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DAVETREK ADVENTURES |
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Simchat Torah & Chol Hamoed Shabbat Fall Foliage Weekend @ Isabella Freedman Monday, October 14 - Sunday, October 19, 2014 Early Bird Deadline Noon Friday, October 3, 2014 Final RSVP Deadline Noon Sunday, October 13, 2014 |
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MAIN DETAILS OF THE WEEKEND I am pleased to announce our 6th Simchat Torah weekend away and our 4th annual Simchat Torah event at the beautiful Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, located near the beautiful Berkshires, in CT near the Massachusetts border where we have been going since 2008. Isabella Freedman is a top quality kosher catered retreat center funded in part by the Federation. The grounds are wonderful, secluded, with a private lake, and it will be a larger event than normal, with 100 to 150 people. We were last here for July 4th with over 130 people attending, a nice balanced mix of singles, couples and families, where each group felt comfortable and relaxed and part of the overall group. 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, likely in advance. In fact, several recent weekends sold out in advance, and we often have waiting lists for my weekends—we usually do 3 to 5 per year. Sign up early and often! If this weekend is a success, this will hopefully become an annual event. Rooms — 3 Levels—Deluxe, Standard, Basic Deluxe Lodge Rooms (large amount—30 rooms, plus 3 family suites of 2 rooms) with private bathrooms Standard Rooms (moderate number, 14 rooms )with semi-private semi-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 · Check-in/Check-out times- Check in as of 4 PM, Check in as of 9AM · 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 bonfire on Saturday Night. Here is a sample menu. As for kashrus, the kitchen is under the supervision of the Hartford Kashrut Commision, which is the closest major Orthodox community . I have made inquiries and I am satisfied with the kashrus. Also, the Carlebach Shul has had an annual retreat at Isabella Freedman for several years for Thanksgiving and several chabad and YU groups have had events here recently as well. SIGN UP Complete the RSVP form here, SIGNUP BY THE DEADLINES ABOVE and sending in your deposit ($150 per adult, $300 per couple/family)(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. CRAFTS DAY We are considering having a CRAFTS DAY on Sunday October 19, where you can learn some local crafts. The crafts we are exploring are: basket weaving, watercolors, drawing, jewelry making, photography, knitting, paper cutting. Time and interest will tell as to which we crafts we will ultimately offer. Let me know on the RSVP site what your interests are. Also, if you are able to lead a craft class, or if you are interested in this part of the weekend. 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—$75. Yoga & Lectures We intend to have Yoga a few times each day during the retreat. If you are able to teach yoga and have experience, let us know on the RSVP Form, and you may be selected and receive a reduced rate. Also, We hope to offer some lectures on Shabbat and possibly on Sunday, depending on interest. If you have lectured on various jewish or other intellectual topics and have a demonstrated ability for giving an interesting and intellectual class or lecture, let me know on the RSVP Form for a possibly reduced rate. 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 from what people are asked to do at other retreats. Also, a limited number of reduced rates are available to some people who are willing to perform more substantial roles before, during and after the weekend. Let us know on the RSVP Form. I may need some additional help with the organizing and running of the weekend. I will have a few ‘up to 50% off spots’ for those helping before, during and after the weekend and $25 - $50 off for key help during the weekend. We are also looking into offering some child care during the event. Families, let us know your interest in this and helpers, let us know if you have experience and we might be able to reduce your rate by as much as $100. This option depends on interest from parents. Also, I will have some ability to reduce the fee ($25 to $75) 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 Wednesday night, October 15 is 5:53 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 Wednesday, you will need to leave preferably at 12:30 pm, but in no case later than 2:00 PM from any location. Please consider taking the day off and coming up for Wednesday activities. We can have people onsite using the facilities as of 1:00 PM at the earliest.
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EVENT LINKS Davetrek Contact Info (email is the best method) davetrekadventures@gmail.com Phone: (805) DAVETREK (328-3873) ¨ RSVP Form Main Event Website ¨ FAQ - All the questions, many of the answers... ¨ HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? - Rates, Deposits & Payment Deadlines ¨ ROOMS —3 types/levels, with some room pictures ¨ ACTIVITIES & EVENTS ( Onsite & Offsite) ¨ TRANSPORTATION (Rides, Buses, Trains, etc) & Directions to the Event ¨ Pictures from the 2008 Retreat |