The 10/10 Bring a Friend program back and better than ever! You can receive a 10% discount off your room and board rate for every friend you bring to Star. Up to a 50% discount! The friend you bring will also receive a 10% discount.
The 10/10 Bring a Friend program has been expanded. Now instead of the old/returning Shoaler only being eligible for a 10% discount you can receive 10% off (up to 50%) for each new Shoaler you get to enroll (those folks who have never been to Star or haven't been back in 5 or more years).
Of course we'd love new folks to come to the Star Gathering conferences, but even if they decide to go to another conference YOU can still get the discount!
The program is aimed for folks to recruit adults to adults, kids to kids, and families to families. For example if a family unit of one adult and two kids recruits an identical family unit all parties get 10% off their respective R&B rates. If an adult individual recruits 4 other new adult Shoalers that returning person gets 40% off their R&B and each new Shoaler gets 10% off. Of course, kids under 6 are free so they can't get an additional discount.
Welcome to the Star Gathering Conferences in 2010!
Step-by- Step Registration Instructions:
To register for any SG1 or SG2 conference, please send all of the following completed materials to the SG1 or SG2 Registrar (see below for full contact information):
Completely fill out both sides of the registration form and include the following:
Name, Address, Phone Number, and valid Email Address*, as all correspondence from the conference will occur via email.
Room and room type preferences (every effort will be made to accommodate requests on a first come, first served basis, but we cannot guarantee room availability). NOTE: Parents, please indicate if a crib is needed. Everyone - please note if you need a first floor room or electrical outlet for medical or other reasons.
Emergency contact name and information.
Please indicate on the form if you would like to apply for a scholarship from the SIUCC.
Any conferee under the age of 18 attending without a parent or guardian is required to submit a Minor Medical Release Form, which can be found at http://starisland.org/conferences/register/.
* Correspondence is conducted via email to further our Green initiative, reduce postal costs, and increase the speed of communication. Anyone without the ability to obtain an email address must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope in the amount of $.78 when registering.
Please include ONE check made out to “Star Island United Church of Christ, Inc.”(SIUCC) for the Program Fees and Room and Board Deposits for everyone listed on the registration form. Room and Board Deposits are $150/person (age 6 and under are free). Registration fees are $100/adult (14 and up), and $75/child (13 and under).
Ex: Two adults would include one check for $500 ($150x2 + $100x2 = $500)
NOTE: The Program Fee is used to provide leadership, supplies, and more at the Conferences. The Room & Board Deposit is a deposit for the island and will be credited on your bill, the balance of which will be due when you attend the SG conference on island.
Please feel free to contact the conference registrar with any questions or concerns regarding registration.
Lori Benson, SG2 Registrar
PO Box 298 Onset, MA 02558
508-273-7672 sg2reg@verizon.net
Adult rates are per person and determined by room type.
Adult (18+ years)
Triple
Double
Single
Motel Double
Motel Single
7–night conferences (2010: SG1)
$710
$754
$972
$848
$1,343
6–night conferences (2010: SG2)
$615
$654
$843
$735
$1,164
Youth rates are determined by age on the first day of the conference, regardless of room type. Youth in
motel units at a parent’s request are charged adult rates.
Youth
Under 6
6-11 Years
12-17* Years
7–night conferences(2010: SG1/SG1 Youth)
$0
$452
$600
6–night conferences (.2010: SG2/SG2 Youth)
$0
$392
$519
*For the Star Gathering Youth Conferences, youth age 18 who have just graduated from high school in June 2010 will be charged at the 12-17 yrs rate.
Star Gathering I
Family Retreat and Star Gathering I Youth Conference 8/1 – 8/8
Star Gathering II
Family Retreat and Star Gathering II Youth Conference 8/8 – 8/14
A Star Tradition Returns...we'll be departing from Portsmouth on the Laighton. Details
The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company will once again provide transportation from their dock on Market Street in Portsmouth to Star Island for conference guests and other overnight visitors.
Beginning in June we will sail to Star Island on the M/V Thomas Laighton, the boat that brought Shoalers to Star from the mid-1980s to 2004. For newcomers, the Laighton is a 90-foot vessel, with three decks, two of which are fully enclosed and heated. It has the capacity to hold 300, and has many amenities, including a snack bar, several washrooms, comfortable deck chairs, and the boat is wheelchair-accessible.
Here are some frequently asked questions that new Shoalers may have
How do I get to Star Island?
