Summer Camp in the Rockies 2012

Boulder Aikikai’s 32nd Aikido Summer Camp in the Rockies
July 22–29, 2012, Glenwood Springs, Colorado

The Boulder Aikikai tradition of getting together to practice in the Colorado Rockies continues in 2012 with senior instructors Tres Hofmeister and Kevin Choate, and junior guest instructor Karl Grignon. Join us for a week of keiko with a schedule emphasizing training and the deepening of relationships through practice.

Our camp will be held once again at Colorado Mountain College in beautiful Glenwood Springs, Colorado, July 22-29, 2012. Click here for more details about our event. We sincerely hope you will join us.

Registration is now open!

We now have a Summer Camp Blog!

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Certainly, our Boulder Aikikai Summer Camp in the Rockies has evolved and changed throughout the more than thirty years since our first in 1981. In the process of planning for this year’s Camp, I reflected on the long history of the event, on its future and, of course, on our current challenges and opportunities. I remembered the ways it has been meaningful for me and the many others who have come together there to practice. It is my hope and plan that we retain essentials of the event while continuing its natural and expected evolution.

A strength of our Camp has always been its setting, where we live and train together for a week undistracted by the concerns of our day-to-day lives. Last year, we discovered anew that the sense of camaraderie and intimacy was deepened with a simple change: one set of classes, with everyone together for each class. We will follow this schedule again this year, allowing us to more simply focus on our training. It is my conviction that our ability to train together as a group is important for each of us as individuals as well as our collective future. This is particularly true given the retirement of the three teachers who have defined our event: Mitsugi Saotome shihan, Frank Doran shihan, and Hiroshi Ikeda shihan.

Clearly, this is a time of significant change. That said, I am quite hopeful about this year and am looking forward to our time together again. Moving ahead, a sense of what we are doing together as a group is vital and I believe our Summer Camp in the Rockies can play a role in developing this. It is also, frankly, an opportunity to consider the future. To provide a focused training environment while looking forward, our schedule will again be built on a core of three teachers. Two of us have been here since the beginning. The third this year is a junior but very active instructor of similar mind. I believe this will allow a deepened training experience, where everyone has the opportunity to develop a real familiarity with the approach of each instructor and to know each other more deeply in the process.

As senior event instructors, Kevin Choate and I will be responsible for setting the general direction of training. As our junior guest instructor, Karl Grignon will be teaching one class a day. We have each committed to attending one other’s classes and are all looking forward to the synergy this sort of in-depth environment can develop. We hope you will join us!

    Tres Hofmeister

All students of Aikido, regardless of affiliation, are sincerely invited to join us for our 2012 Summer Camp in the Rockies.

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Instructors

Tres Hofmeister sensei
Boulder Aikikai, Boulder, Colorado

    Tres Hofmeister sensei is a student of Mitsugi Saotome shihan and Hiroshi Ikeda shihan. He began his training in 1978 and entered Boulder Aikikai under Hiroshi Ikeda shihan in 1980. Hofmeister sensei is a senior instructor for Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU), teaching regularly at Boulder Aikikai and at seminars throughout North America and abroad. Hofmeister sensei is also a certified practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method®. He has a particular interest in the process of learning in aikido and its relationship to self-understanding.

Kevin Choate sensei
Chicago Aikikai, Chicago, Illinois

    Kevin Choate sensei is a student of Mitsugi Saotome shihan and Hiroshi Ikeda shihan. He has been chief instructor at Chicago Aikikai since 1981 and has earned a reputation for high-quality instruction, always demanding the best from his students and of himself in his own training. Choate sensei teaches as a senior instructor for Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU) and travels frequently to conduct aikido seminars across the country and overseas. Choate sensei is also a Certified Instructor of the Russian Martial Art Systema. He is currently exploring an experiential or non-technical approach to training in hopes of deepening his understanding of fundamental aspects of movement and awareness in aikido.

