Travel: Olivet is conveniently located on I-69, about 10 miles north of the I-94 junction. The nearest airport is Capitol City Airport in Lansing (30 minutes). Also Grand Rapids airport is about 1-1/4 hours away; Detroit Metro and Flint airports are each about 1-1/ 2 hours away. Local Transportation Olivet College/MBC shuttle will be available from Lansing's Capitol City Airport to the Olivet Campus and back Shuttle charges and times for 2009 will be posted a few months before Camp, at which time you can reserve a space on particular shuttle by filling out the Shuttle Registration Form. Rental cars are available at the Lansing Capitol City airport. As of September 2008 you could rent cars via hotwire.com or Travelocity.com beginning at $16 per day. Your results may vary. We recommend reserving a car early to lock in the good rates. There are several taxi companies that service the airport. It's about a 30 mile ride one-way, and they have given us rough prices between $70 and $95 each way. So, we strongly recommend using our shuttle or renting a car. There are direct line phones to these taxi companies right near the exit doors in the baggage claim area. Starting and Ending TimesCheck-in is from 11AM to 3PM on Friday, June 5. Student Orientation will be at 2:00pm. Classes begin promptly at 3:00 p.m. The last class ends roughly 3:30 PM on Sunday. Check-in for the pre-camp begins at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday June 4. Activities begin at 7:00 PM. A schedule of pre-camp events will be posted early in 2009. Here is an interactive map of Olivet College (our primary locations are #s 6, 13, 14, 16, 17 and 24). AccommodationsLodging is right on site in Shipherd Hall an air-conditioned student dormitory. There are single and double occupancy options (see below). In Shipherd, bathrooms are shared between 2 rooms. Should Shipherd Hall fill up (and it did in 2008), students will be offered single and double occupancy options at Dole Hall, or Blair Hall. Please be aware the Shipherd is the only air-conditioned dorm at Olivet. Also, Blair and Dole Halls both feature community bathrooms on the floor. All other facilities used for the camp (classrooms, auditorium and dining hall) are air conditioned. Please note that sleeping facilities at Olivet are college dormitory rooms. They are relatively comfortable and clean, and offer easy access to all of our activities. However, any students who feel they need hotel-level accomodations may register for MBC as a commuter (or a commuter with meal plan) and then arrange to stay at any of several local hotels. If you wish to go that route, here is a list of hotels recommended by the Events Services people at Olivet College. This list is far from exhaustive (a quick internet search brought up a couple of dozen motels and hotels within a reasonable driving range). Observe that Charlotte and Marshall are each about 10 miles from Olivet.
Linens: Note that Olivet College supplies each dormitory room occupant with 2 sheets, 2 bath towels, and one each of the following; pillowcase, pillow, washcloth and blanket. Linens are distributed upon registration, and are to be returned at check-out. Classes will be primarily in the air-conditioned C.S. Mott Academic Center, right across the street from the dorm. Parking: is plentiful on the Olivet campus, with parking lots behind Shipherd Hall, the C.S Mott Academic Center, Kirk Cafeteria, and more. See the grey areas on the interactive map. Roommates: "Single Occupancy" means you will have a room to yourself (bathrooms are shared between 2 rooms). Unless otherwise specified on your registration form, if you select "double occupancy," we will pair you up with another student of the same sex and approximately the same age group. Special Note: Shipherd Hall is air-conditioned and bathrooms are shared between 2 rooms. When Shipherd fills up students will be housed in Dole or Blair Halls, neither of which are air-conditioned. Also Dole and Blair have community bathrooms. There are about 147 rooms in Shipherd and in 2008 we used over 220 rooms altogether. So, we recommend that you sign up early if you really need or want the convenience of air-conditioning and more private bathrooms. We will post a notice on the Registration Form when Shipherd Hall fills up. Non-playing spouses, companions and chaperones: Spouses and companions of students -- or chaperones of minor students -- who will not be attending classes may register for MBC on the following basis: Both the student and the spouse/companion/chaperone sign up for double occupancy. The student pays the full double occupancy rate, while the spouse/companion/chaperone pays half the double occupancy rate. This special rate entitles the spouse/companion/chaperone to double occupancy lodging, the full meal plan, and -- if so desired -- access to demonstrations and concerts. When registering, the spouse/companion/chaperone should indicate their status in the "special needs" slot on the questionnaire. Note that the half-price rate for the spouse/companion/chaperone applies only to the regular camp tuition fee. If the spouse/companion/chaperone wishes to stay at the Olivet dorms on Thursday and/or Sunday nights, he or she must pay full stated room-rates. 
Climate: Early June weather in Olivet is normally pretty moderate (average low of 56 and high of 77), but it can be quite warm and humid at this time of year. Although all the main buildings we will occupy at Olivet are air-conditioned, students will need to walk outdoors between buildings several times a day. To ensure that you're as comfortable as possible when you do venture outside, we highly recommend that before you pack your bags you check the weather report (one example: The Weather Channel Olivet Weather, and select clothes that are appropriate to the projected conditions. And don't forget to also bring a light sweater or sweat shirt to wear indoors in case they crank up the a/c too high! Tuition: You must register to attend Midwest Banjo Camp. Slots are still available. $450 covers tuition, room with single occupancy and board for the weekend. $425 covers tuition, room with double occupancy and board for the weekend. Commuter Rate: We offer a special non-resident rate of $370 which includes meals (covers lunches and dinners only - breakfast may be purchased on the spot if you wish). Commuters may also register with no meals included for $345. The MBC Pre-Camp: Tuition for the MBC Pre-Camp this year is $50. This covers all camp activities on Thursday evening and early events Friday. If you need lodging for Thursday night the fee is $45 for single occupancy or $35 for double occupancy. Friday breakfast and Friday lunch combined will cost $15 (note that everyone is on their own for Thursday dinner). The pre-camp charges are all listed separately on the registration form, so you can pick and choose what is appropriate for you. MBC Pre-Camp commuters: Commuters may take part in the pre-camp on Thursday evening and Friday morning for a tuition fee of $50. This price does NOT include meals, which on Friday may be purchased on an ad hoc basis at the Kirk Cafeteria (or you can register on-line for Friday breakfast and lunch for $15). Note that everyone is on their own for Thursday dinner. The Midwest Banjo Camp Work Scholarship ProgramMBC is able to offer a few work-scholarships. We offer a $200 discount off the arrangement of your choice (single occupancy, double occupancy, commuter, etc.) in exchange for about ten hours of work over the course of Camp. Your duties, which will probably involve things like running errands, making photo-copies, and other, similar tasks, will be assigned by the directors or Site Coordinator, and in general should not overly interfere with your opportunity to attend classes. Those applying should be serious players over 18 who could not otherwise afford to attend. They should also be physically fit, and capable of supplying their own initiative. Apply by sending an email describing your situation to info@midwestbanjocamp.com. Extra Nights' LodgingIf it best suits your travel plans, you may reserve a bed on the night prior to Camp (Thursday, June 4), and/or the night directly following Camp (Sunday, June 7). Specify this option on your registration form, or contact us with your reservation any time up to May 21, 2009. The cost is $45 per night, single occupancy, $35 per night double occupancy per student. The Olivet cafeteria will only be open from Friday breakfast thru Sunday lunch, so if you arrive early or stay late then you will need to find other sources for meals. Olivet is a small town but has several options, a couple of restaurants and sandwich/pizza shops. One restaurant doubles as the town bar which normally closes by midnight, but will often stay open later when there is an even that caters to adults taking place at Olivet. 
Deposits and Payment ScheduleAlthough students may pay in full at any time, a deposit of $100 reserves a place at Camp until April 5, 2009, at which time all tuition balances must be paid in full. All reservations made after April 5, 2009 must be accompanied by full tuition. Cancellations and Refunds:Until April 5, 2009, your deposit is fully refundable. For cancellations beginning April 6, 2009, everything is refunded except $100. For cancellations made on or after May 29, 2009, everything is refunded except $200. email: info@midwestbanjocamp.com If you have any questions or concerns that you would prefer to address by phone, send us an email with your phone number and suggested times to call. We'll then get back to you as soon as we can. |
The Students Speak about 2008 camp: "It was my first camp and I loved it. The teachers were just so great! " "The best camp I have ever been to!" " Excellent, beyond words! " " Let me know the dates for next year so I can get them on my calendar! The staff was phenomenal, and most were so approachable and down to earth it made it that much more fun. " "As far as I am concerned it was great – food, performances, classes and instructors, accommodations, your staff, and you and Ken of course! Everything was done with humor and good feeling. Many many thanks for supporting the banjo and those of us who love it. And of course I will come next year!! " "Thanks for this wonderful opportunity!" " The instructors are amazing! The history lessons that go along with the technical lessons are priceless " " Excellent; best yet! " |
