Dear Campers,

Included below is your Camper Handbook.  This includes very important information that you will find necessary for your camping weekend.

 2012 CAMPERS HANDBOOK

 CAMPERS HANDBOOK CHAPTERS:

-CAMPERS DAILY SCHEDULE
-DANCE CLASS SCHEDULE MUSIC CLASS SCHEDULE
-2011 DANCE TEACHERS TOPICS 2011 MUSIC TEACHERS TOPICS
-WHAT TO BRING
-TEACHER BIO'S-- 2011
-UPDATED TRAVEL INFORMATION: AIRPORTS, BUS, TRAIN, BY CAR
-CAMP MAP

**Note: There is always a fire hazard at this and every camp, so be careful with cigarettes.  Also, no Candles, incense, kerosene or oil lamps are allowed in the cabins.*

Camp Vacamas

256 Macopin Road West Milford  NJ 07480

LOCATION AND CLIMATE

Camp Vacamas  is located in Northern New Jersey only 45 minutes from New York City on 230 private wooded acres with a spring-fed lake. Their Labadorf Conference Center is the ideal choice for day trips & weekend retreats.  The camp will offer a huge indoor theatre with indoor and outdoor seating, also an outdoor amphitheatre overlooking the lake, inside fireplace, cozy upstairs balcony area with couches, large front porch with chairs for just hanging out, kitchenettes,  large dance class studio areas, and rustic cabins for music classes

Cabins:

Labadorf Center dormitories:

There are dormitory rooms for 80 people in the center.  Group bathroom facilities are separate for men and women

SUMMER CABINS: 

Each cabin offers sleeping facilities and adequate storage space for up to 20 people in two dormitory areas. Cabins are grouped together in villages, each of which includes four cabins, centralized lodge which houses the bathroom facilities, & alpine lodge for classes. These cabins offer the traditional camping experience.  (**note to last year's campers-- we will be using better cabins this year!)

FOR COUPLES:

We have some limited possibilities for couples to stay together with other couples, but no private sleeping accommodations.

Do not dissemble bunked-beds or rearrange the furniture. Keep the cabin in the same arrangement as you found it. Beds, mattresses, and cubbies are to remain in cabin. Do NOT remove them from the cabin!

Report all maintenance problems to your Group Leaders; don’t attempt to fix the problem.

Upon departure, please refer to the : Cleaning Procedures:  flyer posted in your cabin. You are responsible for thoroughly cleaning your cabin and bathroom.

BIG IMPROVEMENTS FOR THIS YEAR-- Delicious, healthy meals will now be served buffet style in the LABADORF CENTER.  Tables will be set up on the veranda and inside the hall to make for a more comfortable eating atmosphere. We will have a pizza party on Friday evening, three full meals on Saturday and Sunday, and a continental breakfast on Memorial Day Monday.  Our professional kitchen staff aims to please, but cannot be responsible for special diets other than vegetarian. Please provide for yourself regarding any other special dietary needs. There will be plenty of variety, but if you have selected the vegetarian menu, you have to stay with it for the entire weekend. note: You must register for your vegetarian preference on the registration form (see registration section). Regretfully, we cannot accommodate half and half, or any selective diets. We regret that camp policy does not permit for discounts for attendees who choose to bring their own food or who eat out. There will be beverages available all day and there are snack and soda machines.  We hope to have a cash bar available for the evening music and dance parties and concerts.

 PLEASE NOTE: All food is included in your camp registration with the exception of whatever you may choose from the bar.

DINING HALL PROCEDURES

We serve buffet style.

‘Seconds” are served after everyone has received "firsts”

Please do not remove utensils, cups, drinking classes, bowls, salt, sugar, etc, from the dinning Hall.

No food is permitted outside the Dinning Hall.

ALL DANCERS PLEASE BRING COMFORTABLE DANCE SHOES! 

