Join us during International Dark Sky Week for this 4-night Experience! This weekend includes a private presentation about Dark Skies and a guided Star Party led by experts, the optional Community Dark Sky Party + Open Mic Night, and a dinner prepared by PLAYA’s house chef.
Attendees of this experience will learn the value of the dark sky, how to protect it, and how to appreciate it. They will also get a crash course in observational astronomy. We will learn to appreciate the dark sky through naked-eye sky tours, binocular observing, and telescopic observing. Optional activities integrating art include: night sky photography, simple astroimaging, and a creative writing activity inspired by the dark sky led by Amy Minato.
This weekend, PLAYA also hosts the Community Dark Sky Star Party + Open Mic Night, a family event for our Lake County neighbors! Neighbors and friends visit PLAYA for Dark Sky viewings led by seasoned educators and astronomers, activities, cozy treats, and an open mic night. Feel free to join for this event (taking place in and around the Commons), or have the evening to yourself. The rest of the time during this long weekend at PLAYA is yours to enjoy as you would like.
This Experience is for adults only. Out of town families wishing to participate in the free Community Dark Sky Star Party + Open Mic Night on April 18 can find lodging accommodations at the Summer Lake Hot Springs, Paisley Sage Rooms, The Lodge at Summer Lake, or in the National Forest or BLM lands.
PLAYA Experiences offer you time and space on the PLAYA campus for your own creative, restful, or exploratory pursuits as well as time spent learning from an expert! Experiences are like Self-Directed Residencies, but elevated with a dinner and a field trip, evening presentation, and/or special event.
Details and Agenda
Instructor: Joe Minato
Guest Instructors: Amy Minato, Michael McKeag, Wes Stone
Dates: Thursday, April 16 – Monday, April 20, 2026
Arrival: Thursday, April 16, 2025 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Departure: Monday, April 20, 2025 11:00 AM
Skill Level: All knowledge levels welcome.
Mobility: Most levels of mobility can participate in this Experience. Please inquire for further details.
Materials List to Bring:
- (Optional) Photographic equipment
- (Optional) Binoculars
- (Optional) Telescopes
Agenda
Day 1 // Thursday, April 16, 2026
1:00 – 4:00 PM: Arrival
6:00 PM: Meet and Greet (BYOB and snacks) + optional creative writing activity inspired by the dark sky led by Amy Minato.
Day 2 // Friday, April 17, 2026
Day for your own restful, creative or exploratory pursuits.
6:00 PM: Group dinner provided by PLAYA
7:30 – 10:00 PM: Presentation about Dark Skies and private Star Party
Day 3 // Saturday, April 18, 2026
Day for your own restful, creative or exploratory pursuits.
7:30 – 10:00 PM: Community Dark Sky Star Party + Open Mic Night
Day 4 // Sunday, April 19, 2026
All day for your own restful, creative or exploratory pursuits.
Day 5 // Monday, April 20, 2026
Depart by 11:00 AM
Instructor Bios
Joe Minato is a science and math educator (S.B., MIT, 1984; MTE Eastern Oregon University 2002). He is on the Board of Directors of Dark Sky Oregon. He is faculty with the Wallowology Natural History Discover Center. He teaches occasional classes for schoolteachers through Lewis and Clark College.
Amy Minato is author of a memoir Siesta Lane, (Skyhorse Press, 2009) and two poetry collections: Hermit Thrush, (Inkwater Press, 2016) and The Wider Lens, (Ice River Press, 2004). Amy holds both an MFA in Creative Writing and an MS in Environmental Studies from the University of Oregon.
Michael McKeag is a co-founder and board member of DarkSky Oregon, the Oregon chapter of DarkSky International. He is also a DarkSky International Delegate. He led the youth program, and is currently a public outreach coordinator for Rose City Astronomers. He is a retired electron microscopist.
Wes Stone has been an amateur astronomer since he was a kid. He specializes in visual observing and sketching, and also enjoys outreach activities and star parties. He has a BS in Biology from Lewis and Clark College, and is Supervising Librarian for the Klamath County Library Service District.
