Preparing for Your Time at Omega

What to Bring

Essential Items:

• **Your IDs as required by the United States Department of Homeland Security I-9 form. We must see original IDs and cannot accept copies.
• Earplugs if you are a light sleeper.
• Toiletries
• Several towels
• A battery-operated alarm clock – this is a must, even for people who live in dorms. Occasionally the power will go out and you will still be expected to get to work on time. Omega has a definite time schedule and some departments begin their work very early in the morning.

Additional Items:

• Allergy medicines – if you are living in a dorm or trailer and are prone to mold or mildew allergies, it is recommended that you bring allergy medications. Mildew can flourish in the damp Hudson Valley. Summer rains can create more of a problem. Those sensitive to mold and mildew should come prepared. Bringing an air purifier might also be helpful.
• Any medications you are currently taking.
• Tick and bug repellent – IMPORTANT NOTE: There is a high incidence of tick-related Lyme disease in Dutchess County. While here, we recommend you take appropriate precautions. Citronella oil and any of the following essential oils are useful in repelling Lyme ticks and mosquitoes, both found in the north-east woods: eucalyptus, lavender, geranium, cedar wood and tea tree.
• Flashlight – very important, regardless of where you are living.
• Means of carrying laundry – Omega provides complimentary laundry facilities for residential team members. Clotheslines are also provided. No bleach is allowed in the machines. Omega provides eco-friendly detergent, so you need not bring your own.
• Reusable drinking bottle – Omega strives to be a green campus; it is recommended that you bring your own drinking bottles including cups for hot drinks.  
• Headphones – these are required for listening to music (etc.) in your dorm or tent during quiet hours and at other times depending on the needs of your neighbors. We request quiet mindfulness throughout the housing areas. Please note: You should not wear headphones while walking on Lake Drive, to ensure one remains alert to unseen traffic.
• Driver’s information – If you are working in the following departments: Campus Support, People and Culture, Production, or Maintenance, you may need to drive an Omega vehicle as part of your job. We will need to check your driving record. Please bring a current driver’s license.
• Several blankets and/or a sleeping bag. *You can email [email protected] up to two weeks before your arrival date to inquire about what size sheets you will need if you are staying in indoor housing.
• Wall hangings, rugs, or other materials to create comfortable and homey space.
• Additional Note – If you are bringing a cell phone to campus, please note that Verizon has extremely limited service on Omega’s campus.  Better service has been found with AT&T and StraightTalk wireless providers.

Service Corps (tenters) should bring:

• A tent with all necessary gear – We recommend that you bring a tent no larger than 10’x10’ to fit on Omega’s tent platforms. In order to help you find the right site for your tent, please indicate your tent’s size on the housing questionnaire included in your Welcome E-mail. If you do not have a lot of experience camping, we recommend practicing setting up your tent a few times before you arrive.
• One large tarp for overhead rain coverage – the rain fly that comes with a tent is not adequate for the amount of rain we receive in the summer. The best size tarp is 18’x20’ or 20’x20’. Please bring green or brown tarps, not blue.
• Bedding, including pillow, several blankets and/or sleeping bag: A sleeping pad, air mattress or camping cot may be helpful. Adequate cold weather sleeping gear if you are tenting in the colder months April/May and September/October.

Clothing: in general you should bring clothing for all types of weather. Omega has a simple dress code: clean and neat. You may wear jeans, shorts and t-shirts. See-through clothing, revealing outfits, T-shirts with offensive comments, and ripped or dirty clothing are not permitted.

• Rain gear – it rains here often and walking outdoors is a requirement of some departments. Departments such as Housekeeping, Maintenance, Production, Campus Support and Floats perform the majority of their work outdoors in all weather. Also, bathhouses are a short walk from all tent sites and some dorms. 
• Sweaters, jackets, hat, and yes, even mittens – temperatures can drop into the 30's during the early and late months in the season (April/May and September/ October). The campus is located in the Hudson Valley – you can check out the forecasts using the zip code 12572. Weather conditions can fluctuate from chilly to hot and humid with many sunny comfortable days in between.
• Fun or fancy clothing – for the occasional party or evening off campus. This, of course, is optional. 

Department Specific Clothing Considerations:

• Faculty Support, Wellness Center, Reception, or Guest Services – these departments provide direct support to workshop faculty and participants. Thus, you may want to bring some business casual clothing. However, clean and neat jeans, shorts, and t-shirts work fine too. 
• FoodWorks (Kitchen and Dining Services), Café, and Float – serving in FoodWorks or the Cafe requires non-skid/slip-resistant closed toe shoes. Please contact your manager regarding this requirement along with any other related questions you may have. You may also be required to wear gloves, and head cover (hat, scarf, net, etc.).
• Float – these roles require that you wear closed-toe shoes and a head cover (hat, scarf, net, etc.).
• Maintenance and Campus Support – you should bring sturdy footwear and a hat for working in the sun. 
• Omega T-Shirt – each individual receives at least one Omega T-shirt. Campus Support, Dining Services, Café, and Float team members wear the T-shirt as a uniform when working. 

