Calling by Jacqui Grennan with music from Panda Stomp (Jacob Chen, Sarah Bellows, and Cecilia Vacanti) and the Cheap Shots (Pat Aruffo, John Brinduse, Bill Balassi, Peter Esherick, Dave Para, and Erika Gerety)!
It will be hosted at the beautiful Manzano Mountain Retreat in Torreon, NM (~1 hour from Albuquerque & 1:45 from Santa Fe) with luxurious cabins or options for tent or RV/Van camping.
What is Boo Camp?
Boo Camp features local and national callers and bands. The schedule could include concerts, contra dancing, couples dancing, singing, jamming, camp gathering, silent auction, and the much adored Boo Ball.
Cost of Boo Camp
The full cost for Boo Camp, staying in cabins for the full weekend is $350, however there are many a-la-carte options including $85 for the full day on Saturday. We offer work trade scholarships for discounts to those attending the full camp, you can chose that option during camp registration.
See Registration Information for a full list of sleeping, meal, and a-la-carte options!
Schedule
Caller
Jacqui Grennan
Jacqui Grennan started contra dancing in Los Angeles, CA, in 2009. Since then, she’s taken a deep dive into folk dancing, first as a contra caller, then choreographer (many of her dances were called at FolkMadness 2024!), then English Country Dance caller and choreographer, and now taking on the challenge of learning modern western square dancing. These experiences of trying new things at different skill levels has enhanced her ability to consider different ways of teaching and learning. She is known for her clear and caring teaching with a stage presence that is a blend of calmness and dynamism. She knows what dancers want, and knows how to make it happen, seeing herself as the host of a party who wants to help everyone have a good time. When Jacqui isn’t calling or dancing at contra dances and English Country dances around the nation, she likes to host BBQs at her home, learn various musical instruments, hang out with her cat, and work on home projects.
Bands
Panda Stomp with Cecilia Vacanti
Cheap Shots
“Cheap Shots” is an energetic acoustic band that draws upon an eclectic mix of Old Time, Celtic, Contra Dance, Folk, Country, Blues, Bluegrass, and Swing. Intertwining instrumental and vocal music (including original songs), the band features hammered dulcimer, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass, piano and the occasional Bodhran (Irish drum). Cheap Shots won the Old Time Band contest at the 2006 Santa Fe Bluegrass Festival. “Cheap Shots” has been together since longer than any of us can remember. For contra dances, the band plays a mix of New England and Southern style contra music, with occasional Swing or International sounds as well. Many of the band’s members are also contra dancers, so they incorporate the cheap tricks that make dancing look and feel especially enjoyable. Our latest cheap trick was to add Dave Para to the mix. We cemented the arrangement by having him marry our bass player on November 8, 2020.
Sound Tech:
Steve Hunyady has been doing sound since 2015 as a retirement hobby. He is a favorite in Albuquerque and Socorro and we’re excited to have him on board for Boo Camp again!
FAQs
Q: What terms will be called?
A: Most of the country is moving in the direction of gender free calling and Boo Camp is going to follow this trend. All calling at Boo Camp 2024 will be Larks and Robins, read more details about these terms here.
Q: Can I register for part of the weekend?
A: Yes, a la carte registration will be available as soon as registration opens! There are options for dance events and meals. We encourage you to register in advance so that we know how many people to expect.
Q: What is the COVID policy?
A: We will follow FolkMADS COVID Policy with no specific restrictions. If you are sick before camp please do not attend reach out to organizers for options about registration.
Q: What meals will be provided?
A: As is Boo Camp tradition, we will have a potluck dinner on Friday night to kick off the event! Then, we will have Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner provided on Saturday and Breakfast and Lunch provided on Sunday.
Q: Are there policies for dancers behavior?
A: Yes, all FolkMADS events use the same Dancers Code of Conduct. In summary, we want to cultivate a dance community which is welcoming and comfortable for dancers of all identities and abilities. If anything makes you feel uncomfortable the organizers want to know. Please check out the link for more details.
Q: What do I need to bring?
A: Items might include food for a potluck, silent auction item, and costume for the Boo Ball, linens (including bedding, towels, and pillows), water bottles, comfortable shoes for dancing. More details will be available closer to the event.
Q: Can I bring pets?
A: In short No. The official Manzano Mountain Retreat Policy on animals is:
No pets of any kind, whether mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, rodents, insects, arachnids, or any other form of animal life whatsoever are allowed, unless the animal is an assistive animal of a disabled person. MMR requires satisfactory proof of need for an assistive animal as permitted by law, establishing what service the animal provides. Proof of disability is not required.
Registration Information:
Summary
Full Registration: Full registration in cabins is $350. For all lodging options and a-la-carte registration options see the details below.
