• Cabin Descriptions • Workshops • Family Fun •

• Wild Flower Walks • Newsletter • Birder Picnic •

• Jobs • Cancellation Policy • Map • Rates •

Newsletter - December 1, 2007


For people interested in observing birds and seals in their habitat we are offering a PICNIC LUNCH on one of the uninhabited offshore islands from May 15th to the end of July. The islands are rookery’s for eiders, herring and black back gulls, bank swallows, sparrows, and sometimes cormorants. They are also the dining table for bald eagles, ravens, crows, and several kinds of hawks - on one trip in June we counted 18 bald eagles there. At certain times of the summer, harbour and grey seals sun themselves on the rocks on the lower tides.

Now that the cookhouse and Gathering place are together, we are able to offer a beautiful and functional space for small groups (inside seating for up to 40) to get together either outside on a large deck, or inside under a translucent roof held up with varnished tree trunks in a room full of windows. It’s a great place for family get-togethers, yoga, pot luck dinners, meditation, lectures, seminars, staff development, in-service training. and celebrations!

The firepit down by the marsh now has a sink with light, running water, tools to crack into lobsters, and more comfortable seating.

For the people who have always enjoyed the attributes of camping but want something a little more comfortable and convenient, our guests are finding that Burch Yurt and Fern Alley give them the closeness to nature that tenting gives but with more of the comforts of home.

Thanks to comments offered by guests, we have developed a collection of board games such as dominos, checkers (red and black as well as Chinese type), scrabble, etc..

Rainy Day options in The Gathering Place include a checker tournament, tile making (with collected rocks and shells), and DVD Movies (yours or ours).
Manager position at Castalia Marsh Retreat

This person has to be very flexible. The following is a prioritized list of duties:
  • - Reservations and payments.
  • - Keeping track of income and expenses.
  • - Keeping track of mail and payables.
  • - Keep the web site updated and follow up on marketing ideas.
  • - Clean cabins (mostly weekends) when it's busy - additional assistance will be available.
  • - Cook one healthy staff dinner a day.
  • - Keep staff on priority jobs and keep track of their work hours.
  • - Computer work and searches. (create maps, instructions etc. for work shops, guest cabins, where to eat, where to find things etc.)
  • - Participate in organizing and running workshops, fund raisers, BBQs, pot luck dinners and musical events and facilitate wherever needed.
  • - Attend and take notes at tourism meetings.
  • - Assist with maintenance (gardening, painting, plumbing, electrical, solar panels, trails etc) whatever you can do or would like to learn to do.)
Staring Salary $1,300.00 per month. Room and Board available @ $50 a week. You can create your own space in the Hobbit house or one of the wooded tent spaces. Help will be available if you want to remodel a particular space.

If you are interested in this position, please e-mail us at whalsail@nb.aibn.com
Family fun projects

Family Craft Weeks June 30th to July12th

During this time we will be offering:
  • - A tidal pool study and beachcombing trip with a biologist.
  • - A workshop where we use the objects collected from beachcombing to create wind chimes and/or 8"x8" cement tiles on which participants press their collected objects.
  • - A 'games day' where we play various board games that we have or that you bring. This will likely be a rainy day event.
  • - A scavenger hunt.
  • - Paper making.

The cost will range from $3 to $6 per day per child depending on the length of time spent involved in the activity.
Workshops

Solar water heater work shop June 6th, 7th & 8th

On this weekend you will stay in one of our cabins - ether dorm style or private single cabin - while you create a 3ft. by 5ft solar water heater made with a wood frame, metal heat collector plate, copper pipes and glass cover.

Cost of the weekend is:
. $280 in a dorm
. $340 in a cabin. ($20 more for each extra person)

Price includes all materials, cabin rental, breakfast, lunch and taxes.

Itinerary:
  • - Arrive Friday afternoon:
    Meet in the Gathering Place for orientation and overview of activities, materials and applicability of competed project.
  • - Saturday : 0900 - Breakfast at the Gathering Place.
    9:00 - 12:00 - Start cutting parts, organize materials and begin construction
    12:00 - Lunch - Sandwich fixings, local bakery bread, lunch meat, veggie's, coffee, tea and soda at the Gathering Place.
    - Continue assembly.
    - Supper on your own, (eat in or dine out)

  • - Sunday: - Breakfast in the Gathering Place.
    - Finish project, feedback and critique.

    Workshop participants and their families are welcome to use the facilities until the1r ferry departs.
    News:

    - Wildflower walks June 14th to July

    The last two weeks of June Wendy Dathan will be available to lead 2 to 3 hour wildflower walks to special island habitats ie: bogs, salt marsh and seacoast. Wendy used to teach botany labs and non-credit evening courses in medicinal and edible wild plants at MacDonald Collage of McGill university. Cost is $5 per person.

    Minimum of 4 people needed.




    Please BOOKMARK our NEW url: www.castaliamarshretreat.com


    E-Mail us at our NEW E-Mail address: cabins@castaliamarshretreat.com


    Web Design/Promotion by: Page revised April 9 2008