Here for the first time?
First of all, WELCOME! We are glad that you will be joining us for our music camp. Since you are new to our community, here are some items that will help you navigate the retreat faster:
Online Enrollment
We will begin online enrollment on Saturday, June 10th at 9 a.m. (CDT) and will end on Saturday, October 14th. Prior to enrolling, take time to review all of the offerings and choose your classes, informances, workshops, etc. so, when you begin your enrollment, it will go smoothly and quickly. Also, go to TIPS.
Updates
Up in the menu above to the far left you will see a tab called “INFO.” There is a lot of important information there including a link to our Blog and Updates that will address important notices from time to time.
Check-In
Check-in will be at the Chapel from 4-9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19th and 8-10:30 a.m. on Friday morning, Oct. 20th. At check-in, you will receive your badge, keys to your room (if lodging on campus) and other materials. Please wear your badge at all times when at the retreat. if you owe us money, please be prepared to pay your balance in full when you check in.
Texas BBQ Dinner and Kick-Off Sessions Thursday Night
We have a BBQ dinner each year on Thursday night, Oct. 19th at 6:30-7:30 p.m., and it’s a good time to meet and greet each other. The event will be held in the Texas Pavilion unless the weather is bad. In that case, the dinner will be held at the Dining Hall. There will be some announcements, introductions, good Texas BBQ, a dessert contest, followed by an Instructors’ Concert at 8 p.m. and then sessions afterwards in select classrooms to kick off our event.
Sessions
On Thursday through Sunday evenings we have organized sessions that are staff led and labeled slow (slower speed for beginners), intermediate, and advanced. We also have song sessions. Select sessions called “Play Along” will be led by instructors. Sessions are also held every night in the Courtyard Marriott. For more information about our sessions and how they are run, go to SESSIONS.
Golf Carts and Shuttle Bus
We have a number of golf carts that our staff uses to transport people and their instruments around camp. Just wave us down, and we’ll give you a ride. Those with physical challenges are priority, so please bear with us if you have to wait a bit for a lift. Only our managers are permitted to drive the carts. In addition to transportation around the campus, we have a shuttle bus that will take people to and from our off-campus hotel — the Courtyard Marriott in Midlothian. Click here for the SHUTTLE SCHEDULE. Sorry, we do not offer shuttle to any other area hotels.
Coffee and Tea
If you want a cup of coffee or tea, the Dining Hall will be open from 6:30-7:30 a.m. We also will have a coffee and tea station at the Chapel lobby open all of the time. Please give a donation to underwrite the cost. The camp’s Cafe located in the Maverick building also have coffee, scones and pastries on Monday morning only from 7:30-9 a.m. The Alamo, Barn and Hacienda have Keurigs so bring your coffee and tea cups.
Meals
With the exception of our BBQ on Thursday night (6:30-7:30 p.m.), all meals will be served in the Dining Hall. Mealtimes are 7:30-8:30 a.m. for breakfast, 12 noon-1 p.m. for lunch and 5:30-6:30 p.m. for dinner. If you bought meals at the camp, your name will be on a list for each meal that you selected and our monitors will check you off as you approach the line. If you need to buy additional meals, you can do that at check-in while they last. Here is our MENU.
Concerts
We have performances at every meal in the Dining Hall and instructor concerts every night in the Chapel. They will be some of the best musical performances that you will hear anywhere. You are permitted to record these performances, but please be mindful of the people around you so that the placement of your recording gear doesn’t prevent them from enjoying the concerts. At the instructor concerts, there will be two 30-minute acts with a break between acts. On Sunday night, a third act will be added, which is a farewell performance by all of the instructors together on stage.
Dorm Courtesy
If you are staying at one of the dorms or any of the lodging areas, please be considerate of those who are sleeping by refraining from playing music or talking loudly by keeping personal alarm clocks on low, and limiting the traffic in and out of the room after lights out. It’s difficult to keep all noise at a minimum, so ear plugs are a good idea.
Alcohol
We hold our Retreat at a Salvation Army camp; therefore, alcohol is not permitted at the camp. If it comes to the attention of Retreat staff or Salvation Army personnel that you are carrying or drinking alcohol in public, you will be invited by the camp to leave immediately without a refund of meals and lodging. For those who wish to imbibe, there is a bar at the Courtyard by Marriott in Midlothian where many of our students and instructors are staying.
Prepare for Rain
October in North Texas is usually beautiful, but come prepared for inclement weather. If it does rain, you are welcome to drive anywhere you need to go, whether to class, Dining Hall, or the Coffield Center, but please do not park in spots that are for golf carts only or not designated for parking. You can find weather predictions for the camp at WEATHER.
Emergencies or Retreat Contact
If it is a medical emergency, dial 911. If some other emergency or you need some help, call one of these numbers:
Retreat Office: (469) 215-1840
Director’s Cell: (214) 770-5036 Email: director@oflahertyretreat.org
By the way, we have a basic medical kit at the Retreat Office in the Chapel.