VGS Event FAQ
Arrival Time
Ticket holders are allowed on site for check in between at 3:00-5:00 pm Thursday. Please do not arrive any earlier as we will be busy getting ready for the event. **Exceptions can be made to this rule but must be approved prior.
Departure Time
You must be packed up, room cleaned and out of your room no later than 11:00am Monday.
Check In
Tickets are will call style. There are no printed tickets, you should have received a receipt of purchase after you completed your checkout. It is a good idea to have this on file (in your phone will do) but it is not necessary. Your name will be on our master list, so when you check in we should already have your information.
Tickets/Admission – What’s Included??
The event is NOT open to the public. You MUST have purchased a ticket by our ticketing deadline to be on the premises.
The base admission price includes lodging for four nights, eleven meals (dinner Thursday, breakfast, lunch & dinner on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and breakfast Monday), 9 lectures and admittance to the opening ceremony, Saturday night social gathering and Sunday night closing reception and any additional group activities planned. Due to the additional day added to the event we were able to add ghost stories and s’mores at the fire pit, a Meet and Greet Ice Breaker event and several plant walks to the weekend activities (for no additional fee).
You may also add on intensive workshops and a deluxe ticket upgrade to your VGS experience for an additional price.
Payment Plans
Payment plans options are available for ticket purchases until MAY 1st! All tickets must be paid in full by July 1st.
We have 3 payment plan options available should you wish to break up your payments.
There are no refunds on payment plans. If you partially pay for your ticket and are unable to attend or complete payment we will not be able to refund your money.
Meals
All meals are included with your ticket. There are regular, vegetarian, vegan and GF options. You must select what type of meals you want w/ your registration. Please eat whatever meal type you select when you register as the kitchen prepares foods based off this information. If you have any special dietary needs/requests please include it in the space provided on the registration page and we will do our best to accommodate.
Lodging
All tickets include four nights lodging. All lodging shares accommodations with up to 12 other people in a cabin (in most instances). Linens and towels are NOT included. You must bring your own. It is not our intention to put 12 people in each cabin as 6 of those beds would be top bunks. In the instance of group of people who want to lodge together and don’t mind bunking on a top bunk we have added a place to make note of this in your registration.
Security for rooms – This is a closed community event at a private retreat center. Security is lax because it has yet to become a concern. If you are worried about your belongings, please keep them with you at all times, or locked in your car. This is closed community event, we trust that everyone in attendance is looking out for the best interest of the whole in attendance.
Please be mindful of others who are staying in the same cabin or dorm as you. Please keep noise down to a minimum after 10pm.
THERE IS NO BEDDING PROVIDED BY THE RETREAT CENTER in the CABINS. YOUR BUNKS are twin size. One bunk in each cabin size is double but there is no way to know if you will get that bunk as they are first come first served.
Please plan to bring either a sleeping bag or fitted sheet, top sheet, blanket and pillow. As well you will need to provide your own wash cloths and towels.
Do I have to stay onsite?
Your ticket includes 4 nights lodging. If you wish to stay somewhere else you may do so, but the price of your ticket remains the same.
Are childrean allowed onsite?
No, this is an adult event. If you are traveling with children you will need to stay off site, though your ticket price will remain the same. Please contact conference organizer Catamara Rosarium at catamara@viridisgenii.com to discuss special arrangements.
How do I get there?
The retreat center is approximately 1 hour South of SEA-TAC airport and approximately 7 miles E. of Olympia.
UBER/LYFT/TAXI will cost about $130 each way. There is a public bus service that will get you close to the event location, but there will still be about a 10 minute walk from there. Other options might be to bus it to the nearby transfer station and then uber from there. Ride shares w/ other participants may also be an option.
***WE USUALLY ARRANGE for a shuttle service to pick up a group at a designated time and area at the airport on Thursday and shuttle to the retreat center and back again from the retreat center to Seatac on Monday. If you are interested in knowing more please contact us of your interest at catamara@viridisgenii.com
Weather
Typically we have very little rain after July 4th in this bio region of the Pacific Northwest. However we advise you to be prepared for rain, sun, mosquitos, etc. Anything is possible.
Noise Curfew
Symposium Attendees are guests at the Retreat Center, which also has staff who stay onsite. There are also rules that require us to reign in our enthusiasm and be in our bunks/cabins by 12am.
Live music, acoustics instruments, and singing are not permitted outside after 10pm (unless it is a special event hosted by the organizers of the event). All noise is to be kept to a minimum after the witching hour (midnight).
Smoking
Absolutely NO SMOKING or VAPING is allowed anywhere on the retreat center grounds. You may smoke or vape outside of the premises (main gate).
Drugs
Drugs are strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated. This includes cannibis. It may be legal to smoke/ingest cannibis in WA state, however it is not legal on federally funded land or educational facilities. Please be respectful of this rule and don’t put us in an awkward position where you will be asked to leave. THERE ARE NO REFUNDS IF YOU ARE ASKED TO LEAVE.
Trails, Lake & Labyrinth
The center has a myriad of beautiful maintained trails. We ask that you do not stray from the trails. This is for your safety and ensures you don’t wind up trespassing on someone else’s property.
Please pack out anything you pack in while exploring the trails. Be mindful and do not litter.
There is a beautiful lake! There are life jackets and canoes and swimming is allowed at your own risk.
There is also a beautiful Labyrinth located on the premises. We suggest you visit it throughout the weekend!
Refunds
The symposium has limited capacity therefore we are unable to offer refunds.
All tickets, workshops and onsite lodging registrations are final.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We understand that circumstances in life ‘happen’ therefore symposium tickets and rooms are transferable. Please email us at catamara@viridisgenii.com if you need to transfer your room or admission to a friend.
This is a private event and not open to the general public. You may not be on the grounds of the event without a ticket.
No day passes are available for this event. Our event is all inclusive.
Do not sign up for workshops unless you have purchased a ticket. Please do not ask us if you can come for one workshop. These spots are limited and meant only for those who wish to spend the weekend with us. No exceptions.
Tickets for the 9th Annual VGS are now Available!