2026 Logistics

If you have any questions you think we've missed, reach out to rarchamplainvalley@gmail.com.

We want you to be comfortable and for your needs to be met. Let us know what we can do to provide you the best experience!
Last updated 9/5/26

Location & Time

This event will be held from 10am Friday September 18th - 11am Monday September 21st. 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. Anyone interested in helping clean up and break down the event on Monday is welcome to stay late.

RAR NAR will be held at a beautiful property in Central-Southern Vermont for 2026. (More specific details will be shared upon registration) This area of the state is often called the "Lakes Region" for the abundance of beautiful lakes found locally, which hold some of the clearest water in the state! This summer camp is nestled in the Taconic Mountains, which is the oldest mountain range in the world. This unique geology makes the area home to very high biodiversity and black bear, bobcat, grey and red fox, deer, coyote, and ermine have all been spotted on the land RAR NAR will be held on!

Expect a waterfront for swimming in, a large dining hall for gathering, an outdoor amphitheater, hiking trails, and tent camping for all 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

There are many ways to arrive to RAR NAR:

Bikepack
Amtrak Train (get off in Castleton)
Bus to Rutland or Castleton
Fly into the Rutland or Burlington airport and coordinate a carpool or bike from there
Drive (parking available on site)

For folks who are looking to coordinate travel to/from RAR NAR, we have a carpool document to find buddies who live near you. You can use this to help coordinate carpools, pickups from the train station, group bike rides to the site, etc.

You likely won’t have service at our retreat property, (this is how the good connections are made!!) so download your map ahead of time. We will have signage on the road helping you find the entrance.

If you are planning on bringing a bike via the Amtrak, please book early. LIMITED carry on bicycle options are available at all stops, and checked bicycle service is available at select stations.

Best option: The Ethan Allen Express Train runs from New York City to Burlington, VT with stops in Albany, Schenectady, Rutland, Burlington, and more! This can be taken either direction to meet in Castelton.

If the Ethan Allen doesn't work for you, or it's full, you can look into the The Vermonter Amtrak Line. This line runs from Washington D.C. to St. Albans, VT with stops in Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City; New Haven, CT; Northampton, MA; White River Junction, VT; and more! We recommend getting off at the White River Junction station and either finding public transportation to Rutland/Castleton or asking on the carpool doc for someone to come pick you up there.

If you are planning on taking the train, we welcome you to arrive to RAR NAR either on Thursday, September 17th or Friday Septmber 18th. The train does not arrive in Castleton until around 7:15 pm daily. From there, it is a 20 mile bike ride (or car ride) to our camp. Contact us if you need to arrive early as a result of the train schedule.

Arriving by Bike:

We have pre-scouted routes from Burlington and Rutland to RAR NAR! These, along with our group rides, have been sent out to all participants. If you live elsewhere in the state or in the Northeast, you are welcome to plan your own route to arrive to RAR NAR by bike!

**Please note, Vermont is a rural state and there is little to no cell service in huge parts of it, including around and at camp. Download your route and have a safety plan in place with people at home.

Arriving by Car:

We are SO excited to offer parking on site at this year's RAR NAR property! Spaces are a bit limited so please plan on carpooling (plus it's good for the planet) but you will be able to park your car close to your camping spot for the first time in RAR NAR history!

Drivers may arrive at RAR NAR anytime after 10am on Friday, September 18th.

If you have an accessibility need, let us know! We are committed to making RAR NAR a welcoming space for everyone and would be happy to accommodate in whatever way is best <3

Lodging & Bathrooms

All particpants this year will be tent camping, in a few different campsites around the property. Some will be near the parking areas, and some are more remote if you prefer a more private space. Many spots are close to the water! We also have a designated quiet camping area for folks who like no chatter around their sleeping space. Please plan to bring a tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and everything you need to take care of yourself throughout the weekend.

If you don't own camping gear: We have a robust gear loaning library. Please reach out to rar.champlainvalley@gmail.com and we can help you course everything you need.

