Welcome to the Hostel in the Forest. Please read the following:
The Hostel is a 501c3 Non-Profit Membership Organization, and you must become a member to stay. Lifetime Membership is $10 per person. Please read our membership agreement here.
While we guarantee you a bed with your reservation, we cannot guarantee a treehouse.
You must be 18 years of age or accompanied by an adult.
U.S or State issued photo ID is required to check in.
The cost is sliding scale $40 - 80 per night, per person. Ages 7 - 17 are $20 per night, and ages under 7 are free.
The sliding scale is honorary. Members determine their nightly rate based on what they feel they can contribute. The minimum amount ensures member accessibility, while the maximum amount ensures hostel availability and is comparable to similar outdoor experiences in our area. The Hostel staff and manager will not be suggestive of an amount to pay, since we are unaware of each guest’s unique financial situation. Furthermore, rates paid per person will stay confidential and guests who are able to give more will not receive more attention and vice versa. Everyone who comes through the Hostel is treated equally.
We accept credit/debit cards and cash.
You may stay for a maximum of 3 nights.
The maximum group size is 5 people, not just for your reservation but for your whole party.
Upon arrival you MUST sign the membership agreement form.
A vegetarian family style meal is prepared each evening by members and staff, including many ingredients from our organic garden. Food donations are always welcome.
You should bring what you’d like to eat for breakfast, lunch, snacks and drinks. There is a grocery store within a mile of the hostel.
The best BBQ on the planet is a half mile east of the hostel at Gary’s Supermarket, but it is only open Thur – Saturday.
Bring a flashlight – it makes it easier to find your treehouse in the dark.
From April to October bring mosquito repellent!
Everyone staying at the hostel will be expected to share a part in helping out by doing a daily chore. We find this helps contribute to the sense of community with your fellow temporary hostelers. Options might be sweeping the common areas, helping to clean the kitchen, working in the gardens, feeding the chickens and ducks, or something of that nature. We also have a wishlist here for basic needs if you feel so inclined to donate.
You should leave your cell phones, cameras, digital tablets, laptops, etc either in your locked car or room. We do not permit you to receive or place calls or texts, or take photos or videos in the presence of others in the communal areas. There is NO Wi-Fi.
We do not offer trash services. Pack it in, pack it out.
We do NOT allow dogs, cats, or other pets, including service animals. There are no exceptions! If you’re traveling with a pet you must board your pet at a local kennel. We do not want pets left in cars in the parking lot only because we love them as much as you do.
No heaters of any kind can be used in any of the tree houses. We provide blankets (please do not bring your own). We recommend bringing hot water bottles as an eco-friendly way to stay warm.
We do not permit camping, or staying in RV’s, camping vans, and the like. There is paved parking available for these larger vehicles however.
No fireworks, firearms, or any other types of weapons are allowed on any part of the Hostel property.
We don’t mind those visiting the hostel having a beer or two or a glass or two of wine; however, you will not be permitted to stay if, in the opinion of any member of our staff, you have had too much to drink. The hostel is not a place to “party”, and any form of intoxication will not be tolerated. The same applies to illegal drugs. Anyone using them will be asked to leave.
The Hostel in Forest is a family friendly place perfect for kids of all ages. We have hosted countless families over the years, and we love the enthusiasm, and vibrancy that children bring to the Hostel. Supervision of your children is not provided by our staff, as we are not a child care facility, but you will find that the Forest is an amazing place to reconnect with nature and leave the screen time behind for a bit. As a family, a visit to our Solar field garden, a hike on our T Trail, a walk around the lake, or an afternoon in our Art Room can be a wonderful experience that can be a lasting memory forged amongst the canopy of oaks, maples, and pines.
If you know you’re going to arrive by bus in Brunswick and will need a ride to the hostel, you should call ahead and let us know the time of your arrival. Since buses are notoriously late, you will have to call the hostel again from the Brunswick bus station after you arrive. There is a $5 per trip charge to cover our gas.
To make a reservation, please call us at (912) 264-9738. If you have any questions not answered here, you may call us or email info@foresthostel.com. We can not accept reservations, cancellations, or confirmations by email.
We look forward to meeting you!