Hello Indralayaites!

Happy Spring! The 2026 Indralaya season is underway and promises to be an awesome one! As I write this, the February work party is in the books…and I believe it holds the record for the highest attended February work party! Nearly 40 people came and donated their time, energy, skills and LOVE for camp! So much got accomplished, with several first time Indralayaites finding a new community!

BIG NEWS! I am very pleased to announce (re-announce, perhaps, as most of you have already read this) that before the end of February, we hired a new General Manager! Chris Lemig attended that work party and moved over to camp on March 7. If you haven’t met him yet, be sure to come to camp soon to meet him and welcome him to the family!

After this was written but before it was published, the March WP will have happened. Maybe you were there?

We have a fabulous upcoming program season! If you haven’t yet registered for something, now is the time! Try a new program! Or return to a familiar one! Or both!! Bring friends! With our 100^th anniversary coming up in 2027 and the world the way it currently is, this year is a perfect time to come be in the healing and rejuvenating space we all love!

Wishing you all the best in 2026 and beyond,
Lin

Greetings, Indralaya—

It feels most natural to introduce myself by sharing a little of the path that brought me here.

The first time I came to Orcas Island was in the fall of 1993. My partner and I were on a month-long camping trip up the coast from Santa Barbara in an already well-loved 1970 VW bus. From Eureka northward, I found myself completely captivated by the wild, craggy coastlines of the Pacific Northwest. Just when it seemed the scenery couldn’t get any more beautiful, we’d round another bend in the highway and be compelled to pull over again—awed, quiet, and even a little stunned.

By the time we reached Orcas, something deepened. As the ferry pushed through the mist and we wound our way along the forested roads, I felt enshrouded by a primeval mystery and the ancient wisdom of nature. Ever since that first visit, the island has quietly but persistently called to me. For more than thirty years now, I’ve carried the dream of living here—often speaking of it with a faraway look in my eyes, not sure if the dream would ever come to pass.

As it turns out, I just had to take the scenic route.

Over the intervening decades, life offered me a full curriculum—lessons in hurt, loneliness, and heartbreak, alongside redemption, healing, devotion, and love. In my twenties and thirties, I often felt like I was wrestling with an army of inner demons, until it slowly became clear that I was really just wrestling with myself. There were some difficult chapters along the way—dark nights and desperate mornings in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Rockies, and Denver—but in hindsight, they were also the very experiences that would later cultivate a deeper sense of humility, empathy, and compassion. Pain, it seems, can be an excellent teacher… though not one most of us would knowingly sign up for.

Around 2007, something shifted. A chance encounter with a book on Tibetan Buddhism stirred something long dormant, and within a year I found myself in India, sitting among thousands at the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The following decade unfolded, in the Tibetan expression, as a series of “showers of blessings.” I spent extended time in Dharamsala, Boudhanath, and parts of Tibet, immersing myself in the language, culture, and spiritual traditions that have carried these teachings forward for centuries.

When I returned to the U.S. in 2016, I began a hypnotherapy practice, integrating those spiritual insights with modern approaches to mind and healing. This work became a meaningful way to support others while continuing my own process of inner transformation—an ongoing alchemy of insight, understanding, release, and growth.

By 2025, however, I began to sense that another chapter was wanting to unfold. I started to let my practice wind down, transitioning to a smaller, online-only model. When the office space I was renting changed ownership, it felt like a natural moment to listen more closely to that inner nudge. I remember saying, somewhat casually, “Who knows? Maybe I’ll move to Orcas Island,” having no idea how soon that possibility would begin to take shape.

Two months later, in January 2026, I came up to visit a dear friend who had recently moved here with her family. While looking for things to do during my stay, I searched for “sacred places on Orcas Island” and came across Indralaya—along with the listing for a new general manager. My heart picked up a little. It felt alive, expansive… like a door was opening.

I took some time to sit quietly and check in with my inner guidance. The response was clear and immediate: Apply!

So I did. I spent that morning writing a cover letter and dusting off my resume. Within a few days, I heard back from the search committee. One conversation led to another, and before long—less than two months later—I found myself gratefully accepting the opportunity to help steward this extraordinary place.

And so, here we are.

Just a few weeks into this new chapter, I can say that not a single day has passed where I’ve questioned the decision. The people, the land, the history, and the shared values of ahimsa, service, and the sincere pursuit of truth—all of it resonates deeply. It feels like not only a new beginning…but a homecoming.

I’m honored to be part of this community and this ongoing experiment in conscious living. If you’re on the island, here for a program, or simply passing through, I’d be delighted to connect—over coffee, tea, or simply a walk beneath these beautiful trees.

