Welcome to the 2015 Jewish Outdoor Escape Pocono Parks, Peaks & Paddles
at
Camp JRF
Newfoundland, PA
FIRST INFORMATIONAL EMAIL
Dear Participant, We are very happy that you will join us for this year's Jewish Outdoor Escape! We've got many people attending, both people who have attended many previous Labor Day events and people new to Mosaic events, so you will be able to renew old friendships and create new ones. Your planning committee has been hard at work to ensure that you'll have a wonderful experience and we'll continue to do so, but now we also need your attention to give you some very important information as you prepare for your trip. In the next two weeks, we plan to send you lots of information so you'll be well-informed by the time you arrive. Each email will address different issues, and all should be read to make sure you arrive at camp ready and equipped to have a fantastic time! In this email, we want to give you an overview of what to expect during this extended weekend. Expect three or four emails over the next two weeks, dealing with food, packing lists, transportation, housing, leadership information and other important details that will help make this weekend a success. We recommend you read them all start to finish. Some of them -- packing list and driving directions, for instance -- we suggest you print out and put on top of your "going to camp" pile that you will soon be, no doubt, organizing. First: Have you finished filling out registration? Are you signed up for all your activities? Did you fill out your transportation plans? Have you signed up for the Mosaic shuttle if you plan to take it? If not, please log back into your registration and make your additions or correction or send us an e-mail at Registration@MosaicOutdoor.org with the information. This will stop the annoying e-mails you are receiving from us, asking for information (only if you are missing transportation or activity selections). Remember, this year we have instituted a change fee for registration changes which occur after August 20th! August 20th will be the VERY LAST DAY for you to make ANY changes to your registration on your own. After this date you will need to contact us at Registration@MosaicOutdoor.org for anything pertaining to your registration. Any change requests after August 20th will incur an $18 change fee per item changed unless authorized by the chair people. Cancellation policies will override the change fee policy if you cannot attend the event. For more information about the change fee, please see the REGISTRATION page of the event website at: http://2015event.mosaicoutdoor.org/Registration.aspx You probably have no idea how much chaos "little requests" such as changing hikes or adding your final transportation information causes. Please make your final activity selections NOW. We also need to know how you are planning on getting to camp. This is to make sure everyone is accounted for and that we have a final count for the Mosaic shuttle. If you are on a waiting list for a housing upgrade or an activity, don't worry, the change fee does not apply if you get a last minute call that we've made additional room on your activity or housing preference has become available. Mosaic is an all-volunteer group with over 25 years experience putting on events like this. While we don't claim to be Club Med, our volunteers are passionate about delivering an event free from drama, difficulties and, with any luck, Sasquatch abductions. If at any point an activity doesn't go exactly as planned, we ask for your patience. Remember: we're all in this together. Now, on to meals ... For those of you who keep strictly Kosher: The camp is a Reconstructionist camp. It keeps Kosher, but not to an Orthodox standard. If you need food which is to an Orthodox standard, make sure you've selected Orthodox Standard Kosher and paid the upcharge on the "merchandise" page. We have an Orthodox standard caterer bringing in special meals for those who select this option and unfortunately it costs us more than the standard camp fare. You can expect tasty meals, great daytime activities, and fun evening programs including speakers and musical guests. Breakfast will include a make-your-own-lunch station, so attendees will have food for their day trips. Remember that no outside food (except as noted above) is allowed in the dining hall since the camp does keep Kosher. As always, feel free to ask us questions (but check the website and FAQ first) and consider stepping up to volunteer. We can always use additional committee members. Remember, volunteering is a great way to meet new people and make new friends! Thanks, and we'll be in touch! The 2015 Jewish Outdoor Escape Committee