Accommodations and Facilities: Like the last time, we are at Mendocino Woodlands camp #1. There are 4-bed enclosed cabins with fireplaces and balconies, and a specious dance hall separate from the dining hall. Each cabin group has bathrooms with hot showers. There are swimming holes nearby (I hope), and lots of hiking trails. The camp is generally hilly, but there is plenty of flat space for tents, if you want more privacy. Cabins are assigned first come first serve basis based on when your registration was received. We will try to accommodate your requests but no guarantees. The cabins have cots and mattresses, but no bedding or pillows, so bring your own. Don’t forget your flashlight.

Food: Our kitchen crew aims to please, but cannot be responsible for special diets other than vegetarian. The protein we provide in the meals for vegeterians may not be suitable or enough for you. Please provide for yourself regarding in this matter by bringing the kind of protein you like (like protein bars). There will be plenty of variety, but if you have selected the vegetarian menu, you have to stay with it for the entire week. Regretfully, we cannot accommodate half and half, or any selective diets.

What to bring: Warm bedding, warm clothes (evenings could get very cold, sometimes in the low 40's. A dawn sleeping bag is suggested), window covering for your cabin, pillow, towels, toiletries, warm clothes (evenings get cold), (and heaven forbid) rain gear, flashlight and extra batteries (there is no electricity in the cabins), hard soled shoes or boots for dancing, your own drinking cup, mosquito repellent, vitamins, Kleenex, shower slippers, hangers (there are closets in the cabins), musical instruments, song words, cassette recorder with lots of tapes and batteries.

Instruments: Bring your own, any you can borrow, and any you’re willing to lend others. Remember to label any instrument you’re lending. If you need to borrow an instrument, we’ll do our best to provide one for you but as you may expect, most ethnic instruments are hard to come by and probably will not be available to borrow.

However Rhythm Fusion http://www.rhythmfusion.com/ from Santa Cruz will be setting up a stand at the camp and will be offering a wide verity of Middle Eastern Instruments for sale. If you are thinking of purchasing an instrument it is a great opportunity to buy from a reputable merchant.

Helpful Hints: There is always a fire hazard at camp, so be careful with cigarettes. NO SMOKING INSIDE ANY STRUCTURE, and no candles or kerosene or oil lamps in the cabins, Please! We need everyone’s cooperation at cleanup time after meals and in helping to keep bathroom areas clean. We may ask each camper to help in the kitchen a few times during the week.

Workshop schedule: Camp officially begins with dinner at 7:30 PM on Sunday,  followed by an orientation session and a dance party. We’ll begin our daily teaching session on Monday. Each day we’ll have morning and afternoon dance and music classes with most teachers attempting to give two workshops per day. At night, we’ll have a dance party (oftentimes preceded by a concert) featuring various members of our staff. The weeklong workshop will end with breakfast Sunday morning.

Costume show: Again this year we are planning to have a costume show. If you have costumes you like to model or display, please bring them with you.

Arrival and departure: You can arrive any time after 4 PM on Sunday. Sunday afternoon is for registration and getting settled. After unloading, all cars must be moved to designated parking areas. The last day Sunday,has no scheduled activities beyond breakfast; it’s for packing and saying good-byes. We have to vacate the premises by 11 AM. Because of limited parking (and to save gas), please car pool.

We can not arrange transportation for you but we can provide you a list of people participating in the camp from your area or from San Francisco Bay area (if you are flying in) so that you can try to make ride share arrangements. Please send an e mail to Joshkun Tamer (in July) to request the list. Also please let us know if you can provide rides to other participants to and from the camp.

How to get there: Mendocino Woodlands Camp #1 is in Jackson State Forest about 175 miles north of San Francisco, about 8 miles inland from the coastal town of Mendocino.

From the south: Take 101 north to 128 and go west about 60 miles to Highway 1. Take Highway 1 north to Mendocino.

From the North (Oregon or Washington); Take 1-5 south to Grants Pass, then 199 to Crescent City. Take 101 south to Legged. Turn south on Highway 1 to Mendocino.

From Mendocino: Go east on Little Lake Rd (#408) for about 8 miles. Make a right on Rd #700 and go for about 5 miles. Camp #1 is first (that‘s us), followed by #2 and #3

Emergency only camp phones: 707- 937-5755 and 707-937-9962.

Mail Delivery: There is no mail delivery to the camp site. Campers expecting mail should sent it general delivery and plan to pick it up themselves at the Mendocino Post Office. Packages can be sent to the camp. The only package carrier guaranteed to leave a package with no signature required is UPS.

The regular mail (letters, postcards, etc.) should be addressed as follows:

Camper’s name     (Merry Smith) Camp Name         ( Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp)