What does a normal day look like?
8:00-9:00: Breakfast (light, continental style)
9:00 - 11:00: Student Work Service*
11:30 -12:30: Lunch
1:00 - 6:00 : Classes
6:00 - 7:00 : Break
7:00 - 8:00 : Dinner
8:00 - 10:00 : Evening Events
(loud noise curfew enforced by YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly for 10pm)
10:30 - ? : Night activities that are quiet*Faculty work service is held in pairs - either lunch cleanup, 12:45-1:30, or dinner prep, 5:30-7:00. We will make a schedule that does not conflict with your class time.
Can I arrive a day early / a day late / stay late / etc?
No. We cannot accommodate early arrivals, late arrivals, or late departures. We can only accommodate arrivals and departures on the assigned arrival/departure days. We are working to establish a community in just 6 short days, and it’s disruptive to have folks coming and going throughout the session. We also, as a tiny team, cannot accommodate getting folks to campus/orienting them outside of arrival day.
Is there Wifi?
Yes! There is wifi on the entire campus.
Do we have access to a printer?
We do not have a printer ourselves, but the Y will make copies and print for you for .10 per B&W copy
Is there a grocery store nearby? What if I want SNACKS!?
Great news, there is a grocery store right down the street, we will be doing less store runs this year, so consider bringing snacks along! If not, we’ll get you to a store early in the week.
Is there parking?
Yes. We have around 30 parking places directly in front of our lodge, as well as just down the hill from the lodge.
What is the Town of Black Mountain like?
YMCA Blue Ridge campus is about 2 miles away from downtown Black Mountain (there is a greenway that connects them, actually). Downtown has a few bars, a couple of nice restaurants, a cute ice cream shop, yarn store, liquor store, craftsy stores, etc. Super cute town! Black Mountain is about 20 mins away from Downtown Asheville. However! Because we are all agreeing to pod during the session, and act with as much caution as possible in the ten days proceeding, we ask that you limit your exploration of Black Mountain to outside spaces until after session – luckily the ice cream place has outdoor walk up windows!
Are we able to smoke / drink?
Yes. We have the green light to smoke tobacco outside, behind our lodge at a designated smoking spot. This is the only place where smoking is allowed on campus (The Y made an acception for us). You can drink indoors in unmarked containers.
Are there substance free spaces?
Yes! We will have designated substance free spaces in our lodge, and at all times all alcohol must only be consumed out of an unmarked container.
How many people will be there each week?
We aim to have 48 folks per week - 33 students, 6 faculty, 10 staff
What the bathroom situation?
There are 2 bathrooms in the lodge common areas that we will mark as gender neutral / for all bodies. Your bathroom (shower / toilet / sink) in your room will just be shared between you and your roommate.
I’m teaching! How many people will take my class?
Most classes conflict with just one other class - so you could have up to 23 folks in your class, but that is a high end! it’s a range, and there are no pre-reqs for folks attending, so could be anywhere from 6-23. I know that’ a huge range! We used to do class signup before arrival, but it was a ton of work and truly no one stuck to their schedule, so it was more harmful than helpful (ie folks planned for more or less students than attended).
