Country Dance and Song Society 2003 Summer Programs Camplife

Schedule & Fees Registration Info Registration Form Scholarships Camplife Programs Homepage

While at camp Mail & Phone Rides/Arrival Evenings Bookstore Packing Tips Camper Jobs Food

While at Camp [Back to Top]

The noises of modern life are replaced by music and the sounds of dancers, singers and the laughter from the waterfront and other gatherings. Cars are tucked away, and for a week transportation around camp is by foot. There are no newspapers or radios and the "outside" world fades away. What a treat! You are at camp!

If you've never been to camp before, here's some useful information for making your stay more comfortable. Camp facilities and all activities are in close contact with the outdoors, but we do provide some modern amenities.

Mail & Phone [Back to Top]

Though your plate will be full of activities while at camp, for those of you who must keep in contact with work or home, there is first class mail and UPS service, and a touch-tone pay phone for camper use. (At Ogontz, you will need a calling card to make long distance calls.)

Getting to camp [Back to Top]

Rides to Camp

Please let us know if you can offer a ride to camp (see Registration Form). It's very helpful since parking space is limited and those flying to camp sometimes need a ride from the airport.

Arrival Time

You may arrive at camp any time after 3:00pm on the first day (Saturday, except Early Music Week which starts and ends on Thursdays); the program begins with dinner at 6:30pm. Departure time is by 10:00am the following Saturday.

Special Evening Activities [Back to Top]

One evening of each week, we hold an auction to raise money for our scholarship fund. You may want to donate an unusual item or service. There are no scheduled activities on one night each week; however, there generally are informal, camper-led dances and music or singing gatherings.

Bookstore [Back to Top]

CDSS runs a bookstore at each camp carrying a diverse selection of dance and song recordings and books, morris supplies, postcards and more, along with the books and recordings of our program staff.

Packing Suggestions [Back to Top]

You will need to bring a flashlight to negotiate the paths at night. Don't forget to pack your swimsuit, raincoat, sweater, towels, bed linen, and blankets or a sleeping bag (and, at Buffalo Gap and Ogontz, pillows). A battery powered or wind up alarm clock and insect repellant may be useful. At Buffalo Gap, a fan is often welcome; at Pinewoods and Ogontz, an extra blanket could be needed. If you are on a special diet, you may need to bring your own particular food. An ice chest for drinks and "munchies" to share at after-dance parties may be handy.

Clothes & Shoes

Bring plenty of dance clothes, especially socks and t-shirts; there are no washing machines or dryers at the camps. Feel free to bring festive apparel; many people like to dress up in the evenings or for special parties. Shoes must be worn on all the dance floors; flat or low heel shoes are suggested. Some people prefer leather or composition soles for country, athletic shoes for morris, hard soles for sword or some clogging and wooden soled shoes for English clogging. It's a good idea to break in new dance shoes before you arrive, and to bring different, sturdy shoes for wearing on the camp paths. With all these different shoes, think about bringing a bag or backpack to carry around with you during the day as you walk from class to class.

Stores

The nearest stores are a 15-30 minute drive away.

Guests & Pets

Guests and pets may not be brought to camp.

Jobs [Back to Top]

All campers have a daily job to help camp run smoothly.

Jobs are usually a half hour or less per day, every day, and the same job all week. Jobs are assigned in the month before camp starts and job requests may be made on the Registration Form or with your Registration Status Form received later.

We can't guarantee that all specific requests will be filled, but please let us know if you have a preference or limitation (e.g., dust allergy, unable to lift heavy objects, can't stay up late, can't get up for breakfast). At family sessions parents are generally assigned a job with their young children. General job categories are:

Dining room: breakfast, lunch or dinner (set/clear tables)
Kitchen (serve food, clear, wash dishes, make coffee/tea)
Sweeping (pavilions, community areas)
Party help (first and last night setup/cleanup)
Clerical (office, bookstore, auction)
Greeters (must be able to arrive by 2:00pm)
Gopher (campstore, auction, lifting)

At Ogontz, some of the jobs start before breakfast. Please let us know if you are happy with an early job.

Housing [Back to Top]

Each facility has different housing types, Please see the descriptions for each camp.

Buffalo Gap, Ogontz, Pinewoods,

Food [Back to Top]

All meals from dinner on the first evening to breakfast on the last morning are served in the Dining Hall. Some accommodation can be made for people with food allergies if the camp has advance warning. Specific information on special diets will be sent with acceptance letters. You may indicate your choice of a meat or vegetarian menu on the Registration Form.

413-268-7426 FAX: 413-268-7471

Country Dance and Song Society 132 Main St/PO Box 338 Haydenville, MA 01039-0338 Office Hours M-F 9:30am - 5:00pm EST

http://www.cdss.org/