Junior guest instructor:

Karl Grignon sensei
Shoshin Aikido Montréal , Montréal, Québec, Canada

    Karl Grignon sensei started his aikido training in Montréal in 1994. Soon after he moved to San Diego, where he trained with Bernice Tom sensei, student of the late Morihiro Saito shihan. In 2003 he joined Aikido West and Frank Doran shihan as Doran sensei’s uchideshi and had the privilege to travel and attend most of Doran sensei’s seminars. Karl travels widely attending seminars and camps across North America and abroad. Karl has also hosted seminars in Montréal with Frank Doran shihan, Seishiro Endo shihan, Christian Tissier shihan, and others. His teaching approach is to establish a comfortable environment in which the practitioner can start to explore his or her personal ability and the feeling of self.

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Registration

Registration begins February 17, 2012. To ensure your space, please register early!

We will have the online registration link available when online registration opens on the above date.

We are pleased to offer the availability of online registration and payment, with secure credit card processing through PayPal. We encourage both local and international participants to use this convenient registration method.

Please Note :: This option is only available with full payment; you will be required to sign a paper copy of your registration and liability release form when you check in at Camp.

Mail-in Registration :: Please read and complete the registration/ release form fully and return it with payment. Incomplete forms and forms without payment will be returned for completion before being processed. Please pay careful attention to your form; don’t overlook the birth date, witness and signature sections.

Multiple Registrations :: For dojo submitting multiple registrations, please send a separate registration form and payment for each participant. Please call if you have questions.

All persons must be registered in advance. No on-site registrations. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis by actual date of online registration or by post-mark date, if mailed. An individual registration form must be completed by each participant and include either full payment or deposit. Each space at camp must be used by the individual registrant, and may not be shared.

A confirmation of your registration and payment, along with more information about camp, will be sent to you within two weeks. Please allow for this turn-around time before contacting us to confirm your registration.

Waiting List :: If the camp is full, you will be placed on a waiting list and notified of your position. If you decide to change plans, you must cancel from one plan and reregister for the other. Your second registration will be processed in order of its online or postmark date.

Please Note :: In order to fairly handle the individuals on our waiting list, registrations are non-transferable.

Camp participants must be 15 years of age or older by May 1. Parent or guardian must sign and witness a minor’s registration/release form. If a minor attends camp without a parent or guardian, the parent/ guardian must also provide a letter designating an adult camp participant as the person responsible for the minor during camp.

Full Plan
(All fees are per person)

The Full Plan includes lodging on campus, meals and training fee for the entire camp. Rooms are double occupancy only; no single rooms are available.

    $695 :: Fee (two/room)
    $395 :: Deposit due with registration by May 1
    $300 :: Balance due by June 1

Fee is due in full when registering through PayPal.

Non-Training Fee

    $655 :: Fee (two/room, includes room and meals)
    $400 :: Deposit due with registration by May 1
    $255 :: Balance due by June 1

Fee is due in full when registering through PayPal.

If you have a roommate preference, please indicate his/her name on your Registration & Waiver form. Before doing so, [ 1 ] be sure he/she intends to come to camp and [ 2 ] be sure that he/she indicates you on his/her registration form. Mutual requests will be honored.

Each room contains twin beds and has an attached bath. Linens, blankets and towels will be provided.

Please Note :: If you desire the Full Plan, but are able to attend only part of the camp, you must reserve your space by paying the full fee for the entire week.

Rooms at Colorado Mountain College are available to camp participants from check-in on Sunday, July 22 through the morning of Sunday, July 29, only. If you plan to be in the area before or after Camp, you must arrange to stay off campus.

Independent Plan

The Independent Plan includes only keiko for the entire camp. Participants on this plan need to make their own lodging arrangements prior to camp. Meals may be purchased in the dining hall if desired. Parents please note: the campus does not offer many activities for non-training family members; you may wish to consider independent lodging in nearby Glenwood.

