Group Rentals

Quaker Center is currently hosting in-person groups. Sharing our space and practicing hospitality with groups and organizations working towards a more just, sustainable and peaceful world is part of our witness as a Friends’ institution. This is a wonderful place to hold a group retreat, conference or other activity. Many organizations return here year after year and  consider their time at Quaker Center to be an important part of their year and programming. 

We encourage groups staying here to take additional Covid-19 safety precautions, as do those of us who live and work here. These may include using masks indoors, doing more outdoor activities, increased ventilation, social distancing, and asking participants to affirm that they are vaccinated. At this time, Santa Cruz County does not have an indoor mask mandate. We are happy to talk more about these measures and our experience of hosting groups during this pandemic.

Quaker Center has two group facilities, the Orchard Lodge and the Redwood Lodge. These may be rented separately or together. Each lodge has overnight accommodations, a large commercial kitchen, and a large hall for meeting and dining.  The lodges have wireless internet. 

The Orchard Lodge dining room

Groups bring their own bed linens, towels, and toiletries. Quaker Center provides pillows and blankets, and basics like hand soap and toilet paper.  There are no guest laundry facilities; there is a laundromat in Ben Lomond. 

Groups at Quaker Center do their own cleaning. This ‘pay it forward’ model is a unique and important part of staying here. All our visitors are responsible for cleaning the facilities prior to departure and leaving them in as good or better condition as they were offered. Groups will arrive to a carefully and lovingly cleaned lodge, and be able to leave the same gift to the next group. 

The Redwood Lodge meeting and dining hall

Groups provide their own meals, using our kitchen, either by cooking for themselves or hiring a cook. Quaker Center is happy to recommend the services of Tod Nysether, who has cooked for Quaker Center groups and programs for over twenty years. 

Please contact us to check availability and to receive more information about bringing groups to Quaker Center.  We can make group reservations up to 12 months in advance.