Warmly,
Chris

When you return to Indralaya this season, here are a few things to expect and celebrate:

• Meet the camp General Manager, Chris Lemig
• The Dining Hall is getting a new metal roof, catalyzed by record rain and leaks.
• The Lower Bath House is in operation! This exciting addition to the Indralaya plan is now open for business. This summer will see its final completion with the addition of outdoor showers
• The ROAD AROUND CAMP has changed direction! When you enter camp go left – This new clockwise direction will help even out ruts in the road.
• Recycling labels will guide you! Confused which bin to use for trash? Labels will guide you to the right container
• Have an electric car? You can now charge on site for a small fee
• Linens have been rejuvenated! If you rent camp linens you will see a new setup – blue for doubles, grey for twins, and all in labelled and organized holders.

Since the start of the year, the Orcas Island Foundation (aka Indralaya) board has meet three times – by zoom in January and February, and in person in March. Minutes of Board meetings are available to all Friends of Indralaya on the web (Friends page is here).

Here are some highlights:

• The Board approved hiring our new General Manager.
• The Board Accepted the Indralaya Five-Year Capital Plan. This plan will guide actions and priorities for maintaining and upgrading Indralaya’s physical plant. Read it to see what is coming our way! 
• The Board finalized updates to the Indralaya Policy Manual. This manual is a compendium of decisions and practices to guide how camp functions.
• The Board approved new scholarship procedures for camp attendance. These are explained here . This year there are a limited number of scholarships for up to 50% off registration fees. The Board also approved special rates for TS members for the Theosophy Program in May, and complimentary attendance for any employees of TS organizations.
• The Board approved a new financial policy for donations – all donations over $50,000 will be used to augment reserves until an amount of 3x the annual expense budget is reached. After that reserves may be used for operational expenses (including capital improvements) at the rate of 4% per year. Other donations are used to supplement the operating budget, fund capital improvements, and support scholarships and special programs.

See your Indralaya Board members 

April-May are gorgeous months to be at Indralaya with the orchard blossoming and the air smelling so fragrant.

• We begin our program year with Yoga-Awakened Breath, Embodied Grace with Terra Lea Dennis. Give yourself the opportunity to attune your body, spirit, and breath to the healing rhythms of the Earth at Indralaya.
• If you are interested in the art of divination and self-inquiry, Stephanie Austin and Callie French return this year in May to teach Astrology and Tarot: Tools for Transformative Times. You can attend with either topic as your focus.
• Also in May, Juliana Cesano international lecturer for the Theosophical Society will present Seek Out the Way: Daily Practices to Embody Theosophy.  Juliana is a very approachable and fun teacher of the ancient wisdom tradition. This workshop will shine the light on the principles, philosophy and practices that have shaped Indralaya.  And note – if you are a TS member, you are eligible for a special discount of $100 for this program. If you are an employee of the TS your registration is complimentary!
• In June several workshops of Therapeutic Touch^® (TT) a holistic, energetic or biofield healing practice are offered. TT has been taught at Indralaya since the late 1970’s. If you are interested in helping others and want to learn TT, deepen your practice or experience TT as a healing partner, consider attending. 

For more information:
https://www.indralaya.org/programs-and-work-parties-in-2026/2026-programs-and-work-parties/.

Bring a friend!

Do you know someone who loves gardens and gardening?

The Board has announced a seasonal position to help support the reclamation of the camp’s garden. The position carries a monthly $900 stipend, and includes housing and meals.

Huge progress in the garden was made last year with new beds, much weeding, a new children’s area, and a large increase in produce for the kitchen! Our goal is to sustain this progress and continue to improve the garden’s health, beauty, and productivity.

The person in the position will work closely with the General Manager Chris Lemig, stewards, and other garden volunteers including our wonderful garden planner Laurie Rotecki. The job description is posted on the Indralaya website at  Employment Opportunities at Indralaya – Indralaya   or you can contact Chris directly via email at generalmanager@indralaya.org

Seasonal registration for the Stewardship Program began with two stewards, Margo and Luke, who arrived in early March and will stay until late April. They found Indralaya through the site we host on Workaway (a website/program that connects hosts and travelers around the world).

