Your Education Vacation
Imagine this; you’re coming home from vacation laden down with several new pieces of art. Maybe they’re a couple of paintings, or something made out of glass. But, for this vacation, this isn’t art you bought. It’s art you made.
Or, maybe you’re returning from vacation with more confidence in your Spanish-speaking ability than you ever got from your high school classes. Along with your newly-polished skills you have a new group of like-minded friends, ready to share something outside of the workaday world.
You’re coming home rested, but excited, too. You’ve just spent several days immersed in learning something new, and in the process, grew yourself.
Your days were a mix of testing yourself and treating yourself. Maybe your day was a cooking class, and your night a multi-course extravagant meal. Maybe you went to the beach for a walk, or maybe you went there to paint.
There a word for this kind of vacation remix, an “education vacation,” or “eduvacation” for short.
On Whidbey and Camano Islands, there are a surprising number of ways you can pursue your own “eduvacation.” From art to farming, from photography to Spanish, with a little planning, you can turn a week into something life-changing.
Camp Casey Conference Center
There are thousands of people in the Seattle area who have memories of going to camp at The Camp Casey Conference Center on Whidbey Island. This historic former Army camp, complete with auditoriums, a mess hall, and barracks, is ideal for sports camps, church groups, school outdoor education classes, and other non-profit endeavors. The seaside parade grounds offer a spectacular backdrop for a wide range of outdoor activities.
Escape from the Daily Grind on Rural Whidbey Island
If this has got you thinking about other unique accommodations on Whidbey Island, here are our recommendations. All you need to do is hop aboard the Mukilteo ferry or the Coupeville ferry or drive over Deception Pass Bridge, grab a Whidbey Island map to discover its back roads and you’re set for your rural adventure.
Terra Teams
The beauty of Camano Island is the setting for this unique team-building adventure on Kristofferson Farm. You and your coworkers work through a series of team puzzles and challenges that break down barriers and help forge strong teams in the business world. And, you get to have a little fun along the way. Each session is customized to the team needs.
Hedgebrook
For women writers who already know and love their craft, Hedgebrook is an opportunity to immerse yourself in an island environment that nurtures one’s creative soul and builds bonds with other women writers. Since 1988, this venerable school on a former working farm has hosted writers from all over the world.
The primary experience is a Writers in Residence that lasts from two to six weeks. Approximately 40 writers are selected each year and go through a rigorous multi-level screening process before being accepted. Additionally, there are several week-long “Master Classes” led by nationally-known women authors who are eager to mentor other writers and share their experiences with the writers’ craft.
Whidbey Island Kayaking
If you go to an island, you want to get out on the water. There’s no easier way than to go on a group kayaking adventure. Unlike other boats, kayaking encourages you to explore the water’s edge and learn about all the life in that boundary between land and water. Whidbey Island Kayaking offers tours and rentals for both kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding. In early summer, they offer a multi-day class designed to familiarize you with many different types of kayaks so you can go out, purchase, and enjoy the best kayak for your interests.
What About Art Schools?!?
Both Whidbey and Camano Islands have a rich art tradition with many schools to educate and inspire both novice and experienced artists.
Organic Farm School
This is not a school for a weekend or even a week. The Organic Farm School is a season-long opportunity to change your life and establish a new career as an regenerative organic farmer. Students live, work, and learn on the farm and immerse themselves in everything from seeds and dirt to marketing and business. The farm does have a small number of community events and classes each year that tie those of us who eat to those of us who farm.
Educational Events (Bonus Classes!)
Education takes center stage a few weekends a year around here, with special events that are all about learning. Sound Waters is a one-day offering of dozens of courses focusing on the natural world with an emphasis on this region. From carbon to crabbing and from forests to photography, there’s something to interest you. You can learn more here. The Whidbey Gardening Workshop has, for 30+ years, assembled gardening experts from all over for a day’s worth of classes that sell out well in advance.
