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2011 Agility Camp

August 20-21

Sugar Bush Farm, Stephentown NY

Dates: Saturday-Sunday, August 20-21, 2011

Location: Sugar Bush Farm, 760 East Road, Stephentown NY

Open to: all dogs currently competing or getting ready to compete
(must be comfortable on all equipment)

Download registration form  (PDF)  (word)

Instructors (click here for bios):
Terri Cesarek
Monique Plinck
Tracy Sklenar

Confirmations were sent out on August 8th:

Hello campers!

Thank you for coming to the AgileDogs Agility Camp, August 20-21 2011.  I hope you all enjoy yourselves and learn a lot.  Just remember, camp is the place to try new things and see how they work for your dog.  All of our instructors will strive to teach you the best that they know and will make every attempt to help each team succeed, but you have to do your part by keeping an open mind, trying new things, and learning something in the process!  And, feel free to step back whenever you need to, to give your dog a rest, as this will be a busy 2 days for you and your canine partner.

Some important notes:

1)       It is absolutely required that you pick up after your dog.  Failure to do so will result in being excused from the grounds.
2)       Bring your own chairs, and shade if you wish.  We will have a large tent and some smaller tents by the lower rings, and another large tent by the upper ring, for shade during sessions.  Campers and their dogs may use the tents during sessions.  Auditors may also use the tents, but we ask that auditor’s dogs not use the space under these tents for shade for their dogs unless there is room available after campers have arrived.
3)       A water hose will be available for cooling your dogs. In addition, the pond will be available during camp for both dogs and humans to cool off.  Make sure you follow the Chittenden’s rules about the use of their backyard for this camp and in particular the use of the pond, since the pond is located in their back yard!
4)       Remember that ticks abound in this area, so be sure to check your dogs for ticks, especially if you walk them in the woods.

Camp Format: 

There are 3 working groups.  These groups are based on the survey and information you provided to me about you and your dog.  These groups ensure that you're with other teams of similar experiences and goals for camp, as much as possible!   Also, the welcome bag that you receive at check-in will include the schedule for your group.  There are approximately 11 dogs per working group, so you'll get plenty of attention and chances to work your dog through the course of the 2 days.  Please stay with your group during each session if you're working your dog, and please be there on time for the start of each session.  If you take a break from working your dog for a session, you're free to sit in on any of the other sessions if you so wish.  If you're not working your dog for a session, you can also take your dog to the pond, fields, etc, as long as you don't interfere with any of the working sessions. 

You are free to work your second dog whenever you wish.  Many of you have previously specified to me details about your second dog; if you haven’t done this, please make sure that your second dog is at least at the same level of experience as the first dog, or you’ve been approved to work the session with that dog by the instructor.

Check-in for camp:  From 7:15-7:25am on Saturday, check-in is at the large tent by the lower rings.  Make sure you pick up your welcome packet as it contains the schedule and your name tag, plus other goodies! 

Food:  We will provide light snacks throughout the day, beverages, and lunch each day for campers and auditors (you are free to eat either in the building or under the large yellow and purple tent, or anywhere!).  Lunch and snacks can be found in the building; we will have water and drink "stations" by each outside ring.

Treats and toys for dogs: Make sure you bring several types and plenty of quantity of treats for your dogs.  Also, bring different types of toys if your dog is toy motivated, as you're sure to use them at some point during the sessions.  And, if you have treats that can be thrown please bring them (food tube, stuffable toy, bait bag, etc).

Videotaping: While it is certainly allowed for your personal use (your runs and your friends/training partners runs), we ask that you not tape whole sessions or blocks of sessions.

24-HOUR VETERINARIAN:

Animal ER of the Berkshires
(at the Pittsfield Veterinary Hospital)
1634 West Housatonic Street
Pittsfield, Mass.
413-997-3425

Parking: Pretty much anyplace goes as far as vehicle parking locations.  As long as you’re not too close to a ring with a barking dog in your car, and aren’t blocking an access pathway or road, you can park anywhere.  If you need a handicapped spot close to the rings, please contact me so I can make sure you get a good spot.

Parking for RV’s, overnight campers:  Please see Craig Chittenden upon arrival to help guide you to your camping location.

Setup: You are free to set up at the site after 4pm on Friday.  If you wish to arrive earlier than that, please contact Trisha (Trisha@agiledogs.net, 518-331-7814).