Here is what they have said about their experience so far:

Earlier this month, the Indralaya community welcomed me and my friend Luke through the stewardship program. Since then, we’ve worked alongside Chris, Christopher, and, most recently, the participants of the Spring Equinox work party, to prepare the camp for the on-season. I am enchanted by this place – with its natural beauty and the warmth and kindness of its people. I keep expecting to get used to waking up in the Round House to the sight of the fog on the water through the trees, but I still wonder at it. Talking to those who have been coming to Indralaya their whole lives, I get the impression that this sense of wonder hasn’t faded for them either. Clearly Indralaya has been a spiritual refuge for so many throughout its hundred-year history. I’m looking forward to spending a few more weeks here! 
— Margo

It’s been such a joy to spend time at Indralaya these last few weeks and even get to see, during a work party, a glimpse of the greater Indralaya life. Working alongside everyone here, whether chopping wood or taking care of the garden, is an experience that stands out among other Workaway opportunities I have had. The beauty of Orcas Island and the community that has been cultivated here make this a special place to steward at. I’m so excited to spend another month experiencing life here and hope to always have a place for me at Indralaya.
— Luke

For new or long-time campers, being on stewardship offers a larger perspective on the operations of camp and is a great way to connect with staff and other volunteers. Best of all, stewards help sustain Indralaya. Stewards work 5 hrs/day, 5 days/week with 2/days off in exchange for housing, meals and free participation in camp programs and activities. An online application is located at https://indralaya.org/get-involved/stewardship/  Come experience the joy and community of volunteering!

Note: Experienced stewards or campers may be accepted for less than the minimum two-week commitment if scheduling allows.

The organizing teams for the 100^th celebration for next year are in full swing.

• There will be special events and activities at all the work parties and programs throughout the 2027 year, so everyone gets to connect and celebrate.
• Everything is rented for the big gala event running Thursday July 29-Sunday August 1. Get it on your calendars! International President of the Theosophical Society, Tim Boyd will be our special guest. Malcolm Funt, a past Chair of the Indralaya Board will be the MC for the event, along with Bryn Junae, the talented violinist
• The 100^th Anniversary cookbook is coming along thanks to the head cooks and others offering their favourite recipes, stories, and photos. We are grateful to Julia Toren and Glena Felker for their leadership and coordination in developing this new extra special cookbook.
• Maddie Toland has created some wonderful artwork for the special merchandise we will be selling.
• Family Camp 1 has kindly agreed to painting all the decorations, flags, posters and interactive photo boards this summer.
• Next on the list is a commemorative songbook.  Please send your favourite songs and any historical connections to andriebates@hotmail.com
• If you have any outdoor games to donate to camp, please email me. We are after outdoor Jenga, Ladder Toss, Corn toss, Spike ball, or Ring toss.

The sun shimmers off the tips of the grass as the scent of new spring growth hangs in the air. My brain has officially solidified the thought that spring has sprung. The winter ushered in a time of both reflection and progression. Making way for much needed rest as well as the completion of thoughts about and plans for Indralaya. Indralaya is like a home to many of us and we want that home to succeed. We have passion, patience, love, and support for this magical place. 

As you all know Chris Lemig has started on as General Manager and like the cherry blossoms will surely bloom into a beautiful addition to the Indralaya family!

When you arrive back home here at Indralaya, you may notice new signs, a new flow of traffic, and drainage upgrades around camp. With the addition of a new skirt drain at the garden, the dining hall has been protected from the ever-increasing amounts of rain that the Pacific Northwest will surely see. Home is a place of warmth and a priority over the winter and into spring has been the insulation and increased comfortability of the cabins. Madrona now has insulation and new paneling. Next up is Dogwood.

As the sun begins to rise earlier and stay longer in the sky, the garden has taken a forefront in my mind. A new compost bed has been constructed, and existing beds have been raised.

There’s much work to be done!  And you will see how much has been accomplished at the February and March work party by reading the summaries below.

My heartfelt thanks to everyone. I hope to see you all soon at a program or a work party.

Kindly, Christopher 

Hello from the kitchen! I am looking forward to this coming season at Camp! This will be my first full season as Camp’s Kitchen Manager, though I happily get to count this as my 38th year in the Camp kitchen.

There are many improvements that have happened in the kitchen over the last few years. The floor was repainted, the dishwashing sinks and cupboards were reinstalled, new shelving was added, and Leif Erickson built us dedicated functional storage for items such as food processor blades. We have shifted the location of many items within the kitchen to streamline and organize based on available space and what needs to happen where. The biggest part and help to the smooth functioning of the kitchen has been my massive labeling project. We are now labeled in the walk in, kitchen, coffee kitchen, pantry and freezer. This helps so much as we are a fresh batch of folks on staff and chores each week. Everything runs more easily when kitchen helpers can find where things are and where things go.

Using head cook input, we’re now preparing meal components ahead of time for use during programs. Apple crisp is a good example. Apples are sliced and frozen in the fall, and bagged in Indralaya cake pan amounts. Stewards are making and freezing gluten free, vegan crisp topping for the entire season. This means that head cooks can easily serve our signature dish at every program. (Head cooks agree that apple crisp is Camp’s signature dish!). At spring work parties, we’ll also make cookie dough, mirepoix, dry baking mixes, and more to have on hand.

