2023 Gathering of Eagles

Arrival

Everyone is encouraged to arrive on June 22nd, Camp Day, since the Opening Ceremony will begin around 7:00 a.m. on Friday, June 23rd.

Upon arrival, please go to the Registration Cabin to check in.

Location

Our location for the 2023 Spiritual Unity of the Tribes Gathering of Eagles is Drala Mountain Center, 50 miles northwest of Fort Collins, Colorado.
The address is 151 Shambhala Way, Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545.
It is a Buddhist retreat center on 600 acres which was founded in 1971 by
Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Cell phones often do not work there, because of the remote location.
Drala Mountain Center is in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and the elevation is 8,000 feet.
See more detailed information about the Center at www.dralamountain.org

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/nFw9uPiL84bDxuuX7

Camping

Three camping options are available at Drala Mountain Center:

Drala tents are 12' x 14' canvas tents on wooden platforms which have two twin beds, bookcases, and hanging clothes racks. There will be 50 Drala tents available. (See photos below.)

Tent sites for bring your own (BYO) tents. We can accommodate 25 BYO tents.

RV sites for “dry camping” in the lodge parking lot. There will be room for 10 to 12 RVs at Drala Mountain Center. There are also campgrounds close by for full hookups or those who want alternative camping. Click here for more information.

Bedding is not provided. Please bring your own pillows, twin size sheets, sleeping bags or blankets (mindful that the nights will be VERY COLD), and towels for limited shower use.

The standard fee for camping at Drala Mountain Center is $90 per day per person, which includes three meals per day. Due to the fact that we do not charge to attend the Gathering of Eagles, we are being allowed to pay $15 per person, per day for our meals, and donate as much as possible for our tent fees, in lieu of the $90 fee.

Individual campfires will not be allowed due to fire danger.

Lodging

Drala Mountain Center has two large lodge buildings with a variety of room options available, for those who do not want to camp. The Gathering of Eagles is being given a 25% discount for these lodge rooms. Please use this link: https://www.dralamountain.org/program/r-ge623-gathering-of-eagles-rental-upgraded-lodging-registration/ and use the Discount Code “Eagle25.” Meals are included in the lodge room rates.

Covid Policy

Drala Mountain Center requires overnight guests to provide proof of a negative antigen test ("home test") taken within 24 hours before arrival. We will have additional tests available at the Gathering so that we can test again during our stay, if necessary.

Donations

Since The Spiritual Unity of the Tribes Gathering of Eagles is a Native American Ceremony, we cannot charge for attendance. Instead, we are requesting donations for the meals and tents.

Food & Supplies

Please read this important information

As mentioned above, our meals are being provided by Drala Mountain Center. It is not possible for us to prepare our own food. There will be choices for meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans. Drala Mountain Center also provides many gluten-free options. We are being asked to donate $15 per person, per day for our meals. If this is not possible for you, please let us know and we will make other arrangements for your meals to be paid. We would like as many people as possible to make their food donations and tent donations ahead of time, in order to provide Drala Mountain Center the funds they will need to purchase food for us, etc.
Be sure to bring modest clothing appropriate for ceremonies and be prepared for any kind of weather. It may be hot in the daytime, and at 8,000 feet elevation, can be very cold at night. Bring sturdy shoes, layered clothing, folding chairs for sitting in the arbor and at your campsite, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, rain gear, flashlights, etc. Also, as mentioned above, we need to provide our own bedding for the tents.
Please bring a small container of water from your homeland, to be joined at the water ceremony on the second day.
Alcohol/drugs(including marijuana)/firearms and dogs are never allowed at the Gatherings. Drala Mountain Center also has a policy of no pets whatsoever.

Other information

to keep in mind.

The entire four days of the Gathering of Eagles is a ceremony; therefore, phones, cameras, and other electronic devices should not be used until after the sacred fire is put out at the closing. Photography and videotaping are NEVER ALLOWED in the arbor or other ceremonial areas.
We are limited to 150 attendees per day for this year's Gathering of Eagles. Please register as soon as possible.
Thursday, June 22nd, is "camp day" so that we can get settled in. The Drala Mountain Center is asking people to arrive, if at all possible, between 2 and 5 pm on camp day, for registration purposes. Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm.
The opening ceremony will begin early on Friday morning, June 23rd. The Gathering will conclude at the end of the day on Monday, June 26th. We encourage everyone to stay over until Tuesday, June 27th, if possible, to have time to make your goodbyes. Check-out time is 9 am, and everyone is welcome to stay for cleanup, lunch, and into the afternoon, if they would like.
Normal hours for meals are: Breakfast 7:30 to 9 am, Lunch 12:30 to 1:30 pm, Dinner 6:30 to 7:30 pm. The first morning's breakfast will be extended, due to the opening ceremony.
If possible, please arrive between 2 and 5 pm on camp day for registration, and go to the Registration Cabin. If you arrive outside of these hours and no one is at the Registration Cabin, please follow the directions which will be posted there.
Because Drala Mountain Center is at 8,000 feet elevation, please be mindful that you may need to acclimate to the higher elevation in the area for a day or two beforehand, particularly if coming from sea level. It is also very important to drink lots of water and have good sun protection.
We would like to assist as many Elders as possible with their transportation and lodging expenses. Please contact us if you are able to help with the "Sponsor an Elder Program."
The Gatherings are an exercise in community living, and we need everyone’s participation in order to handle the fire tending, assisting the Elders, youth activities, cleanup, etc. Please come prepared to sign up for at least a couple of hours helping in the area of your choice.
The nearest airport is Denver International Airport, two to two and a half hours away. There are also small airports in Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming.
If you would like to mail your donations for meals and tent space and/or make a donation(s) to help with the rest of our preparations ahead of time, it would be most appreciated. Click here to Donate on PayPal .
Please make checks to the Gathering of Eagles and mail to Clay Uptain, 1805 West 10th Street, Loveland, CO 80537.
For further information, call Mary Ellen and Clay Uptain at +1 605.341.0724; or e-mail us at sut@spiritualunityofthetribes.org.

Driving Map

Directions to Drala Mountain Center

From Interstate 25

Merge onto CO-14 W/E Mulberry Street via Exit 269B toward Fort Collins for 3.5 miles.
Turn slight right onto Riverside Avenue. (Riverside Avenue is 0.3 miles past S. Lemay Avenue.)
Riverside Avenue becomes Jefferson Street. You are on Riverside/Jefferson for about 1 mile.
Turn slight right onto N. College Ave/US-287 N/CO-14 W. Follow US-287/CO-14 W for 3.4 miles.
Turn slight right just past N. Shields Street to stay on US-287 N for .5 miles.
Follow US-287/CO-14/La Porte Bypass for 16.6 miles.
Turn left onto CR-74E/Red Feather Lakes Road/Jackass Road/Livermore for another 12.8 miles.
Turn left onto CR-68C/Boy Scout Road just past the blue and white sign, “Drala Mountain Center.”
Follow CR-68C/Boy Scout Road for 5 miles (unpaved).
Turn left at the entrance to Drala Mountain Center, 151 Shambhala Way.

Gathering of Eagles 2023

Registration