8th Annual Fairy & Human Relations Congress
June 27th - 29th, 2008
Skalitude Retreat Center ~ Twisp ~ Methow Valley ~ North Cascades ~ WA
Fairy Congress Details
The Skalitude Retreat Center is a beautiful site for the Congress. It is nestled at the end of a remote mountain valley in the North Cascades in the Methow Valley watershed. The main inhabitants are ponderosa pines, douglas firs, aspens, bunchgrasses, countless wildflowers, deer, coyotes, and bear; and many fairies.
The Retreat Center is a 160-acre site surrounded by National Forest. Facilities include a large, log-cabin lodge which is the fairy art gallery and a workshop area. The Sky Lodge is a beautiful, winged structure, somewhat akin to a flattened out tipi. It is 54 feet across, 2200 square feet and can hold hundreds of people. We have a large, roofed, outdoor kitchen where we prepare our common meals. There will also be a tea kitchen. Many of the Congress activities take place outdoors.
Most of the Congress facilities are set up in one end of an expansive meadow ringed by forests and mountains. The adjacent forest provides shady camping and workshop space.
The layout this year will include a "Town Square" . Surrounding the square will be the kitchen, tea kitchen, and dining areas as well as schedule board, children's area, first-aid, healing area, costuming and vendor booths.
The large Sky-Lodge will be set up in it's usual place just past the town square, followed by the 'fairy crossroads' which we will all help build and create during the Congress. We hold our big circles in a large open space to one side.
CIRCLE OF PEACE FLAGS
Anyone who attended the 2003 or 2006 Fairy & Human Relations Congress will remember the dramatic circle of 40 white, peace flags. The circle of peace flags will be set up at Fairy Congress this year as well.
CAMPING AND ACCOMODATIONS
The gathering is mainly a campout event at the Skalitude Retreat Center. The grounds are really great for camping. Most people bring tents but some people stay in their vans, RV's or live-in rigs. Some locals commute. Some people stay in local motels.
There are some shared accommodations available (three people to a room), $60/bed for the weekend, with access to shared bathroom. Email register@fairycongress.com for more information.
The closest motel is the Country Town Motel in Carlton which is about 7 miles away.
Their phone # is (509) 997-3432.
The next closest motel is the Idle-A-While Motel in Twisp, 17 miles away.
Their phone # is (509) 997-3222.
FOOD
Three meals a day are available to everyone. Tasty, healthy food prepared by our loving cooks and volunteers. Participants are requested to bring food to donate to the common kitchen. We especially appreciate people bringing food from their gardens, orchards and wildcrafting. Lots of fresh greens, vegetables, fruit, seaweed, nuts, seeds, sprouts and other tasty, healthful foods. If you go shopping for your food contribution, organic is preferred.
Our kitchen crew's goal is to provide a range of food that will meet everyone's needs. Meals are vegetarian. There is always raw food. There is always wheat-free, soy-free and dairy-free foods. Some people have special diets and bring their own food. This is fine, but we do not allow cooking fires at campsites. Some people bring their favorite snacks and keep them at their camp.
WATER
There is a deep well at Skalitude which will provie water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and showers. We also set up a mister where people can get wet and cool down. The stream may be running during the Congress depending on the weather. If you want to take a dip in the magnificent Methow on the way to or from Skalitude there is a lovely public swimming hole on the Methow River in the tiny town of Carlton, 8 miles from the Congress. On the north side of the bridge.
TERRAIN
Some Congress participants take walks or even hikes into the surrounding mountainous terrain; but most participants stay on the grass floor and gentle terrain of our core area. The ground is level in the main congress area. There is a slight grade up to the parking area and the lodge which is a 5 minute stroll for most people. Some elderly or disadvantaged people have to go slowly and stick to paths and roads, but so far all have been able to make it. It would be difficult in a wheelchair though. Take a look at the photos on Skalitude's web site to get an idea what it looks like. www.skalitude.com
FAIRY ART GALLERY
Bring your fairy art and photography to share, enlighten and inspire us.
