The Seabeck Memorial Day Weekend retreat overlooking the Olympic Peninsula, happens from 4pm Friday May 23 to 11am Monday May 26, 2025. We encourage everyone to participate in this inspiring community event. Registrations are already underway and are filling up fast. Let’s hear from our Deans, Amanda and Doug Strombom, about what is going to make Seabeck so wonderful this year:
Doug: First, I want to thank Amanda for agreeing to be Co-Dean with me. We are filling the very capable shoes of David Langrock, which is no small challenge. Teamwork will get us there!
Amanda: Yes, Doug and I together have found out how much organizing the Dean must do. Luckily our leadership team includes some very seasoned pros like Jeanne Lamont, Sheridan Botts, Becky Andrews, Beth Wilson and others. Nicole Duff is our multi-talented staff sponsor. Teamwork will get us there!
Doug: The Seabeck Memorial Day Weekend Retreat is a 50-year-long tradition for East Shore and University Unitarian Churches. Amanda and I have been attending for a dozen years or so, and it has never failed to deliver! At Seabeck we step out of our busy lives into this awesome community life and really appreciate meeting people, learning new things, doing fun activities, or just relaxing and rocking on the front porch.
Amanda: When we chose this year’s theme of “Invoking Joy”, we saw the need to help everyone find more joy in their lives, especially as we all struggle with what our American culture is serving up right now. We chose Reverend Justin Almeida as the keynote presenter because we knew he has the gift of leading us to appreciate joy. Rev Justin, his wife Heather and child Tobias are really excited to be coming back to Seabeck, and we’re overjoyed to have them. We hope that the pursuit of joy will appeal to all, in whatever form that takes for each person.
Doug: Here are a few changes we’re making at Seabeck this year. We are moving the music program back to the Meeting House from the small building it was in last year. We’re going to reinstate Open Mic hour and have lots of musical performances to enjoy. One thing that I’m really excited about is the Freedom Jamboree, a new inclusive event for everyone to make joyous music together. We’ll explore vocal protest music, UU hymns, and other songs that move you. Join Cecelia Hayes, John Chmaj and a host of Seabeck musicians. Bring your voice, your instruments, or just come “clap your hands, paws or anything ya’ got now” with us on the Saturday evening.
Amanda: Seabeck is a great getaway for families with children and youth. There are organized programs for each age-group every morning. Last year, our Children and Youth coordinator Becky Andrews led a team to help boost the safety and support for all children. This year we’ll be introducing a camp-wide Covenant to help us further define what it means to bring our best selves into the Seabeck community.
Doug: So that’s some highlights of this year’s event, and we hope you feel inspired to come join us.
Amanda: We hope to see many of you at Seabeck soon! Register at esuc.org