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OVERVIEW OF THE AREA- Berkeley Springs, a fountainhead of warm mineral waters frequented by Native Americans long before Europeans arrived in the New World, are at the heart of a mountain spa community in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. First noted as Medicine Springs in 1747 on a map drawn by Thomas Jefferson's father, the waters for many centuries have drawn visitors seeking health and relief from the stress of everyday life.
In 1776, George Washington's family and friends drew up a plat of 134 lots, named the streets, and incorporated The Town of Bath, invoking the muses of the renowned English spa. Yet the magic of the springs prevailed, and the town and surrounding area are known by their name -- Berkeley Springs.

The waters flow at a constant 74°F from the base of Warm Springs Ridge. You may still drink freely and fill your jugs at Lord Fairfax's public tap, and wade in the ancient stone pools in the nation's smallest state park. The town has endured cycles of notoriety, fashion, war and modern progress, but remains the Country's First Spa, a quiet, friendly haven surrounded by West Virginia's splendid outdoors.

ABOUT CACAPON RESORT STATE PARK - Cacapon Mountain runs north/south and divides Morgan County into the heavily forested and mountainous western segment and the more populous and settled east. The mountain ends at Panorama Overlook in the north and includes the county's highest elevation, 2320 feet, at the southern end near the Hampshire County line.

In 1933, the state of West Virginia created Cacapon State Park from 6000 acres of land on the eastern slope of Cacapon Mountain. Park boundaries extend along the top ridge more than 12 miles to Prospect Rock where George Washington and countless other 18th and 19th century visitors often rode on horseback. A fire road along this ridge provides a rare and ideal flat surface for hiking. The road begins at a spectacular overlook above the Batt Pavilion which provides a panoramic view of the entire Sleepy Creek Mountain to the east. During the summer, vehicles can drive to the overlook.
Trails were cleared and cabins built in the park by the Civilian Conservation Corps program. In the 1960s, an 18-hole, 72-par championship golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones and is rated one of the best public courses in the region. One of the most distinctive sights is the stone chimney on the putting green which is all that remains from the land's original farmhouse. The Old Inn at Cacapon was the first overnight lodge in the West Virginia park system.

Today, the park is a favorite resort in the state system with a lodge, cabins, family restaurant, a lake with a sand beach available for fishing and boating as well as swimming. Miles of blazed trails along the mountain follow game trails that were trod by Native American and colonial hunters. A comprehensive naturalist program and horseback riding round out Cacapon State Park's universe. (Insider tip -- the word is pronounced Ca-cay-pun.)
For more information, visit:    www.cacaponresort.com or www.berkeleysprings.com

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION
Hands-on Education– At so many of the events we participate in, we are so busy working with the public that we don’t get to conduct training exercises for ourselves. Sessions for the weekend include:

• Creating (draughting) maps from survey data
• Thomas Hutchins' study of magnetic needle dip around the world
• Colouring maps and plans with period watercolors
• Observing the 2012 Transit of Venus
• Enhancing living history impressions by studying museum collections
• Basics of 18th century surveying
• and more!

WHAT TO WEAR- Modern clothing will be the norm for the weekend.  Dress comfortably for the weather.

WHAT TO BRING- Pack as you normally would for a conference or weekend vacation. Pillows, blankets, linens, and towels are provided. WiFi access is available in the conference facility, but not at the cabins.

• For the sessions, you'll want to bring materials for taking notes, and if you have them, bring basic drawing instruments (pencil, drawing compass, dividers, protractor). Your instruments do NOT need to be period pieces...modern (plastic) items from the office supply store are fine. We will have a few extras on hand as well.
• If you have period surveying or drawing instruments that you would like to display or get feedback on, we will have space for this.
• If you have instruments, books, materials or other items that you would like to sell or trade, we will also have space and time for this. You are welcome to send a list of items that you are selling (along with prices) to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it prior to the event. A master list will be distributed to all participants prior to the event so that folks can have enough cash on hand.
• Preparation (reading) prior to the sessions is not necessary or required, but two easily accessible and inexpensive books on the general subject are the Practical Surveyor and A Treatise of Mathematical Instruments. A very readable primer on the Transit of Venus and large-scale boundary surveys is Drawing the Line : How Mason and Dixon Surveyed the Most Famous Border in America. Clicking these links connects you with the book's listing on Amazon.com.
  

DO I HAVE TO BE A REENACTOR TO ATTEND? The School of Instruction is open to reenactors and the general public. All are welcome!

