The Ser Chö Ösel Ling Retreat Center is available for use by outside Buddhist groups who wish to host group retreats. Interested groups must be in alignment with KCC’s mission, including a commitment to Buddhist ethics and a wish to benefit all sentient beings.
SCOL’s retreat facility is divided into two cloisters with a commercial kitchen and office in between. Each cloister has a meditation hall, a dining hall with kitchenette, a bath house, two attached cabins (ADA accessible), and six freestanding cabins. The cabins are small (about 12’x10’) and have electricity and heat but no plumbing or air conditioning. There is a central bath house with two sinks, two toilet stalls, and two showers with curtains between the dressing areas. The south meditation hall is larger than the north. Just outside the main facility, there is an additional cabin with bathroom and kitchen for teachers, and staff quarters including a suite that may be used for additional teachers or retreat support.
Between the two cloisters is a large commercial kitchen and an office area for SCOL staff. Generally all retreatants gather in the main kitchen to recite a food blessing together and dish up meals along the central island. Then retreatants may eat in either of the two dining halls or outside.
Group Spaces
Groups can meet in the meditation halls for practice and teachings, and in the multi-purpose rooms for less formal activities as well as individual dharma meetings. The south meditation hall accommodates up to 32 retreatants on cushions and in chairs, and the north meditation hall accommodates up to 16. The multi-purpose rooms can be outfitted in a number of ways for different uses.
Meals
Provided meals are simple and vegetarian. Breakfast consists of oatmeal with assorted toppings, and hard boiled eggs. Lunch is a hearty vegetarian main dish and sides, and dinner consists of soup, salad, and bread. We also provide tea and snacks.
If preferred, groups have the option of providing their own cooks and food preparation. SCOL staff would provide kitchen orientation. All cooks must have a Washington Food Workers card, which is easy to obtain.
Accommodations
Each individual cabin is furnished with the following (or similar):
Each retreatant is responsible to bring their own bedding: sheets, comforter/sleeping bag, pillow, and towels. If your group is interested in renting bedding, please contact us to discuss options.
For more information about SCOL Facilities: Our Facilities
Group Retreat Rates
Lodging Options
North Cloister – 8 cabins $60/person/day
South Cloister – 8 cabins $60/person/day
Lama Cabin A $75/person/day
Staff Quarters * $60-75/person/day
* available with SCOL staff permission Security Deposit $500
Optional Items
Cook Daily Rate (Lead Cook* & Assistant) $200/day
* Lead cook will receive payment for two days before the retreat for shopping and prep
Food Costs $30/person/day
Can I bring candles and incense for the altar?
No, we do not allow any item with a flame or ember due to extreme fire danger.
Do I need to watch out for rattlesnakes or ticks when I’m hiking?
Rattlesnakes do not occur in this area, but please do check yourself for ticks when you return from a hike. SCOL provides tick removing tweezers and staff is available to help if needed.
Is SCOL strictly vegetarian?
All meals for group retreats are vegetarian. If retreatants need to eat meat for health concerns, please do so discretly.
Can I keep snacks in my cabin?
No, to prevent mice and insects from finding their way into the cabins, we ask that no food is stored in the cabins. There are spaces in the dining halls to store your personal food items.
What’s the weather like?
The elevation is 2000-2200 feet and an arid climate. It’s best to bring layers and come prepared for variable weather conditions. If you plan to walk outside the cloister, please bring appropriate footwear/boots to wear; these should be taken off prior to walking inside the cloister. Shoes are allowed in the buildings but not in the meditation halls. You might like to bring socks or slippers for wearing in the meditation hall.
How many trails are there?
On the 240-acre property, there are about 5 miles of trails spanning oak-ponderosa forests, volcanic-bouldered meadows, seasonal pools and a year round stream. View the trail map: SCOL Trail Map
More Details & Facility Photos
The ADA-compliant retreat facility is designed to house up to 32 retreatants in cabins and dormitories in a cloistered environment for short and long retreats. SCOL is a multi-use facility with two wings connected by a central administration and kitchen building, modeled after traditional three year retreat centers with separately cloistered men and women.
1. Central Kitchen/Administration Building The retreat cloister was designed to make it easier for cooks to serve both wings from a central hub during retreat. At the center of the facility is a large commercial kitchen, designed to handle the needs of small or large retreats. Adjacent to the kitchen are offices with access to computers and printers.
2. Retreat Cabins Each wing of the cloister contains eight individual cabins, two of which are ADA certified (four in all). For shorter retreats, each cabin can be used as double-occupancy housing. When no retreats are scheduled, the cabins may be used for individual retreats.
3. Bathrooms and Dining Halls Each wing contains a bath house and dining hall. The dining rooms are connected to the central kitchen facility for ease of service and open out onto the cloisters for retreatant access.
4. Meditation Halls These graceful, tall spaces serve retreatants during group meditation. Designed to capture light even during the long winters, they are the centerpieces of each cloister. The North Wing meditation hall accommodates retreats of up to 16; the South Wing was designed to be slightly larger to accommodate up to 32 retreatants.
5. Multipurpose Rooms These spaces are designed for specific practices during long retreat, and serve as dorms, yoga halls, or meeting spaces at other times.
6. Staff and Teacher Quarters These residences are furnished with private baths and kitchenettes.
7. Fence Each wing is enclosed by a fence, protecting retreatants from visitors and allowing for greater withdrawal from the activities of day-to-day life.
