WELCOME INBOUND STUDENTS
Your first orientation will take place in Seabeck, Washington. This is your opportunity to meet fellow exchange students and get to know more about your journey in the coming year. This will be a fun event, so feel free to bring any kind of entertainment to share (e.g: music, mime, dance, singing, comedy, magic, juggling, drama). You don’t have to be perfect to join in the fun.
On this page, you will find all the details about your arrival orientation and what items you need to bring.
Where
Seabeck Conference Center, 13395 Lagoon Dr NW, Seabeck, WA 98380 (360) 830-5010
When
Friday September 8, 2023 - Monday September 11, 2023
Check In
Friday September 9th, 2023 @ 4:00pm
Pick Up US Students/Canadian Students depart
Monday September 12th, 2023 @ 9:30am
Preparation Notes
- Canadian Students: A RYE 5020 committee member will drive you to Seabeck on Friday. They will contact you with details for pickup, depending upon where you live on Vancouver Island. You will take the ferry to Washington on Friday morning and will arrive in Seabeck just before 4:00pm to meet the USA Students.
- Canadian students who do not have a USA Visa require an ESTA form to cross the border into the USA. Canadian Students who do not have a USA Visa please got to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/, complete the ESTA form, and bring the confirmation email with you to the border. This can take several days to get the confirmation so do not wait until the day before.
- US Students: will arrange transportation to Seabeck through their YEO. You need to arrive by 4:00pm Friday.
- On Monday, Canadian students leave by 9:30 a.m. and USA hosted students are picked up by 9:30 a.m.
- You need to bring the documents listed below. Please check carefully. Put all of your documents in a Ziploc bag, we will collect them from you as soon as you arrive on Saturday. These documents will be copied for our records and they will be returned to you.
- Passport and Visa
- Original DS2019 (only for students hosted in the USA)
- Copy of your return travel itinerary
- A written note from YEO saying you have given them your $500 emergency fund
(It is also a good idea to bring your Insurance card ---be in the habit of carrying it with you.)
Other Items To Bring
- 3 days change of clothes. This is a camp setting, do not bring dress up clothes or high heeled shoes; running shoes, sandals, casual clothes such as t-shirts, shorts are fine!
- Rotary jackets/blazers are required. Bring them to put new pins on them and take pictures.
- Pins and business cards to exchange
- Country Flag (You will want this for photos)
- Light weight jacket (rain proof) and sweatshirt, it can be cool in the evening
- Swim suit and/or shorts and shirt that can get wet
- Camera with name tag attached
- Overnight bathroom supplies (tooth brush, toothpaste, shampoo, etc.)+
- Towels and linens are supplied
- On Sunday night, we have an ‘Entertainment Night’, if you sing, dance, play guitar, juggle or perform magic please come prepared to share your ability with all of us. Piano and guitars are available at Seabeck. If you play another instrument, or have a costume, please bring it with you. You will have an enthusiastic and supportive audience.
- We know that you will be using your cell phone camera to record some of these amazing memories; we expect that you will keep your cell phone turned off or on airplane mode so you can be present during presentations or conversations with other students and committee members. If you need your cell phone for google translate during presentations please communicate that to your country officer
- No laptops please, they are not needed.
- Families are asked not to contact students during the Seabeck weekend so that they can be fully involved in all activities.
- Money is not required.
Please make certain that you sit down and read these instructions with your host family so that they fully understand the information. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your Country Officer. Where will you find your Country Officer’s information? Go to the website www.rye5020.org Click on the “About” drop down District committee for a list of all RYE District 5020 committee members and contact information.
Rotarian Information
This is our opportunity to make sure that all of their documents are in order. Please be sure that they bring with them all of the listed documents (originals, no photocopies), even though the US hosted students are not crossing any border their DS 2019 must be countersigned by the ARO at Seabeck to be valid. Please also have the student pack lightly. We want to be able to get as many students as possible into the carpool vehicles.