EVERYONE GOING TO CAMP SHOULD READ THIS!!

Dear Aikidoka:

Please be advised that every person staying in the hotel must be listed through the hotel registration process. If you are a couple, it is not enough to list yourself alone, thinking that if you have a room then your spouse or roommate is good to go. The hotel needs an accurate listing of each person in each room in order to properly guarantee the meals as well as the beds (doubles versus kings). If you have already registered and did not list your roommates, the other people in your room must reserve a room in their name as well. By listing your roommates, the hotel matches those sharing a room together – you will not each be assigned a separate room but will be connected through the hotel database. It is never too late to add someone, as long as the next person notes that you are in their room. Multiple people can be processed at the same time if you chose more than one guest. This will make you fill out private info and check in/check out dates for them, as well as assign a credit card for each person. You can use different credit cards for each person at this point if you wish. If you do not register as more than one guest, and list yourself as the only guest but make note when asked of who your roommate will be, then each person in the room must go to the hotel link after registering for camp and register themselves in the hotel database.

Here is a step-by-step guide to booking your hotel stay:

1. register for camp through the online site (ideal choice) or download a form and mail it in (you can access the forms here as well)
2. carefully read the USAF confirmation email that you receive after registering for camp
3. follow the hotel link in your confirmation email
4. go through the hotel enrollment page – choose that you are an attendee
5. chose the number of guests – if you are only reserving for yourself, even if you have roommates, chose 1. You will write the name of your roommates in the text field, and they will then do the same process. This is where the hotel finds the info to match you as sharing a room.
6. If you do not know who your roommate will be you can chose “unknown”. When it is decided, that person will then put your name as a roommate, and the hotel will match you together.
7. If you are registering your roommates, chose the correct number – you will see that it requests the information for each person. If you continue through this process, (including check in/check out dates, and credit card information for each person) each guest will be fully registered and will not have to go in to do it again. Make sure each page in the hotel process reflects the correct number of people you are registering (#guests)
8. no matter what, write the name of your roommates in the corresponding text field
9. your hotel confirmation email will indicate how many people you registered.

So, to summarize – each and every person attending camp must go through the USAF camp registration process (including children) as well as the hotel reservation process (either separately, or by having one person list more than one guest in their room and filling out each person’s info). This will guarantee that when you check in you will have the proper room assignments, bed choices, roommates, and meal plans.

We will never run out of space for people to take class, but we can quickly run out of hotel rooms as they are booking up quickly. So please don’t wait to register for camp so you can make your reservations, as our blocked rooms are limited.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Thank you,

Laura Pavlick and Paige Chapman
Summer Camp Coordinators

Dear Camp Participants,

I have just returned from France and Germany, which finally ends my long summer of traveling and teaching seminars.  One of the highlights of my summer was being at our camp, seeing everyone training hard and then enjoying the hotel pools and hot tub, as well as the relaxing social time around dinner and throughout the evenings.

I would like to thank you for attending our 2011 USAF Summer Camp. Your presence helped to make this year’s camp a wonderful experience for everyone involved. As you know, Osawa Sensei has agreed to be our guest instructor again next year along with our USAF Shihan and featured Shidoin.  We are in the process of planning next year’s camp and as soon as we have all the details, we will announce them so that you will have plenty of time to plan for 2012.  I am looking forward to seeing all of you again next year.

With sincere thanks,

Yamada Sensei

Dear Aikidoka,

It’s that time of year again.  Tis’ the season to pack up the dogi and hakama and head to Summer Camp!

It’s also the season to donate a prize to the Summer Camp Scholarship Raffle! The Scholarship Raffle is a fun Camp activity that showcases the generosity and talent our aikidoka have off the mat. More importantly, the proceeds from the Raffle fund scholarships allow us to bring Camp within reach of aikidoka who otherwise couldn’t afford to attend.

No prize is too small and it’s never too late to donate. Examples of current and past prizes include; jewelry, skin care products, gi bags, weapons, free attendance at seminars, wine, artwork and massage therapy. The donation process is simple. To make a donation, visit the Camp section of the USAF website and click the “donate” link for the instructions and form. Any questions you have about donating a prize can be directed to Shawn Dansby at smdansby2@gmail.com.

So, while you are making that to do list before Camp, please consider adding a raffle donation. The Summer Camp Scholarships are not possible without your help!

Sincerely,

Barbara Britton

Christine Wong

Shawn Dansby

USAF Summer Camp Raffle Committee

Dear Aikido Community,

Thank you to those of you who have registered to attend Summer Camp 2011! You can now access the tentative schedule on our website, www.usaikifed.com.

As you may know, registration for full week or half week attendance is now closed, but day participants are encouraged to register online up to the day they arrive to help avoid lines and create a smooth process.  However, we are still receiving inquiries from people who have not yet registered but would like to attend camp and stay at the hotel. At this time, we have someone looking to stay for the first half week and one for the full week. We are unable to accommodate them since there are no more rooms available at the hotel.  If you would like to reduce your cost by adding a roommate, please let us know. We will keep your name on a list in case we are contacted by someone looking to attend.

If this is your first time attending camp at the Seaview Hotel and Resort, here are a few helpful hints:

• bring a bathing suit – there’s an indoor and outdoor pool and hot tub
• the dojo is in the hotel – you can get changed in your room
• in addition to the breakfast and dinner served with the camp package, there is a bar/grill where you can buy lunch, sandwiches are sold pool-side, and  a $12 all-you-can-eat buffet lunch will be available daily.
• there are no washing machines, but there is a laundromat down the street
• there is a bar/lounge area in the lobby where we can all congregate at night
• everything is air-conditioned – bring a sweatshirt
• there will be a camp store where you can but a new dogi
• bring your weapons – weapons class will be held outside

Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you in 2 weeks!

Laura and Paige

The schedule for summer camp is now available.  Click here to view the schedule effective 7/8/2011.  Please remember that the schedule is tentative and subject to change.