OEC

Outdoor Education Center (OEC)

Located in East Lyme, CT. Open to the Yale Community and East Lyme Residents. 

OEC Group Rentals

The OEC is an ideal location for your next group outing, event, or reception. 

OEC Group Rentals are available to Yale University, Yale University External Affiliated Groups and non-Yale groups. 

OEC Group Rentals will require a Facility Use Agreement and possibly proof of insurance (Certificate of Insurance).  Before booking we strongly encourage you to review insurance requirements and ask for any clarifications during the request/confirmation process.  

Email oec@yale.edu for Groups Rentals questions or to submit a rental request. 
Please include the following: Name, Date of Request, Space Request, and Yale Affiliation (if any).

Summer 2024 Fees

Group Spaces Fee/Day
Pavilion $775
Dining Hall  $1,000
Combination
(Dining Hall & Pavilion)		 $1,500
Gazebo $150
Round Table area
(under 15 people)		 $80

Group Spaces are priced for the day of the event and include the space only.

There is an additional $10/person fee for each guest of your event.

If additional setup/breakdown time either the day before and/or after is required there will be a fee of $200 or every four hours. 

OEC Group Rental Definitions & Insurance

What is a Certificate of Insurance (COI)? Users of a Yale facility for a non–Yale sponsored event must be insured for liability and must give evidence of such coverage (Certificate of Insurance) to the event location office and to the Office of Enterprise Risk Management.
Where can I purchase insurance?

Users not having their own insurance are welcome to use the TULIP program as an option for purchasing the general liability insurance that Yale requires.

Please note that this is an on–line program and coverage may not be available for all event types. Use of this program is not a guarantee of insurance. Premiums are based on the type of event, the length of the event, and anticipated number of participants.

This coverage is provided by an outside vendor. Access more information or apply for TULIP coverage.

Once you access the URMIA TULIP website, please follow the instructions for obtaining a quote for the event. The University venues most often used are built into the program, so please select the specific venue. Please select the master Yale University code 4164 only if the venue you wish to use is not shown.

You will receive an email confirmation after you have applied and been accepted for coverage. Confirmation emails will automatically be sent to the event venue office and to the Yale University Office of Enterprise Risk Management.

If you are not using this program and wish to provide your own liability insurance instead, please consult the standard insurance requirements provided in menus below.
Who should I name as certificate holder? Yale University must be shown as Additional Insured on all liability policies.
What address should I list as the certificate holder? Yale University
Office of Risk Management
PO Box 208253
2 Whitney Avenue, 6th Floor
New Haven, CT 06520-8253
Where should I send the COI?  Email all COIs to oec@yale.edu

Definition of Yale University Groups

Yale University Groups which are sponsored by the University and where the use is for university related business (i.e. University Departments, Colleges, Schools, etc. having a department/school, etc. meeting or outing, etc).

This does NOT include a Yale Affiliate using the OEC for a personal event (i.e. birthday party, reception). 

The primary contact from the Yale University group is responsible for the behaviors of their guests and visitors. The department/group sponsoring the event is responsible for any damage they or their guests and visitors may cause.
Payment Yale University Groups must provide payment via an internal Yale COA transfer. 
Insurance Requirements Yale University Groups are not required to provide evidence of insurance via valid Certificate of Insurance.  

Definition of Yale University External Affiliated Groups

Yale University External Affiliated Groups are groups which are sponsored by an individual who is a Yale Affiliate and where the use is of a personal nature (birthday party, reception, etc).  

Only current Yale University Faculty, Staff and Students as well as Yale New Haven Hospital Employees (not Yale New Haven Health employees) qualify as a sponsor for Yale External Affiliated Groups.  The Yale Affiliate sponsoring the event must be present, on-site at for the duration of the event,  is responsible for the behaviors of their guests and visitors, and is responsible for any damage they or their guests and visitors may cause.

An example: I am a current Yale University staff member. I would like to have a birthday party at the OEC for my spouse. As the current Yale University Staff member, I would serve as the sponsor for this event. As the sponsor, I am responsible for completing the Facility Use Agreement, payment, and if needed Certificate of Insurance.  As the sponsor, I will be present, on-site for the duration of the event. 
Facility Use Agreement The Yale Affiliate sponsoring the event must complete the Facility Use Agreement.
Payment The Yale Affiliate sponsoring the event is responsible for providing payment via credit/debit card or check under their name.
Insurance Requirements Groups of 25 Individuals or Fewer Yale External Affiliated Groups of 25 individuals or fewer are not required to provide evidence of insurance via a valid Certificate of Insurance, however insurance coverage is strongly recommended by Yale University.

