Guest Fact Sheet

 
IslandWood was designed primarily to promote enthusiasm among 4th- and 5th-grade students for lifelong learning and stewardship through programs that integrate science, technology and the arts. IslandWood has now opened its doors to rent the campus to non-profit, educationally focused groups. This creates financial support for IslandWood’s mission-driven programs.

In 1997, inspiration to create IslandWood came from the land itself and the knowledge that many Seattle children did not receive a residential outdoor education program. A six-month feasibility study confirmed the great need for this region. Two years of research followed, with school and community meetings involving over 2500 people in the Puget Sound region.

In 1998, 255-acres of land on Bainbridge Island was purchased. The property provided a diverse variety of ecosystems for field experiences: 62 acres of wetlands, a bog, pond, second growth forest, a stream, and access to a marine estuary park adjacent to the property. The official ground breaking for the center was held in the summer of 2000, and two years later the Grand Opening took place in the fall, 2002.

IslandWood is a beautiful, sustainably designed
campus perfect for educational conferences.


4450 Blakely Avenue NE
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Telephone 206.855.4300

ISLANDWOOD GUEST FACTS

TRANSPORTATION
IslandWood is located on Bainbridge Island, a 35-minute ferry ride from Seattle, Washington. Please see TNPI’s Transportation Information sheet for more information:
http://teachersnetwork.org/tnli/Institute/transport.htm

REGISTRATION
IslandWood staff will assist with check-in and orientation when you arrive. Please make sure you do so at the times suggested (see Transportation Information sheet); if you arrive much later, you will need to make special arrangements with TNPI staff. As IslandWood is a closed/gated campus, a special gate code is needed to access the gate after normal business hours.

TELEPHONES/MESSAGES
Generally speaking, telephone access at IslandWood is limited. For emergency purposes, the main number for others to call IslandWood is: (206) 855-4317—this number will be attended Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. After hours and weekends, there is a staff pager for emergency calls only—this number is: (206) 663-8836; persons calling need to leave a numeric page only (i.e., a voice-mail message cannot be retrieved).

There is one telephone in the lobby of each lodge that guests may use—this telephone also accepts messages. After you arrive, you can use a calling card (i.e., while telephones are restricted to local calls only, you may place long distance calls by using a calling card or by calling collect) to leave the telephone number for your lodge. (Dial eight (8) to place outgoing calls.)

Cell phones are not reliable on the IslandWood campus.

LAPTOP USE / INTERNET ACCESS
All lodge rooms have just been wired for laptop use! Teachers can access their e-mail if they bring a network wire and follow the IslandWood Internet Access instructions:
http://teachersnetwork.org/tnli/Institute/internetaccess.htm.

DINING HALL
Dining at IslandWood will be one of the most unique and exciting activities you experience. IslandWood’s innovative chef Greg Atkinson uses organic produce and sustainably raised meat to create regional, seasonal meals. Chef Atkinson is the author of In Season and The Northwest Essentials Cookbook; he is also a contributing editor to Food Arts Magazine, and his articles appear regularly in Pacific Northwest, the Sunday newsmagazine of The Seattle Times.

All meals are served family-style and are presented on huge platters to the entire table. [Note: special dietary needs—including requests for vegetarian meals (as noted on the TNPI Summer Institute Participant check-off form that was distributed with fellows’ initial mailing)—must be indicated to TNPI staff by no later than Monday, July 7th.]

YOGA
TNPI has arranged so that yoga classes will be available every morning from 7:00 a.m.-8:00 a.m. We encourage you to take part! You will want to be sure to pack/carry along a yoga mat.

SMOKING
IslandWood is a no-smoking facility. Smoking is allowed in the parking area; IslandWood asks you to please dispose of butts properly.

ALCOHOL
Wine will be served with dinner meals. Otherwise, alcohol is not permitted in the lodges or other buildings.

FLASHLIGHTS
It is recommended that you bring a flashlight. There are many lighted trails, but IslandWood is located on 255 acres, with buildings on only 10 of these acres. The campus is situated away from city lights and it can be quite dark between buildings.

PARTICIPANT NEEDS
Your rustic-looking yet comfy room (please note each room is double-occupancy) will have radiant heat, all-cotton linens, blankets, towels, soap at the hand sink and a top-quality mattress. We recommend you bring shower soaps and shampoos, hairdryer, other personal toiletries and a water bottle for drinking. Water bottles are also useful throughout the campus. IslandWood requests that you take off your shoes when entering the lodge so you may want to bring slippers.

DRESS
IslandWood dress is casual and comfortable—though you will want to have at least one dress-up outfit for our final dinner and group photo. Generally speaking, IslandWood recommends that you wear clothing in layers. Outdoor temperatures average between 50 and 70 degrees during the day and around 40 degrees at night. You should wear comfortable, broken-in walking shoes at all times. Rain gear is recommended for all seasons.

SUSTAINABLY DESIGNED CAMPUS
The IslandWood campus actively participates in energy conservation, composting, recycling, and harnessing alternative energy sources. In fact, all of the facilities on the campus feature numerous sustainable elements, such as recycled flooring and countertops, photovoltaic panels, and a Living Machine for natural wastewater treatment. As children, teachers, and others visit this campus, they are, quite literally, surrounded by practical lessons about how to live more responsibly within the natural world.

SITE and TRAILS
The 255-acre IslandWood campus protects a complete watershed. Walking trails provide the central framework for discovering both the natural and cultural history of Puget Sound. You can walk beside the cattail marsh and bog down to Mac’s Pond then along the stream into the forest of giant cedars and Douglas fir trees and finally out to the estuary. Some of the trails are ADA accessible, and most include some inclines and require moderate physical ability.

BIRDING
Don’t leave your binoculars at home. Hooded Merganser, Pileated Woodpecker, Barred Owl, Osprey, Raven, Belted Kingfisher and many more Northwest birds grace the IslandWood campus with their presence and song.