    $500 :: Fee due with registration by May 1

Independent Lodging

There are a variety of lodging options in the Glenwood Springs area, including hotels, motels and cabins. Your best source of assistance is the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Reservations, 888.445.3696. To avoid any costly disappointment, be sure you have a confirmed Summer Camp reservation with Boulder Aikikai before booking any non-refundable reservations.

Camping

There are many Forest Service campgrounds within 13-30 miles of campus. For information, contact the Forest Service at 970.963.2266 or visit or visit www.recreation.gov. For reservations, call 1.877.444.6777.

Meals

Meals will be served in the CMC dining hall. Service will begin with dinner on July 22, and end with a continental breakfast on July 29. Three meals will be served daily. Please be sure to indicate your meal preference, meat, vegetarian or gluten/lactose free, on your registration form. All meals are included in the Full Plan package. Those with Independent/Camper lodging arrangements may purchase any of their meals in the dining hall.

Cancellation Fees

All cancellations will be considered final; your registration cannot be reinstated. However, you may reregister with a new postmark date.

    After May 1 :: Full Plan $75 cancellation fee, Independent Plan $50 cancellation fee
    Afte June 24 :: Subject to loss of full registration fee

Getting Here

The Colorado Mountain College Spring Valley Roaring Fork Campus is located 10 miles south of Glenwood Springs and 40 miles north of Aspen. The college is approximately 200 miles west of Denver. We suggest that you fly directly to Aspen and rent a car. An alternative is to fly to Denver, rent a car, and enjoy the scenic four-hour drive to camp. The facilities in the Glenwood Springs/Aspen area are in high demand in the summer; it’s important that you make travel and lodging arrangements early.

Please be aware that Boulder Aikikai has limited ability to provide transportation from both Denver and Aspen to camp. We appreciate your making every effort to arrange your own transportation.

Wednesday, July 25 is a “free day” for sightseeing and enjoying the area. There are a variety of activities for both individuals and groups, including river rafting, hiking, spelunking, fishing, mountain biking and horseback riding. All activities may be arranged at camp. Training with senior students will also be available.

Checkout

Our Summer Camp officially ends on Sunday morning, July 29. Our last class ends at 12:30pm on Saturday, July 28. There will be a Saturday afternoon checkout for those electing an early departure. Saturday evening we will organize a group visit to the Hot Springs Pool in Glenwood.

Final checkout is by 9:00am Sunday morning.

Contacting Us

Find the latest Summer Camp updates on the web.

Web :: www.boulderaikikai.org/sc
E-mail :: hotline@boulderaikikai.org
Summer Camp Hotline :: 1.303.447.6464

Don’t Forget

For convenient, instant online registration and credit card payment, visit www.boulderaikikai.org/sc (on/after February 17).

For printable PDF brochures and registration forms, go to www.boulderaikikai.org/sc.

Registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis in the order that they are received. If Camp is full, you will be notified and placed on the waiting list.

Please mark “no signature required” if you send your registration by overnight mail.

Registration/release forms and payments must be received at the same time or they will not be processed. Incomplete registration forms will not be processed. Please take time to read and complete the form in its entirety. Online registrants will be required to sign a paper copy of the form at camp check-in.

All registrants will receive a second email with more information and reservation confirmation. You will be asked to respond with information about your departure date and time. This information helps us to control costs and keep prices down.

Colorado Mountain College is a drug and alcohol-free campus.

Schedule

    Sunday, July 22
    Check-in :: 3:00 – 5:30pm
    Dinner :: 6:00 – 7:00pm
    Keiko :: 7:45–9:15pm

    Monday & Tuesday
    Full day of keiko and related activities.

    Wednesday, July 25
    Day off for sightseeing and/or optional training.

    Thursday & Friday
    Full day of keiko and related activities.

    Friday evening: Dinner party.

    Saturday, July 28
    Last class :: 10:00am – 12:15pm
    Early check-out :: 3:00pm
    Picnic dinner, hot springs soak

    Sunday, July 29
    Final check-out by 9:00am

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Boulder Aikikai’s Summer Camp in the Rockies is made possible by the generous support of the Aiki Atlas Foundation.