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Sunday, December 30, 2012

SPRING 2013 ARGH DETAILS


Spring 2013 ARGH
Check In: April 28th, 2013 at 4 pm - Pick up your keys and packets at the office.  After 5 come to Whispering Pines #1 or the Bunkhouse to find Laura.
Check Out: May 1st, 2013 at 10 am (this is one hour earlier than their official check out time because as a group we tend to take longer) - Leave your keys in cabins on table and LEAVE DOORS UNLOCKED.

Since the choices of accommodations at this new location are varied there are several options for your stay.  Springmaid Mountain is fine with allowing us to bring air mattresses to increase the number of people we can put in the cabins but we don’t want them overflowing so much that we risk damaging the property.  So please be respectful of their generosity when occupying the cabins.
Single Family Cabins - These cabins are small but if you want to try to fit 2 families you can.
Smaller Single Family Cabins, 4 to choose from - $400
Sweet Bay Campground Cabins (2)
Cozy one bedroom cabins, convenient to the campground, pond and hiking trails.  Cabins have one queen size bed, living room, wood stove, kitchen and one bath.
Trillium Mountain Efficiencies (2)
Efficiencies have two queen beds, one bathroom and a kitchenette.  Convenient to trout ponds and hiking trails.

Larger Single Family Cabins, 6 to choose from - $450
River’s Edge Cabins (4)
Newly remodeled duplexes with levels rented together or separate.  Connecting stairs allow for privacy or togetherness.  Convenient to fishing pond and waterfall hiking trails.  Cabin includes a living room with wood stove, kitchen, two bedrooms (one with a queen, the other with two twins) and 1 ½ baths. Lower levels have a porch for rocking and relaxing.
Wrangler and Angler Ponside Cabins (2)
Newly remodeled cabins are secluded and have a relaxing view of the fishing pond and quiet mountainside.  Each cabin has 2 bedrooms, one queen and two twin beds, living room, wood stove, kitchen, a shower and 2 half baths.  The Angler Pondside Cabin is handicapped accessible.

Shared Family Cabins – These are much larger cabins and can accommodate several families easily.  To make sure that we cover costs and have a nice sized gathering I have set a minimum number of families for each of these cabins.  The cost for sharing a cabin is $300 per family.
Trillium Mountain Suite (1)
The Trillium Suite is adjacent to the Trillium Efficiency cabins and is convenient to the trout ponds and hiking trails.  Horse stables are only a five minute walk from the Trillium complex.  The Suite has 3 bedrooms, four twin beds and one queen bed, a living room, wood stove, kitchen, two baths and balcony.  minimum of 2 families can rent this cabin.
Saddle Ridge Overlook (1)
This cabin is a beautiful retreat at the top of the property with spectacular views.  There are 3 bedrooms, one queen and four twin beds, great room, fireplace, kitchen, dishwasher, washer/dryer, 2 ½ baths, front and back porches with swing and rockers, and separate gazebo.  minimum of 3 families can rent this cabin.
Timber Oaks Lodge (1)
This rustic, five bedroom cabin is the most centrally located cabin and includes 5 bedrooms, eight twin beds and two queens, a great room, wood stove, kitchen, dishwasher, washer/dryer and 3 baths.  This cabin is quite spacious!  minimum of 5 families can rent this cabin.

