August 28th – September 2nd, 2019 
Pine Grove – Olivebridge, NY
with Carl Big Heart

 Wednesday, August 28th: First Setup Day, Community Pot luck dinner.
Thursday, August 29th: Community Camp Building Day
Friday 8/30 – Monday 9/2: Labor Day Gathering, Sweat Lodges, Pipe Ceremonies, Womens’ Teepee, Primitive Skills, Clans, and Workshops.
Monday, September 2, 2019: Closing Ceremony and Camp Clean-up.

Grocery list & other items to bring included in the text & links in the email below
With grateful hearts, we are returning to the Pine Forest at Ashokan, where we have been holding ceremony for many years.
Join us for a beautiful long weekend being together in ceremony, classes, and working together to create a community rooted in our Big Hearts. Come as early as Wednesday at 9am and stay until the camp is broken down on Monday, or come for any part of the camp.
There will be Inipi Sweat Lodge Ceremonies poured by Carl Big Heart on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. 

Registration Fees: This year we are asking for a nominal day use fee of $10 per person (campers under 18 are free) to support expenses. No one will be turned away for lack of funds and extra donations for supplies, firewood, and our Elders are always appreciated.  

What to bring: 
*tent* sleeping bag* sleeping pads * pillow * personal items * toiletries* towels (extra towels for sweat lodge)* 1 or 2 camp chairs (more if you have them) * empty trashcans with lids if you have them* folding tables, if you have them* food from grocery list (see meals and kitchen info) * personal eating plates , bowls cups, utensils*drinking water (1 gallon/day/per person)* 2 additional gallons of water to donate to the sweat lodge* large cooler(s) with extra ice for the kitchen* flashlights and lanterns with 2 extra batteries* a mixture of warm and cool weather clothing* *musical instruments, if desired* items to donate to raffle* extra money for auction/raffle* material fees for workshops that may require them* crafts, games and skills to share with others*

Sweat Lodge Clothing

• Women: skirt or sarong and short sleeve top (shoulders covered) or modest dress.
• Men: shorts (and shirt if you like)

To be aware of:

Please do not wear perfumes or fragrances when attending the lodge or gathering, as there are those in the community with sensitivities. Your cooperation will make for a healthier and happier experience for everyone.

Community Meals and Kitchen Information:
Big Heart clan leaders have already been putting our hearts and minds together to come up with meals that both nourish the community and are also simple and quick to prepare.  In this way, we all support each other, including the prep teams and clean-up teams so they, too, can have a wonderful time at camp.

Bring any items from this list that you will eat and in the quantity greater than what your own family would eat in the time period you’ll be at camp.  DO please stick to items on this list.  (If you have specific dietary needs, you may bring and store those needed items in your car… safely away from Brother Bear.)   We can always use extra coolers at the Food Truck; please mark your name on it clearly so we can announce when it’s free to take back.

If possible within your budget, please bring produce that is local and/or organic.  And, because WATER IS AT A PREMIUM IN CAMP, we cannot stress enough…

PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL PRODUCE IS WASHED AND DRIED!

A SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT DINNERS: 

Over the years we’ve worked out a wonderful way to have hearty nourishing dinners that are easy to prepare and easy to clean in the evenings after a lodge. Volunteers in the community agree to pre-prepare soups (both meat and veggie options) that are frozen and then re-heated the night of the meal. This year we are still looking for several volunteers who would be willing to work off of one of our existing recipes and prepare a soup for one of the evening meals. If this seems like a way you would like to contribute to the gathering – please shoot us an email by clicking on the link below.

Getting to the Gathering: 
There are a variety of directions and transportation options to get to Ashokan. Folks will be arriving in the Pine Grove as early as Tuesday afternoon:

Clans
Some beautiful thought and planning has gone into how the clans will be a part of our camp this year. If you’re interested to learn more, please click the button below.

Classes:


Each morning classes and special activities will be offered for all ages. If you have skills/crafts/games to share with kids, teens or adults, please contact Darrell at 585-507-1551, or primitiveskill@aol.com

Raffle:
There will be a raffle to help offset the expenses of putting together a camp of this size. We are asking for people to bring one or two quality items to donate to this purpose. Personally handcrafted items of quality and beauty are especially appreciated.

Big Heart Family Album:
We have started a Big Heart Family Album at the raffle tent.  Please consider printing out some of your photos from past gatherings so they can be added. Scrap-booking supplies will be available.  If you have questions please contact Mary at mpittman3@rochester.rr.com

About Carl Big Heart: Carl Big Heart is an elder among us who chooses repeatedly to live his life in service to the spiritual needs of several communities, ours included. He reminds us that the altar is within and that we are all called to love. He pours sweat lodge and holds sacred space in many teaching circles. His life includes an offering of service to the spiritual healing and liberation of us all. 

Donations:

 
Carl Big Heart works by donation. Please, let us together support the important and valuable work of our elders by being as generous as we can. Donations for the gathering itself are also requested to help offset expenses for firewood, supplies, etc.