NatureBridge Olympic — Local services in Washington

Our school goes to a science camp every year and this time it was NatureBridge. We were initially excited because of the gorgeous scenery and forest, but the accommodations were very uncomfortable.

There's no place to rest or just hang out as a group and the cabins are very old, tiny and uncomfortable. They double-book school groups and run a very strict schedule to make it work, so you can't linger after a meal to chat with other families. You have to eat fast and get out fast for the next group. And the schedule shows your assigned times to shower, but they're very short and not really possible when it's before/after breakfast, but you're also required to take turns going in early and staying late to help set up and clean up the meal.

They also didn't want our groups to mingle, so if the other school group was playing in the only big field we didn't really have a place to play.

You're expected to be out on the trail for 7 hours straight (9am-4pm) with young children. It was exhausting and most of my family wanted to go home early which has never happened at the other science camps we've attended.

It's also a highly political organization, but they were respectful not to bring up or teach any political beliefs and we all got along great.

The food was so-so and the guides were fun with some unique games. They were very careful about safety, especially with the canoes which was great. They were very prepared for rainy weather.

It would be a stellar camp with a few changes: upgrade the accommodations (better beds, a large and heated gathering area with couches), only book one group at a time, loosen up the schedule with some downtime and longer meal times and shower times, and have more things for kids to do in the free times (like a playground, gagaball pit or...

My husband and I hosted our wedding here, and it was everything we could have hoped for in a wedding venue. We prioritized a venue that allowed a 24-hr reservation so that we weren't limited to ending the party at 10pm or stressing about clean-up the night of our wedding. We also wanted somewhere with lodging in-house or at least adjacent so that we didn't have to worry about transportation. NatureBridge solved that problem with catering and lodging on-site and a full weekend booking. And the location is absolutely BEAUTIFUL to boot. It was so incredibly special to be able to spend an entire weekend surrounded by our friends and family in one of our favorite places in the world. Our guests were kept busy and entertained the morning of the wedding with hiking and canoeing excursions while the bridal party got ready and set up. The staff was friendly and helpful. The cabins were rustic and fun. The lakeside setting for our ceremony was perfection. The food was INCREDIBLE! And knowing that we were supporting educational programs for kids was also very important to my husband and me as well. This definitely isn't the venue for everyone. It's not an all-inclusive venue, and it's certainly not a luxury 5-star resort. However, if you're looking for a unique and adventurous wedding experience and you and your guests are willing to "rough it" juuust a little bit, I would absolutely recommend booking NatureBridge! It's an incredible value (lodging, ceremony site, reception site, and food for the ENTIRE weekend!!!) and just the most beautiful location.

(Photos by Kim Butler...

Attended a wedding here recently and the venue was gorgeous. Our friends set it up beautifully. We had so much fun. One of my complaints is with the staff. They were very passive aggressive and power trippy. We felt like we were being treated less than. When in reality our friends paid a lot of money to host their friends and family there. While I know this is not a 5 star resort, there is a level of respect you should show your customers anywhere. The other thing was the food was AWFUL. I would not wish this food upon my enemy. Every meal was DRY AND UNSEASONED. Beware if you choose to host an event here. Honestly, if food is low on your requirements list, then go ahead and book this place because it was a fun experience and so gorgeous. Or just cater in your own food. The staff will come and go and if you're lucky they'll...