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Sky and Star Party
See Mount St. Helens in a whole new light.... at night!
Sky & Star Party Mount St. Helens is an astronomical adventure with Rose City Astronomers and Friends of Galileo. Tent and RV sites on Coldwater Ridge are available; both are rustic without hookups and have incredible views. Tickets include tent/RV site with a view and an amazing dark star-filled sky, delicious meals (dinner & dessert Saturday, and breakfast Sunday), crafts, solar viewing, presentations, a constellation walk, and night sky viewing.
Sky and Star Party Overview
- Who is the Sky and Star Party for?
- Everyone! All ages are welcome.
- Youth must be accompanied by an adult and are the responsibility of a parent or guardian at all times.
- What's included?
- Campsite for you and your crew (depending on your registration type)
- Delicious meals (dinner & dessert Saturday and breakfast Sunday)
- Access to crafts, solar viewing, presentations, constellation walk, and night sky viewing
- Where is the Sky and Star Party?
- Field Camp at the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater, 21000 Spirit Lake Highway, Toutle WA 98649
- Campground includes communal picnic tables, tent pads and a portable toilet. Fires are not permitted. The campground has NO running water.
- The campsite is within walking distance (~1/4 mile) from the Science and Learning Center, where indoor restrooms with running water are available.
- What should we bring?
- Snacks
- Camping gear, including your tent or RV
- Your sense of wonder
- Full packing list here
- When is the Sky and Star Party?
- Families can sign in starting at 3 pm of the first day of camp (Saturday)
- Checkout is by 11 am on the last day of camp (Sunday)
Additional Information
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Fees
The Sky and Star Party has two registration options: overnight or evening-only. Evening-only registrations do not include dinner or an overnight camp site.
For the overnight sliding scale, slide up if you have discretionary income for expenses like travel, dining out, entertainment, etc.
Slide down if your financial circumstances would prevent you from participating.
Each level has a set number of spots available. If there are no spots available at the level you would like to pay, please email us!
Why a sliding scale?
Mount St. Helens Institute fees cover the cost of operating our programs including paying our staff livable wages, purchasing locally where possible and taking measures to practice environmental and fiscal responsibility.
To increase access to some of our programs, we are piloting a sliding scale to ensure that all people can connect with and benefit from an experience in the outdoors. We believe that everyone can learn from and be inspired by the volcano in our backyard and that our public lands and nature belong to everyone.
When you register, you will be asked to choose a dollar amount (or discount amount ) that works for you and your family. We welcome everyone to pay at the level that is feasible for them.
Overnight: Pay it Forward
Paying at this level covers the actual cost of the event and gives back.
Tent Site + 1 Attendee: $195
This ticket is to reserve a tent site + admission for 1 attendee.
RV Site + 1 Attendee: $195
This ticket is to reserve 1 RV site + admission for 1 attendee.
Additional attendee(s): $133/person
This ticket is for event admission for each additional attendee.
Overnight: True Cost
Paying at this level covers the actual cost of the event.
Tent Site + 1 Attendee: $156
This ticket is to reserve a tent site + admission for 1 attendee.
RV Site + 1 Attendee: $156
This ticket is to reserve 1 RV site + admission for 1 attendee.
Additional attendee(s): $106/person
This ticket is for event admission for each additional attendee.
Overnight: 75% Cost
Tent Site + 1 Attendee: $117
This ticket is to reserve a tent site + admission for 1 attendee.
RV Site + 1 Attendee: $117
This ticket is to reserve 1 RV site + admission for 1 attendee.
Additional attendee(s): $80/person
This ticket is for event admission for each additional attendee.
Overnight: 50% Cost
Tent Site + 1 Attendee: $78
This ticket is to reserve a tent site + admission for 1 attendee.
RV Site + 1 Attendee: $78
This ticket is to reserve 1 RV site + admission for 1 attendee.
Additional attendee(s): $53/person
This ticket is for event admission for each additional attendee.
Evening Only
Evening only access is from 3 pm - 11:55 pm Saturday night.
Registration costs $40 for each attendee.
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Mount St. Helens Institute operates under a special use permit from the US Forest Service, WA State Parks and is honored to work on the Traditional Cultural Property, ancestral and present day lands of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. Mount St. Helens Institute is an equal opportunity provider.
