#AOCM2019 AmblesideOnline’s Camp Meeting 2019

[michelle dawn]

What's the weather like in Tennessee the first of April?

[Leahpolk]

Hello ladies, very excited about the retreat! Are the bunkhouses preassigned, or do we pick when we get there? For instance, I see that if a large group is coming and would like to bunk together, we can email and request it as "group bunkers"...but what about a smaller group, no more than 5?

Thank you!

[hiddenartmama]

What's the weather like in Tennessee the first of April?

Only predictable in its unpredictability! (I live in Memphis, a couple hundred miles southwest of Nashville.) Anything from a late frost to the upper 80s can happen at that time of year.

[LynnBruce]

Hello ladies, very excited about the retreat! Are the bunkhouses preassigned, or do we pick when we get there? For instance, I see that if a large group is coming and would like to bunk together, we can email and request it as "group bunkers"...but what about a smaller group, no more than 5?

Thank you!

Leah, your smaller group can send the "group bunkers" request to the email given as well.

Thanks!

[LynnBruce]

Will the talks be geared toward experienced AO moms? And would non-AO CM followers be able to benefit from this? I'm doing AO year 1 with my oldest and I also have some CM friends that use other curriculum, but might be interested.

The talks are still developing at this stage, but it's safe to say that our talks will be deeply rooted in CM's writings and her Principles. Those attendees who have read at least one of CM's books and are fairly familiar with her 20 Principles, her methods, and perhaps the basic elements of the AO curriculum, are the ones who will be all ready to dive deep and get the most out of the retreat sessions. 

If moms using other CM curricula are familiar with these things, they will do just fine and of course they are welcome.  

For those who want to start diving deep now, Charlotte Mason's series is available for free on the AO website, as well as a modern paraphrase by Leslie Laurio. There are also some wonderful dedicated threads on the forum where guides lead discussion of the various volumes of CM's books, PR articles, and more. This is a terrific way to get to know some of the women who may be at the retreat and have fun studying CM together beforehand.

[jeglosson]

Hello! I saw on the FAQ that nursing/bonding babies under 12 mo will be allowed to room with mom. I will have a 14mo I'm sure will still be nursing full time in April; would it be possible for him to be with me? I want to be respectful of the guidelines, so I appreciate your time in reply!

[Dawn Duran]

Hello!  I saw on the FAQ that nursing/bonding babies under 12 mo will be allowed to room with mom.  I will have a 14mo I'm sure will still be nursing full time in April; would it be possible for him to be with me?  I want to be respectful of the guidelines, so I appreciate your time in reply!

Thank you for making this respectful request. We love babies and children of all ages, and we made sure to create guidelines by which nursing/bonding babes in arms would feel welcome at AO Camp Meeting. While we want to make it possible for moms with littles to participate, we need to consider the needs of every attendee - and those of you who are unable to attend as well. Babes in arms are far easier to contain than toddling babies, and after the age of twelve months mobility begins to increase exponentially as I'm sure you know well. 

It is pure joy to see little ones toddling about and making friends, but it also creates an irresistible distraction for some of us such that our attention is pulled away from the speaker and whatever message the Lord has placed on their heart to share with us. Additionally, the joyful noise of children is not the best background for recording our talks for a wider distribution, and it is our great hope to make such recordings available for those unable to join us live at AO Camp Meeting so that they, too, can be blessed. 
 
The short answer is that there has to be a universal cut-off in place, and we are not able to make exceptions awhile continuing to maintain fair and equal treatment. Thank you for understanding!

[jeglosson]

Thank you, Dawn!  I appreciate your reply!

[CrystalStarr]

Ahhh, women only.  That's too bad.  Hubby and I thought this was an answer to prayer for us to get on the same page for our homeschooling.  Well, now I'm not sure what to do in that area.  Darn.

[Dawn Duran]

Ahhh, women only.  That's too bad.  Hubby and I thought this was an answer to prayer for us to get on the same page for our homeschooling.  Well, now I'm not sure what to do in that area.  Darn.

There are many logistical reasons why AO Camp Meeting became a Women Only event for 2019 even though we knew this would be a disappointment to many people. I encourage those of you for which this is the case to adopt a different perspective rather than focusing on the disappointment factor, though. 

I think it is magnificent when dads want to participate in the homeschool and grow in their understanding of the CM philosophy, and I admire them for being the clear minority in attendance when they decide to join their wives at conferences. However, if I'm honest, a smidge of me also feels envy and resentment. Why doesn't my husband want to attend an event like this with me? Is he not as committed to homeschooling and his family as that woman's husband is? Fortunately, I can call this out for what it is - a seed of doubt planted by the enemy - and quickly quiet that harmful voice. But for some moms this could prove to be really devastating. 

Another friend pointed out to me that a Women Only event provides moms with security in expressing themselves without fear of how they might come across to the men in the room. Among fellow moms she likely would feel comforted that the majority of us understand where she's coming from. If there are a handful of men in the room then it changes the dynamic and she may not feel comfortable asking her question or expressing her opinion. 

These are just a few examples of how one could view this scenario. We are very hopeful that AO Camp Meeting will be an energizing and encouraging experience for those moms who are most in need of it. It is sad to hear that many people are disappointed by the choice to make it a Women Only event. I can understand your disappointment if your expectations were that this would be a family event. However, that was never the model we were working with as we began planning AO Camp Meeting. No one model would be universally pleasing to everyone, but we hope that the format of AO Camp Meeting will meet the needs of every mom who chooses to join us. 

As to the question of how a husband and wife can get on the same page for their homeschool - I think listening to audio of talks is a wonderful way to achieve just that! And we are very hopeful that we will have quality audio to offer the AO community after the event.