What to Pack for a Weekend in the Woods

You’ve booked your spot. The ferry schedule is saved. Now comes the inevitable question: what do I bring?

Short answer: less than you think. Camp is designed so you can show up and exhale. But a few things will make your weekend even better.

The essentials

• Layers, layers, layers. Vashon Island evenings are cool even in early August. Think: t-shirt during the day, flannel, and a light jacket by the campfire. Mornings can be misty.

• Comfortable clothes you don’t mind getting clay on. Or ink. Or resin. The workshops are hands-on, and things get wonderfully messy.

• Closed-toe shoes for walking the grounds. The paths at Iola Gardens are beautiful but natural - think gravel and grass, not pavement.

• Your favorite mug. Coffee is always on. Bringing your own mug makes it feel like home.

If you’re tent camping

• We'll supply the tents, you bring a sleeping bag, and sleeping pad. We’ll have a designated camping area with flat ground and access to shared restrooms.

• A headlamp. Essential for the walk back to your tent after the campfire burns low.

• An extra blanket. Island nights can dip into the mid-50s even in summer.

• Earplugs if you’re a light sleeper. It’s quiet out here, but there are birds. So many birds.

Nice to have

• A book or journal. There’s a glorious meadow and time built into the weekend. Use it.

• A reusable water bottle. We’ll have water stations around the grounds.

• Sunscreen and a hat. The garden gets full sun in the afternoon.

• A small bag or tote for carrying your workshop creations back to your tent or room.

• A camera, if you’re the type. Your phone works too. The light at Iola is unreal.

Leave at home

• A packed schedule. There isn’t one. That’s the point.

• Your laptop. We mean it.

• Formal anything. The dress code is: Would you wear this to a campfire? Perfect.

• Anxiety about being “creative enough.” You’re creative enough. We promise.

One more thing

Bring the willingness to be bad at something new. That’s the only thing on the packing list that’s actually required.

We’ll send a more detailed packing list after you book. But honestly? Layers, a headlamp, your favorite mug, and an open mind. That’s camp.