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Dance & music camps

FAC Pinewoods Weekend and FolkDays

About FAC Pinewoods | Staff | Registration | Camper info | Kids at Pinewoods

About FAC Pinewoods

Pinewoods Camp

Pinewoods is a traditional dance and music camp, located on 25 hilly acres in a pine forest between Long Pond and Round Pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Facilities include four open-sided dance pavilions, an open-sided dining hall overlooking Long Pond, and a fireplaced camphouse for gatherings. Cozy, screened cabins and rustic cottages nestle among the tall pines. The clear waters beckon swimmers, canoers and kayakers.

Classes and activities

Each morning, dance classes are taught by our guest instructors. Material presented will appeal to both beginning and experienced dancers, so all are encouraged to participate. During the FolkDays session, separate classes for children aged 3–14 are also offered.

The afternoon schedules may present advanced, basic and/or other specialized dance classes, instrumental and singing sessions, “Tea with Jam” (a tea party with camper-made music), and “Culture Corners” (lectures by the guest teachers). On Saturday, the FAC Pinewoods Auction is not to be missed! There are also opportunities for swimming, canoeing, nature walks, volleyball, or relaxing.

Evenings feature international folk dance parties in the main dance pavilion to the marvelous music of The Pinewoods Band. The party programs include dances that we’ve just learned as well as old favorites that we request. After 11 pm, the fun continues into the wee hours with more music, dancing, and munching at the celebrated “after-parties” in the Camphouse.

Sessions

FAC’s week at Pinewoods offers three registration options. You can attend Both Sessions (Thursday afternoon through Thursday breakfast), or just the Weekend (Thursday afternoon through Monday breakfast), or just FolkDays (Monday afternoon through Thursday breakfast). For those staying the whole time, Monday is a free day, perfect for exploring Cape Cod or spending a lazy day by the lake. Different dance material is taught at each session.

Accommodations

Campers are housed in a variety of rustic cabins and cottages sprinkled throughout camp. Freestanding, one-room cabins house two campers each. Larger cabins and cottages (many with screened porches) have multiple bedrooms housing one to three campers each. Shared bathrooms are nearby. Pinewoods Camp provides beds, mattresses, and pillows. Campers bring sheets, blankets, and towels. Sheets and blankets can also be rented for a nominal fee. After you register for an FAC Pinewoods session, you may make housing and roommate requests, if you have any, on the Preferences Form, which is sent to you upon your acceptance into camp.

Food

Meals are served family style (lunch and dinner) or cafeteria style (breakfast) in the Dining Hall and accommodate vegetarians as well as omnivores. See the Camper info page for information about special diets. You may sign up for the vegetarian option on the Preferences Form after you register. Two of the cottages have refrigerators and stoves available for camper use. Campers are welcome to bring goodies to share for the evening after-parties.

Camper jobs

To help the sessions run smoothly and keep costs down, campers are given small chores, assigned by age, ability and preference. You may indicate any job requests or restrictions on the Preferences Form after you register.

Shopping

The Pinewoods Camp Store sells snacks, ice cream and sundries and is open on a self-serve basis throughout the week. The Folk Arts Center’s Little Shop of Horas® travels to camp and is available throughout the week. The shop sells dance syllabi, CDs, and DVDs from the guest teachers, as well as other recordings of music from around the world, music and song books, and T-shirts.