North Woods Song & Story Fest: Voices In the Wilderness!

July 14 - 20, 2019 | Camp Myrtlewood, Bridge, Oregon

A Family Camp featuring Brethren musicians and storytellers in the coastal mountains of southwestern Oregon!

Psalm 19:1-3 proclaims: “The heavens are telling the glory of God and the universe proclaims God’s handiwork. Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares understanding… their voice goes out through all the earth.”

Can you hear the voices of the earth, the animals, and the heavens as they proclaim the wonders of creation and cry out their sorrow in its pain?

Can you hear the voices of human beings, those who call to us from the margins, the poor, the refugees, the broken, or hungry, or homeless?

Can you hear the muffled voices of the young, the hopeful, the scientists, the faithful children of god?

We will be listening for these voices in the fields and forests of Camp Myrtlewood. And we will be using our own voices as we join in proclaiming the light of God’s presence in a time of conflagration, global warming, and the scorched earth policies being pursued by many. Can you hear God calling you to the mountain to lift up song and spirit in grace and gladness amidst the confusion and cacophony? Why not answer the call and join with the moon and stars that sing together in wonder and praise!

Storytellers, Musicians, and Workshop Leaders:

Rhonda & Greg Baker Susan Boyer Louise Brodie Kathy Guisewite Jeffrey Faus & Jenny Stover-Brown Erin & Cody Flory Robertson Jonathan Hunter Steve & Seth Kinzie Lee Krähenbühl
Jim & Peg Lehman Matt Guynn Mike Stern Barbara West

The mountains burst into song at Camp Myrtlewood!

An Intergenerational Camp for All Ages -
Single persons and families of any size and shape will enjoy this combination of performance and participation among the tall trees and cool streams of western Oregon.

Mornings - intergenerational gatherings and worship will be followed by workshops for adults, children, and youth to help us:

• Reconnect with the God of all creation and with each other
• Tell the stories that make for peace and rekindle faith
• Sing the words of our hearts in gratitude for the unceasing power of life
• Root and ground ourselves in the Biblical story
• Deepen our connections with each other and the earth
• Celebrate peace, creation, and life
• Dance in circles, lines, and squares
• Learn the skills of peace-making and justice-seeking

Afternoons - will be free for family time, recreation, story swaps, and music making.

Evenings - campfires, snacks, and concerts or a folk dance.

Song & Story Fest #23
This is the twenty-third summer in a row for these Song and Story Fests and marks our third time at Camp Myrtlewood. The Fest will begin on Sunday evening July 14 with supper at 5:30 pm, an opening campfire, and some music and dancing. We’ll close the Fest on Saturday morning, July 20, after breakfast, worship, and hugs. This should give ample travel time both before and after the Fest from and to wherever.

On Earth Peace will again co-sponsor the Fest, with leadership and administrative support.

Camp Myrtlewood is in southwest Oregon between Coos Bay and Roseburg, located off Oregon Rt. 42 — 3.5 miles south of the hamlet of Bridge on Myrtle Creek Road. (For Google Earth and GPS fans, Camp is at 42°59'15" N and 124°00'46" W.) Camp’s 158 acres of temperate rainforest straddle Myrtle Creek with lots of tall trees and steep hills surrounding the meadow and rustic buildings of Camp. The creek has a great swimming hole, and there are plenty of opportunities to interact with nature (owls, herons, deer, otter and newts, among others- Sorry, the salmon are out in the ocean in the summer). Or take a hike on the Vista or Lookout Trails, play Ping Pong, Foozeball, Volleyball, Basketball, Softball, or enjoy the small playground. Check it all out, see photos and get directions at www.campmyrtlewood.org.

Lodging - Campers will sleep in rustic cabins furnished with bunk beds, or in your own tent or RV. Plan on sharing cabin space with other individuals or families, so please, on your registration indicate anyone with whom you want to share space. Please bring your own bedding and towels, as the Camp doesn’t provide these. There are 10 hookups for RVs with electricity and water, but no sewer/waste dumping. Hot showers are provided in common bathhouses. There are no motel style rooms available for those with advanced age or special needs, but distances are very short, the camp is not hilly, and there are a couple of options for close bathrooms. Motel lodging is available in Myrtle Point (15 miles) at Myrtle Trees Motel, 541-572-5811, or www.myrtletreesmotel.com and mention the Fest.

Food - The Camp Myrtlewood cooks are great and feature vegetarian options at every meal. If you have special dietary, health or housing needs, please note them on your reservation and we’ll do our best to meet them. Please bring a new table grace to add to our repertoire.

Contact Ken if you have a craft project to bring and lead. If you live nearby, please bring a lawn chair to sit on.

Registration and Fees
Registration includes all meals, on-site facilities, and leadership and is based upon age. Children 3 and under are welcome, no charge.

Adults $320
Teens 12- 19 $220
Children 4 - 11 $150

Maximum Fee per Family - $900

Please register now and remit the entire fee by June 15. Registrations post-marked after June 15 should add 10% as a late fee. No discount for off-site, tent or RV housing.

We expect to “max out” the limited space, so be advised to register early! First come, first served! Registration opens February 15, 2019.

Daily Fee (if space is available) - $40/adult, $25/teen, $20/child, $100/family, includes all meals and program. Lodging is an additional $15/night/person.

Contact Ken Kline Smeltzer at [email protected] if you need financial help.

To mail registrations & checks or ask registration questions contact Darlene Johnson:

On Earth Peace; PO Box 188; New Windsor MD 21776
Phone: 410-635-8704 (9AM-4PM Eastern); Email: [email protected].

For additional information or with program questions contact:
Ken Kline Smeltzer, Director, 1452 Willowbrook Drive, Boalsburg, PA 16827-1668
814-571-0495 (mobile) or [email protected].

Download the registration form, click here.

Travel - - Eugene, OR is the closest airport, about 135 miles away. Email Ken if you would like assistance with ground transportation from the airport.