Frequently Asked Questions

Samish Island Nature and Adventure Camp Retreat FAQs

Last Updated: February 10, 2025

Where is Samish Island located in Washington State, and how long does it take to get there from Seattle or Bellingham?

Samish Island is in Skagit County, looking out over Samish Bay and Padilla Bay in the northern part of the state. It’s about 80–90 minutes north of Seattle by car, and roughly 30–40 minutes from Bellingham, depending on traffic. You drive north on I-5, then head west through farm and bay lands until you reach the island. Although it’s called an “island,” it’s connected to the mainland by road, so you don’t need a ferry to reach our 80+ acre camp and retreat sanctuary.

Yes. Our program on Samish Island is a POC-created, BIPOC-led, all-inclusive summer sleepover camp designed specifically for people of color and mixed-race families. Your lodging, fresh-from-scratch meals, and activities are included in one predictable price. That means no juggling separate bookings for hotels, food, and recreation—you just arrive, settle in, and focus on rest, connection, and community.

Our Samish Island experience is unique in several ways:

  • It centers BIPOC communities, with a BIPOC-led leadership team and volunteers who reflect our campers’ identities.
  • It’s intergenerational—youth, parents, elders, and caregivers come together, not separated into silos.
  • It’s all-inclusive: lodging, meals, and activities are bundled together for stress-free planning.
  • The program is intentionally designed as a healing, affirming, and restorative space for people navigating predominantly white environments.
  • We use nature-based creative arts, outdoor skills, and shared meals to support wellness, cultural celebration, and community-building.

It’s truly one-of-a-kind in our region.

Our retreat is created for BIPOC individuals, families, and mixed-race households. Many of our campers are first-time or newer campers. You do not need outdoor experience to join us. We offer:

  • Hands-on outdoor skills sessions.
  • Supportive peer mentors.
  • Clear communication before, during, and after camp.
  • Lodging options (cabins, tents, RV) so you can choose your comfort level.

Whether you’re from Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia, Spokane, Vancouver (WA), or smaller towns, you’re welcome—even if this is your very first camping trip.

Our program is intentionally designed around nature, rest, and community, which together support mental and brain health. Research shows that time in nature can:

  • Reduce stress hormones like cortisol.
  • Improve attention, focus, and executive function.
  • Boost mood and lower anxiety.
  • Strengthen social connections and family bonds.

At our retreat, you’ll have 5 days and 4 nights of shoreline walks, forest time, creative arts, shared meals, and spacious breaks—not an overpacked schedule. Many campers leave saying they feel more grounded, calmer, clearer, and emotionally restored than they have in a long time.

Our retreat is built around connection and continuity:

  • People meet other BIPOC families and individuals from across Washington and the Pacific Northwest.
  • Campers often return year after year, reuniting with friends and deepening relationships.
  • Shared meals, campfires, group activities, and peer-supported learning circles create low-pressure spaces to talk, laugh, and be your authentic self.
  • Because leadership and volunteers are also BIPOC, many participants say this is one of the first outdoor spaces where they feel fully seen, safe, and understood.

Over time, people describe the retreat as a homecoming—a community they can come back to, not just a one-time event.

Absolutely. We are proudly intergenerational. Families bring:

  • Young children who can explore nature freely.
  • Teens and young adults who benefit from peer connection and leadership.
  • Parents and caregivers who need time to reset and be supported.
  • Grandparents and elders who share stories, culture, and wisdom.

The island’s mix of open grass fields, gentle shoreline, and forested paths makes it easy for people of many ages and abilities to participate. Children experience autonomy and joy; parents get to watch them thrive; elders find a quiet, honoring space to rest and connect.

We offer several lodging choices so you can create the experience that fits your family:

  • Cabins for more comfort and structure.
  • Tent camping for a classic outdoor feel.
  • RV spots for those who travel with their own setup.

All of this is paired with fresh, from-scratch meals prepared by culturally mindful, aligned chefs. Meals are designed to:

  • Feel like love and home
  • Reflect and respect diverse cultures
  • Nourish both body and spirit

Because we are all-inclusive, your meals are included—no cooking stress, no grocery lists, no separate bills.

    Many outdoor programs in the Pacific Northwest are not designed with BIPOC communities at the center. In contrast, Samish Island Nature and Adventure Camp Retreat is:

    • POC-created and BIPOC-led, from directors to mentors.
    • Intentionally built as a safe and affirming space away from racialized stress.
    • Grounded in cultural celebration, not assimilation.
    • Designed to offer representation in every layer: leadership, chefs, educators, nurses, and outdoor guides of color.
    • Focused on healing, empowerment, and collective restoration, not just recreation.

    In short, we don’t just invite BIPOC communities into an existing outdoor model—we’ve re-designed the experience around your needs and lived realities.

    If you’re in Washington State or the broader Pacific Northwest and want to get involved, you can:

    • Register for the next 5-day, 4-night session (spaces fill quickly, especially cabins).
    • Join our email list to be notified about dates, scholarships, and early-bird registration.
    • Apply to volunteer or serve as a peer mentor if you passionately care about community and outdoor spaces.
    • Partner as a donor, sponsor, or community organization to help more families of color access this experience.

    No, pets are not allowed.

    No. Samish Island Campground & Retreat Center is a drug-free environment.

    Our cancellation policy is included in the registration process.  

    For cabin lodging, mattresses are provided; however, campers must bring their own bedding and pillows. We’re camping so bring clothing suitable for rain or shine and that you can play and get dirty and wet in.

    What’s not provided: Any personal item such as toiletries, shampoo, towels, blankets, tent, sleeping bag swimwear, water shoes, and such.

    There are two large bathroom buildings with multiple toilet, sink, and hot shower stalls. There are also restrooms inside the dining hall. 

    There is ample parking at the entrance of the property.

    Use the location Bow 98232.

    Cabins are adorable and cozy. They have curtained windows, a door, electrical outlet, lighting, and heater. No cooking, candles, or fire of any kind is allowed in the cabins.

    The commercial kitchen is only accessible by kitchen staff who prepare our meals. A refrigerator in the dining area is available for those who need to store vital supplies such as breast milk and medicine.  

    Firearms and ammunition, smoking or vaping, pets, harming animals or the natural environment, littering.

    Your participation helps sustain a rare and precious resource in Washington: an all-inclusive, BIPOC-centered nature sanctuary where people can play, rest, heal, and reconnect with each other and the land.