You take a one hour long ferry ride from Portsmouth. All you have to do is come to the boat dock in Portsmouth. The address is 315 Market Street. You will be directed to an area to leave luggage and to another area on the dock for parking. Make your plans so that you arrive at the dock about an hour and a half before your boat is scheduled to depart. Because the dock is located in downtown Portsmouth, you will be able to explore the town and grab lunch at a local eatery after check-in, so long as you return to the dock by 2:00 to begin boarding.
Boat fares (roundtrip) are $44 for adults, $28 for children 2-12, and free for children under two, and are added to conferee room and board bills.
What are the lodgings like?
Star Island offers the historic Oceanic Hotel, built in the grand hotel era of the 1800’s. In addition to the hotel’s guest rooms, a number of cottages and stone buildings provide accommodations and conference meeting rooms. Life is comfortable but not modern in part due to our commitment to conservation of resources. Living quarters in the main hotel and cottages have shared bathroom facilities for each floor, while the double rooms of the “motel” units have private toilets and sinks. Rates vary depending on single, double and triple occupancy. For specific rate information, please go to starisland.org and click on the “Conferences” tab.
What dining options are available?
Meals are hearty and served family-style in the hotel’s dining room, which has changed very little since the hotel was built (Vegetarian meals are available). There is also a snack bar inside the hotel providing lobster rolls, ice cream and many other delights.
What sports are available on the island?
Each year there are the annual softball games and tennis tournaments. There are also volleyball and basketball courts. Other games are available, including horseshoes, lawn bowling, frisbee football and numerous other sporting activities.
What are some activities offered on the island?
The leaders of each Star Gathering retreat have put together a week filled with activities and entertainment. There is something for everyone. Daytime activities include several musical, athletic, spiritual and artistic options. Some examples are yoga, swimming, basket weaving, tennis, African drumming and contemplative prayer. Nightly entertainment typically includes a Talent Show, art auction, bonfire, music and dancing and the annual tradition of the Pelican Variety Show.
Is there a chapel service available?
The stone chapel is one of Star Island’s most prominent features. This simple meetinghouse was built in 1800 on the highest point of land. Chapel services are a cherished tradition and are held at the beginning and close of each day. Guests of the evening chapel gather at the foot of the hill to form a procession, carrying candle lanterns as the villagers of long ago carried their whale-oil lamps up the same winding path. Inside the chapel, the lanterns, hung on brackets, provide the only source of light. In addition, every year the leaders of Star Gathering select a speaker of the week who runs the adult program which will follow a weeklong spiritual theme.
Is there childcare available?
Yes! For ages 0 – junior high, there is morning programs provided from 9am – 12pm. There is also babysitting services provided in the evening from 8 – 11pm.
What kinds of animals are on the island?
Many species of birds have been sighted including bald eagles, snowy owls, and nesting colonies of cormorants, snowy egrets and black guillemots. Whales and dolphins can be seen in the Shoals area, and harbor seals have been sighted swimming in Gosport Harbor and sunbathing on Star’s rocky shoreline. A checklist of the marine flora and fauna of the Isles of Shoals includes 256 species of invertebrates, 139 species of algae, 49 species of fish and 145 species of birds. The Rutledge Marine Laboratory on island has salt water “touch-tanks” that provide near-natural habitats for a variety of aquatic creatures collected from the harbor and surrounding waters. Terrariums allow visitors to observe and identify island flora and fauna.
Are there stores on the island?
There are three stores on the island. The lobby shop offers sundries in case you forget to pack something. The gift shop sells hand crafted jewelry, crafts, clothing and many other gifts. The book store offers a large selection of reading materials.
Is there art on the island?
Star Island’s natural beauty has been the inspiration for many pieces of great artwork over the years. Please feel free to dabble in the arts for yourself! We offer an art barn which provides the tools you need to get started. There are also many arts and crafts activities throughout the week.
What is a typical day like on Star Island:
7:00 AM Polar Bear Dip
7:30 AM Wake Up
8:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM Children’s Program
9:15 AM Chapel Service
10:30 AM Adult Program
12:30 PM Lunch
1:30 PM Naptime for Tots
2:00 PM Crafts, Art, Tennis, Reading, Rocking
3:30 PM Bell Choir, Softball, Tea
5:30 PM Adult Fellowship Hour
6:30 PM Dinner
7:30 PM Sunset
8:00 PM Talent Show, Pel Show, Auction
9:15 PM Adult Candlelight Chapel
10:00 PM Youth Chapel
11:00 PM Quiet Time