12/02/2014
Dear Binghamton/Frost Valley Peeps,
As some of you already know we are unable to book the Lakeview Lodge or The Castle at Frost Valley due to a Frost Valley camp reunion that is occurring on Labor Day weekend 2015. The GOOD NEWS is that the wonderful peeps at FV have offered us a wonderful 11 bedroom house along with 5 yurts that are part of the East Valley Ranch campus.
East Valley Ranch is a secluded escape fourteen miles from Frost Valley YMCA’s main camp. East Valley Lodge is a newly renovated bed and breakfast style ranch house featuring a spacious living room, family-style dining room, meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, wraparound deck, sun room and a brand new arts and crafts room. The East Valley Lodge kitchen is renowned for its wellness cuisine. See photo attached of East Valley Ranch Lodge.
See more at: http://frostvalley.org/east-valley-ranch. Look at the bottom of the page for 27 photos of East Valley Ranch/Lodge/Horse Stables/and surrounding properties.
HOUSING OPTIONS: We have 2 housing options to choose from. There is a per person price for the weekend (Friday evening-Monday morning) that includes lodging, meals, and general programming (there is an additional fee for horse programming). Children 5 and under are free:
1. The lodge, which has 11 bedrooms: Guests staying in the lodge pay a lodging/meal/programming fee of $254 per person for the 3-day weekend. Children 5 and under are free. See photo attached of a bedroom inside the lodge. See room layout chart attached for bed and bathroom configurations (most have private bathrooms, but a few have shared bathrooms).
2. The yurts: There are 5 yurts and they can fit up to 12 people (6 bunk-beds each). The yurt bathrooms facilities are located steps away from their new, modern, and eco-friendly bathhouse. Guests staying in the yurts pay lodging/meal/programming fee of $166 per person for the 3-day weekend. Children 5 and under are free. Yurts are booked based on the capacity numbers, so you could be sharing a yurt (usually 2-3 families get together to book a yurt OR this is a great option if a bunch of the older kids want to do a yurt together). We encourage people who need their own space to book rooms in the lodge. See photo of yurt interior attached.
PROGRAMMING: They will be offering us a variety of activities throughout that weekend including the following....
* Project Adventure: Project adventure is a series of team building challenge type activities that require team work and collaboration to complete.
* Low Ropes
* Hayride to Frost Valley Farm and tour of animals and gardens
* High Ropes for Ages 12 and up
* Arts & Crafts (Candle Making and Tie Dye)
* Hikes with Wildlife and Forest Ecology
* Night Awareness: This is an evening activity where you learn about the forest at night.
* Campfire
*Guests would be able to drive over to the main campus to participate in main camp programming (zipline, flying squirrel, climbing wall) if they choose. Schedules will be available at check in so we can see what activities are offered.
*Horseback riding fees are $5 for Pony Rides for ages 4-9 and $25 for riding lessons for ages 10 and up.
MEALS: Everyone eats in the East Valley Ranch dining hall, buffet style. Food is very similar to main camp. Fresh fruit, cereal, and granola bars are available between meals. Salad bar is provided at lunch and dinner. The weekend per person fees includes Friday snack through Monday breakfast.
MAKING YOUR RESERVATION: Accommodations are booked to families on a first come, first served basis. Contact the reservations department and let them know you are booking at East Valley Ranch for Labor Day Weekend 2015 as part of the "BINGHAMTON GROUP." Specify if you want a lodge room (and which room # you want based on the attached chart) or a yurt (and whom you want to share your yurt with). They cannot guarantee that there won't be other people/families staying with us, since it is open to anyone, which was the same policy at Lakeview Lodge. If we want to fill up the lodge/yurts with our group we need to reserve ASAP. Please contact:
Carmel, Audrey, or Angie in reservations. 845-985-2291 ext 205.
They require 90 days notice for cancellation for a full refund of deposit.
