Big House

Big House

Handbook

Welcome

to the

Big House!

We’re so pleased you’ve decided to join us!

This booklet will help you know what to expect at your Big House Atlantic University program. There is some important information inside, so please read the entire booklet. If you still have questions about your program or the Big House, contact::

Sandy or John LaPrelle

284 White Rock Furnace Road

Rural Retreat, VA 24368

Phone: 278-686-5878

Email: arecamp@valink.com

BIG HOUSE HANDBOOK

Table of Contents

A LITTLE HISTORY 4

LIVING IN THE BIG HOUSE 5

Inside 5

Outside 5

WHAT TO BRING 6

LAUNDRY FACILITIES 6

A NOTE ABOUT MEALS 7

KEEPING IN TOUCH-ADDRESS & PHONE 7

A NOTE ABOUT CIGARETTES 8

SURROUNDING RESOURCES 8

TRANSPORTATION 9

DIRECTIONS & MAP Back Cover

A LITTLE HISTORY

The Big House is a large three-story farmhouse, located on a hilltop about a mile down the road from the A.R.E. Camp. It has an interesting history. It was probably built in the early 1870’s for the manager of White Rock Furnace, an iron-smelting furnace that operated on the property until the turn of the century. The “Iron Master” needed a large house to lodge out of town guests who came to the furnace on business.

The LaPrelle family has owned the house since the early 1940’s. Plumbing and electricity were added, as well as the large front porch. While the A.R.E. Camp was getting started in the early 1960’s, the volunteers who built the first latrine and worked to make the road passable stayed at the Big House. With the Camp going strong in the 1970’s, the house became a summer site for Atlantic University sessions. Through the years, the A.R.E. has used the house for numerous programs and events. We hope you enjoy your stay at The Big House! Make yourself at home!

LIVING IN THE BIG HOUSE

Inside the House

It really is a big house, three stories tall. It has two large living rooms, one of which has a fireplace and is set up as a meeting room with plenty of comfortable seating. There is a dining room that seats up to twenty people, and a large country kitchen. Six of the eight bedrooms are set up dormitory style with twin beds for from two-four people (the two remaining bed-rooms are reserved for year-round staff). We will make every effort to accommodate couples, but room sharing may be necessary. There are two full baths, one on the 2nd floor and one on the 3rd floor, and a half bath on the first floor. There are no wheelchair facilities.

The Big House is not your typical conference facility. The house itself is homely, always in need of paint and upkeep; the furniture is old dormitory style, mixed with some home-made benches and a few antiques. It’s not a hotel; there is no food service or room service, and there are no maids.

Outside the House

The area around the house includes fruit trees, generous shade trees, and a large yard surrounded by cow pasture.

The LaPrelle farm is large and mostly wooded, and bordered on three sides by Jefferson National Forest. There are miles of woods to walk in and plenty of cow pasture for picking wildflowers and berries when in season. The A.R.E. Camp is only one mile down a gravel road, and the Camp pond is available for swimming and sunning.

WHAT TO BRING

The following is a general list of items you will need to bring to your Big House program. Each session is different, and your group leaders may require you to bring additional items.

Please mark your name on personal items.

Clothing

Summer Shirts, T-shirts

Warm Shirts

Short Pants

Long Pants

Sweatshirt or Sweater

Lightweight Jacket

Underwear & Socks

Sturdy Shoes for Hiking (sneakers are best)

Lightweight Shoes

Swimsuit

Poncho or Rain Coat

Toiletries

Swimming Towel

Bath Towel & Washcloth

Toothbrush & Toothpaste

Comb/Brush

Soap & Shampoo

Sunscreen

Personal Hygiene Supplies

Bedding

General Items

Laundry Bag

Stationary & Stamps

Pens or Pencils

Notebook for dreams/journaling

Water bottle

Daypack (small backpack)

Optional Items

Camera and Film

Books

Musical Instruments

Insect Repellant (non-aerosol)

Ensolite Pad (for overnight hikes)

Flashlight (for overnight hikes)

What Not to Bring

Pets

Radios or Tape/CD Players

Gameboys or Electronic Games

Alcohol or Illegal Drugs

The house has one washer and one dryer and a back yard solar dryer (clothesline!)

Meals are served family style in the large dining room. Menu planning utilizes the Cayce readings on diet and health whenever possible; a balance is sought between today’s food tastes and the healthful dietary suggestions in the readings. Plenty of fresh vegetables are used; some come from the A.R.E. Camp garden.

The daily menu is designed to accommodate the vegetarian diet, with vegetarian options at all meals. Participants with a restricted diet should let us know their needs in advance. Please send us a note outlining your dietary needs when you send in the other completed forms from your registration packet.

The Big House has one telephone line available for limited use; long distance calls must be made collect or with a calling card.

NOTE: Cell phone reception can be poor due to the remoteness of the region and the many hills and valleys.

Nearby the Big House are several State Parks and Wilderness Areas which offer a variety of opportunities for exploration.

Hungry Mother State Park is about a 30 minute drive. This park has a lake for boating, fishing and swimming, public swimming pools and nature trails.

Grayson Highlands State Park, about an hour’s drive, offers beautiful views, a visitor’s center with gift-shop, and some rugged trails for hiking to some of the most beautiful spots in Virginia.

Mount Rogers is the highest point in Virginia, and is about an hour’s drive from the Big House. This designated Wilderness Area has trails for hiking.

The Big House is accessible by car, bus, or plane. Please indicate your travel plans on the arrival/departure form included with (your registration materials or this booklet).

By bus: The nearest bus stations are in Marion, Virginia or Wytheville, Virginia (pronounced “with-ville”). Please arrange for arrivals to be after 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and departures before noon on Saturday. There is a $15 per trip fee for bus pick-ups and deliveries.

By plane: Flight reservations should be made to and from Roanoke Regional Airport. Please arrange for arrival and departure times as close to noon as possible. The airport is a two-hour drive from the Big House. There is a $60.00 fee for airport pick-ups and deliveries ($35.00 one way).

By car: Please see map on back cover. Arrivals should be planned for after 2:00 p.m. on Sunday and departures before noon on Saturday unless otherwise noted.

A.R.E. Camp is located in the mountains of Southwestern Virginia, about 90 miles southwest of Roanoke, just 10 miles from I-81.

Take the Rural Retreat exit (exit 60) off I-81. Turn towards the McDonalds onto Route 90 East. Continue straight on 90, crossing Route 11/Lee Highway at the light, and on through the town of Rural Retreat. Cross the railroad tracks. As the road leaves town, it becomes Cedar Springs Rd. Continue south on Cedar Springs Rd until you get to the community of Cedar Springs (exactly 6.0 miles from the light at Route 11). Bear right in Cedar Springs, onto Route 614/Cedar Springs Rd, toward the town of Sugar Grove. Go 1/2 mile, turn right at the sign for A.R.E. Camp, onto White Rock Furnace Rd. Continue on this gravel road across the cattle guard and through the farmyard. For Big House programs, turn left up the hill before the first cattle gate.