Questions, etc: Both myself (Trisha Stall) and Debbie Wlodarski will be available to answer any questions you might have throughout camp.  Please find either one of us if you need anything.  I’ll be floating in group C; Debbie will be in Group B.  If you have any questions specifically about the site and can’t locate Debbie or myself, look for Craig Chittenden, owner of Sugar Bush Farm.

Groupings  

Camp Schedule (download it!):

Directions to Camp: Sugar Bush Farm is at 760 East Road, Stephentown, NY  12168

From the East: Take the Mass Pike to the end. Continue on I-90 to the next exit, B-3 in Canaan, NY. At the end of the ramp go right, 22 North. In New Lebanon, Route 20 and 22 run together for a short while. Make sure you stay on Route 22 by bearing left just before a boarded-up gas station on the left. Continue approximately 7 miles to the traffic light in Stephentown where Routes 22 and 43 intersect. Go straight to continue on 22 North. Follow Directions from the 22/43 Intersection below.

From the West: Take I-90 East to Exit 11E - Route 20 East. Continue on Route 20 East until it joins Route 22 North. Follow Directions from the 22/43 Intersection below.

From the North: From Hoosick Falls you will take Route 22 South. Go through the town of Berlin.  Approximately 3 miles south of the Berlin Jr./Sr. High School on your left is Giles Road or County Route 33.  Take that road, it takes a sharp right at a horse farm (you’ll see tan buildings and split rail fencing on the right). You will go over a little bridge, you'll see farm buildings and straight ahead on the right you will see the training building - white domed roof with tan walls and windows. There is a driveway marked by two metal fence posts just before the building; follow that driveway down to the ring and parking.

Directions from the 22/43 Intersection: Heading North on Route 22, you'll go up a hill where 22 becomes 2 lanes. It goes back down to one lane after you get to the top of the hill and you will pass a mobile home park on your right. Just after that there is a brown house with a small satellite dish. The road right next to that house is Giles Road or County Route 33.  Take that road, it takes a sharp right at a horse farm (you’ll see tan buildings and split rail fencing on the right). You will go over a little bridge, you'll see farm buildings and straight ahead on the right you will see the training building - white domed roof with tan walls and windows. There is a driveway marked by two metal fence posts just before the building, and there’s also a Sugar Bush Farm sign there; follow that driveway down to the rings and/or building.

Trisha Stall
www.agiledogs.net; Trisha@agiledogs.net
518-331-7814

What’s this agility camp thing all about?  It’s a perfect opportunity to give you and your dog exposure to new and wonderful instructors, and over the course of 2 days to learn many new things and become a better team in the process.

Who can attend? Any dog currently competing at any level, in any venue, or ready to compete can attend.

Who are the instructors? Go to my website’s camp page (top of this page when available) for instructor bios and other information.  We have three great instructors this year; all will give you new insights into you and your canine teammate and give you lots of new skills and ideas to take home with you!

Can I just attend one day? Unfortunately, no; because of the rotating instructor format and material to be covered, you must attend both days for the full camp experience.

What’s the cost?  The cost is $350 for two days of camp.  A deposit of $100 (non-refundable) is required to guarantee a spot, and should be sent in with your registration.  The balance of $250 is due by July 1^st, 2010.

Can I audit?  Yes!  Audit fees are $80 a day or $150 for both days.  All levels of experience are welcome to audit.

What’s the schedule? Working groups will be set up based on experience level and problem/focus areas.  Max number of 12 handlers/dogs per group.  Each group will stay together for the course of the weekend, rotating from instructor to instructor for working sessions each day.  There will be breaks between working sessions, as well as a lunch break.

Can I work a second dog? You may only work one dog at a time.  However, if you want to substitute a second dog working at a similar or higher level to your first dog, please contact me so I can approve the substitution.  You may bring as many additional dogs to camp as you wish to that you are not working in camp.

Are cancellations allowed? For cancellations more than one month prior to the start date of the camp, all but the $100 deposit will be refunded if the spot can be filled.  For cancellations less than one month prior to the start of camp, no fees will be refunded.  Bitches in season and aggressive dogs are not allowed on the grounds.  If you plan to attend with an intact bitch, you should plan ahead and arrange to have an alternate dog of similar skill level available to work.  No refunds for bitches in season.

Local hotel information: