Pinewoods Camp, Inc.This season’s schedule follows in chronological order. Clicking on the session title will bring you to the session’s website for more information and registration.
View a Printer-friendly session schedule.
Volunteer grounds work and clean up to open camp. Volunteers with a will to work are welcome; no special skills required! Housing & meals provided. Evening activities vary, initiated by those attending. Please register at least three days in advance and check with us before bringing children.
Sponsored by: Pinewoods
Volunteer grounds work and clean up to open camp. Volunteers with a will to work are welcome; no special skills required! Housing & meals provided. Evening activities vary, initiated by those attending. Please register at least three days in advance and check with us before bringing children.
Sponsored by: Pinewoods
Contact: Marcie Van Cleave at 781-438-4387, fac@facone.org
Sponsored by: Folk Arts Center of New England
Exciting and affordable, Swing into Summer is an enlivening and relaxing weekend full of traditional dance, song, music-making, and other activities that people of every age/persuasion will enjoy. Our campers span all ages, including young adults, and families. Swing into Summer is a great place to do what you love and try something new along with friends both old and yet-to-be. Jump with joyful dance one period, learn to play a new instrument the next, then sing and swim late into the night. Come for what you love; stay for something you didn’t even know you loved!
Committee members: Alex Ellis, Emma Schneider, Allison Shapp, Donal Sheets, Ben Williams
Fri. p.m. to Sun. p.m.
Contact: Ben Williams, info@swingintosummer.org
or Alex Ellis, info@swingintosummer.org
Sponsored by: CDS Boston Centre
In addition to daily dance classes geared to all campers, the sessions offer a daily “party prep” class that covers classic international folk dances, evening parties, advanced dance classes, “Culture Corners”, singing, drumming, and instrumental workshops, and late night after-parties. There is also time for swimming, boating, and the simple pleasure of being at Pinewoods!
Weekend Session: June 25-29 (Thursday afternoon through Monday breakfast)
FolkDays Session: June 29 – July 2 (Monday afternoon through Thursday breakfast)
Both Sessions: June 25 – July 2 (Thursday afternoon through Thursday breakfast)
Contact: Marcie Van Cleave, 781-438-4387,
Contact: Marcie Van Cleave at 781-438-4387, fac@facone.org
Sponsored by: Folk Arts Center of New England
Photo by Ira Gessel.
Great dancing, beautiful music, rejuvenating singing, brilliant tune swaps, exuberant parties—CDS-Boston Centre’s July 4 Session has it all. How do we cram so much fun, music, and dance into just one long weekend? Come and find out! One of Pinewoods’ longest-running camp sessions, this event has been held, in some form, since the 1950s. Walking into J4 is like arriving at a never-ending party full of great friends you haven’t met yet. The session celebrates both the depth of traditions and the exciting new possibilities in English and American music and dance. Join us!
Contact: Natty Smith at 781-710-6131, nattygsmith@gmail.com
or Amelia Mason at 339-224-0306, amelia2631@gmail.com
Sponsored by: CDS Boston Centre
In 2020, ESCape returns with an exciting line up of dance, music, and other fun! This year’s staff includes: Teachers: Jenny Beer (English), Marc Hartstein (Scottish), Luke Donforth (Contra), Nancy Barbour (Rapper), Ben Moss (Morris); Musicians: Peter Macfarlane, Catherine Miller, Adam Oleksa, Julie Vallimont, Kristen Planeaux, Dave Wiesler, Christopher Jacoby, Dan EmeryESCape is a rare opportunity to bring together dance communities in one magical setting—who knows what surprises you’ll find! So ESCape to the Cape this summer for the English-Scottish-Contra ESCperience!
English, Scottish, and Contra dancing at ESCape will be taught and called using gender-free terminology.