Indralaya has one of the oldest producing orchards in San Juan County. This is exciting! I am working to continue to reinvigorate our harvest, processing, preservation and consumption of fruit. Sliced apples, sliced plums and apple cider have continued throughout as our orchard products. Last fall, I brought back applesauce which I hope you all get a chance to enjoy this season. You’ll find it with the yogurt and granola at breakfast. This February, we canned plum jam for the first time in a decade. This fall, I hope to revive fruit drying for breakfast compote. My goal is for Indralaya fruit and fruit products to be served every day of every program for the entire season, every season.

The kitchen is one of the hearts of Camp. Working with head cooks, breakfast leads and everyone who serves on kitchen staff to bring that heart and nourishment forward into our shared experience is both an honor and a joy for me.

So far in 2026, the year of the Fire Horse we have held two very successful work parties

Close to 40 volunteers joined Facilities and Maintenance Manager Christopher Barry and support manager Michael Van Gelder for the first work party of 2026. What is usually a small, wet gathering turned out more than double the usual number of volunteers who delighted in the mostly dry weather. After coping with flooding across camp in Dec/Jan, Christopher was particularly happy to see the help!

Much was accomplished including:

• Christopher and a small crew finished installing and painting soffits at the Lower Bathhouse.
• Michael and Christopher guided a crew in digging out a long ditch between the garden and the road to replace a pipe in the culvert, which was then covered with gravel, to direct water from the hillside away from the Dining Hall (it proved to be very effective when the next atmospheric river arrived).
• Another crew repaired the trail from Inspiration Point to Madrona Point that had begun eroding and cleared the Red Trail.
• Screening around the base of Apple Cabin was tacked down and secured.
• Much of the RMC deck was pressure-washed.
• A crew using a splitter, cut and distributed firewood to cabins and storage areas.
• Kari Van Gelder guided volunteers in deep cleaning the kitchen.
• Volunteers also focused on preparing camp for the program season. Bedding and rugs from every cabin were taken up and washed and cabins deep-cleaned. Cabin smoke detectors were checked and new ones installed where needed.
• Laurie Rotecki guided work in the garden to turn cover crops, begin prepare trays for plantings in the greenhouse, gather green and brown material for a new compost bed and, of course, weed.
• Plus, delicious meals prepared by volunteers working with head cooks Viola Marx and Melanie Van Gelder and breakfast cooks Terra Lea Dennis and Lars Erickson.

Best of all, was the caring community and shared purpose felt by all!

• Ocean Spray:  The priority project for the March work party was to enclose the perimeter of the open space under the cabin with plywood and small gauge “chicken wire. The goal of enclosing the “base” of the cabin is to prevent otters from crawling under the cabin to make a cozy home for themselves-and their off-spring.  This type of “homemaking” activity leads to lots of problems including cabins becoming uninhabitable due to smell, noise and destruction of floors and walls. It was difficult work under trying circumstances–small spaces, very little room to maneuver with dust and debris making it more difficult to work. The project, led by Christopher, was completed in record time!
• Garden: There were a lot of tasks in the Garden well planned – as usual –by Laurie Rotecki. Apart from continual weeding, harvesting the huge crop of kale and other greens was a huge bonus for the kitchen.  An “in process” bed on the south side was prepped and beds on the north side were increased in height to prevent voles and others from reaping our harvest.
• Christopher designed and built (with Sarah Gully’s help) a new compost bed on the south side.  This compost bed will be able to handle more content, and it will be easier to distribute the “refined” compost across all the garden beds.
• Firewood: Wood splitting was also a focus of the weekend. Christopher had cut downed trees from the new drain field into rounds. These needed to be split and stored before more rain came. Thanks to the efforts of the team led by Nathan Proudfoot, many rounds were split into firewood by the end of the weekend.
• Kitchen: The kitchen continued to produce great meals even in the face of shortage of staff. Led by Viola Marx as head cook and supported by attendees and our island community, it bedazzled us with the variety of dishes.

We still have the April Earth Day and May Prep and Planting work parties to go this Spring. Please join us.!

Shannon Markley, a long-time Indralaya camper from Shoreline, has made persistent efforts through the years to improve camp’s sorting and recycling system. She has developed plans and strategies with the board and camp management and helped to educate and model recycling practices at camp. Shannon frequently sorts trash/recycling when campers err in implementing the process and even takes materials to Seattle that cannot be recycled on Orcas. We have made much progress with Shannon’s leadership.

Our Kitchen Manager Kari Van Gelder recently took this project even further to improve waste sorting among kitchen volunteers. This includes HUGE labels on all buckets in the kitchen and the bins outside that comply with local recycling rules. The goal is to increase camp recycling this season and reduce the waste that goes into the landfill. Look for the updated recycling signs and bins and, whether in the kitchen or cabin or outside, sort and save!