Sixers, start saving for gas/airfare.
Backstory
Those of you who have ordered the Sixy Ladies calendar may have noticed a few dates in July that stick out. That's because Wordstock 2013 is a go and I want you to be there!!!I'd like to get better organized in better time this year so that more of you can actually make it. I'm looking at Hickory Run State Park in Jim Thorpe, PA. They have a group camping option, where we reserve a campground designed for large numbers. Everyone gets their own cabin and shares one large hall for hanging out. The cabins are spaced out throughout the woods, so there is a feeling of privacy.
I NEED TO APPLY for the group reservation. I'm not sure how much it costs or exactly how it works yet. I'd love to have a better idea of how many people plan on coming. We're discussing the idea of June 28-July 2. Thoughts?
I am hoping that if members put something down that they'll actually come - both because I would really, really love to meet you all and because I would really, really not like to book an enormous campsite with entirely my own money and then have nobody there and no reimbursement. I hope y'all understand.
I would like to make a reservation within the next couple months, if possible, so that it is definitely free for us.
Anyway, just getting thoughts together and starting to ask for your feedback and ideas. Please share whatever is on your mind!
by Wench in Six-Word Memoirs on Jan 02, 2013 | 
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T-shirt
Comments
thesagittarian12 says,
I get airsick.accidentaltourist says,
I don't know what campgrounds you are looking into, but you might want to find out if you have to reserve a group site, or you can let people make their own reservations for the set dates. You might be able to get three or four people to reserve together, so you have a central location for meeting.Wench says,
Wordstock was coined by Steve_Anthony as an idea for a Sixer gathering. We had one last summer at my house, but only one person was able to come. By the way, dakat, you are awesome! This time around, I would really love for more people to make it, so I want to start planning now.I'm happy to have people make their own accommodations, if that's the general consensus, but it will probably be more expensive for everyone and will mean less time for everyone to spend together, since we'll all have to get in cars and drive back to our separate locations.
Wench says,
AT, that's a good idea - just agree on a location and have people make their own arrangements to stay there. There are several great parks that do great group deals, though.Wench says,
Also, Sag, booooooooo. Take some NyQuil and go to sleep, you'll be State-side before you know it. =Plillybrook says,
Yay! This is what I was hoping for after our virtual progressive dinner!!! I have it on my calendar -- preprinted. Thanks!Wench says,
Autumn22, I'm not entirely sure, lol. We've never really successfully done it! It's just a big weekend for getting together with as many members of SmithMag as can make it - to meet in real life and hang out and have fun. A campsite seems ideal because of the built-in activity. Campgrounds frequently have pools or somewhere to swim, tennis courts, large open fields for various sports if people do that, trails for walking/biking and fire-pits for hot chocolate and banjo. =)Wench says,
It will be! You should come!maryjane31 says,
I imagine this taking place at a hotel with the event taking place in the hotel banquet hall. We make our own reservations and I like the idea of being indoors with air-conditioning, etc. Not much for camping out. Just a suggestion and I would like other opinions on this.L2L3 says,
Just wondering... Any chance of mid-June instead of July, before the weather there gets into the 90's in both temp. and humidity?Wench says,
That's something we'd have to decide on, now. I think that's one of the things that messed us up last year - we changed the date a few times because one person or another said it would fit into their schedule better, meaning another person could no longer make it, and ultimately only one person actually came.A hotel isn't a bad idea either, although definitely the most expensive option. I'm poor. Wah.
L2L3 says,
Just to be clear to all, my suggestion for the date isn't related to a personal schedule issue. Just thinking about how miserably hot and humid it is there in the middle of the summer. Mid-June might just be easier on folks for an outdoor thing. Have you thought about posting a memoir asking for everyone's direct email, gather them through the contact box, and send out a questionnaire to all interested parties about what kind of event they would be most likely to attend? I think that once you have that, the venue choices and dates will be easier to target. My take on the hotel conference room as a meeting place is that it's a little sterile for most of the crew here. My suggestion is to rent an all-weather building in a park setting where camping is available but let people make lodging arrangements on there own. Airbnb might also be a good option for those looking for a/c, willing to share and wanting to save money. For the truly Bohemian there's the couch surfing website. Also, many colleges and universities rent housing and meeting space during the summer, usually at very inexpensive rates.Wench says,
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/hickoryrun/index.htmMy old church has a summer get-together here every year. People rent their own cabins but I think they get a group discount because everyone is there for the same thing. They rent a giant mess hall where most everyone keeps their food stuff and where there are tables, a fireplace, etc. There's a volleyball court and a ton of trails and places to explore, horseback riding down the road, etc. I think it's got to be fairly inexpensive, as well, but it's definitely got the camping feel - there is no air conditioning, as far as I know, maybe they have that option for some of the cabins? I'm not sure. The bathrooms and showers are very... summer campesque. I don't mind that, but for those who do, I believe there are hotel accommodations nearby.
Wench says,
I'm fine with changing the date, I just want to get the general consensus on what the best time is asap so that we can set it in stone.Wench says,
Also, naturally, everyone please feel welcome to bring spouses and kids!!!!L2L3 says,
Gather ye emails...thesagittarian12 says,
And then there's all those people with weird accents. :-PWench says,
Sag, you can sit and talk about dingos or quantum mechanics, for all I care, I would love to hear your weird accent.L2L3 says,
Let's recruit someone with an Irish accent. Maybe Bahamian too:-) They're both lovely.sisterpoet says,
My 2 centsJuly is good for a lot of folks off from school
Decide on a place, date and put it out there. Let the peeps make their own reservations...whoever comes comes, believe it all works out as it should ( I persoanlly may select a hotel near to a camp site and drop in on the camping fun and then take a nice bath when I return...Brooklyn girls don't DO camping...but maybe)
L2L3 says,
I don't know of many schools who get out later than early June. Most folks are planning their big family vacations for July.sisterpoet says,
I get out of school on June 25thsisterpoet says,
Maybe last weekend in June is good....school out, no family vaca plansWench says,
I'm thinking that for a lot of people, this is kind of *is* a big family vacation, because for a lot of people it's a significant drive. I'm actually wondering if it would be better to make this a week-long thing and have people come and go as they're able, rather than a weekend that really only works out to one full day and two half.Also, Hickory Run is farther north and not too bad in the summer, especially because the campgrounds are mostly wooded. Bring bug spray, though.
sisterpoet says,
June 28 to July 2 is my suggestion. Those wishing to stay longer can.sisterpoet says,
People with 4th plans can scoot back home and still get in a sixer weekend.Wench says,
That's fine with me. Ok, I guess I'll start soliciting e-mail addresses. =Paccidentaltourist says,
Can I just say right now that I am pining for these hot sticky summer days of which you speak? ;) It's frigid in my part of the world today...a mere stone's throw from Wench's proposed gathering ground.ba_miracle says,
While I'm not entirely certain, I think Sagacious may have been referring to OUR weird accents not his own?I have a few ideas for mild forms of debauchery (as laid out in my response to Believes question...
"Use a sixer's name in vain."
http://www.smithmag.net/questions/story.php?did=356297
I failed the assignment but I think it won me a hat ;-}
and there was a forest of sorts involved...I am factoring in Wordstock or Six-WordSmith events for future vacation plans.
catsmeow says,
I'm not likely to be able to attend HOWEVER I am planning a mega road trip for March and April and hope I may find some Sixers along the way. Details to follow.