The Bunkhouse
A dormitory-style bunk cabin with accommodations suitable for both youth and adult groups.  There is a commercial kitchen and a large multipurpose room, 16 rooms (with some doors that lock from the inside but no individual keys) with 1 bunkbed in each room (32 beds), fireplace, washer/dryer, and four baths (2 with showers).
This is where we will be holding all of our community activities.  Anyone who would like to stay at the bunkhouse will share bathrooms, kitchen and living spaces.  The cost to stay is $175 per family or $75 per person.  This might be a fun place for teens to stay but the common area IS NOT a specific youth hang out place although everyone will certainly be hanging out there during community activities.  While our previous community space had specific hours of use, we have the bunkhouse full time.  BUT, there are community hours for the use of the space to give those who are staying there some quiet time as well.  It will be available Sunday, 6pm-10pm; Monday, 11am-10pm; Tuesday, 11am-10pm. Please respect these hours as there are several families staying at the Bunkhouse. The kitchen space (and the food therein) is to be respected and not for community use.  It should also be stated that this is a commercial kitchen with a large gas stove, please be sure to use hood fan when cooking.  Snacks for community use will be provided by us on a table in the common area, anyone is welcome to add to it at any time.  Some people found the mattresses in the bunkhouse very uncomfortable, bring a pad, extra blanket or sleeping bag for comfort.

In the past we have had a hang out cabin for the kids.  With the limited number of cabins available at this location, having such a space is not feasible.  One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that the kids in the hang out cabin tend to have small clusters of kids hanging out with each other and not one large group.  If one family of each of these small clusters would like to volunteer their cabin for occasional hanging out that would work nicely.  Our cabin has always been an alternate hang out space and we always welcome it and enjoy hosting whoever wants to hang out with us.  This won’t change with the new location, so as long as one of us is there feel free to stop by.
We are renting the pavilion this time as an extra space for hanging out and workshops.

Springmaid Mountain Family Campground
The campground offers campsites suitable for tents, pop-ups, campers and RVs.  Bathhouse with showers, latrines, and sinks available.
Tent Sites - $150
These are outfitted with a lantern post and fire ring with a grill.

Camper and RV Sites - $200
These have water and electrical connections.  A separate dump station is located on the grounds. Camper sites suitable for units up to 36’ in length.

Screen Shelters - $165
Three screen shelters are available for those who want the experience of camping without having to stay in a tent or outdoors. Each shelter sleeps six. Wood siding on three sides with screen on the front side. They have 3 sets of bunks in them with mattresses. You bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. There are lights and electric plug in them as well.

The cost to attend ARGH without renting a cabin, bunkhouse or campsite is $75 per family for the 3 day event.

Activities Available for an additional charge:  Trail Rides on Horseback and Hay Rides.
Hiking is free!

Please read the group FAQ. Even if you've read it in the past, do so again as it changes each gathering and there are things that are always good to be reminded of.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Fall 2012 ARGH

It was our 10th ARGH!! But since I hadn't done the proper math, I didn't realize this until afterwards. Bummer, we might've had a big 10 celebration. Maybe we'll save that for our 10th YEAR!!!

Alas, we went right ahead and had an awesome time anyway!!!

Let me start my recap of events by saying that it was COLD. The weather in the region had taken a turn due to residual effects of Hurricane Sandy in the North East. Springmaid Mountain had gotten some snow just a few days before our arrival and I was worried about our tent campers as well as the thought of it being muddy...EVERYWHERE!! and it was. But that didn't stop the fun!! We even got a little bit of snow of our own early Tuesday morning!

We started off this time with some fun Ice Breakers instead of rolling right into the Potluck on the first night like last time, we do get smarter all the time!!  It was a lot of fun and it was cool to see so many new people jumping right in and making friends that night. We chose to do the Potluck on the 2nd night to give folks more time to cook and get ready. Since we have so many people and a small space we moved some of the seating over to the pavilion (we got smarts and rented it this time!) to make more room for the food line (almost 200 people in a single line is not a good idea, even the 2 lines we had this time wasn't perfect but was definitely better).