Travel

Map Directions

Omega is conveniently located about 90 miles north of New York City and the major metropolitan area airports, and about 190 miles west of Boston.

Omega Institute, 150 Lake Drive, Rhinebeck, NY 12572 

Out of consideration for our neighbors, please do not use a GPS to get to Omega. Instead follow the print directions below.

By Car

• From the North/East: Take I-91 South to I-90 West (Mass. Pike). From I-90 take the Taconic State Pkwy South about 40 miles. Exit at Bull's Head Road (Exit 64, Route 19) and turn left at the stop sign (west). Go 2.7 miles to Lake Drive and turn left. At the first intersection bear right to stay on Lake Drive. Omega’s parking is ¾ mile on the left.
• From NYC/Long Island: Take the Saw Mill River Pkwy. to the Taconic State Pkwy North. Exit at Bull's Head Road (Exit 64, Route 19) and turn left at the first stop sign, then left again at the second stop sign so that you drive over the parkway (west). Go 2.7 miles to Lake Drive (Lake Dr is the 1st left turn after you pass County Route 18) and turn left. At the first intersection bear right to stay on Lake Drive. Omega’s parking is ¾ mile on the left.
• From the North/South/West: Take I-87 (NYS Thruway) to Exit 19 (Kingston). At the traffic circle, take the first right (Route 28 West toward Pine Hill). Go 1/4 mile and turn right on Route 209 North to the Rhinecliff Bridge, about 5.2 miles. Cross the bridge (Route 209 becomes Route 199). Go 1.4 miles to the second stoplight and turn right (Route 9G South). Follow this road 4.7 miles to Route 19 (Slate Quarry Road). Turn left onto Route 19 and go 1.6 miles. Then turn right onto Lake Drive. At the first intersection bear right to stay on Lake Drive. Omega’s parking is ¾ mile on the left.
• From Rhinebeck, Hyde Park, Poughkeepsie: From Route 9G South, turn left; from Route 9G North, turn right on Route 19 (Slate Quarry Road). Go 3.5 miles then turn right onto Lake Drive. At the first intersection bear right to stay on Lake Drive. Omega's parking is ¾ mile on the left.

By Plane, Train, or Bus

• Plane – the best connections to Omega are from Stewart Airport in Newburgh, NY; Albany International Airport in Albany, NY; or JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark airports in the New York City area. There is no direct connection to Omega from Albany, JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark airports. From New York City area airports, you must arrange transportation into Manhattan to get a bus or train. (See bus and train options below.) Book your trip with Expedia and enjoy the Expedia best price guarantee!
• Train – take Amtrak to Rhinecliff, NY; major connecting points are New York City (at Penn Station), Albany, Toronto, and Montreal. Call Amtrak at 800.872.7245 for information. Omega's shuttle service can pick you up in Rhinecliff.
• Bus – you may take the Shortline bus from Port Authority Bus Terminal. For Shortline, call 800.631.8405 or 212.736.4700. Take the Shortline bus to Rhinebeck; our shuttle service can pick you up at the Beekman Arms Inn.

Arrival

You will receive a detailed information packet on the date and time of your arrival after you have been offered a position.

Parking

To keep the campus vehicle-free, we allow only Omega vehicles on interior roads. Arrivals park in the main parking lot, located within walking distance of campus buildings. Upon arrival, check in at the People & Culture office, located on the opposite side of Lake Drive from the main parking lot and in the same building as Guest Services. Support is available on arrival days to help transport your luggage to your accommodations after you have checked in with the People & Culture team.

Late Arrivals

If you arrive after 5:00 p.m., please check the bulletin board outside of the Guest Services office (from the main parking lot, take a left onto Lake Drive and look on your right for the porch with the Guest Services sign). There you will find a packet with your room or tent site location, campus map, and other information you will need. It is important that you check in with People & Culture at 9:00 a.m. the next morning.

We look forward to seeing you on campus!

Campus Map

Our seasonal community members live onsite and walk to work, as well as to meals. For safety reasons biking is not allowed on the campus. Omega's Rhinebeck campus is lovely and beautiful, but also hilly and wooded in many areas. What can be a beautiful form of exercise for some can also be challenging for others.

If you have any mobility concerns, please email [email protected]. 

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