FAQs

What will weather be like at Lake Crescent in August?

Late summer days in Seattle and at Lake Crescent are typically in the high 60s to low 70s. Evenings cool off to mid 50s. You can find the current weather at NatureBridge here. Most of our wedding activities are scheduled to take place outdoors, so bring a light jacket. In the event of rain, we will move inside NatureBridge's historic Rosemary Hall. As we get closer to the wedding date, check the forecast here so you know if you need to bring your shorts or your fleece (since it's the Pacific Northwest, you'll probably want both). 

Who can I bring with me?

Your children are more than welcome. Although we will not have childcare service, there will be plenty of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends to help keep an eye on stray kiddos. 
Unfortunately, the invitation does not extend to your furry family members; NatureBridge does not allow pets in any of their buildings.  Dogs can be on leash on the NatureBridge property and on certain designated trails, but none of the major trails.

How will NatureBridge cabins be assigned?

Some weddings have table assignments... ours will have cabin assignments! Depending on how many guests opt to stay with us on campus, you and your family or significant other could get a cabin to yourselves, or you may end up sharing. When creating assignments, we will only pair you with other guests who you know (and hopefully love). If you have special requests about your cabin assignment (e.g. "I'd love a top bunk" or "for reasons I prefer not to disclose, I request a cabin with a bathroom in it"), please let us know when filling out your RSVP. 

Can we pitch tents or park RVs on campus or in the parking area?

Unfortunately, Olympic National Park only allows camping in designated areas.  The NatureBridge campus is not a designated camping area.  The closest campgrounds are Fairholme Campground (approximately six – eight miles west of campus on Hwy 101), Shadow Mountain (approximately six – eight miles east of campus on Hwy 101), and Log Cabin Resort campground (approximately eight miles from campus on East Beach Road.)

What will attire be for the various events?

For Friday night's welcome dinner and bonfire, wear something comfortable.  We don't want you to worry about getting s'mores on your fancy dress or trousers.
For canoeing and hiking throughout the weekend, bring athletic attire and shoes with a good grip. Hiking boots are preferable if you'd like to hike Mt. Storm King, but sneakers are fine too. Bring a raincoat so that even if it rains, you don't have to be stuck inside. The lake is over 700 feet deep, so it will still be cold in August, but remember your swimsuit if you'd like to take a dip.
Saturday's wedding ceremony and reception dress code will be "Summer Camp Semi-Formal." We're defining that to mean anything from khakis and a button down to a suit and tie for the gents and a sundress to a cocktail dress for the ladies. Please remember we'll be outside and don't want you to be too hot or cold, so dress appropriately. As you plan your footwear, keep in mind that we'll be on grass. 

What else should I pack?

In addition to the attire items listed above (including a swimsuit, hiking boots, and raincoat), here are some other items you might want to pack:
Raincoat (reiterating this a third time; never go to the Olympic Peninsula without a raincoat!)
Shampoo/conditioner/toiletries
A musical instrument if you have talent/desire to share some tunes around the campfire
Headlamp or flashlight (the buildings are all lit and you'll be able to find your way between buildings without one, but if you'd like to wander in the woods at night, a light would help)
Water bottle
Watercraft to explore the lake 
Fishing gear (contact Derek or see bottom question for more specific instructions)
Food/beverages to snack on if you are prone to getting hungry between meals

How will I stay connected to the outside world from NatureBridge? (Will there be cell service and/or internet?)

Unlike our summer camps that confiscated cell phones, we encourage you to hold onto your phones for the weekend and share your pictures with the hashtag #CampSaamegan. There is wireless internet in the main buildings at NatureBridge. Cellphone service is intermittent: AT&T and Verizon customers will have the best luck finding reception.

Derek, what's the fishing plan?

Olympic National Park has some of my favorite rivers and lakes to fly fish. Here’s my rundown on what to expect in August for those who might be interested in fishing:
The first and easiest place to fish is right outside your cabin door at Lake Crescent. Because the lake is in the National Park, you do not need a fishing license. The lake is a very unique body of water and has not one but two subspecies of trout that can be caught nowhere else in the world: Lake Crescent Cutthroat and Beardslee Rainbow. To preserve these fish, the National Park has designated Lake Crescent as catch and release only and it must be fished with single barbless hooks with flies and lures weighing no more than 2 ounces. Here’s the full regulations if you’re interested.
I plan to bring my driftboat, which can take up to four fisherman (although only two can realistically fish at a time). Anyone can take the boat out throughout the weekend (with the exception of 4:30 - 5 PM on Saturday the 26th). You can also fish along the beach; I have been told the nearby Barnes Creek outlet is one of the best fishing spots on the lake and can be fished from shore; in fact, I've caught a Beardslee Rainbow there. Streamers tend to be best flies for the bigger fish. One of my favorite fly shops in Washington is Waters West in Port Angeles. They have a great selection of flies and will have good advice for the area. I’ll also bring out flies, rods, and reels for everyone to use.
If you’d like to explore outside Lake Crescent here’s a blog post that is a good summary of summer fly fishing opportunities in Olympic National Park. I can confirm that there are some nice cutthroat on the nearby Sol Duc and Bogachiel Rivers.  In August, most of the sea run fish are out at sea, so if you want to catch salmon, an ocean charter out of La Push (1 hr away), Neah Bay (1.5 hrs), or Sekiu (1 hr) is a good bet. I don’t do a lot of deep sea fishing so I’m far from an expert, but I hear late August can be very good for ocean salmon fishing.