We always have some pretty cool activities at ARGH, and it could be my imagination but I think they are getting better all the time...there was hoop making, a discussion about balancing work, money, and unschooling, TWO sandwich shops; one cold, one hot, road cycling on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Blues Dancing, a big birthday party or two, sword and doll furniture making, cootie catcher making, an awesome jam session that I enjoyed from afar while painting, a costume contest, gluten free baking intro, book and cool stuff swap, collaging, finger knitting and crocheting, friendship bracelet corner, magic the gathering games, toys in the kids' corner, ARGHpreneurs, Nerf Wars, kettle corn making, hand, foot, and head massages, board games and brain puzzles, Contra Dancing, photo-walk, Dirty Words & Forbidden Conversations: What RUers don't talk about, a round table about entrepreneurial unschoolers, and finally the Talent Show and Tell and the Dance Party which took place at the pavilion.  We had a smaller than usual turn out for entertainers at the talent show but what seemed like a larger than usual audience...so there were plenty of claps for the performers!!  And the Dance was just awesome, we got started early when the talent show ended early and so we danced for 5 hours straight...and I am still, 5 days later as I write this, a little sore.

Karen Tucker had trucked her pizza oven all the way up the mountain to do several pizza workshops, but the weather did not agree with it so we are gonna put our heads together for next time and come up with something really special...mmmmmmm pizza.

So I've got this very tiny batch of pictures I took this time, hope you enjoy and remember to turn it up and watch it on full screen!!

 

photos: by laura, taken with a very old digital camera.
music: "my heart is a drummer" by allo darlin'

Spring 2012 ARGH

The Spring of 2012 brought a big change for ARGH, we held it in our new location at Springmaid Mountain in Spruce Pine, NC!! It's an amazing place run by fabulous people. We had some adjusting to do as the community space is much smaller than what we had become accustomed to in the past. But we are unschoolers, we are nothing if not adaptable!! So what did we do? We had a UFO Zesty Renewal (bring an UnFinished Object/project that's been laying around to finish while chatting with friends), an awesome sandwich shop, Contra Dancing, Bollywood movie marathon, Mix CD Swap, campfire and smores, carving stamps for letterboxing, hand-held video gaming, environmental art discussion, magic tricks, pokemon cards and games, photography walk, a potluck, a talent show, yoga, book (and other cool stuff) swap, jigsaw puzzles, tissue flower making, nerf wars, toys in the kids corner, ARGHpreneurs, doodling, random arts and crafts, food supply discussion, coffee filter flowers, drum and journey circle, radical unschooling discussion, cootie catcher making, and a big dance party where we got to try out our new lighting for the first time!!

There were a lot of familiar faces and a lot of new ones as well, friendships were started and renewed. It was a beautiful time up there on that mountain!!

So sit back and enjoy this little video of pictures...turn up the volume and watch it on full screen...it's a party in there!!



photos: by laura, taken with a very old digital camera.
music: "i just want to be your friend" by the wave pictures

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Fall 2012 Details


Fall 2012 ARGH
Check In: November 4th, 2012 at 4 pm - Pick up your keys and packets at the office.  After 5 come to Whispering Pines #1.
Check Out: November 7th, 2012 at 10 am (this is one hour earlier than their official check out time because as a group we tend to take longer) - Leave your keys in cabins on table and LEAVE DOORS UNLOCKED.
Location: Springmaid Mountain, Spruce Pine, NC

Since the choices of accomodations at this new location are varied there are several options for your stay.  Springmaid Mountain is fine with allowing us to bring air mattresses to increase the number of people we can put in the cabins but we don’t want them overflowing so much that we risk damaging the property.  So please be respectful of their generosity when occupying the cabins.
Single Family Cabins - These cabins are small but if you want to try to fit 2 families you can.
Smaller Single Family Cabins, 4 to choose from - $400
Sweet Bay Campground Cabins (2)
Cozy one bedroom cabins, convenient to the campground, pond and hiking trails.  Cabins have one queen size bed, living room, wood stove, kitchen and one bath.
Trillium Mountain Efficiencies (2)
Efficiencies have two queen beds, one bathroom and a kitchenette.  Convenient to trout ponds and hiking trails.

Larger Single Family Cabins, 6 to choose from - $450
River’s Edge Cabins (4)
Newly remodled duplexes with levels rented together or separate.  Connecting stairs allow for privacy or togetherness.  Convenient to fishing pond and waterfall hiking trails.  Cabin includes a living room with wood stove, kitchen, two bedrooms (one with a queen, the other with two twins) and 1 ½ baths. Lower levels have a porch for rocking and relaxing.
Wrangler and Angler Ponside Cabins (2)
Newly remodled cabins are secluded and have a relaxing view of the fishing pond and quiet mountainside.  Each cabin has 2 bedrooms, one queen and two twin beds, living room, wood stove, kitchen, a shower and 2 half baths.  The Angler Pondside Cabin is handicapped accessible.

Shared Family Cabins – These are much larger cabins and can accommodate several families easily.  To make sure that we cover costs and have a nice sized gathering I have set a minimum number of families for each of these cabins.  The cost for sharing a cabin is $275 per family.
Trillium Mountain Suite (1)
The Trillium Suite is adjacent to the Trillium Efficiency cabins and is convenient to the trout ponds and hiking trails.  Horse stables are only a five minute walk from the Trillium complex.  The Suite has 3 bedrooms, four twin beds and one queen bed, a living room, wood stove, kitchen, two baths and balcony.  A minimum of 2 families can rent this cabin.
Saddle Ridge Overlook (1)
This cabin is a beautiful retreat at the top of the property with spectacular views.  There are 3 bedrooms, one queen and four twin beds, great room, fireplace, kitchen, dishwasher, washer/dryer, 2 ½ baths, front and back porches with swing and rockers, and separate gazebo.  A minimum of 3 families can rent this cabin.
Timber Oaks Lodge (1)
This rustic, five bedroom cabin is the most centrally located cabin and includes 5 bedrooms, eight twin beds and two queens, a great room, wood stove, kitchen, dishwasher, washer/dryer and 3 baths.  This cabin is quite spacious!  A minimum of 5 families can rent this cabin.

The Bunkhouse
A dormitory-style bunk cabin with accomadations suitable for both youth and adult groups.  There is a commercial kitchen and a large multipurpose room, 16 rooms (with doors that lock from the inside but no individual keys) with 1 bunkbed in each room (32 beds), fireplace, washer/dryer, and four baths (2 with showers).
This is where we will be holding all of our community activities.  Anyone who would like to stay at the bunkhouse will share bathrooms, kitchen and living spaces.  The cost to stay is $175 per family or $75 per person.  This might be a fun place for teens to stay but the common area IS NOT a specific youth hang out place although everyone will certainly be hanging out there during community activities.  While our previous community space had specific hours of use, we have the bunkhouse full time.  BUT, there are community hours for the use of the space to give those who are staying there some quiet time as well.  It will be available Sunday, 6pm-10pm; Monday, 11am-10pm; Tuesday, 11am-10pm. Please respect these hours as there are several families staying at the Bunkhouse. The kitchen space (and the food therein) is to be respected and not for community use.  It should also be stated that this is a commercial kitchen with a large gas stove, please be sure to use hood fan when cooking.  Snacks for community use will be provided by us on a table in the common area, anyone is welcome to add to it at any time.  Some people found the mattresses in the bunkhouse very uncomfortable; I am checking to see if they will have new ones by the fall gathering.  Just in case, bring an extra blanket or sleeping bag for comfort.

In the past we have had a hang out cabin for the kids.  With the limited number of cabins available at this location, having such a space is not feasible.  One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that the kids in the hang out cabin tend to have small clusters of kids hanging out with each other and not one large group.  If one family of each of these small clusters would like to volunteer their cabin for occasional hanging out that would work nicely.  Our cabin has always been an alternate hang out space and we always welcome it and enjoy hosting whoever wants to hang out with us.  This won’t change with the new location, so as long as one of us is there feel free to stop by.
We are renting the pavilion this time as an extra space for hanging out and workshops.

