Logistics

This page will be updated as new information comes to light! If you have any questions you think we've missed, reach out to rarchamplainvalley@gmail.com or shoot us a message in the RAR NAR Discord Group.
Last updated 6/11/25

Location & Time

This event will be held the midday Friday, August 29th until midday Monday, September 1st (Labor Day). The property will open at 10am on Friday and we ask that you wrap up and head home by 12pm on Monday. While we encourage participants to come all four days if possible, we still welcome you to register if you are only able to make it for part of the time!

RAR NAR will be held at Camp DREAM in Fairfield, VT. Camp DREAM is a rural, mostly undeveloped 50 acre property with basic facilities including gravel walking paths, a lodge, outdoor pavillion, amphitheater, rustic lodges, bathhouses and a beautiful waterfront. Indoor/ bunk and camping options will both be available for participants!

We ask that this is a pet-free event, although if you need to bring your service animal, please reach out to rar.champlainvalley@gmail.com.

Travel & Parking

Camp DREAM Address: 1618 Taylor Rd, East Fairfield, VT 05448

For this year's RAR NAR, it will be possible to bike, train and/or drive to the property! We encourage you to think creatively about non-car options, carpooling, etc. that will help add to the community and retreat vibes of this event.

Arriving by Train:

The Vermonter Amtrak Line runs from Washington D.C. to St. Albans, VT with stops in New York City; New Haven, CT; Northhampton, MA; White River Junction, NH; and more! This is a great option for folks traveling from Washington D.C. NYC, Boston, New Haven and downstate VT/ NH. Carry on bicycle options are available at all stops, and checked bicycle service is available at select stations. We encourage you to book train tickets early, as limited bicycle spaces will fill up on a holiday weekend.

If you are planning on taking the train, we recommend traveling to RAR NAR on Thursday, August 28th because the train does not arrive in St. Albans until around 9 pm daily. From there, it is a 30 mile bike-ride (or car ride) to Camp DREAM. Check back soon for pre-scouted bike routes, shuttling options, St. Albans area camping/lodging suggestions, and more for folks interested in this travel option!

Arriving by Bike:

From St. Albans: For those interested in bikepacking to the property from St. Albans, you can park a car at the Amtrak station or one of the St. Albans Park & Rides and depart on a beautiful 30 mile ride to Camp DREAM! Check back soon for pre-scouted bike routes.

From Burlington: We will be running a guided bikepacking trip from Burlington to Camp DREAM! Check back later this summer for more details about this option.

If you live elsewhere in the state or in the Northeast, you are welcome to plan your own route to arrive to Camp DREAM by bike!

Arriving by Car:

For those planning on driving to RAR NAR, we encourage you to consider carpooling with others coming from your area, or picking people up along the way! Our RAR NAR Discord Chat is the perfect place to coordinate carpooling.

There will be parking available onsite both on the camp property and along the gravel road leading into the property. Stay tuned for more details for those planning to drive!

Lodging & Bathrooms

We are pleased to be able to offer two types of lodging for participants this year! Both indoor/ semi-indoor spaces as well as outdoor camping will be available as two different ticket prices.

Camping: There is ample tent camping/ hammock camping available onsite near the lodge. This lodging option is included in the price of tickets ($150 for BIPOC and/or trans folks, $175 for General Admission).

Indoor/ semi-indoor: There are 3 communal bunkhouses (2 semi-enclosed lean-tos with bunk beds and one indoor cabin with bunk beds) available for participants who prefer to sleep on a bed. Please keep in mind that this shared cabin-style housing with only a mattress provided (BYO sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, etc.) When you purchase your ticket, you can select if you'd like to purchase one that includes indoor lodging. It is an additional cost of $50 for BIPOC/ Trans ticket holders and $75 for the GA ticket.

Toilets: There are bathrooms at the lodge that can be used by tent campers and bathhouses elsewhere on the property, about a 10 minute walk from the cabins/ lean-tos. Bathhouses are all equipped with showers, flush toilets, and sinks. There is no electricity in the bathhouses, but there is electricity at the lodge. We will also be renting a few port-a-potties to increase bathroom access across the campus.

Showers: There are a limited number of showers available in the bath houses on the property, as well as a waterfront & lake onsite for refreshing daily dips! Either way, we want you to feel comfortable!

Food

What We'll Provide:

We are pleased to offer full meals for all participants, volunteers, workshop leaders & organizers this year. Your RAR NAR ticket includes meals from Lunch Friday- Lunch Monday. All meals will accommodate our vegan, vegetarian and gluten free friends and we can accommodate other specific dietary restrictions as requested.
If you need to prep/bring your own food, please let us know ahead of time as there will be very limited fridge space.
Coffee and tea will be available all day at the kitchen.

What You'll Bring:

Don't forget to bring snacks for on and off the bike! These can be stored in the lodge during the retreat.
Bring any additional electrolytes or hydration that you think you'll need.
Bring your favorite coffee mug and water bottle along!

Please reach out with food questions/concerns if you have them to rar.champlainvalley@gmail.com. Last year we ran a fully nut-free event which we can accomodate again if we have severe nut allergies!

Packing List

BIKE TYPE

There are an almost unlimited amount of gravel roads and trails to explore around this special property. If you have a bike you can bring definitely do so! A gravel bike or mountain bike will be best.
If you don't have a bike or travel logistics are too complicated for you to bring one, you will be totally fine! This is an optional way to explore this part of Vermont but there will be plenty of sit-down workshops to attend not on the bike.
There are a limited number of basic mountain bikes from Camp DREAM available to us for use during the retreat. Please reach out if you plan to use one of these!

POWER/ELECTRONICS

Come with your gadgets fully charged, and please plan on bringing battery packs, external chargers and charging cords for devices you may need throughout the retreat. There will be limited charging and WiFi available at the lodge, but with 100+ people onsite you should plan for an off grid experience.
Keep in mind that the retreat location is a remote and there is limited power, cell service & wifi available onsite.

PACKING LIST

See below for a printable checklist of RAR NAR Packing Recommendations!
Feel free to bring a yoga mat, art supplies, instruments, games/activities, or anything else that will help you relax, connect with others, and have fun in your down time

If you have questions about what will be available to you during the weekend, or how best to pack, we are here to answer your questions! Email us at rar.champlainvalley@gmail.com.

Illustration by Sam Scipio

Group Rides

GROUP RIDE INFO

Check back later this summer to preview the group rides that will be happening during the retreat!

Accessibility

This retreat will be hosted mostly outdoors on a hilly property. There are loose gravel trails between buildings/ locations onsite and some locations are more than a 10 minute walk away. The lodge and bathhouses are handicapped accessible. All indoor/ semi-indoor lodging options have a few small steps to enter into the structure.

Please e-mail rarchamplainvalley@gmail.com if you have any additional accessibility questions or concerns.