ALMOST HEAVEN DANCE CAMP 2008
TIMBER RIDGE CAMP
MAY 23-26, 2008

Attention: Registered Dancers

The following is a list of highlighted items in preparation for AH this year. This, combined with the information in your confirmation letter, should help you prepare for this wild and wonderful Memorial Day Weekend tradition. Don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any other questions. Marti Schweitzer can be contacted at almostmarti@gmail.com or at 703-437-0766 (10 am to 10 pm only). The AH committee will be at Timber Ridge by Thursday, May 22. Contact us using the camp number below. See you soon!

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBER AT CAMP:

The Timber Ridge Camp Phone Number is 304-856-2630. The answering machine will be checked frequently and a message will be delivered ASAP to anyone receiving a call. Most cell phones do not receive service at camp. Public pay phones are located outside the building housing the camp office.

For any information you don't see here, check our website: contradancers.com/heaven

BABYSITTING:

While there is no committee-organized babysitting at AH many parents have networked together to provide supervision for their children.  Most families with small children are housed in the Lodge making networking more possible. Sometimes teens come to AH who may be available for parents to arrange and pay for babysitting. We will introduce them at a meal if they are available.

AH is not run in quite the same way as a CDSS camp. We have informal workshops set up for the children, rather than an official program. Last year some of the workshops included fossil hunting, t-shirt making, birdwatching, assorted arts and crafts, and a family dance.

For the most part we ask that either you attend the workshop with your child or designate a responsible person to attend with them; it's not really childcare per se like the summer programs have. For more information, seek out our program coordinators, Cindy Rury and Emily Aubrey.

DRUM CIRCLE AND OTHER LATE NIGHT ENTERTAINMENT:

On Saturday and Sunday nights, both during and after midnight snack, there will be opportunities for more music, dancing, and improvisation. On Saturday night we will feature an open mic/open band format for spontaneous singing, dancing, and playing in the Playhouse. On Sunday night, the entertainment will feature a drum circle. Bring any drum-like instrument you can think of for late-night, good vibrations, also in the Playhouse.

GEAR FOR SPORTS:

Timber Ridge Camp has a broad range of sports facilities available to the participants of AH. One favorite is the skate park. All skate park users, especially, are expected to wear protective gear including helmets and pads. Bring these and any other sports equipment and gear with you for full use of the facilities. The camp listing of facilities available can be found at: trcamps.com/about_us/our_facility.html.

It is important to remember that any child under the age of 18 is the responsibility of the parents, the guardians, or the authorized adults. This is especially important when children are using the camp sports facilities.

WHAT TO BRING:

See this page on our website (click me).

LIFEGUARDS:

New for us this year, the Timber Ridge Camp has been fully accredited by the ACA, the American Camping Association. As a result, we are required to have a lifeguard on duty whenever swimmers are in the Olympic-size swimming pool. Pool use hours will be posted throughout the weekend.

PETS:

Don’t even think about it!

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE:

The schedule, as it stands now, can be found on our website. You will receive a printed schedule at the time of registration at camp.

RIDE SHARING:

This is our first year attempting to more completely facilitate ride sharing and while we have a strong interest in the conservation aspects of this, we were unprepared for the volume of interest. The result has been the posting of a ride sharing document for anyone expressing interest in saving on gas and, perhaps, making new friends. If you did not participate this year, please consider joining the effort next year. If you are still in need of a ride or a rider, please contact the registrar, almostmarti@gmail.com. We are also seeking input for improving this aspect of our program.

RECYCLING:

Just one more place where we feel we can help the environment. The dining hall will be using regular plates and cutlery. The dance areas will have water provided in large coolers. Cups will be provided to campers for reuse. Feel free to bring your own water holder or ceramic cup for hot drinks. We will be using the clothesline method in the gym for holding re/used cups.

WILD ASPARAGUS PLAY LIST:

Wild Asparagus has a web page up for the tunes they are going to use for the “Play with the Band” workshop. We are passing on the URL to potential participants: wildasparagus.com/PlayWithWildAsparagus.

At this point the “Play with the Band” playlist is the MP3s that Becky Tracy recorded. Eventually they will have dots as well but the band members feel its better to learn the tunes by ear rather than reading them.

For any additional information contact: George Marshall, george@wildasparagus.com. Phone: 413-323-9604. Web site wildasparagus.com.

SPECIAL DIET NEEDS:

If you have special dietary needs, bring your own food. A refrigerator is provided in the dining area for any campers’ food. If you have any questions about food, seek out our dining hall coordinator, Kappy Laning.

SNACK CONTRIBUTIONS:

Late night snacks this year will be provided and coordinated by the AH committee. If you have any contributions you would like to share, do not hesitate to bring them during snack time. We will be making an effort to provide hot water during these late night periods, so bring any hot drink options you might like after dancing. (We know this seems odd when last year’s weather was so hot, but you never know what the weather is going to be and some people truly like a hot drink before sleep.)

MAPS AND DIRECTIONS:

Timber Ridge Camp operates on a beautiful property nestled in the heart of the Shenandoah Mountains of West Virginia. While the camp is situated
among nature in a very quaint setting, it is in close proximity to many major cities: Washington DC is only 90 miles, Philadelphia is 230 miles away, Pittsburgh is only 185 miles away, and New York is 300 miles away.

Check the AH website for a detailed local road map, and a link to the Google directions, at contradancers.com/heaven/directions.html

Also, a map of the camp layout can be found on our website at contradancers.com/heaven/camp_layout.html

Directions to Camp from Baltimore:

Directions to Camp from Washington, D.C.:

Take 495 By-Pass to Route 66 West. Take Route 81 North Exit. Take 81 North to Exit 310, which is Route 37 North. Take Route 37 North to Route 50 West Exit. Take a left at the light onto RT. 50 and then proceed as above from step 9.

Directions to Camp from National Airport:

Upon exiting National Airport, pick up Route 66 North to Route 81 North to Route 37 North to Route 50 West and follow directions above from step 9.

Directions to Camp from Pittsburgh, PA:

Take Route 70 to Route 522 through Berkeley Springs and past Cacapon State Park - 13 miles to Route 771. 1/4 mile and turn right on Route 701. Go about 1 1/2 miles, and turn left on Route 703. Follow it for 5 miles until you reach Route 50, and turn left go 7 miles to Route 50 East, go 1/2 mile to Route 259 and follow directions above from step 10.

Directions to Camp from Dulles Airport:

Exit the Dulles Airport and pickup the Dulles Airport Toll Road to Leesburg, Virginia and follow that to the end. It is called the Greenway. Then pickup Route 7 West and follow signs to Winchester, Virginia. Take Route 81 North one Exit and then Route 37 South, then Route 50 West and follow above directions from step 9.

For any information you don't see here, check our website: contradancers.com/heaven