Facilities
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Accessibility
Ferry Beach is continually addressing the needs for handicapped accessibility in all areas of our facilities. Currently Quillen, Underwood and Rowland have ramps for our guests and accessible bathrooms. Our beach is accessible thanks to the generous donation of a beach wheelchair.
The Main Campus on East Side of Route 9
Living Spaces - (Quillen, Underwood and Rowland Hall) have rooms with two, three or four single beds. Bathrooms and showers are “down the hall.” Guests should bring their own linens, although there is a small supply available for rent at a nominal cost. Please bring your own pillow. None of our guest rooms have locks; valuables may be stored in the Quillen office safe or locked in your car. FBPA is not responsible for lost money or personal goods.
Quillen Named for our founder, Universalist minister Quillen Hamilton Shinn, the Quillen is the hub of our facility. It was renovated in 2003, with a new lobby, carpeted hallways, redesigned guestrooms, wheelchair ramp and insulation. Quillen houses our summer office which is the place for checking in and out, paying accounts, receiving room assignments, etc. Incoming messages and mail are handled here and small checks may be cashed. Quillen houses the kitchen and is where guests line up when the bell is sounded for meals in the Earle Dolphin dining room. Two floors of guest rooms have two single beds (with the exception of three rooms that have four beds each). Each floor has two shared bathrooms with private showers. The lobby has games, friendly people and a glowing fireplace to warm you on a chilly day. A meeting space called The Loft is located over the kitchen. State health regulations mandate that shoes and shirts must always be worn in Quillen Lobby and dining room. Swimsuits must be covered when in the lobby and dining room.
| The dinner bell | Casual dining in the Earle Dolphin dining room | Formal dining on Thursday night |
| A typical double occupancy room in the Quillen | One of two double beds available in the Quillen |
Underwood is a two story insulated building behind Quillen which has 14 rooms, each with a single bed and a bunk bed. Bathrooms are shared (two on each floor). Underwood has a wheelchair ramp, and a first floor bathroom which is fully accessible.
| Fully accessible first floor bathroom in Underwood | Fully accessible first floor shower in Underwood |
Rowland Hall is a large, two story building that has 17 rooms on the second floor. The front rooms have fabulous ocean views. There are two large shared bathrooms on the second floor. The first floor of Rowland Hall consists of an auditorium with a stage, two meeting rooms, the arts and craft room and the children’s program room.
| A typical double occupancy room in Rowland Hall | Shared bathroom in Rowland Hall |
Claflin is located directly across the street from Quillen and is used for staff housing. The Store, now located near the playground at the side of Claflin, sells ice cream and other refreshments, toilet articles, postcards, t-shirts and sweatshirts, sundries and postage stamps. Store hours are posted and special ice cream socials can be arranged with the Program Director.
Gardiner provides meeting spaces and areas for relaxation and late evening socializing. Gardner also houses the Library, Reading Room and crew quarters. Computers with Internet access are available in the Gardiner Library for guest use.
Warren’s Workshop, a converted garage behind Gardiner, is our maintenance headquarters.
Chapin (5 Morris Ave) - The Executive Director lives in the upper floor and the FBPA winter office is located in the lower level.
Kelley Cabin (8 Morris Ave) is our newest
building. An environmentally friendly building, the Kelley
Cabin houses the offices of the Ferry Beach Ecology School
on the first floor. The second floor consists of staff
housing during the summer. It sleeps six, has meeting space
and a kitchen.
Nurse’s Cabin - A nurse is in residence and available throughout the day. The nurse’s cabin is located on Gardiner lawn. It has a big Red Cross sign and a ramp leading to the front door. While the nurse does have posted hours, she is available 24 hours a day for emergencies.
Our Fragile Dunes
Our sand dunes provide protection from the ocean and are a valuable resource. There is a walkway to the beach that protects the dunes and gives easy access to the beach. Other access through the dunes is not allowed.
