Which Session Should I Choose?

There are more similarities than differences between sessions of NBTSC, but if you're confused, we hope this page helps.

vermont field 09

 

Oregon Session 1

2011 was our first year at Camp Latgawa, and many campers and staff said it was their favorite NBTSC session -- ever. The site is more wilderness-oriented and less sports-oriented. Hiking trails, and a dramatic swimming hole with a rock slide into a creek, are part of the essence, as is an actual swimming pool right near the cabins. The fact that we're there in mid-summer, instead of the late-summer/early-fall of our other sessions, helps us take advantage of these treasures. But, there is no large sports field, so if playing ultimate or soccer is your favorite thing about NBTSC, we suggest you either alter your expectations or choose a different session.

In 2011 we had approximately 38 campers -- our smallest session in NBTSC history. This led to a lovely feeling of intimacy and was, in fact, one of the things most campers liked best about the experience. We will need more bodies in 2012 if we are to continue -- so, we may not know for sure if we are going ahead with this session until approximately March 31. But, even if we reach critical mass, this session is still likely to be on the small side - a plus for some folks, perhaps a deterrent for others. (Camp Latgawa has a slightly smaller capacity, anyway, than our other sites, so the maximum number we could fit would be about 80 campers and 10 staff.)

As for the schedule -- Oregon Session 1 is similar to the former Camp Myrtlewood Session 1 and the former Vermont Session 1. That is, in one week we pack in all the "classic" components of NBTSC: workshops taught by campers and staff. Advisee groups. Bonding night, prom, trust circle, closing ceremony, talent shows, etc.

The serene, skilled, and accommodating Camp Latgawa site staff (Greg and Eva) cooks for us. (This means our own staff is smaller in numbers, and that we must offer fewer worktrades -- though we enthusiastically seek certified lifeguards as worktraders, and there are a variety of other positions too, just not as many as usual.) The food is delicious. It includes meat (but not much) and more dessert than the "typical" NBTSC session. As at all NBTSC sessions, there are always vegetarian and vegan options too. Greg and Eva also do a beautiful and good-natured job of working with special diets and allergies.

 

 

Oregon Session 2

2012 is our third year combining two former week-long sessions at Camp Myrtlewood into one longer session.

Why a 2-week session?

For many years, campers had asked for a longer camp. And a large number of campers (up to 65) used to attend both Camp Myrtlewood sessions. Because so many people came to both sessions anyway, we decided the time had come for the schedule to reflect this reality. Also, while we appreciate the benefits of a shorter session (and continue to offer 3 one-week sessions), we also value what a single longer session offers: the chance for people to get to know each other better, and an opportunity to fit more activities into the schedule while also creating more down time and open spontaneous time.

Over the long haul, we expect that combining sessions will also save money (fewer bus trips, etc.) and thus help us avoid raising our fees.

 

Who should not come to the two-week session?

Well, the obvious: if you've never been away from home without your parents for more than 2 or 3 nights, 2 weeks might be too much of a leap. But also the not-so-obvious. If our camp agreements require you to temporarily give up things you usually do (have sex with a partner who will also be present at camp, use illegal substances), then it turns out that while many people can find it within themselves to alter their personal reality for one week for a cause they believe in, two weeks can be just too long--despite the best of intentions. If you have habits which conflict with our rules, we suggest you choose a one-week session instead.

 

 

Vermont ~

In 2010, we upgraded to a new site on the Farm and Wilderness property. Tamarack Farm, our new home, offers a heated, light-filled lodge and a fabulous playing field for soccer, ultimate frisbee, etc., as well as indoor and outdoor spaces equivalent to those at Indian Brook, where we stayed 2006-2009.

This will actually only be our second time at TF, since courtesy of Hurricane Irene we were not able to run NBTSC in Vermont in 2011. (The site was undamaged, but roads were closed.) Fortunately, we were able on short notice to move to the wonderful Camp Huckins in New Hampshire. We are excited to return "home" to Tamarack Farm this year.

 

Vermont full two week session

We've loved running a two-week session in Oregon for the past 2 years and are eager to bring the same sense of abundance to Vermont -- we'll be able to combine pretty much all the best aspects of the former Sessions One and Two, and have more time to relax and get to know each other.

If you can afford the time and money, and are confident that you are ready to spend two weeks away from home in a rather intense environment packed with other (creative, compassionate, and ridiculously fun) teenagers, we think you want to come for the whole thing. Unless you might find it challenging to live with our camp agreements for that long, in which case we repeat the Oregon session Two caveat:

If our camp agreements require you to temporarily give up things you usually do (have sex with a partner who will also be present at camp, use illegal substances), then it turns out that while many people can find it within themselves to alter their personal reality for one week for a cause they believe in, two weeks can be just too long--despite the best of intentions. If you have habits which conflict with our rules, we suggest you choose a one-week session instead.

 

Vermont one-week option


If time, money, or both stand in the way of your participating in the full 2-week session, or if you're not sure it's realistic for you to keep all the camp agreements for that long, then by all means join us for just one week. This option will probably phase out over the next few years, but for now we heartily welcome one-week participants.

Vermont's schedule will be designed for a two-week flow, and there will be no closing ceremony after the first week, nor much in the way of get-this-party-started activities at the start of the second week, but of course we will find a way to warmly acknowledge your departure or arrival.

Tentative (not guaranteed!) plans for the schedule are for Week #1 to include:

*In case you care, the event we are most uncertain about scheduling is the Trust Circle -- we're not sure yet whether it belongs in week #1 or #2 -- either way, it's slightly problematic given the idea of people coming and going not long before or soon after. If this makes a big difference in your decision regarding which week to attend, feel free to email us before registering to see where we're leaning at the moment. But, no guarantees -- we reserve the right to tweak the schedule up until (and during) the camp session.

 

And for Week #2, probably: