Hello everyone!

Spring is just a little more than a week away and we’re all super excited to see everyone!

Arrival this year starts at 5pm, although if you’re interested in coming earlier in the day to help with pre-site setup, please let us know — we could definitely use the help! Opening Circle will be at 7:30 pm on Friday. If you won’t be arriving by 7:30 pm, that’s totally fine, but please let someone on staff know (you can just reply to this email). We will leave some food out for you in the kitchen.

When you arrive, head to the registration table to get signed in and get your info packet. If you’re new, there will be someone on hand to show you around and answer any questions you may have.

New things we’d like to draw your attention to:

* Our Conflict Resolution Policy draft document can be seen here: https://www.springsummercamp.org/spring-conflict-resolution-process-visioning-document/. If you’d like to volunteer for the Conflict Team, please either send us an email or contact Will or Coran onsite.

* Ideas and topics for the Spring Community Forum on Sunday afternoon. Details about the forum can be found here: https://www.springsummercamp.org/spring-community-forum-proposal/.

If you need help finding a ride to Spring, or if you have room in your vehicle to offer someone a ride, send Coran an email (cnewland@live.com) and he’ll help you get it sorted out.

Here’s a list of important things to remember to pack. It is a long list, so hopefully this newly-categorized version will help make it a little more easily readable!

Essentials

* Warm clothing (It still gets cold at night in early June in NH; however, the days can also be warm and sunny so we suggest layers.)
* Rain gear — weather can be highly unpredictable, so be prepared for rain, regardless of the forecast!
* Flashlight or headlamp – it gets quite dark at night if you’re not used to it
* Toiletries – whatever you need to get through a week
* Allergy medicine, if needed — the pollen count has been really high in New England lately and likely will continue to be up at Glen Brook: https://www.pollen.com/forecast/current/pollen/03431
* Bug repellent
* Sunblock
* Hat/sunglasses
* Towel
* Refillable water bottle
* Bedding (twin sized blankets, pillows, etc.) or a sleeping bag. Be aware that the mattresses are plentiful but plastic-coated – if this bums you out, pack extra bedding or bring an airbed! Also note that if extra privacy or a rustic retreat is your aim, extra bedding will help you enjoy a sleeping spot in one of the cabins in Adventure Camp, or bring your own tent! (Note for 2017: Adventure Camp will be shared with GB staff this year.)
* Snacks! Glen Brook provides meals for the week, but not snacks, so it’s up to us to make the snack room the awesomest we can. So bring any sweets or specific snacks you want to add to the snack corner and help us keep it fully stocked throughout the week!
* Your favorite tea to share

Morning Workshops (week long)

* Take a look at the weeklong workshops listed on the website (https://www.springsummercamp.org/spring-2017-workshops/) and bring anything that you might need for the workshop you want to take.

Afternoon Workshops (one shots)

* Your plans and materials for an awesome afternoon workshop!  Remember, it’s a DIY conference, and a chance to share your skills or latest passion! Contact Coran (cnewland@live.com) with any questions or ideas.
* T-shirts or other clothing for silkscreening (we’ll have Spring t-shirt art from 2007-2014 on hand).
* Old, broken, or otherwise burnable items (wood, cardboard, etc.) to build a collaborative community effigy, plus baseball bats or other similar items to smash it to smithereens before burning it!! No toxins (paint, laquer, varnish, etc.) please.

Evening Activities

* Costumes and/or fancy clothes to dress up in for Sunday night’s dance party. This year’s theme is “Fantasy” – dragons, mages, faeries, elves, unicorns, hobbits, ogres…. you get the gist.
* Cardboard boxes for Dance Party decorating
* Your talents, instruments, art, etc. for Coffee House (note: talents not actually necessary to perform)
* Art for the Community Art Gallery — there will be an art gallery space during Coffee House this year for art that you want to bring with you and show off and/or art that you make during Spring.

Misc things it’s nice to have

* Games (board games, lawn games, fun things to do!) — here’s a spreadsheet for board game planning: goo.gl/vKL9oj
* Kites, frisbees, yoga mats, hiking boots, hula hoops, pogo sticks, etc.
* Musical instruments
* Snacks! Glen Brook provides meals for the week, but not snacks, so it’s up to us to make the snack room the awesomest we can. So bring any sweets or specific snacks you want to add to the snack corner and help us keep it fully stocked throughout the week without having to make town runs!
* A timepiece other than a cell phone (like, you know, a watch… remember those?)
* Bathing suit if desired (please note that swimming au natural is only allowed in the afternoon)
* Clothes, books, DVDs, etc. for the Spring Swap – get rid of the things you don’t want and get some new stuff that you do (everything that’s left over will be donated).
* Nesting materials: While you’re packing up your bedding to bring for the week, we’d really appreciate it if you could add a few extra things to beautify and cozify Ring spaces during the conference. Stuff like easy-to -transport lamps, extra blankets and pillows, anything cozy, colorful, and soft would be really helpful.

As one final note, we discourage the use of electronic devices in the common areas at Spring. Take this as an opportunity to unplug and leave your laptops/tablets/etc. behind!

Can’t wait to see you soon!
Aleks, April, Bryce, Coran, Lorraine, Lulu, and Reeve