EEFC Ramblewood Balkan Music & Dance Workshop

Balkan Music & Dance Workshop: Mt. Washington, Berkshires, Massachusetts

August 17 - 24, 2003

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Mt. Washington Site-Related FAQs

Q. How will I get there?

A. Camp Hi-Rock is located in Mt. Washington, Massachusetts, in the Berkshires, near the border of New York and Connecticut.   It's about a 2-1/2 hour drive from New York City or Boston, about an hour from Albany, NY.    There's a Metro North NYC commuter train station about a half hour away. The closest airports are Albany and Hartford, each a little over an hour away. (Southwest flies into both those airports and is by far the cheapest airline in the area.) If you fly into Albany we can help look into van services. From other points we'll look into ride share arrangements to make your connection to camp as reasonably priced as possible.

Q. I've heard of the Berkshires, but don't know anything about that area. What's it like?

A. The Berkshires is a mountain range that runs up the western part of Massachusetts. Beautiful, unspoiled, populated with many small, artsy communities, Berkshire County is considered a mecca for the performing arts. If you tour the area, you'll find antique shops, B&Bs, community theaters, and arts centers like Tanglewood.

There are plenty of walking trails at camp itself (including the Appalachian Trail) and several state parks within short driving distance, including a lovely area called Bash Bish Falls. A biking trail is nearby too.

While the camp is only about 20 minutes from town, it feels quite secluded. From South Egremont, Mass., you take a 10-mile paved road, then a 2-mile dirt road into the camp itself. The camp owns 1000 acres, including a 98-acre lake.

Q. How's the weather there?

A. In short BEAUTIFUL!   The average high in August is 76 with an average low of 56.   So it might mean cooler nights (bring a blanket!) but shouldn't be freezing. Just cool enough to make for good sleeping! At this time of year the lake is at a pleasant temperature for swimming.

Q. What are the cabins like?

A.   There are a number of different types of lodging at Hi-Rock.   The bulk of the cabins are called Basic Cabins --and that's what they are. They do have electricity, but bring extension cords and/or a multiplug adaptor, as they may not have a lot of outlets. You may also want to bring a high-wattage light bulb, if you need bright light.   There are no cubbies or clothes rods, but they do have rafters from which we can hang things. We're also allowed to put nails and things into the wall beams. Some ideas that have come up include hanging a broomstick from the rafters for a clothes rod and bringing a collapsible hanging sweater unit (you see them in closet organizers).   We intend to use only half the amount of beds so that you can use the top bunk for storing your stuff.   If you want, you can use the top bunk's mattress to make yours even thicker!   Floor space is available, though it varies from cabin to cabin.

The basic cabins are grouped in units (called Abnaki, Algonquin, Frontier, Mohawk, Wigwam, and Woodlands) that share separate toilet and shower facilities.   You will need to go outside to use the facilities, but they are not very far away from any single cabin. Basic cabins vary in size, but most can hold about 6 people.

Also within these units are one or two Unit Director (UD) cabins. The UD cabins are very small, suitable for one, or maybe two very close friends. Not for the claustrophobic. They have one full sized mattress on a platform, and usually a dresser and/or hanging space. They each have electricity and a small window.

For tenters, there is a unit of 3-sided Adirondack shelters, which you may want to use to store your things. These shelters also have electricity, so they can be used for rehearsals, practice sessions, etc.

There are also a few "lodge" style buildings, which have dorm-style rooms with indoor bathrooms.   We plan to use these primarily for staff, and for those with special needs.    Please let us know when you register if you fall into any of those groups.

Q. What are the separate bathhouses like?

A. For the most part, the showers are in a separate building (or separate half) from the toilets themselves. There are hooks and shelves. The toilets are composting toilets, very environmentally friendly, as they use no extra water--and we can attest to the fact that they do not smell. The biggest downside to the bathrooms at this point is that many of them need "gussy-ing up" (painting, etc.), as adult sensibilities are definitely more picky than kids! We're working with the camp management on that, and they've been very receptive to our requests.

Q. How about the food?

A. We are thrilled to still be using Janet Bradley as our head chef, so you should expect the same wonderful, stunning meals that we've been accustomed to. If you haven’t been lucky enough to sample Janet’s food, you will be in for a delectable experience!

Q. What extra stuff should I bring with me?

A. In addition to the regular "camp stuff", (bedding, blanket, pillow, towels, toiletries, sunblock, swimming gear, etc.), you will want to include:

- comfortable walking shoes, as the paths are not paved and can be rocky

- flashlight, as most of the paths are not lighted

- extension cords

- gadgets and containers to store and hang clothes

- bedside light or book light

- the usual things you bring to liven up/decorate the cabin space

- toiletries bag or bucket to carry to the bathhouse

There is a camp store, and we will still be running our own store, so you should have options to buy things once you're there.    And don't worry you don't have to memorize this list!   We will repeat all this information and more in the camper letter that goes out to all registrants.