The Beach - FBPA owns 1000 ft of sandy beach access along the beautiful Saco Bay which stretches for seven miles. Swimming by persons under 18 is allowed only when a lifeguard is present--usually from 1:00 to 5:00 pm daily. At all other times, we require you to adopt the “Buddy System.” At times when the lifeguard is not on duty, guests who are between 13 and 18 years of age may be on the beach without a parent or guardian. In all cases, however, they must have permission from their parent or guardian. Children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. In the evenings, the Ferry Beach Crew and guests who are between 13 and 18 years of age may be on the beach until 11 p.m. They must have permission from their parent, guardian, and/or conference leaders in the case of youth conferences. Persons who are 18 and older may use the beach at their own discretion but the no swimming after dark rule applies to all ages.
Swimming - A lifeguard is on-duty on the beach between 1:00-5:00 p.m. Other hours, for polar bear swims for example, can be arranged through the Program Director. Swimming is not permitted after dark. The area supervised by the lifeguard will be clearly marked and swimmers should stay within that area at all times. Swimming by persons under 18 years of age is allowed only when a certified Ferry Beach lifeguard is on duty. Adults who swim at times when the lifeguard is not present are required to adopt the "Buddy System." Even though a lifeguard is present, children are at all times the responsibility of a parent or of someone delegated to be a guardian. Parents of small children should always accompany their child(ren) to the beach. We empower our lifeguard to make decisions about closing the beach during adverse weather conditions and require that you respect that person’s authority to do so.
The Grove Campus– on the west side of Route 9
The Campground offers over 25 sites fully equipped with electricity and water for camping in tents, trailers or motor homes during the summer season. Some of the sites are in the wooded pine grove and others are in “the circle” in the center of the Grove. The Grove has two washrooms, each having separate shower facilities for men and women. A “lunch only” option in the dining room is available for Grove residents. Grove guests may participate in all conferences for which they register, and also have use of Ferry Beach facilities. Guests may sign up in the office if they wish to purchase a special “Grove lunch” package.
Bonfires may be made without a permit but must be
coordinated through the Grove Manager.
The Grove Garage is the building on your left as you enter the Grove. It contains the Grove Manager’s office,
a large sink and a refrigerator with freezer. Bagged ice is
for sale. Coin-operated washing machines and dryers are also available.
The Rose Pavillion is the Grove’s screened-in
recreation room. It is a place for rainy-day suppers, for
children to play and used as meeting space during
conferences. It also has a large stone fireplace, a large gas grill for use outside the building, a
refrigerator with freezer, and a large microwave oven.
The Eleanor B. Forbes Memorial Chapel: The outdoor chapel is in a grove of stately pines. Sunday and daily services are held here during the summer, weather permitting.
Ferry Beach Memorial Garden was dedicated on Labor Day weekend in 2004. Behind the Rose Pavilion and next to the Eleanor Forbes Chapel, the Memorial garden is more beautiful than any of us could have dreamed. What began as a means of honoring the memory of Ferry Beachers who have died and of increasing our endowment became a place of such loveliness and spiritual power that it takes our breath away. That beautiful garden is our living memorial to generations of Ferry Beachers. It is a tribute to all who debated, collaborated, compromised, and finally, let their creativity be their guide.
Landscape designers Janet Bringola and Matt Kelly saw how the paths should curve among the trees and ferns. They designed the garden and throughout the summer
of 2004, Ferry Beachers brought plants and trees that live well in the shade. Teen Service Week campers spread wood chips along the paths. Many others contributed their wisdom and labor in helping make
the garden a reality. Janet and Matt’s vision of the garden has been the unifying factor. Camping in the Grove all summer long, they
provide ongoing care and upkeep for the Memorial Garden.
With each successive summer season, the garden becomes more amazing then ever. Small memorial markers, that blend in with the plantings, have been added. Ferry Beachers who would like to have the names of loved ones inscribed on the markers donate $2500 to the Ferry Beach Endowment Fund. Ferry Beachers may also contribute $5000 to the Endowment Fund and have a granite bench dedicated to their loved ones. All of the donations to the Memorial Garden, from plants and trees to memorial markers and benches, have contributed to the spiritual beauty of our new garden of memory.
Off Campus
SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, MUSEUMS, LIBRARIES, ETC., are within easy reach of Ferry Beach. Sightseeing opportunities abound along the coast of Maine. The staff will be happy to offer information and a guest information book is available in the Quillen Lobby.