Children: Children are welcome at camp! Children under 17 years old dance for free, but will need to pay for the appropriate housing and meal options. We are not explicitly providing child care, so please coordinate with family or friends to keep an eye on non-dancing children.
Volunteers: We will ask all attendees to take one volunteer shift. In addition to that we will have discounts at camp for dancers willing to take on a more serious volunteer commitment. These roles will include snack lead, setup and decoration lead, housing assignment, registration lead, volunteer lead. Please contact Caitlin to get a discount code for camp and sign up for one of these positions.
Cancelation Policy: Full reimbursement will be available before October 9. After October 9 room and board is locked in so we can only reimburse $175.
We will follow the FolkMADS COVID Policy with no specific restrictions. Masks are optional and we encourage everyone to be vaccinated and take precautions before camp, but we will not be asking for tests or proof of vaccination.
Full Weekend Registration
There are many registration options available for Boo Camp this year! Cost is based on the number of people and type of lodging. Full registration assumes you will attend all dance events and eat all meals. Below are costs for adults attending camp in the different housing options:
| Housing | Cost for One Adult | Cost for Two Adults |
| Group Cabins | $350 | $700 |
| RV camping | $350 | $625 |
| Tent Camping | $300 | $570 |
| No Lodging (all meals) | $270 | $540 |
| Events Only (no meals or lodging) | $175 | $350 |
For those who may only want to camp for 1 night or participate in a sub-set of meals we encourage you to use the a-la-carte registration option.
A-La-Cart Registration
Please use the same registration form and choose the appropriate option. There is the option of attending full days all weekend or a partial day on Saturday. Note: Saturday All Day includes Boo Ball.
Below are the rates for the a-la-cart options:
- Friday: $30
- Saturday All day: $85
- Saturday Half day: $45
- Saturday Boo Ball: $30
- Sunday: $60
- All Dance Events: $175
We will also have a-la-cart registration option for various meals:
- Breakfast: $15
- Lunch: $20
- Dinner: $25
- All Meals: $95
Children Attending Camp
Our policy is to let children dance free. Children 17 and under staying in cabins will need to pay for a bed and meals at a rate of $170 for the weekend. It is up to parents to determine which meals work best for their families if they are registering a-la-carte.
The 2024 schedule is TBD, but the times will resemble the schedule from 2023
Why is this the cost of camp?
We like to be as transparent as possible in how the cost of camp was calculated based on how many dancers we expect to have at camp. The $175 for all dance events is the break event point for 55 dancer (about the number we had attend camp last year). We try to divvy that up according to number of workshops or the a-la-carte registration. All other costs are directly what the venue charges us which is $40/person in a 6 person cabin, $45/night/RV, and $15/night/tent. Meal costs are passed on directly from the venue.
How Can I Help?
FolkMADS, as a nonprofit organization, depends on the generosity of our community. There is an option when registering for camp to become a camp sponsor. Check out our Camp Sponsor Page for more information.
Venue Information:
Manzano Mountain Retreat
210A Los Pinetos
Torreon, NM 87061
Venue website
Nestled in the heart of the Cibola National Forest, Manzano Mountain Retreat provides a whimsical and adventurous backdrop. We will use their gym for dancing, cabins for sleeping, and trails for hiking! Free yourself from the distractions of everyday life and join us in a place of simplicity and serenity.
Dining
Our community dining experience begins Friday evening with a community Potluck. The rest of our meals will be prepared by the venue’s amazing kitchen staff. All meals will be healthy and hearty and include vegetarian, vegan, and low gluten options, however for more severe allergies we will have space to store individual food.
Meals can be purchased for the full weekend or a la carte.
Lodging
We are so excited to be back to a residential camp and look forward to staying at the retreat with all of you! General registration, with a sliding scale prices, will include space in a group cabins or camping site.
Cabins: All provided room at camp will be in cabins with around 6 people. These are nice, heated cabins with a bathroom attached. There are a mix of queen beds and twin bunk beds in each. We will use top and bottom bunks. You will have the opportunity to voice your preferences on registration and we will do our best to meet those needs. Look at pictures for Family Suites numbers 3, 4, and 5 to see what these beautiful cabins look like.
Camping: There will be spots to pitch a tent or park an RV or Van. There will be no hook ups for RVs, but there are bathrooms provided near by.
Off Site Options
One of the benefits of Manzano Mountain Retreat is it’s gorgeous, rural location. It is a great place to escape the city and enjoy a weekend of dancing and music in nature. However, we understand that group cabins or camping does not meet everyone’s needs. The other options are about 20-30 minutes away in Mountainair, NM.
- Shaffer Hotel – 103 W Main, Mountainair
- Turner Inn and RV Park – 503 E. Broadway, Mountainair
- Many AirBnBs
Please note – we recommend you stay on site at Manzano Mountain Retreat. We are not endorsing these other venues just providing information about the surrounding area.