Toilets and showers: There are no flush toilets at camp, but we will have composting outhouses and porta potties spread around the property. We are renting a mobile shower trailer for the weekend for those of you who like to stay fresh while camping. You also can use a refreshing lakeside dip to clean up if you like.

There is no electricity in the bathrooms, plan for a rustic experience sans hairdyer.

Food

What We'll Provide:

Li Ling, our head chef, is back for 2026 and will be providing 3 meals/day full of veggies and love throughout the weekend! Your RAR NAR ticket includes meals from lunch Friday- breakfast Monday. All meals will accommodate our vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free friends-- and we can accommodate other specific dietary restrictions as requested.
Please plan on bringing your own snacks. We are committed to feeding you breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but if you are biking and burning calories, you will likely want additional things to nibble on throughout the weekend. Please plan on coming prepared to take care of yourself for the duration of RAR NAR.
Coffee and tea will be available all day long in the dining hall!

What You'll Bring:

Don't forget to bring snacks for on and off the bike!
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. Our kitchen is ready to talk through a food plan with you if you need.

Packing List

Please note we have a full gear closet ready to support any of your needs! Don't have a gravel bike? No problem! Never camped before? We can loan you the gear and teach you how!

RAR NAR is meant to be welcoming and joyful so don't let any gear-related barriers get in your way!!

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. Please make sure if has gearing as the hills in Vermont are not kind to single speeds.
If you don't have a bike or travel logistics are too complicated for you to bring one, you will be totally fine! There are heaps of off-the-bike workshops and community building that happen at RAR NAR so it's completely optional to bring a bike.
If you have questions about this, email us at rar.champlainvalley@gmail.com. We have gravel bikes to loan and also would be happy to help you determine if a bike you already own will work well.

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 no WiFi available, so please plan for an off-grid experience.
Keep in mind that the retreat location is a remote and there is essentially no cell service on site. You are welcome to tell your loved ones where you are going and give them our email address rar.champlainvalley@gmail.com in case they need to contact you throughout the weekend. We are committed to checking this inbox periodically while you are blissed out with your new best friends.

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.

Group Rides

GROUP RIDE INFO

We lead optional group rides throughout the retreat to allow you to explore this beautiful part of Vermont more fully! If you cannot travel with a bike, you will be 100% fine, though! Not everyone chooses to join the rides and there are loads of off-the-bike workshops throughout the weekend, boating and swimming to do, napping in hammocks, etc.

We heard feedback last year that folks wanted beginner-friendly routes, and also some people wanted a longer adventure around Vermont, so we are excited to launch a more diverse range of group ride routes this year to accommodate everyone's level of difficulty!

We can shuttle people to the rail trail for a flat and chill-paced ride in addition to our group rides that leave from the property. We also will be breaking into smaller groups to allow for different riding speeds during group rides.

For those of you looking for a hard workout, get excited for a much longer crusher ride on Sunday from 8am-3pm. This will be hilly, beautiful, and organized by our crew of experienced ride leaders. Expect a faster pace and amazing adventures!

Friday group ride: approx 2 hrs

Saturday group ride: one beginner-friendly ride (shorter) and one medium-difficulty ride (approx 3 hrs)

Sunday group ride: ride options ranging from a shorter beginner-friendly route, a moderate-paced ride, and one long ride that will take up a large chunk of the day.

Accessibility

This retreat will be hosted mostly outdoors on a hilly property. Some trails are more phyically accessible than others, and we have tried to indicate routes on our property map that accomodate people with mobility limitations. However, you will need to walk 5-10 minutes from the camping areas and workshop spaces to the dining hall on wooded or grassy trails. The dining hall is handicapped accessible, as well as one flush toilet in main camp.

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

Site Photos

Outdoor view of main Lodge

Outside view of Lodge

A-frame on the Lake

Covered seating area by the Lake

Take a dip in one of the TWO lakes that wrap around our property

Overhead view of waterfront and amphitheater

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