DAVETREK ADVENTURES

Labor Day Weekend

 Isabella Freedman Retreat Center

 

Friday, August 29 - Monday, September 1, 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center
116 Johnson Road
Falls Village, CT 06031 map (860) 824-5991

 

Sign Up Deadlines

 

Early Bird Deadline - MONDAY, July 28, 2008

Final Deadline - THURSDAY, August  14, 2008

 

 

 

Important Links

 

Pictures of Isabella Freedman Retreat Center & Rooms

RSVP For The Weekend

Costs, Deposits & Payments

Events for the Weekend and in the Area

FAQ for All Weekend Details, What to Bring

  Rides, Buses and Directions to the Retreat

Room Pictures and Details

Isabella Freedman Website

Weekend Differences - Please Read

 

DETAILS OF THE WEEKEND 

I am pleased to announce our first event at the beautiful Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, located near the beautiful Berkshires, in CT near the Massachusetts border. This is a top quality kosher catered retreat center funded in part by the Federation. The grounds are wonderful, secluded, with 2 private lakes, and it will be a larger event than normal, with 100 to 150 people. This is truly a gem of a place, with privacy, nature, good people and kosher food. What more could you ask for?

Singles, Families and Couples are welcome and encouraged to come.

Please RSVP quickly, as this event will sell out. In fact, our most recent weekend, for July 4, sold out about 3 weeks in advance, and we had a large waiting list. Sign up early and often!

FAVOR SOUGHT

There are many details for this event and this is a large event,  2 to 3 times the size of any other previous weekend . So I ask, as a personal favor, that you help me keep having these events by reading everything carefully, including all links here and on the other pages, before contacting me.

 WEEKEND/LOCATION DETAILS

The Retreat is located on a secluded 450 acre property, with a lake and a pond, and has the following amenities:

· Athletic field and playground with sporting equipment

· Basketball court

· Billiards

· Computer room with Internet (open in the summer), Wireless Internet in the main building

· Fitness center—Stationery Bike, Bench Press, Treadmill

· Game room - Ping Pong, Pool and Board Games

· Heated pool (open May – September)

· Low ropes course

· Miles of hiking trails with paths that range from gentle to strenuous, and connect to the Appalachian Trail

· Ping Pong & Pool Table

· Shuffle Board

· Tennis court

· Theatre Space

· Two lakes for canoeing, fishing, and swimming—Canoes, pedal boats and paddle boats

· Volleyball court

 

Events on the Weekend

Onsite—included in the weekend price, weather permitting

· BBQ - Meat eaters & Vegetarians       (Sunday Late PM)

· Bonfire with Jewish Music               (Sunday Night)

· Kumzitz—With Jewish Music          (Motzei Shabbat)

· Hiking                                                    (Friday, Sunday & Monday)*

· Boating                                                  (Friday and Sunday)*

· Volleyball                                             (Friday, Sunday & Monday )*

· Swimming                                            (Friday and Sunday)*

· Lectures - Various Topics             (Shabbat & Sunday)*

· Yoga                                                       (During the Weekend)*

 

* - depending on interest and weather

 

Off Site  & Onsite- additional cost, weather permitting, depending on interest

· Crafts Day - Basket Weaving, Watercolors, Dyeing,

· White Water Rafting,

· Biking on Rail Trail,

· Horseback Riding,

· Tanglewood Jazz Fest

· Shakespeare & Co.

· Museums, such as Norman Rockwell Museum, Hancock Shaker Village

· Modern Art (Mass MOCA) and Impressionist Art (The Clark)

 

Off site events depend on interest and are in addition to the fee for the weekend.

Click Here to visit a site with all the local Berkshires possible attractions that we have created.

Rooms — 3 Levels—Deluxe, Standard, Basic

 

Deluxe Lodge Rooms (large amount—30 rooms), with private bathrooms 

Standard Rooms (moderate number, 14 rooms plus 3 family suites of 2 rooms) with semi-private sem-shared bathrooms, in cottages

Basic Rooms (moderate number, 18 rooms)— with dorm style shared bathrooms.