Help us to make this the "best" and most vibrant Fairy Art Gallery to date! At Skalitude we have a spacious lodge for displaying your art and we are looking forward to accommodating sculpture as well as hangings. Contact SeaHeart, our Fairy Art Coordinator, in advance, and we will assure that we are set up for your work. Feel free to make your choice to participate at the last minute too. You
may want to offer your work for sale; that would be great, and we ask that you donate 10% of your earnings to help support Fairy Congresses of the future. The Gallery will be open for viewing throughout the Congress and we will be celebrating you and your work with a Fairy Art Gallery reception from 7 - 8PM on Friday evening! After the reception we'll have a procession lead by Pan down the lane to the concert! Contact SeaHeart at seaheart@olympus.net for info on display options.
HEALING AREA
We set up an area where people can give massages or healing treatments. Massage tables or massage chairs are appreciated if you could bring one. If you would like to help contact Laura Sweany at healing@fairycongress.com
HUMAN AND FAIRY MEDITATIONS
The joint human and fairy meditations are powerful parts of the Congress. The meditations are followed by a quiet period to write down messages. These messages are a way for fairies to reach humanity with their messages. The meditations are sometimes followed by small discussion groups and a short plenary session in which people are able to share some of the extraordinary experiences they had during the meditation.
FAIRY CONCERT
The Fairy Concert will be on Friday evening. Stay tuned for details. Last year we had Caitlín Matthews and RJ Stewart performing.
FAIRY PARADE
Our spectacular Fairy Parade is held after dinner on Saturday. The first part of the program will include a fairy ceremony. We don't know yet what magic awaits us after the parade. There may be performances, group activity or group toning. The evening always include a drumming and dance circle.
CRAFT AREA
There will be a designated space for crafts next to the costume and children's areas. This space is for anyone wanting to share a craft such as fairy castles, dream catchers, rattles, spirit bundles, cordage, etc. Such a space provides an opportunity for people to create something with head, heart and hands. Sharing crafts also encourages one to one interaction building a sense of community.
COSTUMING
Human participants mostly wear ordinary comfortable clothing. But before the parade, most people don some special outfit for the parade. It has become a truly colorful and fabulous parade; and even more incredible for those who have the 'fairy sight'. Sheri Trnka will again be bringing some of her giant flowers for this year's parade. Shari will also set up and help coordinate a costuming center for people who wish to create a costume on the spot. You are invited to bring costuming materials to share with others. If anyone feels a special call to work on costuming they can contact Shari at strnka@juno.com
VENDING
We usually have ten or so vendors selling wings, books, flower essences, flags, herbs, oils, singing bowls, art, crystals, and other fairy related items. We charge 10% of gross sales, plus vendors pay admission. If you are interested in vending please contact Skeeter michael@fairycongress.com
WEATHER
It is hard to make long-range weather predictions for Skalitude Center's mountain valley. Typically in late June it is hot during the day and cool at night. Typically it doesn't rain, or at least not for long. But cool and rainy weather is also possible. We advise coming ready for hot daytime temperatures and cool to cold nights. Best to keep an eye on weather predictions for Twisp just before the Congress and bring appropriate clothing.
MUSIC AND DANCING
Bring musical instruments, drums, your voices and songs to share. Music, singing and dancing happen at many planned and spontaneous times during the Congress. We always do some Dances of Universal Peace. This year we would like to continue our new tradition of musicians performing in the dining area during meals. If you would like to perform in the concert or during meals or have other performance proposals contact michael@fairycongress.com
CHILDREN'S AREA
We have always set up a structure for the children and supplied it with toys and craft materials. Parents and volunteers spend time with the children and there are activities and workshops for various age groups. There has always been one or more coordinators for the children's area. We are looking for several people to co-coordinate this area. If you are interested, contact michael@fairycongress.com
VOLUNTEERS
We are requesting that everyone come prepared to help. The Congress is a cooperative community and almost everyone helps in some way in the kitchen, with clean-up or with one of the many other village tasks. Most of the food prep and cleanup is done by volunteers. We pay very few staff. If everyone volunteers for two hours during the event it really spreads out the work load.
Click here for more information on volunteer areas.
PLEASE HELP WITH PUBLICITY
Spread the word to your appropriate friends and networks via word-of-mouth, emails, list serves, websites, newsletters, etc. You can request more brochures, color handbills and half-size or full-size posters.
* No drugs or alcohol
* No dogs without prior approval
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