The Bush School Builds Yurts to House Students in the Methow Valley
The Bush School Methow Campus is thrilled to announce that an exciting construction project is underway to add two new state-of-the-art yurts to its evolving twenty-acre campus. These spacious wooden structures from Smiling Woods Yurts, a local company based in Winthrop, Washington, can house up to six students each, increasing the Methow’s capacity to host Bush student programming, as well as courses offered by partner organizations in the years ahead. Eventually, the yurts will serve primarily as housing for students in the semester program, which is projected to launch in the fall of 2028.
“We are so excited to be adding two Smiling Woods yurts to our campus!” said Director of Programs, Methow Campus and Semester School, Alexa Adams. “These yurts are simple, beautiful, and cozy spaces that will facilitate a sense of grounding and connection. The addition of these yurts will make it possible to host even more students for place-based, immersive educational experiences, in addition to expanding the spaces we have to offer to programs that are run by our community partners.”
The Bush Methow Campus is honored to be a part of the world-class network of trails in the Methow Valley and remains committed to providing a trailhead and warming hut for the public to enjoy. During the planning process, the Methow Campus staff made a commitment to moving thoughtfully and with intention. They wanted to find a practical housing solution that would complement and coexist with the aesthetic of the buildings on the Methow Campus and the Methow Valley as a whole. The wood-sided yurts offer spaces that are simple, beautiful, and durable— perfect “homes away from home” for semester school students who will be living at the Methow Campus for four months at a time.
These spacious, round-home kits, inspired by authentic yurt designs, are constructed from native ponderosa pine wood and measure approximately 930 square feet, with a diameter of 35.5 feet. Students and visitors will find comfort in the ten-foot walls and galvanized metal roofs, designed to keep the yurt heated, weather-resistant, and energy-efficient. While these modernized structures are not identical to traditional yurts, which are portable and usually made of felt or fabric walls, these designs are more durable and permanent, with solid roofs and walls.
“We are thrilled to be expanding our capacity at our Methow Campus with the construction of two new yurts, which will add twelve student beds,” said Chief Financial and Operating Officer Rather Stanton. “This increase will allow more programming and larger student groups to take advantage of this unique asset in this special place in the North Cascades.”
With the addition of the yurts, the existing locations of the ski trail, trailhead, and parking lot will be shifted to the northwest corner of the property, accessible via new entry and exit approaches off Lost River Road. Community members should expect the rectangular lot to accommodate approximately thirty to forty vehicles, thereby expanding the current parking lot. The trail will shift slightly to the north to welcome the new yurts, descending to the back side of the lodge and past the warming hut with a new bench cut into the hillside that will have a comparable, if not lessened, grade. The goal is to complete the parking lot construction, relocate the kiosk, and realign the trail before the first snowfall this winter.
Stay updated on the Methow Campus yurt construction progress by visiting the Bush Methow Campus webpage. The Bush School Methow Campus looks forward to welcoming the community to the newly renovated campus and trailhead in the coming months!
The Bush School is an independent, coeducational day school located in Seattle, WA enrolling 750 students in grades K–12. The mission of The Bush School is to spark in students of diverse backgrounds and talents a passion for learning, accomplishment, and contribution to their communities
3400 East Harrison Street, Seattle WA 98112 (206) 322-7978
The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment, recruitment, admissions, or administration of any of its programs on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. In addition, The Bush School does not discriminate in matters of employment on the basis of age or marital status