Springmaid Mountain Family Campground
The campground offers campsites suitable for tents, pop-ups, campers and RVs.  Bathhouse with showers, latrines, and sinks available.
Tent Sites - $150
These are outfitted with a lantern post and fire ring with a grill.
Camper and RV Sites - $200
These have water and electrical connections.  A separate dump station is located on the grounds. Camper sites suitable for units up to 36’ in length.
The cost to attend ARGH without renting a cabin, bunkhouse or campsite is $75 per family for the 3 day event.


Activities Available for an additional charge:  Trail Rides on Horseback and Hay Rides
Hiking is free!

Please read the group FAQ. Even if you've read it in the past, do so again as it changes each gathering and there are things that are always good to be reminded of.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

SPRING 2012 DETAILS

Spring 2012 ARGH
Check In: May 6th, 2012 at 5 pm
Check Out: May 9th, 2012 at 10 am
Location: Springmaid Mountain, Spruce Pine, NC

Since the choices of accomodations at this new location are varied there are several options for your stay.  Springmaid Mountain is fine with allowing us to bring air mattresses to increase the number of people we can put in the cabins but we don’t want them overflowing so much that we risk damaging the property.  So please be respectful of their generosity when occupying the cabins.  THERE ARE NO PETS ALLOWED IN ANY CABINS.  Also, there is no Wi-Fi available on the mountain.
All cabins include satellite flatscreen television, front porch with rocking chairs, cooking utensils, kitchen appliances, microwave, coffee pot, towels and bed linens.

Single Family Cabins - These cabins are small but if you want to try to fit 2 families you can.
Smaller Single Family Cabins, 4 to choose from - $425
Sweet Bay Campground Cabins (2)
Cozy one bedroom cabins, convenient to the campground, pond and hiking trails.  Cabins have one queen size bed, living room, wood stove, kitchen and one bath.
Trillium Mountain Efficiencies (2)
Efficiencies have two queen beds, one bathroom and a kitchenette.  Convenient to trout ponds and hiking trails.  The Efficiencies have a stove, refrigerator, microwave, coffee pot, toaster and sink area.  It is just a small kitchen with a table with seating for 4 people. One big room with 2 queen beds, a sitting area, and the kitchenette.  The bathroom is the only room separate from the rest of the inside of the cabin.

Larger Single Family Cabins, 6 to choose from - $450
River’s Edge Cabins (4)
Newly remodled duplexes with levels rented together or separate.  Connecting stairs allow for privacy or togetherness.  Convenient to fishing pond and waterfall hiking trails.  Cabin includes a living room with wood stove, kitchen, two bedrooms (one with a queen, the other with two twins) and 1 ½ baths. Lower levels have a porch for rocking and relaxing.
Wrangler and Angler Ponside Cabins (2)
Newly remodled cabins are secluded and have a relaxing view of the fishing pond and quiet mountainside.  Each cabin has 2 bedrooms, one queen and two twin beds, living room, wood stove, kitchen, a shower and 2 half baths.  The Angler Pondside Cabin is handicapped accessible.

Shared Family Cabins – These are much larger cabins and can accommodate several families easily.  To make sure that we cover costs and have a nice sized gathering I have set a minimum number of families for each of these cabins.  The cost for sharing a cabin is $275 per family.  This cost is for whole families, if you are bringing extra guests please add $25 per person added to your family.
Trillium Mountain Suite (1)
The Trillium Suite is adjacent to the Trillium Efficiency cabins and is convenient to the trout ponds and hiking trails.  Horse stables are only a five minute walk from the Trillium complex.  The Suite has 3 bedrooms, four twin beds and one queen bed, a living room, wood stove, kitchen, two baths and balcony.  A minimum of 3 families can rent this cabin.
Saddle Ridge Overlook (1)
This cabin is a beautiful retreat at the top of the property with spectacular views.  There are 3 bedrooms, one queen and four twin beds, great room, fireplace, kitchen, dishwasher, washer/dryer, 2 ½ baths, front and back porches with swing and rockers, and separate gazebo.  A minimum of 3 families can rent this cabin.
Timber Oaks Lodge (1)
This rustic, five bedroom cabin is the most centrally located cabin and includes 5 bedrooms, eight twin beds and two queens, a great room, wood stove, kitchen, dishwasher, washer/dryer and 3 baths.  This cabin is quite spacious!  A minimum of 5 families can rent this cabin.

