Welcome to the Whidbey Institute at Chinook!

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1 Welcome to the Whidbey Institute at Chinook! Please read through this important information to prepare for your visit. What to Bring A flashlight it is dark here at night. Comfortable walking shoes. Weather appropriate, casual clothing. For current local weather information, visit Personal toiletries, including soap. An alarm clock, if needed. Ear plugs, if you are sharing a room and have any concern about night noise. A reusable water bottle to use throughout your stay our fresh well water is wonderful right from the tap. If you are camping: To preserve the natural quality of our lawns and meadows, only tent campers may stay overnight in Fern Meadow. Vehicle camping is prohibited. In addition to the supplies listed above, please bring a tent, bedding, and a towel. Bathrooms and showers are available. What You Will Find Available Here You are welcome to bring a favorite blanket if you d like! But bedding and towel needs are provided for those who are lodging. If you forget your flashlight, we have some available for purchase for $5 from the office, or a $5 deposit if you d like to return the flashlight at the end of your time here. What NOT to Bring Pets we have a longstanding no pet policy. The Chinook land provides a sanctuary for wild animals, and even dogs on leashes can disturb the natural habitat we strive to maintain. Do not bring them and keep them in your vehicle, even for short visits. This is not good for your pet, nor for other guests who may be caught by surprise. Perfumes or strongly scented toiletries. Incense, Candles please do not burn candles or incense individually in any of the rooms or cabins. We also request that no incense be burned in the Sanctuary. Candles may be burned during group gatherings only, with the permission of facilitator. Please, never leave candles unattended. Valuables the Whidbey Institute is a safe place; we do not lock the exterior doors of our lodging facilities for several purposes, but this means that there are few places to lock valuables away. Please plan to keep valuables that you are concerned about with you while you are here. Seasonal Items of Note Between March and November, stinging nettles grow prolifically on Whidbey Island and on the Chinook land. Although it is not poisonous, the formic acid in the tiny hairs on this plant s stems and leaves can cause an irritating rash. When walking the trails do not brush against these plants. Look for notched leaves on three to seven foot stems growing straight out of the ground. The stinging nettle is not all bite; it is highly nutritious and you may find it as a meal ingredient in a tasty and highly edible pesto while you are here. During the winter months Whidbey Island is prone to short power outages from strong gusts of wind, particularly from late December through February. This can add to the experience of getting away. Please know that the outages are generally short in duration (under four hours). 1

