahead of regular registration. You will have first choice of lodging location before registration opens to the public. (Sorry we cannot pre-register your lodging as we may not know in advance what buildings will be available until the following year.) Checks, cash, or debit/credit cards are accepted for pre-registration.

We are super excited to see you again or meet for the first time.  We can’t wait to be with you at this transformational retreat - "A Bridge to the Radiant Soul."  We will see you at Seabeck on Thursday, April 3rd between 1:15 and 3:30pm! 

Love,

2025 SisterSpirit Dream Team Rev. Abigail Schairer, Marylyn Kirk, RScP, Cathy Gucker, Michelle Lang, Rev. Lynda Lundry-Starr, Cheryl Gifford, and Julieanna Smith