 

Half of the rooms at the retreat are deluxe. Once we run out of a category of rooms, that’s it! For more details and some pictures, visit our room descriptions page.

 

PLEASE READ

NOTE THAT THERE ARE

MANY NEW DETAILS FOR THIS WEEKEND

AS OPPOSED TO THOSE I HAVE RUN IN THE PAST.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON ALL THE DIFFERENCES

 

Highlights of the Differences

 

· Deposits Needed to Register and get early rates

· You Must Pay in Full in Advance of the Weekend

· You May Use Credit Cards To Pay, Via PayPal

· Different Check-in/Check-out - Friday 1PM, Monday 9:00 AM

· Limited Rides, Organized Buses

 

FOOD, SAMPLE MENU  AND KOSHER SUPERVISION

 

The food is catered by the Retreat Center. From what people who have attended events there have told me, the food is excellent, with great vegetarian options. We will also be having a BBQ and a bonfire on Sunday Night. Here is a sample menu.

 

As for kashrus, the kitchen is under the supervision of the main orthodox rabbi in Hartford, Rabbi Adler, the closest major community . I have made inquiries and I am satisfied with the kashrus. Also, several chabad and YU groups have had events here in the last year as well.

 

SIGN UP

 

Complete the RSVP form here,  SIGNUP BY THE DEADLINES ABOVE and sending in your $150 deposit (see Rates, Deposits and Payments).

 

PLEASE MAKE SURE TO ANSWER ALL RELEVANT QUESTIONS ON THE RSVP FORM. THIS HELPS MAKE THE WEEKENDS BETTER AND SIMPLER TO RUN.

DATES OF THE WEEKEND

 The dates of the weekend are FRIDAY, AUGUST 29 TO MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2008.

 CRAFTS DAY

 We hope to have a  CRAFTS DAY, where you can learn some local crafts. The crafts we are exploring are: basket weaving, watercolors, , jewelry making, knitting, paper cutting. Time will tell as to which we crafts we will ultimately offer. Let me know on the RSVP site. if you are able to lead a craft class, or if you are interested in this part of the weekend. This will likely occur on Sunday, August 31. Crafts will cost between $15 & $40 each. If you can teach a craft, let me know on the RSVP site.and if selected, I will be able to reduce your fees by $25—$50.

 HELPING ON THE WEEKENDS - Everyone helps some and Reduced Rates For Some

For first timers to my weekends, we run these events at a lower cost by having everyone help out during the event. Since the retreat center will be catering the food, the amount of help needed from everyone will be greatly reduced. Also, a limited number of reduced rates are available to some people who are willing to perform more substantial roles. 

I need people to help with the organizing and running of the weekend. I will have a few 50% off spots for those helping before and during the weekend and $50 off  for key help during the weekend.

Also, I will have some ability to reduce the fee ($25 to $50) if you can teach a craft, give a lecture at an intellectual & interesting level, help lead music and play an instrument at the kumzitz and BBQ, or have another special talent to teach the group. Let me known on the RSVP site.

LEAVING TIME, RIDES

 Candle Lighting for Friday, August 29th is  7:13 PM. Please note that it takes a MINIMUM OF  2 hrs to 2.5 hours from Manhattan and Northern NJ to get to the Shaker Mill, and at least 2.5hr to 3 hours for Brooklyn, Queens and other points.

 For those coming on Friday, you will need to leave preferably at 1:30 pm, but in no case later than 2:30 PM. Remember, there will be a lot of traffic leaving the city, so consider taking the day off and coming up for Friday activities. We can have people check in as of 1:00 PM at the earliest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the Rates page for all details.

 Singles will share a room. We hope to have 100 to 125 people for this event.

Rides/Bus/Train is extra - see the Rides page for details

 To hold your spot, you must make a $150 deposit ($300 couples, families). See the Deposits page for all details.    PLEASE RSVP NO LATER THAN THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2008.