WHAT IS FALL CAMP?
Fall Camp is a four day adult conference hosted by the Tri-Diocesan Council on Aging and sponsored by the three Episcopal dioceses in Virginia — the Dioceses of Virginia, Southwestern Virginia, and Southern Virginia.
Fall Camp happens in late October each year at Shrine Mont Conference Center, in Orkney Springs, Virginia. More information on Shrine Mont itself is available at shrinemont.com. Fall Camp begins on a Monday evening and continues through Thursday lunch.
Fall Camp is an opportunity to relax in the mountains of Virginia with other, mostly retired, seniors (But we don’t have an age limit!) from across the Commonwealth and beyond. It can be an oasis on your spiritual journey by providing a break from the busyness of modern life. It can broaden your spiritual horizons through the insights of our keynote and other speakers. It can stimulate your spiritual imagination through workshops, worship, and private conversations.
A typical day at Fall Camp includes worship, fellowship at mealtimes, sessions with speakers that challenge and entertain us, opportunities to participate in workshop sessions on a wide variety of topics, and informal late evening get-togethers for conversation and the occasional card game. The Happy Half Hour before dinner each evening is a time for greeting longtime friends and meeting new ones. Part of the fun of this half hour is sampling the delightful finger foods donated by participants for enjoyment with wine or non-alcoholic beverages. Giving us an idea of what you might bring is helpful to avoid excessive duplication.
The schedule includes a free afternoon for touring Shrine Mont, hiking, a round of golf, relaxing with a good book, or anything else you can imagine. There is plenty of free time to sit on the porches, visit with friends, relax, and enjoy the amazing scenery.
Folk theologian Ed Kilbourne, a Fall Camp institution, entertains us, leads us in song, and tells amazing and occasionally irreverent stories. The Wednesday evening program is our annual Coffee House with dessert and entertainment by Ed.
WHAT TO BRING?
Shrine Mont provides bed sheets, blankets, bath towels, wash cloths, a bath mat, and small hotel soaps. The towels are not very big—you might like to bring your own.
Some other things to consider bringing are face masks (optional), comfortable shoes, hiking gear, flashlight, fishing pole, musical instrument for jam session, pickle ball gear, your knitting, a warm sweater or jacket for chilly evenings, umbrella, alarm clock, favorite pillow or blanket, shampoo and hair-dryer.
HOW CAN I HELP?
● Bring finger-food snacks for Happy Half Hour.
● Ask one of the busy people how to help clean up after Happy Half Hour.
● Stay after Coffee House to help clean up and reset the room.
● Consider serving on the organizing committee.