About the Whitewater Whirl Weekend
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Registration
We encourage you to pre-register, but we’ll welcome you enthusiastically if you just show up with your dancing shoes. We typically have 120-140 dancers at the Whirl, but the hall can take up to 170. If you can only make it for one of the evening dances and/or some workshops, that’s fine—we’ll accommodate you (see Registration page for fees).
Children who are experienced dancers are welcome on the dance floor. Children who are non-dancers are welcome at the camp. Childcare is not provided, and we do not have any scheduled activities for non-dancing youth.
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Volunteer Policy
It takes a community to build a dance. We are grateful to the volunteer members of the planning committee for sharing their knowledge and experience as we pull together all the things that need to happen to make the weekend a success.
Come Whirl time, we hope everyone will pitch in.
We'll be asking everyone to volunteer for one or two hours over the weekend.
Near the registration table, we’ll have a board with a list of tasks, managed by our volunteer coordinator. Just pick one or two that work for you. As far as possible we’ll try to schedule everything outside dance times.
We'll need a group to set up the dance hall, so please email us in advance at whitewaterwhirl@gmail.com if you are arriving on Thursday evening or early Friday and joining this crew.
We'll need help in the dining hall, at the snack table, and in the dance hall for sweeping the wooden floor. And especially on Sunday afternoon to tear down. These jobs will be on the board for sign up after you arrive.
We know that for some dancers on limited incomes, the cost of the weekend may be difficult to afford. If that’s your situation and you're willing to put in more hours, please contact us at least two months before the weekend and we’ll see if we can work out a volunteer deal to reduce your registration fee.
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Check-in
On arrival, follow the signs from the park entrance to the dance hall at the top of the hill. Check-in starts at 5 pm on Friday, May 7. At check-in you will:
* Receive information about the weekend. Choose a cabin [first-come-first-served] or find a suitable camping area.
* Sign up for a volunteer task.
* Choose a day and time to bring your snack item to the dance snack table.
* Pickup your Whirl 2027 button.
If you arrive before 5 pm, go ahead and select a cabin space or tent space, then check in at 5 pm. If you arrive after 5 pm, please check in before proceeding to a cabin or a camp site.
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Cabins
We offer free accommodation in cabins with bunk beds (and fairly new mattresses). Each cabin has several electrical outlets. There is no heating or air conditioning but at this elevation it’s never been hot enough in early May to need it.
We do not assign cabin spaces. It’s first-come-first-served.
Fayette County 4H Camp rules prohibit moving beds and removing mattresses from beds. We have never heard of dancers moving the furniture around, but we’ve been asked to inform you.
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Camping
If you’re planning to camp or pulling a camper, please check in with the park staff when you arrive and they’ll show you the options for tent and camper sites. No charge for camping.
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Bathhouses
The bathhouse uphill from the dance hall near cabins near cabins 5 and 6 has separate men's and women's facilities.
The one near the camping area is co-ed.
You can use the separate bathhouses (where there’s more space in the shower stalls) no matter where you’re staying.
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Offsite Lodging and Food
There are many lodging and dining options available within a 10-15 minute drive from the camp.Description goes here
GENERAL INFORMATION
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WHAT TO BRING, ALL DANCERS
Flash light. The camp will be dark at night. There’s not much outdoor lighting.
Warm clothing for cool evenings.
Cool clothing for warm days.
Sturdy shoes [rough ground, a rough stone stairway between dance hall and dining hall.]
Your dance snack contribution [if you did not make a $5 contribution.
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WHAT TO BRING, LODGING ONSITE
If you are staying in a cabin or camping
Sheets
Pillow
Warm blankets or sleeping bag. Cabins are unheated.
Towel, wash cloth, soap, shampoo
Shower shoes or flip flops. Bathhouse floors tend to accumulate water.
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POWER OUTLETS
The dance hall and dining hall have outlets that can be used for charging mobile phones. There are fewer outlets in the cabins and they are not suitable for electric blankets or portable heaters.
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MOBILE PHONE SERVICE / WI-FI
Cell phone service from most providers is available. WiFi is not available.
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PETS
Pets are not permitted in either the park or the camp.
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ALCOHOL
Alcohol is prohibited in the park and camp area. The facility is owned by Fayette County, and alcohol is prohibited on this county property. If you know of anyone who has brought alcohol to the camp, please encourage them to remove all bottles and cans when they leave, and not put them in the trash cans.
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WEATHER
For local weather, check the forecast for Fayetteville, WV. Expect warm days and cool evenings. The camp is at a higher elevation that some other areas of West Virginia.