Conferences
Calendar | Register
2008 Registration Information
Thank you for a great season!
All of us on Star Island want to thank you for a great summer season.
Our 2009 calendar will be posted in the new year. Please check back periodically for updates.
The Star Island Corporation also offers its conference facilities and services to a variety of local and regional groups. If your group is interested in holding a conference or retreat on Star Island, please e-mail us at office@starisland.org or call us at (603) 430-6272.
Quick Form Downloads
Already an experienced Shoaler? Here are quick links to the documents you need in order to register: the Blue Book, the Registration Form, and (if applicable) the Minor Medical Release Form. Read on for details.
These documents require Adobe Reader, which is a free download.
The Blue Book
The Star Island Conference Brochure (or Blue Book) has complete information about how to register for any conference and specific information about speakers, workshops, and themes for each conference. This annual publication is sent to our mailing list every winter. If you are new to Star Island, please call our office (603) 430-6272 to request a copy, or download it here. While the information below will assist you in planning to attend a conference on Star Island, you will need information from the Star Island Conference Brochure to determine conference specific schedules and rates.
Registration Instructions and Deadlines
Complete BOTH SIDES of the registration form and mail your completed registration form, ONE CHECK (payable as directed in your conference listing, totaling the room and board deposit and registration fee for everyone listed on your form), and a business-sized SASE (see conference listing in Blue Book for postage) to the conference registrar. Each conference sets its own registration policy and acceptance criteria, though it is generally true that the registration process begins March 10. Registrations postmarked before then will be treated as if postmarked on March 10. Registrations postmarked after March 10 will be accepted, space available, according to postmark date. If you are concerned about the deadline, we recommend that you have your envelope hand-canceled at the post office to ensure that the postmark is legible.
Please note that the Young Religious Unitarian-Universalists Conference prefers that registrants use their registration form instead of ours. Don't despair if you've already registered with our form--YRUU will get in touch with you and take care of things.
2008 Room and Board Rates
Beginning in 2008, we are now able to accept credit cards on Star Island for room and board bill payment in addition to cash and checks. We ask that those who are able to pay their bills via cash or check please do so to defray our costs. Important: credit cards will not be accepted at the snack bar and other island stores, so don't forget to bring your checkbook or some cash to the island! These rates are for most main season, 6- and 7-night conferences. Shorter conferences will have their rates specified in the corresponding conference listing in the Blue Book.
Manager's Cottage is a new conferee housing area. It features three bedrooms, a shared living room and a private bathroom (with shower facilities usable on conference shower days!); it's a great place for extended families--More details here.
Adult Rates (18+) |
Triple |
Double |
Single |
Motel/Mgr |
Motel/Mgr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7-night Conferences |
$683 |
$730 |
$883 |
$778 |
$1291 |
6-night Conferences |
$591 |
$633 |
$766 |
$709 |
$1175 |
Rasa Yoga |
$469 |
$501 |
$607 |
$534 |
$887 |
YAC (4-night), ISHRA June |
$377 |
$403 |
$489 |
$430 |
$714 |
Findhorn |
$286 |
$306 |
$370 |
$326 |
$542 |
Childlight Yoga |
$226 |
$242 |
$292 |
$257 |
$427 |
Don't see your conference listed? Contact office@starisland.org. |
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Youth Rates |
Under 3 |
3-5 Yrs |
6-11 Yrs |
12-17 Yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
7-night Conferences |
NO CHARGE |
$344 |
$452 |
$581 |
6-night Conferences |
NO CHARGE |
$299 |
$392 |
$503 |
YAC (4-night) |
NO CHARGE |
$190 |
$249 |
$321 |
Don't see your conference listed? Contact office@starisland.org. |
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September Adults (18+) |
Triple |
Double |
Single |
Motel/Mgr |
Motel/Mgr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pel Reunion |
$223 |
$238 |
$291 |
$252 |
$420 |
Elderhostel |
$504 |
$539 |
$653 |
$575 |
$954 |
'Women' Full Week |
$368 |
$393 |
$476 |
$418 |
$696 |
'Women' Midwk/Wknd |
$203 |
$217 |
$263 |
$232 |
$384 |
Midweek, Writelines |
$368 |
$393 |
$476 |
$418 |
$696 |
Writers in the Round |
$312 |
$334 |
$404 |
$357 |
$591 |
Photo, Dover Yoga |
$285 |
$305 |
$369 |
$325 |
$541 |
Granite State |
$257 |
$275 |
$333 |
$294 |
$488 |
Laity, Worcester Art |
$231 |
$246 |
$299 |
$262 |
$436 |
ISHRA Sept, Living in Beauty, Guilford, Hampshire |
$203 |
$217 |
$263 |
$232 |
$384 |
Don't see your conference listed? Contact office@starisland.org. |
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Sept. Youth |
Under 3 |
3-5 Yrs |
6-11 Yrs |
12-17 Yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pel Reunion |
NO CHARGE |
$114 |
$152 |
$189 |
Laity |
NO CHARGE |
$116 |
$152 |
$195 |
Don't see your conference listed? Contact office@starisland.org. |
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Room and Board Deposit Policy
The Star Island Corporation requires a deposit toward room and board for each person age two and over. The amount of this deposit is $150 for conferences five days or more in length and $75 for conferences four days or less in length. The deposit is due at the time of registration and is refundable up to six weeks prior to the conference start date. Deposit refunds requested within six weeks of the conference start date and resulting from exceptional circumstances are made at the sole discretion of the Star Island Corporation; inquire directly to the Island Registrar. (Note that all other registration inquiries should be directed to the conference registrar).