(Dance class rooms have nice floors, so you may also choose to be barefoot)

• A good sleeping bag and/or very warm blankets (we are in the mountains so nights can be quite cold)
• bed linens, a mattress pad, pillows, blankets (bed linens, plus pillow & blanket can be rented for $5/weekend from the camp)
• towels, soap, toiletries
• warm clothes (evenings are sometimes cold)
• rain gear
• mat or towel, yoga block(s) if you plan on taking the yoga class
• flashlight and batteries
• comfortable camp clothing (days can be warm & nights cool)
• comfortable walking shoes
• warm coat, sweaters, and shawls for the cool nights
• your own drinking cup or water bottle
• mosquito repellent
• paper towels or tissues
• shower slippers (to protect feet in communal bathrooms)
• hangers
• ear plugs
• personal toiletries
• sleep attire, bathrobe
• class attire (hip scarves, zills, etc.)
• bathing suits (for sunbathing - sorry no swimming allowed)
• sunscreen
• alarm clock
• any medications
• cell phone (this campsite offers good reception)
• money (for shopping, massages, beverages, bar and/or henna)
• song lyrics (if applicable)
• extra batteries for your own equipment
• stuff to sell at the swap meet (if you want)
• Bring your own instruments and props for classes. (Remember to put your name on your instrument.)

Note: There is always a fire hazard at this and every camp, so be careful with cigarettes.  Also, no candles, incense, kerosene or oil lamps are allowed in the cabins.

NO SMOKING INSIDE ANY STRUCTURE-- (smoking is allowed outside and there are cigarette cans outside of all the buildings.  Also, the camp provides designated smoking areas.

Sorry, we love them too but, the campground does not allow any pets.

All those who wish to stay in tents must pitch their tents in the designated area. We regret that the campgrounds policy does not allow for individual fires.

PLEASE NOTE: The cost of camping is the same as for a cabin and you must bring your own tent.

 We regret that camp policy does not permit for discounts for attendees who choose to stay in a hotel or who choose to go home to sleep

Airports:Nearest Airports; Newark Airport, LaGuardia Airport

Train:AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH WE DISCOVERED THAT IT IS BEST TO TAKE A TRAIN INTO NYC OR PHILLY AND TRANFER TO THE BUS THERE (SEE BUS INFO. BELOW)

Bus:FROM PHILADELPHIA: Greyhound Station in Philadelphia at 10th and Filbert Streets.

FROM NEW YORK CITY: Depart from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City (41 Street & 8th Avenue). Take
New Jersey Transit Bus # 194 (ask ticket agent for Gate #). Get off Butler/Mead town Shopping center and Burger King. (You are only 2 miles from Camp.)

CAMP MINIVAN SERVICE TO THE CAMP GROUNDS:  WE FOUND OUT THERE ARE NO AFFORDABLE TAXI SERVICES IN THE AREA, SO THE CAMP IS PROVIDING A MINIVAN TO COME PICK UP CAMPERS FROM THE BUS STOP.  THE COST WILL BE $5

WHEN YOU GET OFF THE BUS CALL ANY OF THESE NUMBERS TO LET US KNOW:
973.725.2082-- TORI -- CAMP DIRECTOR
845-641-2739-- AYSHE
212-748-9539-- TAYYAR

BY CAR:
THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS ARE TWEEKED BY ME TO HELP NAVIGATE THE MAZE OF LOCAL ROADS THAT HAVE EITHER TOO MANY NAMES OR NONE POSTED AT ALL....

Camp Vacamas 256 Macopin Road West Milford NJ 07480

*TRAVELING ON 287 NORTH OR SOUTH-- GET OFF AT EXIT 53 (YOU ARE IN THE TOWN OF RIVERDALE.) FROM THE EXIT YOU ARE  4.1 MILES FROM CAMP .  --

*COMING OFF THE EXIT, YOU WILL HIT A T with a LIGHT THIS WILL BE HAMBURG TURNPIKE -- GO LEFT ONTO HAMBURG TURNPIKE  (TO THE RIGHT, THE ROAD WILL SAY "PAT HAMBURG TURNPIKE").

