The city of Seattle is named after the chief of the Suquamish and Duwamish people, Chief Seattle. We are excited to offer this impactful excursion in partnership with the Suquamish Museum to learn about indigenous cultures of the Greater Seattle community.
Build an understanding and appreciation for our region’s history and gain knowledge of how the "people of the clear saltwater" have preserved their culture over centuries. Become inspired by this centuries-old wisdom to build and preserve your own workplace culture.
This program highlights learning about the natives of our region, including their land, culture, language, environment, human rights, leadership, responsibility, understanding, and cooperation. Parallels that can be drawn on to shape your own workplace culture.
Participants will visit the Suquamish Tribe and Museum where they will learn the significance of cedar weaving and the basics of the art form, by making their own traditional cedar mat. Suquamish Museum staff will explore the many ways cedar bark was used and continues to be used by Coast Salish peoples.
Please click on the "express interest" button below to connect with us to discuss the specific needs and interests of your group! A sample itinerary is outlined below and can be customized to meet your group's needs.
This experience is one of our Compassionate Community Tours & Team Building Experiences click here to learn more!
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS are below, click on ITINERARY to see all the details.
With the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), the health and safety of Global Family Travels’ travelers, community partners, colleagues and guides are of paramount importance to us. Our COVID-19 Safety Protocols, which can be found under Tasks section, outlines our commitment to mitigate and manage the risks associated with COVID-19 when you travel with us. You can find more detailed information on our website COVID-19 and Travel, and please also refer to the tasks which has specific details for your activity and destination.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about these protocols or your tour. Thank you for helping to keep yourself and fellow travelers and guides safe!
Much more than a traditional tour operator, Global Family Travels’ mission is to “Learn, Serve and Immerse” through community-based travel programs. In partnership with non-profit organizations and schools, we offer family-friendly and sustainable travel experiences in support of education, gender equality, access to clean water, preservation of local cultures, conservation and economic growth, all of which foster cross-cultural understanding and global citizens.
Our trips include a unique mix of cultural and educational activities, homestays and participation in local service projects aimed at improving the lives of people in the communities we visit.
An expert in immersive sustainable travel, we are now offering corporate team-building experiences to strengthen local communities. We make it easy for your team to explore cultural and heritage landmarks while engaging with Greater Seattle partners who tackle community challenges. Build bonds while working and playing together in beautiful and historic Pacific Northwest locations.
These experiences revitalize teams, broaden perspectives and open new lines of communication.
Expect to expand your family circle when you embark on a Global Family Travels experience! Visit our website for more information: Global Family Travels
Photo by Merrill Images
Included in this tour is round-trip transportation from Seattle to Bainbridge and to the various stop outlined below. Enjoy the ferry ride from the Port of Seattle to Bainbridge Island!
Our first stop in Suqaumish is the Kiana Lodge, for a traditional fire baked salmon lunch. The lodge is surrounded by fragrant cedars, majestic firs and a stunning variety of blooming plant life. In addition, the lodge is situated on 1,000 feet of no-bank waterfront and six acres of beautiful gardens.
Our next stop is along the shores of the Agate Passage at Old Man House Park. This was the home to Chief Seattle before it was destroyed by the US Government in 1870 and the location of the Suquamish tribe’s largest winter village.
Photo Courtesy Suquamish Tribe
Our last stop is a short car/bus ride to the House of Awakened Culture. Emulating the original longhouse of Chief Seattle, and located along the picturesque waterfront, the House of Awakened Culture and it’s adjoining outdoor area are used for community programs that teach and celebrate the living Suquamish Culture.
Programs at this area include Lushootseed language classes, traditional weaving and carving, Youth Canoe Journey training, regalia making, and traditional song and dance classes. In addition, it is used for traditional ceremonies and modern celebrations that mark life milestones.
