Making in Michigan Knitting Retreat: More Details

Please join the Wild Onion Productions group on Ravelry, or the Wild Onion Productions Facebook group, to chat with other attendees.  

TRANSPORTATION INFO:

• Transportation is not included in the registration.
• You may fly into the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids, which is approximately 50 minutes from the venue, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO) which is approximately 30 minutes from the venue, or Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) which is approximately 2 hours from the venue.
• As far as we can tell, a rideshare car (Uber, Lyft, for example) from Kalamazoo Airport to the Kellogg Biological Station campus, will cost approximately $40 for a regular sedan fitting 3-4 guests.
• We are working with a shuttle service to arrange for rides from the Inn to the venue in the morning, and then back to the Inn in the evening.  Day Students will be contacted with information about this.
• We have also arranged a self-organized carpool page, where you can plug in your details, and find rides/offer rides/share rides with other guests. The service is called Group Car Pool, and the carpool sign up page can be found here.  Please feel free to enter yourself as a driver, whether you are renting a car at the airport, or driving from elsewhere to Kalamzoo, MI.   If you see a car, but it’s full, add yourself to the waitlist on the page. 
• We have a separate carpool page for those Day Students staying at the Inn at Gulf Lake, for rides during the retreat, to/from the Inn/the venue.  Please find that here.
• Here is a short video to watch and learn about the carpooling service.
• DISCLAIMER:  we are providing this carpool service as an organizational tool, not as an event service; participants make plans, offer and accept rides at their own risk.  Wild Onion Productions and Laura Dobratz/Four Purls, etc are not liable for any mishaps resulting from the use of this organizational carpool tool.
• Rideshare costs between campus and the local hotels run approximately $10 – $15.

ABOUT THE CAMPUS ROOMS:

• We provide an open, safe, inclusive space where people of all sexes, orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions are welcomed and celebrated.
•  We recognize that a dorm-style room choice with a communal  bathroom might prove uncomfortable to some of our guests. When registering, if you would be uncomfortable in a communal bathroom, you may wish to book a room at one of the many local hotels in the surrounding area.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE:

• Coffee, tea, and water will be available all day; alcoholic beverages will be available for your purchase at our cash bar before dinner.  Alcohol is not allowed in the rooms or grounds on campus, other than the bar and dining hall.
• You are welcome to bring your own snacks to your room or classroom.
• The chefs at the venue are trained to try to accommodate all food allergies, however please note that the kitchen prepares food on shared equipment that may contain milk, egg, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybean.
• Please make sure to note any food restriction, allergy, or requirement on your registration form.  If your food should be prepared and kept separate from other food preparation, we require you to notify the chef upon arrival, to further discuss your needs.  We want to make sure you stay healthy!

HOTELS IN THE AREA:

The closest hotel in the area is the Inn at Gull Lake, with 13 golf courses nearby.  The staff will make course reservations for you, if you or your non-knitting partner wishes to indulge in some scenic golf outings.

Other hotels include a Fairfield Inn, Doubletree Inn, Four Points by Sheraton, Radisson Plaza, and many others, however these are approximately 25 minutes from the venue.

NON-KNITTER OPTIONS:

• We welcome non-knitting partners; please reserve a double room at the venue, or consider staying in one of the local area hotels.  Please keep in mind when booking a double room at the venue, bathrooms are shared with other rooms and guests.
• Non-knitters staying in a hotel off-campus may choose to eat their meals on campus for a fee. We request that non-knitters refrain from joining the classroom experience.

ADDITIONAL FUN AT THE VENUE:

• There are many outdoor activities on the large campus.  Please click here for a list and description.
• The town of Kalamazoo features many attractions and shopping opportunities.  Please click here for an interactive list.

ADA COMPLIANCE:

• Class and certain lodging rooms are ADA compliant.  To ensure your comfort and safety, please reach out to us at wildonionproductions@gmail.com, so that we can best support you. 
• Please note that wheelchairs and scooters may not be left in the halls; they must be able to fit inside your sleeping room, for the safety of all guests.
• Kellogg Biological Station adhere’s to Michigan State University ADA policy, which can be found here.
• The policy surrounding service animals, supported by MI state law and ADA requirements, can be found here. 
• Service animals on campus must comply with all state and local licensure and vaccination requirements.
• The owner of a service animal will be held responsible for repair or cleaning of any damage or accidents caused by the animal, to the venue property.
• The care and supervision of a service animal is the responsibility of the individual who uses the animal’s service. The individual must maintain control of the animal at all times. The individual using the animal’s service is responsible for ensuring the cleanup of all animal waste and for any damage caused by the animal. University officials and staff may designate animal toileting areas.
• If you have physical reactions to animals, please plan accordingly, and bring any medicine or equipment that will support you, should you react to the service animal.  By law, we cannot disclose the attendance of a service animal.  If a service animal is present, we will alert the class, and take precautions to protect your health, while accommodating all guests.