Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2013 18:07:34 -0700 To: amweek2013-campers-at-bacds.org From: Eric Black Subject: [AmWeek2013-campers] T-minus 10 days and counting! Good Morning, Campers! It's just a few days before the start of camp. Some of you are already traveling to the Bay Area, and some are already here to take advantage of sightseeing and dance events before camp. 70 campers still have not sent in their signed Waiver which is required by the YMCA before you can get into camp. You MUST send it to us by mail, fax, or email scan IMMEDIATELY. If you can't print out the form at http://AmWeek.org/CJG_Waiver_Form.pdf please let me know right away by email or phone and I'll mail a copy to you. SLIDING SCALE CAMPERS: remember that we need you to be at camp by 1:00pm on Sunday so you can help set up camp. Many hands make the lights work, and we need yours. Be sure to have them at camp by 1:00 on Sunday. You'll also be needed throughout the week, and on Friday to help us take down and get out quickly. Campers can begin arriving at camp after 1:00pm. Plan to arrive well before dinner (5:30pm) so you can settle in before it gets dark among the trees. ** PIANO KEYBOARDS NEEDED If you are driving to camp and have or can bring an electronic piano keyboard, we can use a few more for the music workshops. Thanks! ** CAMP IS OVER-FULL We have 112 campers signed up, and the only reason we can accept more people than we have space for is that 18 people are staying in their own tents rather than a bunk in a shared cabin. And they avoid snoring roommates. There is a short waiting list for campers who want to be in a cabin rather than a tent. ** WEATHER FORECAST Today is the longest day of the year. By the time camp starts, the days will already be getting shorter. But the camp program continues long past the end of daylight (which is about 4pm in the woods). The long-range forecast is for cool weather the entire week of camp, with daytime highs in the mid to upper-60s (Farenheit) possibly hitting 70F, and nighttime lows in the mid 40s to low 50s. The Bay Area enjoys a weather pattern known as "The Natural Air Conditioner". We have a 3-4 day cycle of sunny/cloudy/sunny, and the geography brings cool moist air in from the ocean. That makes the fog that the redwoods depend on. It's not rain, but that fog can get you wet. Bring an assortment of clothing that will keep you comfortable, and avoid getting chilled when you step outside after a hot time dancing. Tent campers: it will be quite chilly at night. Bring suitable bedroll and other gear. ** FOOD SECURITY AT CAMP AmWeek is held at a camp facility out in the woods (I'll bet you knew that!) There are very clever animals here who have figured out how to get into nearly any food storage container known to mankind. The raccoons here have been observed picking locks. DO NOT keep food in your tent, not in a cooler, not in a backpack, not even in a metal box. It WILL be broken into. And the animals attracted to the scent may do real damage to your tent or other property. There is a single shared refrigerator for campers to keep food items in Worthen-Bradley. It is shared by all, so please do not monopolize it. We suggest keeping food in your car, perhaps in an ice chest. Ice will be available at the dining hall during the day. ** AUCTION & BOOKSTORE Bring cash and/or checkbook to shop the Bookstore (and the auction). Performing staff will have CDs, there will be books of dances, tunes, all kinds of goodies. And lots of dresses, skirts, and shirts to augment your dance regalia. These sales (and the auction) are how we can fund the generous Sliding Scale that allows campers to join us who otherwise would not be able to afford camp. ** SIGNAGE & NAVIGATION We'll have signs along the road approaching camp from all directions. They're small (8"x14"), but should be fairly visible during daylight: Your cell phone WILL lose coverage when you get into the Santa Cruz Mountains. Your GPS WILL lose satellite reception and think you are driving off the road.  DO NOT depend on technology to get you to camp. Print out the directions before you leave, and depend on good old fashioned paper. And keep an eye out for the signs where you need to make a turn. They're small, but should be quite visible if you arrive before dark. Watch for where that sign used to be before the raccoons got it... ** SPEED TRAPS If your driving plans to camp take you along Rt 84 (Woodside Road) through Woodside (going west from I-280), BE AWARE that the town has a posted speed limit of 25 mph and they mean it. There's no need for you to start camp with the unhappy experience of just having helped fund the local town's budget. Once you start climbing the hill and get into the twisty-turnies, you don't have to worry about speed traps any more. See you at camp on Sunday 6/30! Or Friday night 6/28 before camp in San Francisco, and Saturday night 6/29 in Palo Alto! Details for the regular BACDS dances are at http://bacds.org -Eric _______________________________________________ AmWeek2013-campers mailing list AmWeek2013-campers-at-bacds.org http://www.bacds.org/mailman/listinfo/amweek2013-campers