2 Travel Directions to the Whidbey Institute at Chinook The Whidbey Institute is located at 6449 Old Pietila Road, Clinton, WA Located on the southern end of Whidbey Island, we are approximately 75 minutes north of Seattle, including a 15-minute ferry ride from Mukilteo to Clinton. Travel may take longer depending on traffic or season (summers are heavy ferry traffic times, with many visitors to the island, particularly Thursday and Friday evenings). By Air The closest major airport is Seattle Tacoma International (SeaTac). From the airport take the Whidbey-SeaTac Shuttle The departure point is right outside of baggage claim, and round-trips may be scheduled for approximately $65, including the cost of the ferry crossing. Senior discounts and one-way options are available. Select the Langley/Clinton drop-off point, which is about 1.5 miles from the Whidbey Institute. Arrangements will need to be made for transportation from this drop-off point through your event leader, or by calling All Island Express Taxi: They provide direct pick-up and drop-off from/to the shuttle points, and their drivers are familiar with Whidbey Institute. By Vehicle Please carpool whenever possible; this will reduce your per-person ferry costs, as well as provide all of the other benefits of shared transportation. From Seattle travel I-5 North and exit on WA SR 525/Mukilteo Clinton. Follow this route 9.3 miles to the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry terminal. See directions below for Once you arrive in Clinton. From Bellevue/Eastside take I-405 North, crossing over I-5 and continuing west on SR 525. Follow this route 9 miles to the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry terminal. See directions below for Once you arrive in Clinton. From Vancouver/Bellingham there are two choices of routes. The first requires ferry travel and the second crosses onto the island via the Deception Pass Bridge. Both take roughly two hours from Bellingham. 1) Travel I-5 South and take exit 189 for the Mukilteo/Clinton ferry. Drive past the Boeing plant, straight through the first traffic signal, and turn RIGHT at the second traffic signal at Mukilteo Speedway. Stay in the right hand lane following signs to Mukilteo/Clinton ferry. There is one more right turn at the light at the bottom of the hill (gas station on right). Follow this route 2 more miles to the ferry terminal. See directions below for Once you arrive in Clinton. 2) Travel I-5 South, and take exit 230 toward Anacortes. Follow WA-20 for approx. 24 miles. Turn left before heading into Anacortes to stay on WA-20. WA-20 takes a right turn in south Oak Harbor. WA-20 then becomes WA SR 525. Keep following this main road down the island longer than you would anticipate. Turn RIGHT at the stoplight at Cultus Bay Road. Then follow the directions marked with + below. (If you miss Cultus Bay Road and arrive at the ferry terminal at the southernmost tip of Whidbey, you ve gone only 2 miles too far. Follow the directions above for: Once you arrive in Clinton.) Ferry Information: The ferry departs from Mukilteo to Clinton every half-hour between 8 am and 9 pm most days. Check the current schedule on the WSDOT website for exact sailing times and costs: select current schedule, then choose Mukilteo/Clinton ferry. Once you arrive in Clinton Follow the main road, still SR 525, for about 2 miles until you reach the stoplight at Cultus Bay Road. Turn LEFT onto Cultus Bay and travel approximately.7 miles to Campbell Road. Turn RIGHT onto Campbell Road and travel approximately.5 miles. + Turn LEFT when you see signs for Whidbey Institute and Chinook at Old Pietila Road [a gravel road]. Follow Old Pietila Road downhill through the forest about a half a mile. You will see a parking lot at the bottom of a hill. Please park here unless for mobility reasons it is important to be closer. Continue to follow Old Pietila by walking up the hill, following the curved roadside fence, until you see Thomas Berry Hall and the main office on your left. You are home. 2

3 When You Arrive Lodging If you are staying at the Whidbey Institute please follow the instructions below to find your home. See the map at the end of this packet for a visual reference. For those staying in the Farmhouse: When you pull into the Whidbey Institute lands from Campbell Road, follow the gravel road about.5 miles, all the way to the upper parking lot next to the main building. Pull into one of these parking spots to unload. The Farmhouse is a little further on the gravel road if you look down the hill you will see the brown house with the red trim. Carts are available under the kiosk. You can use these to load and bring your things down to the Farmhouse and your room. All bedrooms are upstairs, and the names are on the doors. Please return the cart for the next guest as soon as you are done using it, and move your vehicle to the lower or entrance parking lot (see Parking for explanation). For those staying in Granny s: When you pull into the Whidbey Institute lands from Campbell Road, follow the gravel road about.25 miles, keeping your eyes to the right. You will see a sign for Granny's. Turn right at that turn-off, and you will see the house. There are a few parking spots on the far side of the house. Pull into one of these spots to unload and bring your things to your room. Eagle and Raven are upstairs; all other rooms are on the ground floor and the names are on the doors. The walk from Granny's to Thomas Berry Hall is a little less than 1/3 of a mile, and takes about eight minutes to walk leisurely. There is a trail from Granny s through the woods that will take you to the Upper Parking Lot, and you are also welcome to walk along the road. (See map for trail reference.) For those staying in the Cabins: When you pull into the Whidbey Institute lands from Campbell Road, follow the gravel road about.5 miles, all the way in until you are in the upper parking next to the main building. Pull into one of these parking spots to unload. The cabins are further in on the gravel road see the map at the end of this packet for a reference on the cabins locations. Carts are available under the kiosk. You can use these to load and bring your things down to your cabin. Please return the cart for the next guest as soon as you are done using it, then move your vehicle to the lower or entrance parking lot (see Parking for explanation). There are bathrooms with both showers and toilets near the Sanctuary. Parking We have three parking lots: the entrance lot, the lower lot, and the upper lot. o The entrance lot is to the right just as you enter the gravel driveway on the way to Chinook, approximately 1/3 of a mile from the center. o The lower lot is located at the bottom of the hill before you reach the Hall. o The upper lot is closest to Thomas Berry Hall. You may park in the upper lot to unload your luggage into carts to be carried to your cabin or the Farmhouse. If you are an overnight visitor, please park your car in lower lot for the duration of your stay. Granny s guests may park their cars in the Granny s parking lot next to the house. Because of fire regulations, parking on the side of the road is against the law and we must warn that you may be towed. Please park only in the parking lots. Only delivery vehicles and transportation for mobility limited guests may drive past the upper lot. For guests needing wheelchair access to Thomas Berry Hall, please drive past the upper lot and follow the gravel road around to the left, circling to the back of Thomas Berry Hall and parking in the courtyard near the glass doors. Connect with staff for guidance on parking for the duration of the event. Luggage/Tents: If you have luggage or camping supplies to take to the Madrone Meadow camping area, please park temporarily in the upper lot and use the carts provided to haul your gear in. 3

