CSS offers space to other organizations for meetings and retreats in our center lodge and adjacent areas. We have hosted work groups, other nonprofits, young farmers, land and water conservationists, artists, healers and therapists. We have space to foster meaningful dialogs and have some connectivity but offer potential for getting folks off the grid. We would like to serve those who are not currently served by community centers or religious organizations by providing space for diverse gatherings in a natural setting.
Our valley includes some 57 bedrooms and space for 150 persons all in close proximity to our Center Lodge. Local hotels and short-term rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) are close by.
We ask for contact person of your organization to complete the form below to start a dialog and save the dates for your retreat.
House rules for Retreats at the Center Lodge:
Our rules are designed to provide for the safety of all our guests, to maximize your freedom while not compromising the experience of other guests, ensure the sustainability of our services, and provide access to areas of our amazing valley. Breaking the house rules is not nice and may cost you money, so please read them over and agree to them before arriving. We encourage your feedback to improve House Rules.
1) Retreat Organizer (RO) staying at the Center Lodge must pay a fully refundable security deposit to help assure that the place is left as found.
2) A government-issued photo ID of all overnight and day guests should be presented prior to check-in.
3) Only registered overnight guests may be on premises if CSS staff not present. Exceptions only with documented permission of CSS. If the Organizer has permission for an event, a guest list is required for events including vendors that may be on site. Any person not on the approved guest list (i..e, registered guests) will be considered *trespassing* and may be prosecuted, so please do not invite them on premises without the management’s knowledge and permission (i.e., advance registration). External surveillance monitor(s) help safeguard our guests and ensure compliance with our house rules. If unregistered guests are on premises all guests may be asked to leave without compensation.
4) CSS insists on a safe environment; vehicle passes are required. Children of all ages visit and live in our valley. It is important that all adults and their vehicles are known and identifiable. Visiting vehicles must have a parking pass displayed on windshield or rearview mirror when on our premises. The names of all guests and visitors must be presented to CSS before they are allowed on premises. All cars on premises must have a parking pass or they may be towed.
5) Keep the place clean. Retreat Organizer and their registered Guests are responsible for cleaning grills and ovens if they are made greasy/dirty. Excess trash, messes requiring extra cleaning, or not leaving furniture/carpets in their places may result in a portion of a security deposit being withheld. Don’t place any trash outside (making it accessible to hungry critters).
6) Prohibited: Unsafe or disrespectful behavior. Pets (including walking pets outdoors on leashes as we are a nature sanctuary, please respect our ground-nesting birds and other wildlife). Smoking except where designated. Firearms or other weapons, use of fireplaces or outside fire pits without permission, Candles, confetti and underage drinking of alcohol.
Parties / Events: All parties and events must be approved in advance by management. An additional fee and cash security deposit is required. Definition of Event is when approved non-Lodging guests or vendors are on premises. Music audible from outside of houses must end by 11:00pm. When more than 20 persons are present at a lodging or venue, a staff attendant ($30/hr) must be hired for the duration of the Event and during setup and takedown. Vendors must be approved before being allowed on site. Event insurance may be required if alcohol is served.
We are honored to be Stewards of the beautiful Big East Fork Valley and expect our guests to help protect it. We therefore require that you DON'T DUMP ON US. There is no free trash collection in the valley, so please reduce the volume and quality of trash that you leave behind. If you have more than a few bags, save money by paying an approved local vendor to remove your bagged trash.
Trash deposit of $100 is collected with security deposit. Don’t place trash outside of bins making it acc)essible to hungry critters. Raccoons rip up bags! One kitchen (13 gal) bag per day is considered a reasonable amount of trash. If you leave excessive or un-bagged trash in the house or trash cans, you will forfeit your trash deposit.
Kitchen: Sinks drain to our beloved septic tanks. Do NOT pour grease or animal fat down our drains, but pour into glass containers left under sink. Let us know if you have more oil than will fit. Wipe used skillets/griddles with disposable paper towels to remove grease/fat before washing them.
Recycle: Separate metal and glass. Fold cardboard boxes so they are flat. Please keep volume of your trash low. We have to transport non-compostables to the county landfill at your expense. Please be kind to the earth and to our staff.
Compost: Place organic matter suitable for composting in the black buckets provided. We encourage our guests to collect organic waste so it can be composted to soil and be used in our gardens.
Please help us steward Big East Fork Valley by taking as much of your trash/recycling as you can when you leave. Please leave usable food and drink in fridge for the valley stewards. Your stay at the CSS Center Lodge does not include access to other areas of the Big East Fork Watershed Wilderness Area or permission to hike trail systems. Contact the Center for Sustainable Stewardship at 6154265654 to arrange for access to the Lake Gratitude Nature Sanctuary and Watershed Trails. Please let us know if you would like to visit the Farm Animals so a steward can give you “the tour” CSS bikes and boats reserved for members with an intro membership at $20 per person. Waivers are needed for these adventure center activities.
Maintenance: Please let us know as soon as possible if something is broken, unsafe, or may be improved in any way. The staff and volunteers of CSS want your stay to be as enjoyable and inspiring as we can make it!