Welcome to the info site for the Smith Fellows 25th Anniversary Retreat! Watch this space for more information coming soon…

About the Retreat

When: Thursday July 31 - Sunday August 3, 2025

Where: Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, WA, located in the scenic Columbia River Gorge


Arrival/Departure Logistics

Skamania Lodge is about a 45 min drive from Portland International Airport (PDX). Shuttle transportation to and from the airport will be available for those arriving/departing at the times noted in the schedule. PLEASE NOTE: while getting from the airport to Skamania Lodge via Uber and Lyft is readily accessible, getting from Skamania Lodge to the airport needs advanced arrangement as they operate in a very limited capacity. Please schedule your flight times as noted in the Schedule Overview (below) if possible. You will be responsible for your own ground transportation if you’re not taking one of our scheduled buses.

Fellow Participation Costs

On-site retreat expenses are covered for all Fellows.

  • Travel Costs: Each Fellow is eligible to receive travel expense reimbursement for up to $600 for those travelling domestically (US, Canada, Mexico) and up to $1200 for those traveling internationally (from outside North America). See the FAQ’s below for reimbursement instructions.

Room sharing: In order to ensure we have enough space for everyone and stay within our budget, attendees will share a double room (see family/guest policy below). When you RSVP, you’ll have an opportunity to request roommates and/or share any information with the program staff that will help us match you with a roommate. If you have concerns about this or would like to cover the cost of your own private room, please reach out to Jessica at jmay@conbio.org.

Guest/Family Policy

Our mission is to bring together as many Fellows as possible, and while we invite partners and families to join us for this event, we unfortunately don’t have enough room in the budget to fully cover their participation. We hope our guest policy provides the flexibility you and your family need to support your participation in this event:

  • For Fellows who would not be able to attend this retreat without their family (for medical, family, or logistical reasons such as caretaking, nursing, etc.), we have funds available to support your family’s participation. Please reach out to the program staff for more information! 

  • If you would like to bring a partner and/or children with you (and don't fall into the category above), you’ll be asked to pay a $750 fee per guest to cover half the cost of their meals, room, and transport for the retreat. Additionally, if you need more than one hotel room to accommodate your family (we have reserved double queen bed rooms), you’ll be asked to cover the full cost of the additional room (~$349/night). Additional rooms will be subject to availability, with priority going to Fellows ahead of guests.

  • Guests will be invited to join us for all meals, but they will not be invited to participate in the Smith programming/activities.

Guest payments can be made via PayPal to: paypal@conbio.org. If you don't have a PayPal account, you may do a bank transfer into SCB’s account (please reach out to request those details). Additionally, please email Jessica (jmay@conbio.org) and Miriam (mhernandez@conbio.org) a confirmation when you make your payment so we may track it!

Schedule Overview

If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas for the retreat, feel free to reach out to the planning committee members or program staff: 

Planning Committee

Mallika Nocco (2017)

Clare Aslan (2010)

Jackie Grant (2004)

Vaughn Shirey (2023)

Ed Gallo-Cajiao (2020)

…and Smith Fellows staff:

Nicole Crane, Executive Director

Laura Yates, Program Manager

Jessica May, Program Associate

Subcommittees

Reach out to Jessica at jmay@conbio.org if you’d like to join or support any of these committees! 

  • Entertainment: Organize entertainment (e.g., create a commemorative playlist) for a dance party evening or other breaks during retreat schedule.

  • Storytelling Event: Coordinate a storytelling event (e.g., in the style of Pecha Kucha, or Plant Love Stories) for sometime during the retreat.

  • Retreat Analysis: Design, implement and analyze pre- and post-retreat surveys to elicit fellow priorities and evaluate retreat outcomes and impact on the program.

  • ESA Event: Organize high-profile open event at ESA 2025 in Baltimore (e.g., plenary panel or evening session) to commemorate 25 Years of Smith Fellows and showcase/explore/celebrate the impact of the program on the field of conservation.

  • Yearbook Subcommittee: Support program staff in designing a commemorative artifact that showcases the evolution of the Smith Fellows community and program over the past 25 years.

We’ll continue to update this section as we receive questions from the community.

How do I request travel reimbursements?

Each Fellow is eligible to receive travel expense reimbursement for up to $600 for those travelling domestically (US, Canada, Mexico) and up to $1200 for those traveling internationally (from outside North America). To receive reimbursement for your travel to/from the event, please submit your request through the reimbursement form and it will be processed within 30 days (please allow additional time for mailed checks to arrive).

Can I participate if I’m not able to stay for the full weekend? 

You’re able to come and go at different times (although we really encourage people to come for the whole time!), but you’ll need to organize your own transportation to and from the airport. Skamania Lodge has let us know that it is fairly easy to organize a cab or rideshare to the lodge from the Portland airport, but you’ll need to make advance arrangements for your return trip as rideshares aren’t readily available in that location. 
How will roommates be matched up?

We'll prioritize pairing up roommates who share the same gender identity and, where possible, are in close or overlapping cohorts. Applicants who identify as nonbinary, genderqueer, or otherwise outside the male/female binary may specify their preferences for roommate pairings to ensure their comfort. You’ll have a chance to request a particular roommate when completing the registration form, and we’ll do our best to honor that request!

Can I have my own room?

If you would prefer your own room, please note this will depend on availability and there will be an additional charge. Please reach out to program staff with questions.

FAQ’s

About Skamania Lodge

Located in the heart of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Skamania (pron. skuh-may-nee-uh) Lodge provides a breathtaking and relaxing natural setting for group gatherings and celebrations. Skamania Website

  • Activities: Skamania Lodge is an excellent base for exploring the Columbia River Gorge, and the region offers a variety of activities from outdoor adventures and opportunities for exploration, to leisure activities.

  • Accommodations: hotel-style double rooms in the main lodge

  • Meals: private buffet-style catering, hosted in a private area for our group

  • Location: 45 min from Portland International Airport on the north (Washington state) side of the Columbia River