Country Dance and Song Society 2007 Summer Programs This summer is completed.

Photo Gallery Schedule & Fees Registration Info Registration Form Scholarships Camplife Programs Homepage

Music Programs Dance Programs Family Programs Storytelling Program Special Programs

What's New:

3/27/07: As of registrations received by yesterday, There is still space at many of our sessions. The only waitlists are for the Sound Operators Course, Contra Dance Callers Course, English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods and Campers' Week. See each page for the status. 1/26/07: I have posted details on all the week pages. The printed version goes to the printer very soon and should be in the mail by February 15. 1/24/07: I have started to add the further detail on the week pages. I should have them all up by week's end. The printed version goes to the printer then. 12/2/06: The Registration Form is now available here on the web. 11/29/06: This is a first draft of the 2007 pages. Most staff are listed. Details will be added as we know them. The printed Program Catalog for 2007 will be mailed to our entire mailing list in February. If you would like to receive a copy please . If you find any errors in these pages please .

Do you want to experience traditional English and/or Anglo-American dance and music in a beautiful outdoor setting? CDSS summer camps offer the opportunity to take daily classes, to sing, dance and play tunes, to swim, canoe and relax with new friends and old in three very special locations -

Timber Ridge Pinewoods Ogontz

CDSS has been organizing and running summer programs for many years and we have long been committed to creating an inclusive social community at camp. Everyone is encouraged to enhance the spirit of camp by bringing ideas for special events, games or parties.

Music and Dance Programs [Back to Top]

2007 Music Programs Pinewoods Early Music Week July 14 - 21 Folk Music Week July 21 - 28

2007 Dance Programs Timber Ridge English & American Dance Week August 12 - 19 Pinewoods English & American Dance Week August 4 - 11 English Dance Week August 11 - 18 American Dance & Music Week August 25 - September 1

Each week's program has a unique focus and each offers a different mix of daily dance and music classes, singing and special workshops, with plenty of rest/play time. Once a day the whole camp gathers for games, singing or presentations. After dinner each evening there is a dance party, often with a concert, followed by late-night activities.

The minimum age for attendance at our adult weeks is 15. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. We can sometimes also accept a limited number of infants and children; please call for details. Adults without children are also welcome at Campers' and Family Weeks. We do not consider gender in our admissions policy.

2007 Family Programs [Back to Top]

Timber Ridge Family Week August 12 - 19

Ogontz Family Week 1 July 28 - August 4 Family Week 2 August 4 - 11

Pinewoods Family Week July 28 - August 4 Campers' Week August 18 - 25

Our family programs provide many opportunities to share traditional English and Anglo-American dance, music and storytelling as well as the beauty of the outdoors with children. A typical day will include two classes tailored to age groups. Morning starts with age specific classes for children age 4 and up, while parents and the teens pursue their own music and dance classes. After morning class and a snack, the whole camp gathers to sing and dance together, then adjourns to relax or swim before lunch. Children not napping after lunch may join their parents in a wide variety of classes designed for mixed age groups, followed by a second age specific class and snack and swim time. After dinner the whole community comes together for a family dance followed by singing and stories.

As dusk settles a Pied Piper leads the families with children age 9 and younger (8 and younger at Campers' Week) to their cabin where the parents put their children to bed. Preteens stay halfway through the evening dance before their bedtime comes. Adults and teenagers can enjoy the evening dance and later activities, while roving monitors listens for wakeful children. If a child is uncomfortable, the monitor will alert the parent at the dance. Each family is expected to prepare their children for these scheduled bedtimes (see each week's schedule for details).

At the Family Weeks, each age grouping has a maximum number of spaces available. Adults without children are also welcome.

All campers over the age of five have a daily job to help camp run smoothly. Parents are generally assigned a job with their young children. At Timber Ridge, housing is in bunk rooms with one family per room. At Ogontz, each family will be assigned a cabin. At Pinewoods, most children over age six are assigned a roommate in a double or triple cabin near their parents. Anyone under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

2007 Storytelling Program [Back to Top]

Ogontz Storytelling Week July 21 -28

This program is designed for storytellers and teachers and librarians who use stories in their work. There is also some programming for families and lots of fun for people who just like to hear stories. There will be dance, song and crafts as well as stories.

2007 Special Programs [Back to Top]

Timber Ridge Teacher Training Course at Family Week August 12 - 19

Ogontz Teacher Training Course at Family Week 2 August 4 - 11

Pinewoods Square Dance Callers Course at Folk Music Week July 21 - 28 Sound Operators Course at English & American Dance Week August 4 - 11 Contra Dance Callers Course at American Dance & Music Week August 25 - September 1

These special courses have limited enrollment and give budding or experienced callers, dance leaders, musicians and classroom teachers a chance to hone their skills, increase their repertoire and consider new points of view. The programs offer group exercises and solo practice time as well as time to participate in the concurrent week. Registrations to these sessions will be processed on March 19 (a week before all other weeks.)

The Country Dance and Song Society

CDSS is an association of individuals and groups interested in traditional, historical and contemporary English and Anglo-American folk dance, song and instrumental music. The Society's interests include English country, display and step dance, American contra, square and clog dance, English and American traditional folk songs and dance music as well as historical dance and music scholarship.

The sales department at CDSS's headquarters offers a wide selection of hard-to-find books, recordings and other items related to English and American dance, music and song -- all available by mail order and at our bookstore at each camp. Our price list is available on request.

We also send consignment orders to our camps and other events around the country -- contact our sales manager at or 413-268-7426 ext 2 for further details.

CDSS has an active publications program.

The Society provides a referral service with information about events throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as advice on programming and organization. Our library and archives are housed at the University of New Hampshire Library Special Collections.

Members receive:
a bimonthly newsletter, CDSS News
a members list
a group directory
a price list
10% discounts on purchases from the sales department
eligibility for loans and grants
group tax exemption and liability insurance
priority for admission to our summer programs
a voice in the governance of the Society.

Our principal support is our membership; new members are always welcome.

The Country Dance and Song Society
An association of people who celebrate traditional, historical and contemporary English and Anglo-American folk dance, song and instrumental music. Since 1915. Come Join Us!

Membership Rates as of March 1, 2006:
Individual $45
Limited Income Individual $25
Family $65
Limited Income Family $35
Contributor $100
Group Affiliate $85

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/