The Bunkhouse
A dormitory-style bunk cabin with accomadations suitable for both youth and adult groups.  There is a commercial kitchen and a large multipurpose room, 16 rooms (with doors that lock from the inside but no individual keys) with 1 bunkbed in each room (32 beds), fireplace, washer/dryer, and four baths (2 with showers).
This is where we will be holding all of our community activities.  Anyone who would like to stay at the bunkhouse will share bathrooms, kitchen and living spaces.  The cost to stay is $150 per family or $60 per person.  This might be a fun place for teens to stay but the common area IS NOT a specific youth hang out place although everyone will certainly be hanging out there during community activities.  While our previous community space had specific hours of use, we have the bunkhouse full time.  BUT, there will be community hours for the use of the space to give those who are staying there some quiet time as well.  The kitchen space (and the food therein) is to be respected and not for community use.  Snacks for community use will be provided by us on a table in the common area, anyone is welcome to add to it at any time.

In the past we have had a hang out cabin for the kids.  With the limited number of cabins available at this location, having such a space is not feasible.  One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that the kids in the hang out cabin tend to have small clusters of kids hanging out with each other and not one large group.  If one family of each of these small clusters would like to volunteer their cabin for occasional hanging out that would work nicely.  Our cabin has always been an alternate hang out space and we always welcome it and enjoy hosting whoever wants to hang out with us.  This won’t change with the new location, so as long as one of us is there feel free to stop by.

Springmaid Mountain Family Campground
The campground offers campsites suitable for tents, pop-ups, campers and RVs.  Bathhouse with showers, latrines, and sinks available.  Leashed pets are welcome at campsites.
Tent Sites - $100
These are outfitted with a lantern post and fire ring with a grill.
Camper and RV Sites - $150
These have water and electrical connections.  A separate dump station is located on the grounds. Camper sites suitable for units up to 36’ in length.

Activities Available for an additional charge:  Trail Rides on Horseback and Hay Rides
Hiking is free!
To register for a cabin, bunkhouse space, tent or RV site email me personally at laurabowman.etusc@gmail.com.

Hello Arghians!!
It has taken some time but I finally have a new location for our gathering.  As with moves of all kinds, it comes with some changes, and I hope we can all embrace these changes and see how ARGH evolves from here on out.  In the next few days I will lay out the new costs and details.  I'm hoping that for most people the cost will be less!  There will be several lodging choices with lots of sharing options as well as the option to have a single family cabin, there is also a very cost effective choice of staying in the bunkhouse, which will also be our meeting space as it has a large open area and a commercial kitchen and bathrooms etc. on the bottom floor.  This is not like the huge conference center we have come accustomed to at Roan Mountain but I think it will work nicely.  There is also a campground area with tent and RV spaces available.  I will put all of the details together and put it on the list soon.
The new dates for the Spring Gathering are May 6th-9th, 2012.
The location is Springmaid Mountain in Spruce Pine, NC.
This location will require a deposit so I will be letting you know as soon as I know when the deposit will be due.
This is their website that you can check out to see some of the cabins: http://www.leroysprings.com/default.asp?lsc=288&urlkeyword=cabins
They also have horse riding and hayrides available which they will give us a discount on, but that can be paid for individually and onsite if anyone decides they would like to do this.  OR if there is enough interest ahead of time I can go ahead and plan either of these events and put it on the schedule, but again, it will be extra.

I'm pretty excited about the new location and I hope you all will love it too!
Peace in the New Year and all the growth and changes that will come with it for our group and for all of you and your families,
Laura