Session Rates:
$380 for CDS-Boston/RSCDS (any branch) members
$390 for non-members
$285 for campers ages 13-25
Contact: Daniel Potter at 302-528-4299, danielpotter1816@gmail.com
or April Birnie at 609-651-0746, birnie.april@gmail.com
Sponsored by: CDS Boston Centre, Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
Scottish Country Dancing combines the grace and control of balletic footwork with the exuberance of Scots folk dancing into a social dance tradition that is simultaneously vigorous and elegant. Dancers dance in sets of four couples to reels, jigs, and strathspeys played on fiddle, piano, and pipes. Scottish Sessions at Pinewoods offer two of the best SCD programs in the country for beginners and advanced dancers alike, along with Highland dancing, step dancing, and music classes. The Scottish Sessions are also known for their outstanding teachers and musicians from both sides of the Atlantic and beyond.
Pinewoods is the perfect setting in which to learn or perfect one of the most exhilarating forms of social dancing. Ceilidhs and after-parties for all are part of the Pinewoods Scottish experience. Join us for the weekend (Session I, July 10-13), the week (Session II, July 13-18), or both!
Contact: Kat Dutton/Ellen Scannell at 781-773-8729, scdpinewoods2020@gmail.com
or Laurie Somario at 781-773-8729, scdpinewoods2020@gmail.com
Sponsored by: Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
Photo by Ken Launie.
Bring your whole family tree to these woods!
Program Director: Elvie Miller
Share traditional dance, music, storytelling and folk arts with your family in the breathtaking beauty of New England woods and ponds. This is a great way to spend time with your children, your grandchildren, your nieces and nephews, or other children dear to you. Along with morning children’s and adult’s classes with experienced educators and high caliber musicians, there is something for everyone with intergenerational dancing, classes in morris, sword and clog as well as daily offerings of singing, storytelling, jam sessions and crafts. Delicious community meals and daily swim-time in an idyllic setting are also highlights for many. Family Week never fails to fill us with inspiration that sustains us through the year. We hope you can join us.
Saturday p.m. to Saturday a.m.
Contact: Steve Howe at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
or Crispin Youngberg at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
Sponsored by: Country Dance and Song Society
Photo by Andy Kane.
For Singers who like to Dance and Dancers who like to Sing!
Program Director: Betsy Branch
The day begins with the all-camp sing, a powerful harmony singing experience involving a combination of learning by ear as well as written music. Different staff lead the camp through a wide ranging repertoire of rousing and inspiring harmony singing, accommodating all forms and levels of experience. This is followed by a period dedicated to dancing, again with something for everyone – a class specifically for those with little to no dance experience as well as more challenging classes in contra and English with the finest in dance music and dance instruction. The afternoon program offers workshops on a range of themes in traditional singing, harmony singing, instrumental playing, English ritual dancing and more social dancing. In the evening, there are inspiring staff concerts, followed by a full dance program of both English country and contra dance.
Saturday p.m. to Saturday a.m.
Contact: Steve Howe at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
or Crispin Youngberg at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
Sponsored by: Country Dance and Song Society
Photo by Deborah Payne.
Familiar paths, innovative repertoire.
Program Director: Alex Cumming
Join us for a wonderful week of English dance, music, and song! Experience the tremendous vitality of English country and display dances, stirring tunes, and rousing English songs, all with world-class teachers and superb musicians, in the magical setting of Pinewoods Camp.
Saturday p.m. to Saturday a.m.
Contact: Steve Howe at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
or Crispin Youngberg at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
Sponsored by: Country Dance and Song Society
Photo by Avia Moore.
Style and substance on the dance floor!
Program Director: Joanna Reiner
English dance calling and leading is the best job in the world, but it is, in fact, a job. It requires training, experience, patience, love, continuing education, many hours outside of actual gigs to prepare and digest, and overall, passion for and dedication to English Country Dance, this sport we love so much. This course, limited to 12 people, will focus on teaching ECD style and technique – how we dance in addition to what we dance – and how we include teaching dance style in both workshops and social dance settings. ECD Callers of any experience level, including beginning callers, should sign up for this class with a genuine desire to work on their own dance style, learn new things, take risks in a supported environment, and try different ways of teaching and calling.
Saturday p.m. to Saturday a.m.
Contact: Steve Howe at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
or Crispin Youngberg at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
Sponsored by: Country Dance and Song Society
Photo by Avia Moore.
So you think you can count to five?
