Great Big Happy Eating & Sleeping

     Note: Meals and Lodging costs are all in one & all inclusive for the family configurations described on the RATES tab to the left. Unless your 3 year old eats like a 4 year old (like ours does!), any children 3 and under are free. If your 3 year old is like ours, please select the toddler meal add-on in the shop when you pay for everything. Thanks!

Food, Glorious Food!

What better way to experience the conference retreat than to experience family friendly, stress-free dining while hanging out with a bunch of contented unschoolers? We considered having the camp provide our meals, but we felt that we wanted something beyond the normal camp fare of powdered eggs and depressing salad. So we decided to have the event catered. Maureen Gregory, our caterer, magically materialized and when we heard about how she cooks, we were smitten. Imagine not having to even think about food for three days..her menus are delicious, she uses seasonal ingredients whenever possible, and most importantly, she loves to cook for groups. We think that matters in terms of how the food tastes...and we are so glad to be able to provide this excellent experience for all of the hard working hard playing unschooling families joining us. Read what she wrote below and bring your appetites!                                                                                                                                Meal plans need to be purchased if you will be joining us for the conference. Rates are for the duration of the conference and include the meals as described below. Eight meals are being provided by the lovely Maureen Gregory, caterer extraordinaire.

Deadline for purchasing meals: May 1, 2010 .  Please note our refund policy: 

• Before March 31st refunds will be given at 100%
• From April 1st through April 30th, a 50% refund will be given
• We cannot refunds meal plans after May 1st. 

There will be 8 meals served at the conference. Here’s what the meal plan prices include:

• Dinner on Monday, arrival day;
• Breakfast, Box Lunch and Dinner on the 2nd day;
• Breakfast, Box Lunch and Dinner* on the 3rd day;
• Continental Breakfast on last morning, departure day.

A message from our caterer, Maureen Gregory-

Fueling the Fun!

Ellie and I are looking forward to cooking for our second annual Great Big Happy Life Conference! We had a great time last year, making new friends and cooking for a new crowd and we're working on ways to make the dining experience even more streamlined and fun. We're designing a menu that provides plenty of delicious and healthy meals to give everyone the energy needed to enjoy the conference to the max. Can't wait!!

I find it an honor to cook for people. I love the sense of building a relationship with the people I'm feeding over multiple meals. If you have special concerns or food needs I will do my best to take care of you - I know how stressful it can be to be away from home and eating someone else's food.

I love the immersion and focus required in the work that I do. As a child I played in the woods near my home often searching for berries and seeds, wrapping them in leaves and securing them with sticks. As I work in commercial kitchens I often feel like a little girl surrounded by huge pots and large amounts of ingredients. I am delighted to have found a career which allows me to continue playing with food!  I look forward to helping to create a wonderful conference experience!

Warmly,
Maureen Gregory

Accomodations:

Pictures of the lodging at Camp Vacamos coming soon!

Each rooms contain 2 bunk beds each and are private, simple and bright. There is room on the floor of each room for a bedroll. The building we will be housed in is Labadorf, which houses the dining hall, a few classrooms, a loft with giant TV, a fireplace and a huge wrap around porch. It is a beautiful layout and will make for the perfect little unschooling village for the duration of the conference.

Shared bathrooms containing toilets and/or urinals, sinks and showers and one handicapped private bathroom containing the same are clean and modern and will be shared. Bathrooms will be designated for males or females.

Tent camping is also available though spaces are limited.