Next upcoming Event:

Annual Labor Day Family Gathering

With Carl Big Heart and Nanatasis Bluto-Delvental

At the Ashokan Center, Olivebridge, NY

September 2-6, 2010

 

 * Community Building and Camp Building Day Thursday, September 2 *

 

Sweat Lodges * Moon Lodge * Pipe Ceremonies * Primitive Skills * Classes * Activities and Skills for Teens, Children and Adults * Fireside Chats and Music (bring your instruments and voices) * Raffle   * Camping in the magnificent woods of Ashokan (limited dorm space is also available) *

 Communal Meals * Clans

 

Friday: Dinner at 6:00. Opening Circle following dinner, around 7:30 or 8:00
Sweat lodges at 2:00 on Saturday and Sunday
Classes from 10:30-12:00 Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Afternoon classes Saturday and Sunday.
Raffle Monday morning following breakfast
Closing Circle Monday before lunch
Camp concludes with lunch on Monday
Monday afternoon: breaking down camp (with happy hearts and helpful hands!)

Information about the gathering:

We invite you and your friends and family to the annual Labor Day Gathering in the beauty of the Ashokan woods. This is a family camp, so please bring your children and teens.

 

This year’s camp begins with the lighting of the sacred fire at 9:30 AM Thursday morning to launch our second annual community building/camp building day. Together we join our hearts and hands in service as we build the kitchen and dining areas; clear paths, tent sites and ceremonial site; and rebuild the moon lodge. Its a full day of service, celebration and community. Bring a bag lunch, and we will share the evening meal (provided) together followed by time around the fire with friends and  music. The closing circle is Monday noon, followed by lunch.

 

Come as early as Wednesday night and stay until the camp is broken down on Monday, or come for any part of the camp. People are free to come and go as needed. If you will be there Thursday, can offer volunteer support another time during the weekend, or can stay to help break down camp Monday afternoon, please contact Stefan who is coordinating our volunteers: stefan@evolutionary-impulse.org

 

Registration, Camping/Housing,  & Ashokan Fees: for information: http://bit.ly/cbhregistration2

To reserve a dorm bed, on a first come first serve basis: bigheartcircle@gmail.com 

Getting to the Gathering

Our directions and transportation resource list is here: http://bit.ly/cbhdirections 

Ride Share:

If you need to coordinate a ride to the camp, or if you have the ability to give others a ride, please network here: http://www.thelivingforce.org/bigheartcircle 

What to bring: For a full printable list of what to bring: http://bit.ly/cbhbring 

*tent * sleeping bag * sleeping pads * pillow * personal items * toiletries * towels (extra towels for sweat lodges) * bedding for dorm beds (if in dorm) * 1 or 2 camp chairs * food (see meals and kitchen info) * personal eating plates, bowls, cups and utensils * drinking water (one gallon/day/person) * 2 additional gallons of water to donate to the sweat lodge * large cooler(s) with extra ice for the kitchen *  flashlights and lanterns with 2 extra batteries * a mixture of warm and cool weather clothing * women: bring a couple skirts for ceremony * rain gear * appropriate sweat lodge attire: for men – shorts. For women - a dress where shoulders, knees and breasts are covered. (A dress or skirt is worn in the Moon Lodge, as well) * musical instruments, if desired * item to donate to raffle * extra money for auction/raffle * material fees for workshops that may require them * crafts and games and skills to share with others. 

Community Meals and Kitchen information: 

Our meals (beginning with Thursday supper and ending with Monday lunch) will be prepared in the camp kitchen from the groceries (listed below) that we ask each of you to bring. Please do not bring precooked dishes.

Please bring:
* Groceries (see “grocery list” below).
* Your own cup, mug, eating utensils, plate and bowl (these will not be supplied by the camp).
* Large coolers with extra ice (to be used in the kitchen).

* Your own bag lunch for Thursday.

Please note:
Pre-wash all produce

• Provide for your own special dietary needs. You can bring your own separate cooler to keep tightly sealed in your car.
• If you would like to donate wild hunted meat for the cookout, or have a bulk source of free range meat, contact Michelle at Michellecgarza@yahoo.com
• We are unable to accept food for the kitchen beyond Sunday breakfast. If you arrive after that, a monetary donation for food would be most appreciated. All leftover food will be donated.
• Meals are vegetarian (exceptions: Sunday night BBQ, tuna available at lunches).

Grocery list: For a detailed  list in printable format: http://bit.ly/cbhgrocery
Ice * Nuts * Bread * Butter or Substitute * Cheese * Eggs * Milk  (or non-dairy alternative) * Half and Half * Fresh Fruits * Juice  (orange, grapefruit, or apple) * Romaine (or other hearty) Lettuce *Leafy Greens (kale, spinach, cabbage, or chard) * fresh garden vegetables if you have them * Carrots * Celery *zucchini or summer squash, or a small eggplant *  Avocado * Other veggies, such as mushrooms, tomatoes and peppers * Potatoes * Onions * Garlic * Root Veggies such as beets or parsnips * Corn on the Cob-in the husk * Canned Tuna * Coffee (decaf if you drink it) * Tea (black or herbal) *  a Dessert * Dry Cereal/ Granola * Hummus * Can of beans (cannelloni, garbanzo, or kidney) * Potato or Corn chips (non-flavored) * Meat for the grill Sunday evening (local free-range, if possible) * Veggie Burgers for the grill Sunday evening (instead of meat if you don’t eat it) * Fresh herbs (labeled)

Clans:

Our clan system is a vibrant and significant part of our encampment, providing an opportunity for relationship building, connection, and contributing to the well being of the community at the heart of the camp: the kitchen. One of the major contributions of the clans is to assist the kitchen in food preparation and clean-up, an act of love and a gift to our whole community. Everyone who comes will have a place within a clan.

Raffle:

There will be a raffle to help offset the expenses of putting together a camp of this size. We are asking people to bring one or two quality items to donate to this purpose. Personally handcrafted items or other items of quality and beauty are especially appreciated.

Classes:

Each morning classes and special activities will be offered for all ages. If you have skills/crafts/games to share with kids, teens or adults, please contact Darrell at 585-507-1551, or primitiveskill@aol.com

Children and Teens:

“To grow and play, to learn skills and sit around the camp fire and the lodge… these things become an enrichment and a guide for the lives of our youth. We dream this together, and build a good space for them to come to.”  - Carl Big Heart

For information: http://bit.ly/cbhkids 

About our Elders: 

To read about our elders, go to http://bit.ly/cbhelders

 Donations

The important and valuable work of our elders is supported through our gifts of appreciation. As always, we are asking that we be as generous as possible in our donations. Reimbursement for travel expenses and time, as well as compensation for the gifts they offer to each of us and to our community, comes out of the basket we will present to them at the end of the gathering. 

Donations for the gathering itself are requested to help offset expenses for firewood, supplies, etc. 

Preparing for Ceremony: http://bit.ly/cbhceremony 

What Not to Bring:

No alcohol or non-prescribed drugs are permitted on the Ashokan Center. Pets are not allowed in the camp, itself, but for options, contact Bill at billrecord@gmail.com.