4 This is Your Home for Your Time Here! Please... walk the trails, visit the vegetable and flower gardens, spend time winding through the labyrinth. This is a safe place. Please do not lock the exterior doors of the lodging spaces at night; you may inadvertently lock out one of your housemates. Commonly Asked Questions Whom do I reach at the Institute after office hours? Office hours are generally Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Our resident caretaker lives at the heart of the Whidbey Institute land in the caretaker cabin and can be reached at What should I do if I have a medical emergency? First aid kits are located in every kitchen. To request emergency medical response, dial 911 and explain that you are at Whidbey Institute, 6449 Old Pietila Road, in Clinton. Emergency information cards are located by each phone. Can I access a phone line? There are phones located in the Farmhouse and Granny s, however they are blocked to long distance calls. If the need arises, visit the Whidbey Institute office for support with a long distance call. Will I be able to use my cell phone? Most likely, outdoors. Depending on your service provider (with the exception of AT&T), the terrain of Whidbey Island and the location of cell towers can make it difficult to connect and sustain a call on the Chinook land. This could be a great time to turn off your cell phone and enjoy a quiet, uninterrupted visit. Can I send or receive ? Thomas Berry Hall has wireless internet access throughout the building, as well as in our lodging houses Granny s and Farmhouse. The wi-fi passwords are as follows: In Thomas Berry Hall: thelands In the Farmhouse: FARMHOUSE In Granny s: GRANNY S Is there truly only one shower for ten people in the Farmhouse? Yes... but fear not! First, there is a bathtub in the other bathroom this could be a lovely time for a soak. Second, this is an excellent community building exercise for coordinating shower time... AND... there are two additional shower/toilet rooms in the building near the Sanctuary that you are also welcome to use. Is smoking allowed at Chinook? Smoking is allowed outdoors only in the Art Barn area (see map for visual reference). Please be mindful of other visitors and dispose of the waste properly. Can I listen to music in my room? We love music here, however most visitors come for the peace and quiet of being close to nature. Out of respect for this intention, please use headphones at all times indoors or outdoors. Are children welcome? We welcome children to the Chinook lands but we ask that you designate an adult to be responsible for them at all times out of respect for their own safety, the property, and the experience of other guests. Can I pick the garden flowers or produce? We hope you will enjoy the flower and vegetable gardens as we do, but please check with a staff person before picking anything. Can I recycle cans, bottles, etc? We recycle as much as we can, and we need your help to do it well. Please make use of the designated recycling container near the dishwashing room in Thomas Berry Hall after meals. Recycling bins can also be found in the kitchens of Granny s and the Farmhouse. Our main recycling center is located below the Upper Parking Lot if you want to deliver straight to the collection zone. 4

5 When You Depart We would like you to know that you are a part of this place! You are also an important part of caring for the shared space. Before leaving your room, please check well to be sure that no personal belongings are left behind. Please dispose of anything you do not wish to take with you. We appreciate your help with picking up any litter you may see on the land or in the buildings. Finally, we invite you to please pay-it-forward by preparing your bed for the next visitor: strip the sheets and pillow cases on your bed, put the dirty linens and towels in the locations described in the cards found on your beds, and remake the bed with the clean sheets provided in your room. Thank you in advance for this generous gesture. To stay connected with all the other activities happening at the Institute, you can easily add yourself to our newsletter through the home page of our website at or visit our active Facebook page by searching for Whidbey Institute when logged into Facebook. 5

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