Photo by Merrill Images
Chief Seattle is the legendary leader of the Suquamish Tribe and is internationally respected. His ideas remain significant today through their global influence on ethics, spirituality, and environmentalism. The Suquamish Tribe re-built the gravesite monument in 2011 to honor Chief Seattle and to promote Tribal and community knowledge of the great leader. There is an interpretative kiosk at the cemetery entrance where guest can learn more about Chief Seattle
Photo by Merrill Images
Next, enjoy a short walk to the Suquamish Museum, to engage with the Ancient Shores – Changing Tides Exhibit and learn about the history and traditional ways of the Suquamish People.
From the moment you walk between the welcoming House Posts, the path through the exhibit will engage your senses. Movement, textures, the forest environment and the symbolic movement of the tide will inspire your imagination. The objects owned by the Suquamish Museum, many never before exhibited, and those on loan from Suquamish families and other museums, will engage visitors to learn about the lives and culture of the Suquamish. One singularly beautiful feature spanning the length of the exhibit hall is a uniquely cedar designed timeline. Beginning at the end of the last Ice Age and progressing through to current time, visitors accustomed to an event sequence style of display can ground their learning experience.
Participants will visit the Suquamish Tribe and Museum where they will learn the significance of cedar weaving and the basics of the art form, by making their own traditional cedar mat. Suquamish Museum staff will explore the many ways cedar bark was used and continues to be used by Coast Salish peoples.
Carbon Removal: According to the State of Global Carbon Dioxide Removal Report by University of Oxford, natural methods of removing carbon from the atmosphere are not enough by themselves due to the amount of pollution currently in the atmosphere. Innovations in removing and permanently storing carbon emissions are needed to conserve nature and reverse the course toward further climate change.
Tomorrow’s Air: Global Family Travels is passionate about encouraging tourism that is not only sustainable but regenerative. To help with our mission, we seek to partner with like-minded brands such as Tomorrow’s Air, which operates within the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).
Tomorrow’s Air is a collective of carbon removal innovators that work to permanently remove and store carbon from the atmosphere. Travel is a large contributor to global emissions, and we feel it is important to educate and empower travelers to support efforts that combat climate change! Clients can opt-in for a $25 donation to Tomorrow’s Air through the payment page.
Our Bus will depart Suquamish for the Bainbridge Ferry Terminal and board the ferry back to Coleman Dock in Seattle.
Meet our Northwest Team Bonding Facilitators! They are here to help asses your organization's philanthropic approach and how it relates to overall team effectiveness, communication strategy, and engagement with the local community. They will help your organizational team address issues such as diversity, equity, and inclusivity, tying in corporate challenges to community issues.
LORI MEYERS | BLUE SKY COMMUNICATIONS NW : COMMUNITY RELATIONS & PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERSHIPS
With experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors, Lori works with organizations to create a philanthropic strategy and build a culture of supporting the community through strategic alliances with Puget Sound area non-profit organizations. Driven by a passion for helping companies define and realize their business and communications goals, Lori launched Blue Sky in 2013. She is a Seattle native, with more than 20 years of experience working with clients to develop and launch successful and meaningful campaigns, create strategic alliances, and develop communication and community relations strategies that result in positive perception, philanthropic corporate cultures, and employee satisfaction.
Lori has experience working with local companies like Taco Time NW, The Hope Heart Institute, and the City of Renton Community Services, among others, to make meaningful connections with local non-profit organizations.
DOUG NATHAN: TEAM BUILDING & LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT
Doug provides leadership development, team-building and conflict engagement services. He works with individuals, teams and organizations to create opportunities for learning and inspired results by helping them gain knowledge, self-awareness and best-practice skills. Doug uses this approach as a consultant designing change interventions for non-profit and corporate clients; as a training specialist facilitating classroom experiences for employees and managers; and as a mediator helping disputants find common ground.
For many years, Doug explored the power of poetry to teach leadership and team-building skills to MBA students and business professionals. I have designed innovative classroom and online training solutions for employees, managers, and leaders across corporate, government and non-profit agencies.
Doug’s whole-systems approach to design and delivery addresses the complex nature of employee, management, and leadership development issues. Fields of inquiry that influence my work include systems thinking, creativity and innovation, appreciative inquiry, and conflict and communication theory. Learn more about Doug here.
Suquamish, WA, USA 
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