Q. Is it children-friendly?

A. Oh YES!!! They function most of the summer as a children's camp, so their staff and counselors are used to working with kids. As always, we will offer our two children's classes. We also have the option of possibly hiring their counselors for extra programs or for child care help. We'll announce more later on how to get that organized.

Q. Are there any alternate accommodations nearby? (e.g. with air conditioning, icemakers, and cable)

A. The closest motels are in South Egremont or Hillsdale, both about 8 or 9 miles from camp. Another 10 miles further north of Sourth Egremont is Great Barrington, which is a very artsy community and should have plenty of accommodations available.

Q. Why only a 7-day camp? Will we be able to get back to 8 days?

A. YMCA Camp-Hi-Rock offers a summer-long camping program for kids; this is their primary mission. We have been able to book the first week immediately following their camp.   That works out to starting our camp on a Sunday.   They know that we would prefer to gain an additional day, and as we establish a long-term relationship with them, we hope that can happen.

Q. Will tuition be changing?

A.   Even though all of our other expenses continue to rise, including a 10% increase in postage costs, the 2003 tuition for the weeklong workshop will remain at $595, the same as in 2002.

Q. Why did we change locations from Ramblewood to Hi-Rock?

A. While Ramblewood has been a wonderful home for many years, the costs there were rising exponentially, and we felt that it was not appropriate for our community, the fiscal health of our organization, and for our mission to commit to such a drastic increase in cost. We would rather channel resources to other critical budget items, such as teaching staff payment.

We do understand that changing camp locations is stressful for everyone--the board of directors being no exception. On the West Coast we've been blessed with a long-term relationship with the Mendocino Woodlands, a non-profit organization, and had reasonable and relatively stable rent for over twenty years. We believe we have found a similar arrangement here for the East Coast. We're looking forward to partnering with an organization that has a similar mission--one based on community and education rather than profit.

Q. How can I find out more about the camp?

A. We've set up a number of online photo albums that you can reach from our website www.eefc.org .

You can also check out Camp Hi-Rock's own web site at http://www.camphirock.com -- it's oriented around their children's camp, but you can get the gist.

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Q. How will I get there?

A. Camp Hi-Rock is located in Mt. Washington, Massachusetts, in the Berkshires, near the border of New York and Connecticut. It's about a 2-1/2 hour drive from New York City or Boston, about an hour from Albany, NY. There's a Metro North NYC commuter train station about a half hour away. The closest airports are Albany and Hartford, each a little over an hour away. (Southwest flies into both those airports and is by far the cheapest airline in the area.) If you fly into Albany we can help look into van services. From other points we'll look into ride share arrangements to make your connection to camp as reasonably priced as possible.


Q. I've heard of the Berkshires, but don't know anything about that area. What's it like?

A. The Berkshires is a mountain range that runs up the western part of Massachusetts. Beautiful, unspoiled, populated with many small, artsy communities, Berkshire County is considered a mecca for the performing arts. If you tour the area, you'll find antique shops, B&Bs, community theaters, and arts centers like Tanglewood.

There are plenty of walking trails at camp itself (including the Appalachian Trail) and several state parks within short driving distance, including a lovely area called Bash Bish Falls. A biking trail is nearby too.

While the camp is only about 20 minutes from town, it feels quite secluded. From South Egremont, Mass., you take a 10-mile paved road, then a 2-mile dirt road into the camp itself. The camp owns 1000 acres, including a 98-acre lake.


Q. How's the weather there?

A. In short BEAUTIFUL! The average high in August is 76 with an average low of 56. So it might mean cooler nights (bring a blanket!) but shouldn't be freezing. Just cool enough to make for good sleeping! At this time of year the lake is at a pleasant temperature for swimming.


Q. What are the cabins like?

A. There are a number of different types of lodging at Hi-Rock. The bulk of the cabins are called Basic Cabins --and that's what they are. They do have electricity, but bring extension cords and/or a multiplug adaptor, as they may not have a lot of outlets. You may also want to bring a high-wattage light bulb, if you need bright light. There are no cubbies or clothes rods, but they do have rafters from which we can hang things. We're also allowed to put nails and things into the wall beams. Some ideas that have come up include hanging a broomstick from the rafters for a clothes rod and bringing a collapsible hanging sweater unit (you see them in closet organizers). We intend to use only half the amount of beds so that you can use the top bunk for storing your stuff. If you want, you can use the top bunk's mattress to make yours even thicker! Floor space is available, though it varies from cabin to cabin.

The basic cabins are grouped in units (called Abnaki, Algonquin, Frontier, Mohawk, Wigwam, and Woodlands) that share separate toilet and shower facilities. You will need to go outside to use the facilities, but they are not very far away from any single cabin. Basic cabins vary in size, but most can hold about 6 people.

Also within these units are one or two Unit Director (UD) cabins. The UD cabins are very small, suitable for one, or maybe two very close friends. Not for the claustrophobic. They have one full sized mattress on a platform, and usually a dresser and/or hanging space. They each have electricity and a small window.

For tenters, there is a unit of 3-sided Adirondack shelters, which you may want to use to store your things. These shelters also have electricity, so they can be used for rehearsals, practice sessions, etc.

There are also a few "lodge" style buildings, which have dorm-style rooms with indoor bathrooms. We plan to use these primarily for staff, and for those with special needs. Please let us know when you register if you fall into any of those groups.


Q. What are the separate bathhouses like?

A. For the most part, the showers are in a separate building (or separate half) from the toilets themselves. There are hooks and shelves. The toilets are composting toilets, very environmentally friendly, as they use no extra water--and we can attest to the fact that they do not smell. The biggest downside to the bathrooms at this point is that many of them need "gussy-ing up" (painting, etc.), as adult sensibilities are definitely more picky than kids! We're working with the camp management on that, and they've been very receptive to our requests.


Q. How about the food?

A. We are thrilled to still be using Janet Bradley as our head chef, so you should expect the same wonderful, stunning meals that we've been accustomed to. If you haven’t been lucky enough to sample Janet’s food, you will be in for a delectable experience!


Q. What extra stuff should I bring with me?

A. In addition to the regular "camp stuff", (bedding, blanket, pillow, towels, toiletries, sunblock, swimming gear, etc.), you will want to include:

	- comfortable walking shoes, as the paths are not paved and can be rocky
	- flashlight, as most of the paths are not lighted
	- extension cords
	- gadgets and containers to store and hang clothes
	- bedside light or book light
	- the usual things you bring to liven up/decorate the cabin space
	- toiletries bag or bucket to carry to the bathhouse

There is a camp store, and we will still be running our own store, so you should have options to buy things once you're there. And don't worry you don't have to memorize this list! We will repeat all this information and more in the camper letter that goes out to all registrants.


Q. Is it children-friendly?

A. Oh YES!!! They function most of the summer as a children's camp, so their staff and counselors are used to working with kids. As always, we will offer our two children's classes. We also have the option of possibly hiring their counselors for extra programs or for child care help. We'll announce more later on how to get that organized.


Q. Are there any alternate accommodations nearby? (e.g. with air conditioning, icemakers, and cable)

A. The closest motels are in South Egremont or Hillsdale, both about 8 or 9 miles from camp. Another 10 miles further north of Sourth Egremont is Great Barrington, which is a very artsy community and should have plenty of accommodations available.


Q. Why only a 7-day camp? Will we be able to get back to 8 days?

A. YMCA Camp-Hi-Rock offers a summer-long camping program for kids; this is their primary mission. We have been able to book the first week immediately following their camp. That works out to starting our camp on a Sunday. They know that we would prefer to gain an additional day, and as we establish a long-term relationship with them, we hope that can happen.


Q. Will tuition be changing?

A. Even though all of our other expenses continue to rise, including a 10% increase in postage costs, the 2003 tuition for the weeklong workshop will remain at $595, the same as in 2002.


Q. Why did we change locations from Ramblewood to Hi-Rock?

A. While Ramblewood has been a wonderful home for many years, the costs there were rising exponentially, and we felt that it was not appropriate for our community, the fiscal health of our organization, and for our mission to commit to such a drastic increase in cost. We would rather channel resources to other critical budget items, such as teaching staff payment.

We do understand that changing camp locations is stressful for everyone--the board of directors being no exception. On the West Coast we've been blessed with a long-term relationship with the Mendocino Woodlands, a non-profit organization, and had reasonable and relatively stable rent for over twenty years. We believe we have found a similar arrangement here for the East Coast. We're looking forward to partnering with an organization that has a similar mission--one based on community and education rather than profit.


Q. How can I find out more about the camp?

A. We've set up a number of online photo albums that you can reach from our website www.eefc.org .

You can also check out Camp Hi-Rock's own web site at http://www.camphirock.com -- it's oriented around their children's camp, but you can get the gist.