Conference Registration Fee
The conference registration fee covers the cost of conference programs (such as conference staff and food for social events). Each conference determines this amount and approves expenditures independently of Star Island Corporation. Most conferences' registration fees are refundable up to the same date as the room and board deposit. Fees, payment information and exceptions to the above refund procedure are described in each conference's listing in the Star Island Conference Brochure.
Young Conferees
Until September, island staff provides child monitoring services every evening from 8 to 11 p.m. To facilitate this service, families with children under eight will be housed together, most likely in the main building. All families with one or more children under the age of eight are charged. The cost for child care—$46/family ($20 for Pel Reunion and the 4-day YAC Conference)—is added to the room and board bill, which is payable on island.
During scheduled adult activities, most conferences plan a full children's program, including child care for those under three. Details of each conference's children's program may be found in the Blue Book or by calling the conference registrar.
If you are bringing children that are less than four years old, please read Bringing Young Children to Star for some helpful information.
Minor Medical Release Form
Any person under 18 years of age who is attending a conference without a parent or legal guardian is REQUIRED to have a Minor Medical Release Form completed, signed by a parent or legal guardian, and returned to the conference registrar before the application can be accepted.
Boat and Parking Information
For the 2008 season, all conference boats will depart from Rye Harbor in Rye, NH. This dock is easily accessible, and the trip to and from Star aboard the 149 passenger vessel Captain's Lady will take less than an hour. For the start of most six- and seven-night conferences, the Captain's Lady will depart from Rye at 2:00 and 3:30 p.m. To return, the boat will leave Star Island at 8:15 and 10:15 a.m., arriving in Rye at 8:45 and 10:45 a.m., respectively. For shorter conferences, additional boats will be added to the schedule, enabling conferees to arrive and depart within a short time of each other. If you will be attending a conference this summer or in the fall, you will receive your boat assignment and instructions directly from your conference leaders as part of your conference acceptance materials. Your conference leaders will have the most up-to-date information specific to your conference, so please communicate directly with them to ensure a timely and accurate response.
Parking will be available at Rye Harbor and will cost $10/day (or any portion of a day). Because we use block parking, you must arrive and depart on either the early boats or the late boats only. For example, if you depart from Rye on the first boat to the island, you must depart from the island on the first boat to Rye. Parking fees and boat fares ($41.00 for adults; $28.00 for children 2-12; no charge for children under two) will be added to your room and board bill, payable on-island.
Overnight conference and Pelican guests may travel to Star from Rye via the 20-passenger vessel Uncle Oscar, or by private charter. Overnight conference guests must make arrangements through conference chairs, and Pel guests through the Front Desk. Uncle Oscar operates seven days a week (mid-June through mid-September), generally with three to four runs per day. Information about fares and parking are available at (603) 964-6446 or www.uncleoscar.com.
Important Notes on Luggage
Luggage limits will be strictly enforced this year, so please pack accordingly. Luggage must be limited to one small carry-on bag (a backpack or small zippered tote, including your personal items), a musical instrument, and one "checked" bag (a duffle bag without wheels is preferable)—limit 50 lbs. per person. Bags exceeding 50 lbs. will not be transported. There will be a scale in place at "check-in" to determine weight. Conference staff with special freight needs must make arrangements for such freight through their conference leaders ahead of time. Star Island Corporation and Captain's Fishing Parties assume no responsibility for the handling, damage, or loss of any luggage belonging to Star Island guests.
Directions to Rye Harbor, Rye, NH
Google Maps | Mapquest | Yahoo! Maps
From North: From 95 South, take NH Exit 5, staying in left lane for Portsmouth Traffic Circle. Exit Circle to Rt. 1 South. Turn left onto Elwyn Road and follow until it intersects with Rt. 1A at Foyes Corner. At this 3-way stop, go straight onto Rt. 1A and follow to arrive at Rye Harbor, approx. 7 miles.
From South: From 95 North to Exit 2 (Hampton Toll Booths), follow Rt. 101 East for 0.5 miles. Take exit 13, turning right onto Rt. 27 East. Follow to the ocean, turn left onto Rt. 1A and follow to Rye Harbor, approx. 5 miles.
From West: From Rt. 101 East to Exit 12 (North Hampton/Rye), exit left onto Rt. 111 East and follow to end. Turn left onto Rt. 1A North and follow to Rye Harbor, approx. 3 miles.
From Downtown Portsmouth/Market Square: Follow Congress Street (one-way road) and turn left at 2nd light onto Middle St. Follow for 0.3 miles and turn left onto Miller Ave./Rt. 1A. Follow Rt. 1A to Rye Harbor, approx. 7 miles.