Program Director: Gillian Stewart
Come learn “Take Five”, an exciting and mind-bending dance by Judy Erickson and Orion Longsword. “Take Five” combines the figures and precision of traditional English longsword with the creativity and fluidity of jazz. The dance is aerobic and complex, and requires dancers to learn to think in 5/4 time. Participants will learn the dance, discuss the ways in which modern choreography informs living ritual dance traditions, and practice observing and giving constructive feedback to performance groups. This course is for 9 to 18 people ready to run, jump, and bend for 3 hours a day.
Saturday p.m. to Saturday a.m.
Contact: Steve Howe at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
or Crispin Youngberg at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
Sponsored by: Country Dance and Song Society
Photo by Maddie Freeman.
Dance, sing, play, repeat: party in the woods!
Program Director: Emily Troll
This week gathers folks from around the country to learn and have a mighty fine time together. Whether you’re just dipping a toe in the water, or you’re an experienced dancer and player, this week will provide all kinds of contra and contra-adjacent activities for you to explore. From Bal folk to Blues, from harmony singing to hot squares, this week will keep you moving and learning in a wonderful community.
Saturday pm to Saturday am
Contact: Steve Howe at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
or Crispin Youngberg at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
Sponsored by: Country Dance and Song Society
Photo by Avia Moore.
Take your calling to the next level
Program Director: Lisa Greenleaf
An intensive workshop, limited to 10 people and designed for advanced-beginner through intermediate callers who are ready to get to the next level. The focus is on two important topics: teaching skills (understanding choreography and building a concise teaching vocabulary) and stage craft (improving performance presence and vocal skills, and collaborating with musicians). All of this takes place in a supportive environment designed to help participants discover their strengths and explore new ideas.
Saturday pm to Saturday am
Contact: Steve Howe at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
or Crispin Youngberg at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
Sponsored by: Country Dance and Song Society
Photo by Avia Moore.
Epics and Odysseys
Program Director: Emily O’Brien
Journey to another time with music that tells a story and evokes distant lands in a universal language. Our epic will explore music with mythological connections; travel the different regional styles of the Renaissance and Baroque; and bring us together through music and dance. We offer coached consorts at all levels for recorders, viols, voices, louds (Renaissance reeds and brass); plus flute, harp, and of course English Country Dance for everyone.
Saturday p.m. to Saturday a.m.
Contact: Steve Howe at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
or Crispin Youngberg at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
Sponsored by: Country Dance and Song Society
Photo by Karen Hunter.
Where YOU are the defining ingredient
Program Directors: Anna & Dennis Soloway
Young, old, and everyone in between attend as couples, singles and families. People who fell in love with dance and music just recently, others who have been doing this since the cradle. Together we make the woods ring with song, dance, music, stories and laughter. Most of all, Campers’ Week is about YOU! Anyone can teach a class or workshop at Campers’ Week, or lead a song, play a tune, call a dance, tell a joke or story, host a party, share a skill. We start out with a basic schedule of classes offered by the talented staff, and then together we add to it, embellish it, improvise and surprise each other.
Saturday p.m. to Saturday a.m.
Contact: Steve Howe at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
or Crispin Youngberg at 413-203-5467 Ext. 101, camp@cdss.org
Sponsored by: Country Dance and Song Society
Photo by Jeff Bary.
Contact: Heather Wood at (646) 628-4604, Hwood50@aol.com
or Joy Bennett at (917) 922-5404, joybennett@att.net
Sponsored by: Folk Music Society of New York and others
Photo by Suzanne Mrozak.
Fri. p.m. to Tues. a.m.
Contact: Marcie Van Cleave at 781-438-4387, fac@facone.org
Sponsored by: CDS Boston Centre, Folk Arts Center of New England
Photo by Mitch Diamond.
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Volunteer are needed to help close camp. We sweep, we clean, we wash curtains, we gather mattresses, we close the kitchen. All volunteers with a will to work are welcome; no special skills required! Housing & meals provided. Evening activities vary, initiated by those attending. Please register at least three days in advance and check with us before bringing children.
Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Pinewoods in the fall is beautiful!
Sponsored by: Pinewoods
