Getaway of the Folklore Society of Greater Washington (FSGW) Friday, October 14 to Monday, October 17, 2005 Camp Ramblewood, Darlington, Maryland (USA)
What is the Getaway?
For four decades, FSGW has held its Getaway weekend so that members and friends can share music, stories, crafts and dance in a relaxed camp setting. The Getaway is:
Music-making under the trees, on the lawn, by the pond, or in a cabin;
Group singing and jamming at its best;
Informal workshops on singing, dancing, crafts and storytelling led by FSGW members and friends;
Trying a craft—quilting, basket-making, puppets, and mask-making have been highlights of past years;
Great food;
A terrific weekend for the whole family, with lots of special children's activities;
A chance to renew old friendships and make new ones;
A beautiful camp with modern facilities in scenic rolling hills adjacent to the Susquehanna River;
A wonderful chance for parents to introduce their kids to the magic of group singing and dancing—or to discover that magic for the first time themselves.
Dates and Times
This year's Getaway is scheduled at the height of Fall colors. Camp Ramblewood spreads out over rolling hillsides bordering the Susquehanna River just below the Conowingo Dam, north of Havre de Grace, Maryland. Camp Ramblewood is about 8 miles north of Exits 89 (Havre de Grace) or 93 (Port Deposit) of I-95. It's only 90 minutes North of the I-495 Beltway, in a direction far less subject to traffic jams than Virginia. You may choose to stay over either one, two, or three nights, or you may come for the day if you are unable to get away for the whole weekend. There is also the possibilty of coming for the day without meals. (You must register in advance if you wish to dine!)
The weekend starts Friday evening with a potluck dinner. If you register for two nights, your registration fee covers three meals and a midnight snack both days on Saturday and Sunday. Three-night registration gives you an additional night's lodging and breakfast on Monday morning. One-night registration gives you all meals and snacks on either Saturday or Sunday and, if you wish, a bed on either adjacent night.
Facilities
The dining hall, several common rooms, the pub, the drama barn, the dance barn (with a hardwood sprung floor), and the outdoor pavilion offer all-weather spaces for music making and dancing. NO SMOKING is allowed in any of the camp buildings.
If you choose to go to bed, there are more than 50 rooms, mostly in modern cabins. They feature indoor flush plumbing and hot showers; comfortable beds with box-spring mattresses (bring your own linens and bedding). The buildings are not centrally heated, but we may bring electric space heaters, as long as we don't overload the fuse capacity of any individual cabin. There are handicapped-accessible cabins with wheelchair-accessible bathrooms for those who need them; please indicate any special needs when you register. If you prefer to bring a tent or your own RV, you may do so, and camp on the grounds (no discounts, but you get guaranteed privacy!). If you don't want to sing, there's a pond with boats (and stocked with fish), tennis courts, ball fields, and a trail through the woods to the banks of the Susquehanna. The immediate area offers antiques, history and horse farms. (See more of Camp Ramblewood at its website: www.ramblewood.com )
Volunteer Help
We'll need volunteers to help set up on Friday, to welcome and register guests, to clean up after our Friday night potluck dinner, and to help make sure everything is in order when we check out. In advance, we can also use help with programming. If you're interested in leading a workshop, suggesting a workshop, or organizing and scheduling events suggested by others, let Carly (Gewirz) or (Rita) Ferrara know, or send an e-mail to getaway AT fsgw DOT org.
Fees
Getaway fees depend on whether you're an FSGW member or not, and whether you're an adult or a child. See the Registration Form for the fee that applies to you. Fees are determined by our actual costs to run this event—food, camp rental, etc. We try to keep them as low as possible while still allowing the event to cover its costs.
Getaway Activities at a Glance
Friday —
Check in any time after 4 pm.
Potluck dinner, with new foods added as each person arrives.
Song swap and music-making into the wee hours.
Saturday —
Informal music, dance, crafts and storytelling workshops all day.
Saturday night concert (sign up to tell a story, present a short skit, tune or song).
Singing and jamming together all night, as late as you care to stay (or stay up, if you're sleeping at camp).
Sunday —
Informal music, dance, crafts and storytelling workshops all day
Sunday night concert (sign up if you didn't participate on Saturday).
More singing and jamming after the concert, into the wee hours.
Monday —
Parting songs.
Farewell breakfast in the dining hall.
Special Guests
Every year, we invite some special guests to spark the music-making. Friends from all over the world who know about the Getaway through mudcat.org also show up. The programming committee will be announcing special guests later this summer.