Campus Rental
About Woolman Campus
Sierra Friends Center (Woolman) is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, about a 20-minute drive via car or a 40-minute bicycle ride from the historic mining towns of Grass Valley and Nevada City, California. Our campus offers 230 acres of meadows, woods, streams and ponds for our guests to enjoy.
We would love to collaborate with your organization to develop residential courses at our Center. Current collaborations include:
- Silent Meditation Retreat with Mountain Stream Meditation
- The Tipping Point Network, a group of Changemakers
- Nonprofit retreats and workshops
- Personal growth weekends for men's and women's groups
- Family reunion groups
If your group would like to use the Woolman Campus, please contact us.
Availability
Planning your stay
When considering your group’s needs, please look at the capacity of each space carefully. If, for example, you have a group of 20 and would like to use the Stone House, which has a sleeping capacity of 10 and a meeting capacity of 14, the additional 6 people could camp outside the house or use an A-frame cabin which sleeps 2 people . Campers/bed rollers and those using A-frame cabins would require use of the East Side Bathhouse.
Dovetailing with the Woolman Semester
While the Woolman Semester is in session, our students stay in cabins on the west side of campus and use the Central Campus, Dining Hall, Meeting House and office area for their daytime and evening activities. Groups who would like to have exclusive use of the dining hall and central campus, such as those who will be in silence while on they’re here, may contact the Course Manager to schedule a time when the Woolman students will be away (by the way, they are on site for approximately 12 weeks per semester, so it is often possible to coordinate schedules).
Rates | Sleeping Capacity | Meeting Room Capacity | Rates -per night for housing-per day for meeting spaces | Housekeeping Fees |
| Stone House | 14 | 25 | $350.00 | $100.00 |
| A Frame Cabins, bathhouse must be rented as well | 12 cabins/ 2 beds in each | 0 | $36.00 each | $10.00 each |
| Library/Meeting House | 0 | 100 | $140.00 | $35.00 |
| Dining Hall & Kitchen | 0 | 100 | $175.00 | Lower bathrooms-$30,Kitchen bathroom-$10, Dining Room-$50.00, those using the kitchen are responsible for cleaning the kitchen, pantry and walk in before departure. |
| Adult Camping/Bed rolling | up to 50 total | $ 10.00 | ||
| Child Camping/Bed rolling | $ 5.00 | |||
| Bathhouse | N/A | $ 50.00 | $30.00 |
- If you are interested in having meals included, please request specifically.
Information and Policies
Woolman is a self-service site.
We ask each guest to provide his/her own bedding (sleeping bags or bedroll and pillow), towels and soap. A limited number of linens are available for rental for those traveling from a distance. A linen use fee of $15.00/full set will be charged.
Please budget at least an hour at the end of your stay for cleaning the spaces you used. Each person will clean their own room, as well as pitch in to get the common spaces wiped down and swept or vacuumed.
What to bring
Items that visitors might like to bring include good hiking shoes, insect repellent, rain wear in the rainy months, swim wear and a beach towel in the hot months if you plan a trip to the river or Mel’s pond, and a flashlight.
Quiet Time
In order to maintain a tranquil and restful atmosphere for all persons using our facility we have quiet hours from 10:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. During these times, we request that noise be limited to quiet levels indoors.
Speed Limit
We value the simplicity and tranquility of this place and want to ensure safety and clean dust-free air for the residents, visitors and neighbors of Sierra Friends Center. We expect strict observance of the 10 mph speed limit on Woolman Lane and on the Sierra Friends Center property.
Health and Safety Policies
- We are located in a fire prone area, so fire safety is critical. Candles and incense are not permitted. Outdoor campfires and woodstove fires during the fire season require a CDF permit.
- No visiting pets are allowed at Sierra Friends Center. The only exception is for working companions of the disabled.
- Tobacco and alcoholic beverages are not permitted at Sierra Friends Center.
- Parents are expected to provide responsible supervision of children at all times, including times when primary childcare providers are having meals and taking breaks.
Financial Policies
Reservation and Deposit
Your reservation will be confirmed when we receive your signed contract, a rental deposit totalling 30% of the contract amount and a $200 security/cleaning deposit.
Changes and Cancellations
In the event that your group must cancel the reservation, cancellation fees will apply as follows:
If cancellation is received: | Cancellation fees will equal: |
|---|---|
Greater than 3 months before arrival date | 25% of deposit amount |
2-3 months before arrival date | 50% of deposit amount |
1-2 months before arrival date | 75% of deposit amount |
Less than 1 month before arrival date | Full deposit |
In the event that your group wishes to change the reservation to include fewer spaces, cancellation fees will be a proportional percentage of the above amounts.