LOOKING FOR STUFF?/ WANT TO SELL STUFF? We’ll have space available for folks to sell instruments, accessories, books, or anything else related to the event.

ARE FAMILIES WELCOME? Of course! A special track of sessions geared towards women is planned for the weekend. Children’s activities will be available if there is demand and if someone volunteers to coordinate them.

REGISTRATION OPTIONS:

Meals included in all options (even day-participants). If you know that you will be missing one or more meals, please let us know so that we can better target our food quantities. NOTE: The fees below were for the 2012 event, and may change for 2013.

Individual staying in shared Cabin Room (2 twin beds)                                     $55
Individual in private Cabin Room (1 double bed)                                                  $90 
Couple staying in private Cabin Room (1 double bed)                                          $110 
Individual Staying Off-Site (Day Attendee- covers Sat & Sun)                          $30 
Couple Staying Off-Site (Day Attendee- covers Sat & Sun)                                $45

Child 12 & Under $10.00 (add this to any plan. No more than one child per room. This fee covers meals for the weekend and assumes that child will sleep on floor, in a cot (provided by participant, or share a bed)

All registrations subject to a $10 late fee after 1/15/12)

Museum admission fees associated with the tentative Friday tour in Winchester are extra.

If paying by mail, please register online and mail a check made out to "Dept. of the Geographer" to P.O. Box 75, Lynchburg, VA 24505.

MEALS-One of the points of having a non-public school of instruction is to ensure that we have the time and energy to actually do educational activities, without the distractions of public interpretation, complex meal preparation, etc. To this end, we will prepare and serve most meals on site, but they will not require a great deal of cooking and preparation. We will not force any one to spend time working on food instead of participating in the program. Friday night dinner will be Dutch treat at a Cacapon Lodge restaurant. Saturday and Sunday breakfast and lunch as well as Saturday dinner will be served on-site (included in fee).

ACCOMODATIONS- We will be utilizing 8-person (4 bedroom) modern cabins at Cacapon Resort State Park. The modern cabins are frame structures insulated for year-round comfort featuring handsome wood-paneled walls, stone fireplaces, baths with showers, kitchens with modern appliances and central heat and air conditioning. Each cabin has 3 bedrooms that with one double bed each and 1 bedroom that contains two twin beds. Check-in time begins at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Check out is by Noon on Sunday.

Each cabin has one shared lavatory with shower. Linens, blankets, pillows, and towels are provided.

If rooms in the cabins are full, you may opt to register as a day participant and stay at a nearby motel (including the Lodge at Cacapon Resort State Park). A few relatively inexpensive (quality unknown) options are listed below. For more information on bed & breakfasts and inns near Berkeley Springs, visit  www.berkeleysprings.com

Cacapon Resort State Park Lodge        304-258-1022

Berkeley Springs Motel    268 Wilkes Street, Berkeley Springs, WV
304-258-1776            11 miles north of Cacapon Resort State Park via US 522

Super 8 Hancock        118 Limestone Road, Hancock, MD
301-678-6101            17 miles north of Cacapon Resort State Park via US 522

America’s Best Value Inn    2 Blue Hill, Hancock, MD
301-678-6108            17 miles north of Cacapon Resort State Park via US 522

Winchester, Virginia Hotels & Motels    28 miles south via US 522

IT’S SUCH A LONG DRIVE! No doubt, most members of the unit will be driving for several hours (at best) to attend the School of Instruction. With more than 20 members spread over 8 states, a number of miles must be traveled in order to reach a relatively central area. The region that the event will be held in was carefully selected to provide direct access from our members traveling from the north, west, and south. While the setting is relatively remote and rural, it is only 17-29 miles away from three major interstate highways. Cacapon Resort State park is 29 miles northwest of Winchester, VA, 47 miles southwest of Hagerstown, MD, and 22 miles south of Warfordsburg, PA.

FLYING? The Hagerstown Regional Airport is served by Cape Air, which connects to Baltimore Washington International Airport.

DIRECTIONS- Using Mapquest, Google Maps, etc., simply use 818 Cacapon Lodge Drive, Berkeley Springs, WV as your destination.

If coming from the south (Winchester, VA) via US 522, Take US 522 north 27 miles to the park, which will be on your LEFT.

If coming from the north (Hancock, MD) via US 522, Take US 522 South 17 miles to the park, which will be on your RIGHT. The park is 9 miles south of Berkeley Springs.

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