Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Seabeck Conference Center located? How easy is it to get to?
Seabeck Conference Center sits at 13395 Lagoon Dr NW, Seabeck, WA, on 90 wooded acres along Hood Canal with views of the Olympic Mountains. It’s a rustic, secluded retreat property, not something you’d stumble on from a highway.
From downtown Seattle (whether driving around the peninsula or taking either the Bainbridge or Bremerton ferries), it is 1-1/2 to 2 hours to Seabeck.
From Sea-Tac Airport, it is 1-3/4 to 2-1/4 hours, depending upon your route. There is a shuttle that goes from Sea-Tac to Silverdale directly and we can arrange to pick you up there (Seabeck is 15 minutes beyond Silverdale).
From Portland, it’s about 170–190 miles depending on the route (I-5 north through Tacoma/Olympia, then west into Kitsap County), which typically runs 3–3-1/2 hours of driving, again varying with traffic through Seattle/Tacoma.
What is the lodging like at Seabeck Conference Center?
Seabeck has several wonderful lodging options available to suit almost every need. They are well-known and appreciated for their hospitality standards, including comfortable beds, plenty of ramps, and great amenities. They’ve been hosting spiritual retreats for over 111 years now and are always trying to improve their guests’ experience. You can see exterior and interior photographs of each lodge here.
Do I have a choice about which lodge I get placed in?
Halima Taylor is this year’s Registrar Queen. Her job is to review the registrations and try to find a housing match for you based on your preferences. If you’ve been to Seabeck before and have a specific lodge, room, or bed size you’d like, please list it on your registration form. If you have mobility challenges, these can be expressed on this form as well.
Do we have exclusive use of the facility?
While we have exclusive use of the lodges we’ve booked and the meeting spaces, we will be sharing the 90-acre grounds with two other non-profit groups during the weekend we’re there. One is a school group and the other is a group of quilters. Last year, we found the interactions with other campers to be delightful.
Are there any hiking trails nearby?
The grounds have walkways and wooded trails that meander across Seabeck’s 90 acres, often overlooking Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains. There’s a Loop Trail through the woods, plus a boardwalk leading to a crow’s-nest lookout with views of the whole campus, and a “Cathedral in the Woods” is tucked among the trees. The Seabeck Haiku Walk is a scenic path around the grounds with haiku poems on plaques installed by local poets.
How much time do I have to register?
Seabeck is asking us to let them know our initial numbers by their “Declaration Date” of August 17, but registrations will be accepted up until the day before Seabeck. Sometimes it’s hard to know in advance when you can commit; please know that you are welcome even if you can’t register by mid-August.
Why isn’t there an Early Bird Registration this year?
Managing multiple price points for an event as complex as Seabeck is a nightmare for those involved. It felt like a bit of grace when Alexandra Terhorst offered to manage registration this year (as she does so brilliantly for many other Subud regions). To keep administrative fees low, and because the software is quite different, it was decided to limit the number of price points this year and see how that goes.
What is the cancellation policy?
As mentioned above, our Declaration Date with Seabeck is August 17. Up until that date, if you need to cancel, we can provide a full refund (minus a $25 administrative fee). After August 17, registrations are non-refundable unless we can re-sell your registration.
I have mobility issues. I see that many of the lodges have ramps, but I’m worried about the distances I might have to walk.
The distance from one end of camp to the other is about 1/4 mile and takes 5-10 minutes to cover on foot. Many of the meeting halls, as well as the dining hall are in the middle. For those who are mobility challenged, Seabeck has two golf carts that will be entirely at our disposal during the weekend, and we will be setting up a way for people to easily request pickups and drop offs as needed. We will also make sure there are people available to assist with luggage as well.
What are the meals like? Are there any stores nearby if I need something?
The reviews of the food have been full of praise. Meals are served buffet-style or family-style in their large dining room. Alternate diets such as vegetarian, vegan, non-celiac gluten-free, dairy-free, or a combination of these can be ordered with advance notice.
The Seabeck Landing General Store, right across the street from the main entrance, is a small waterfront convenience/grocery store that carries cold beverages, beer and wine, ice, bait, snacks, groceries, and sandwiches. It’s open daily from 6 am to 8 pm. It also stocks some local art, small souvenirs and knick knacks.
What if I only want to come for one day?
That’s definitely do-able. An all-day pass is available for $80, which includes both lunch and dinner.
I live nearby. Can I stop by just for lunch?
Yes. The price for lunch is $13.50, and we will need to know in advance to reserve you a meal.
How do I register?
Is there a place on the registration form for me to be able to make a donation?
Yes, and we appreciate your generosity! There is a spot on the form for your donations. These donations go directly into the Financial Assistance Fund to help those who need a little help join us at Seabeck. If there is a surplus of these donations, they will be kept for the next event.
How do I apply for financial assistance? What is involved?
It’s pretty painless. Fill out the Financial Assistance Application here and be certain to put the amount of help you can use. Once submitted, it will be reviewed and an amount determined that Subud can assist you with. You’ll receive a call from one of the Regional Helpers with a discount code that you can then apply to your registration.
What is Elderberry assistance?
If you are over 75, you may qualify for housing and/or transportation assistance to come to this gathering. To learn more, please reach out to Margarite Charney at ma**************@***oo.com.
Is there a way to take a tour of the grounds and see some of the activities from last year?
Yes! You can view the Seabeck 2025 video to see some of the highlights!
I hope this answers the majority of any questions you might have about the facility itself. Stay tuned for more information soon about volunteering, how to join the Seabeck committee, and other pieces of news. Seabeck 2026 promises to be a wonderful gathering in a beautiful location!! Feel free to contact Isabel for general Seabeck questions and Halima with any questions about your registration.
Isabel Gates, Event Coordinator, se*****@******nw.org, (360) 265-2000
Halima Taylor, Registrar, (503) 577-2911 TEXT