*AS YOU DRIVE ALONG THE STREET NAME WILL KEEP CHANGING  FROM HAMBURG TURNPIKE TO PATERSON HAMBURG TRNPKE, TO COUNTY ROUTE 511 (BTW, YOU ARE NOW IN BLOOMINGDALE).  YOU WILL COME TO A FORK --

*AT FORK, STAY RIGHT-- IT BECOMES MAIN STREET.  (511 VEERS OFF TO THE LEFT.)  FOLLOW MAIN STREET -- YOU WILL COME TO YET ANOTHER FORK--

*AT FORK, BEAR LEFT  (RIGHT TAKES YOU ONTO GLENWOOD AVE.).  MAIN STREET NOW TURNS INTO PASSAIC COUNTY ROUTE 694 11 AND THEN CHANGES AGAIN  PATERSON HAMBURG TPK .  YOU WILL COME TO YET ANOTHER FORK--

*AT FORK YOU WILL SEE THE STUMBLE INN ON YOUR LEFT.  STAY TO YOUR RIGHT AND YOU WILL BE ON MACOPIN RD (LEFT FORK WILL CONTINUE ON AS PATERSON HAMBURG TPK).

*STAY ON MACOPIN RD  FOR ABOUT 1 MILE.  YOU WILL TRAVEL UP A WINDING HILL .

* THE ENTRANCE TO THE CAMP WILL BE ON YOUR RIGHT AND DESIGNATED WITH A SIGN, "CAMP VACAMAS".  ONCE YOU ENTER THE CAMP GROUNDS, FOLLOW THE SIGNS TO THE LABADORF CONVENTION CENTER

From George Washington Bridge
»Take Interstate Highway 80 West (Express or Local) to exit 53 for Route 23 North. Stay on 23N for about 7.3 miles and merge onto      I-287N via the ramp to Mahwah. You will be on I-287 N for only about .6 miles.  Get of at exit 53 and follow the directions above

From Pennsylvania
» Take the Pennsylvania Turnpike to the New Jersey Turnpike North to Exit 15 W (rt 280 W). Stay on 280 W for about 15.8 miles and take the I-287 exit toward US-46/ Mahwah/Morristown.  From the Map, it seems you will be on an exit road that is paralleling Rt 80.  continue for about 2 miles. Here you will come to a fork. Stay right and get continue for about .4 miles  (still heading toward I-287 North).  Here you again bear right at exit 43A still heading for I-287  (toward Smith ST./Mahwah/Morristown). Travel for about .3 miles to yet another fork.  Bear LEFT HERE and merge, finally, onto I-287 N.  Stay on I-287 for about 11.6 miles and get off at exit 53.  From here follow directions above.

From Lincoln Tunnel
» Take Route 3 West, get onto Route 46 West. Follow Route 46 West (about 4 miles) Then merge onto Route 23 North toward         I-80 W/Delaware Water Gap/Butler. STAY ON RT 23 (DO NOT GET ONTO RT 80). Stay on rt. 23 N for about 7.4 miles.  Merge onto I-287 N via the ramp to Mahwah.  Stay on I-287 for about .6 miles and get of at exit 53.  From here follow directions above.

From Northwest New Jersey
» Route 80 East to Exit 43.  follow directions toward I-287 toward Mahwah/Morristown for about .2 miles.  At a fork bear LEFT and merge onto I-287 N.  remain on 287 for about 11.9 miles. Get of at exit 53.  Follow directions above.

From Westchester
» New York State Thruway 287/87 to New Jersey to Exit 15, Route 287 South. Travel 287 South for 14 miles to Exit 53
(Bloomingdale). Turn left at the light ( T )  onto Paterson/Hamburg Turnpike. Follow directions above......

RIDESHARE for USA CAMP 2011

Looking to share a ride to camp? Post a message on our Ride Share board!

RIDESHARE for USA CAMP 2011

Parking permits will be issued at registration.

All vehicles must be parked in the designated lot according to weekend participants and day/party participants.

Temporary loading and unloading is permitted in the cabin area. Afterward, all vehicles must be immediately driven to the designated parking lots.

The posted speed limit on the camp property road is 5mph. Driving is not permitted on the grass or any other area besides the designated parking lots.