Country Dance and Song Society 2008 Summer Programs

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Music Programs Dance Programs Family Programs Special Programs

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]

2008 Music Programs Pinewoods Early Music Week June 26 - July 3 Folk Music Week July 19 - 26

2008 Dance Programs Timber Ridge English & American Dance Week August 10 - 17 Pinewoods English Dance Week August 2 - 9 American Dance & Music Week August 9 - 16 English & American Dance Week August 23 - 30

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.

2008 Family Programs [Back to Top]

Timber Ridge Family Week August 10 - 17

Ogontz Family Week 1 July 26 - August 2 Family Week 2 August 2 - 9

Pinewoods Family Week July 26 - August 2 Campers' Week August 16 - 23

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. This is a great way to spend time with your children, your grandchildren, your nieces and nephews or other children dear to you. A typical day includes two classes tailored to age groups. Morning starts with age specific classes for children age 2 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 cabins 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. Our Family and Campers' Weeks offer new material and many insights for teachers, librarians and anyone working with children who wish to incorporate traditional music and dance material into their curriculum. See also the more specific Teacher Training Courses listed in Special Programs below.

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.

2008 Special Programs [Back to Top]

Ogontz Teachers Training Course at Family Week 2 August 2 - 9

Pinewoods Community Dance Leaders Course at Folk Music Week July 19 - 26 Teachers Training Course at Family Week July 26 - August 2 Contra Dance Callers Course at American Dance & Music Week August 9 - 16 Square Dance Callers Course at English & American Dance Week at Pinewoods August 23 - 30

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 17 (a week before all other weeks.)

The Country Dance and Song Society

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/