Groups of 26 Individuals or More

AND 

WILL NOT be accessing the OEC Waterfront

Yale External Affiliated Groups of 26 individuals or more who will NOT be accessing the waterfront (i.e. for swimming, paddle craft, etc.) must present a valid Certificate of Insurance which includes:

  • Commercial General Liability insurance with limits no less than $2,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence.
  • If use of the facilities includes physical activities such as recreation the policy shall contain no exclusion for athletic participants.
  • Any program for participants under the age of 18 years (“Minors”) on campus needs to provide evidence of Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Liability insurance of an amount not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence. Coverage endorsed onto the General Liability policy is acceptable.
  • Such insurance shall name Yale and its employees, officers and agents as additional insured and shall provide that such insurance is primary and not contributory or excess with respect to any other insurance Yale may have.

Groups of 26 Individuals or More

AND 

Will be accessing the OEC Waterfront

Yale External Affiliated Groups of 26 individuals or more who will be accessing the waterfront (i.e. for swimming, paddle craft, etc.) must present a valid Certificate of Insurance which includes:

  • Commercial General Liability insurance with limits no less than $5,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence.
  • If use of the facilities includes physical activities such as recreation the policy shall contain no exclusion for athletic participants.
  • Any program for participants under the age of 18 years (“Minors”) on campus needs to provide evidence of Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Liability insurance of an amount not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence. Coverage endorsed onto the General Liability policy is acceptable.
  • Such insurance shall name Yale and its employees, officers and agents as additional insured and shall provide that such insurance is primary and not contributory or excess with respect to any other insurance Yale may have. 

Definition of Non-Yale Groups

Non-Yale Groups are groups which do not qualify as either a Yale University Group or Yale University External Affiliated Groups. 

The individual or a designated representative from the organization completing the Facility Use Agreement must be present, on-site for the duration of the event and are responsible for the behaviors of their guests and visitors. The individual/organization is responsible for any damage they or their guests and visitors may cause.
Facility Use Agreement The Non-Yale individual or a designated representative from the organization sponsoring the event must complete the Facility Use Agreement.
Payment The Non-Yale individual or a designated representative from the organization sponsoring the event is responsible for providing payment via credit/debit card or check under the individual or organization completing the Facility Use Agreement.
Insurance Requirements WILL NOT be accessing the OEC Waterfront

Non-Yale Group Rentals who will NOT be accessing the waterfront (i.e. for swimming, paddle craft, etc.) must present a valid Certificate of Insurance which includes:

  • Commercial General Liability insurance with limits no less than $2,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence.
  • If use of the facilities includes physical activities such as recreation the policy shall contain no exclusion for athletic participants.
  • Any program for participants under the age of 18 years (“Minors”) on campus needs to provide evidence of Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Liability insurance of an amount not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence. Coverage endorsed onto the General Liability policy is acceptable.
  • Such insurance shall name Yale and its employees, officers and agents as additional insured and shall provide that such insurance is primary and not contributory or excess with respect to any other insurance Yale may have. 
Will be accessing the OEC Waterfront

Non-Yale Group Rentals who will be accessing the waterfront (i.e. for swimming, paddle craft, etc.) must present a valid Certificate of Insurance which includes:

  • Commercial General Liability insurance with limits no less than $5,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence.
  • If use of the facilities includes physical activities such as recreation the policy shall contain no exclusion for athletic participants.
  • Any program for participants under the age of 18 years (“Minors”) on campus needs to provide evidence of Sexual Misconduct/Abuse Liability insurance of an amount not less than $2,000,000 per occurrence. Coverage endorsed onto the General Liability policy is acceptable.
  • Such insurance shall name Yale and its employees, officers and agents as additional insured and shall provide that such insurance is primary and not contributory or excess with respect to any other insurance Yale may have. 

OEC Policies, Guidelines, Advisories, & FAQs

Learn more about what is permitted at the OEC, what to bring, safety for our visitors, and advisories for local wildlife.