(1) - What are the actual costs, how much do people spend on the trip(food, ice-capades, logging, actives,)?
(2) You have to pay to register to go, but that is separate from the actual campground, that's a different registration?
(3) How far from different points of NY is the camp ground?
(4) I like showering.
(5) What are the demographics? Mostly "fight the tyranny of shaving" bearded-old-libertarians or primarily a family affair?
are there adjunct activities for an astoundingly immature 24 year old?
(6) What % of time will be wasted on lecturing, debating,
(7) The site seems to say porcupine fest is a weekend jaunt, why do lots of people seem to be listing week long activities?
(-8) I've never shot a real gun before... Is there a gun range or something, how does that work?
Archon/Dan
(1) I'm not good budgeting my money. I usually spend more than I need to because I like to load up on camping junk whenever I go... Typically I spend $375 for the trip.... and that covers my gas, the tent site, food for the whole time, and some miscellaneous camping junk I usually end up buying.
However, if you are good at budgeting money and can raid your food pantry at home... you can probably make the trip happen for $150 or less (it depends how many days you want to stay at the campground. It is $25 - $27 a night, depending if you want a tent site with water and electric, or not).
As an aside, you can probably make it their and back on almost one full tank of gas.... so figure your gas costs at around $55 tops... which should get you a full tank... and then maybe an extra $5 or $10 on the way home... depending on how far west you live in New York.
(2) The registration for the even is separate from the campground. When you check in at the campground... Once you are checked in, and you set up your tent.... you will see the registration area.... and also... there are helpful people all over who are very happy to guide and direct you as to all the where, whys, and hows, etc...
(3) I come from Long Island, so it's roughly six hours for me. It probably would take seven or eight hours max, from the westernmost point of NY... but if you live towards the middle or towards the Vermont border, it might take you no more than three to six hours.
Sounds like a big trip.... not really. You pack your stuff the prior day, have it reading to go in the morning. Get up early, 5 or 6 in the morning and be off. You'll be at the campground just after lunch time, and just in time to check in.
(4) Showering... no problem. The campground at Rogers has two bathrooms with an adequate ratio of shower stalls to campers (which as an aside, I think Rogers was slightly better than at Gunstock last year, where the showers often had short to medium sized lines in the mornings). Water, nice and hot. No worries.
(5) The age ranges represented are people of all ages, pretty much. The teenager demographic is slightly lacking... which I think could be boosted a bit...... but the early 20's range is fairly well represented. Another thing to kind of note is, you'll find people of all ranges to be ready to be goofy and party.... so don't be too surprised when you get there and you see 40 to 60 year old guys acting goofy... and getting back to being a kid at heart, if only for the time they are there.
(6) Well, I'm not really sure how you would measure percentages.... but I will just say that it is a fairly small percent and is confined to just a few days, and even then, only a few hours on those few days.
The Liberty Forum in February is more about serious speeches, and "intellectual stuff," if one was interested in that.
The events are largely just optional, and many veterans of the events consider them somewhat perfunctory. The lectures are kind of "preaching to the choir," and we've all kind of heard it before and agree with most of it... so people are not so much showing up to be "wow'ed" by rousing speeches. People often show up as a courtesy to support and respect for the speakers who had the bravery to get up there in front of a crowd to speak their peace, but it's not like mandatory that you have to go to anything. You are free to chill out at the campground as much as you like.
(7) Take note of this part. Important. The event is listed as being like Thursday to Sunday. That is the "official" sort of date of the event, strictly on paper.... be aware... in reality, many [participants actually choose to show up for nearly an entire week, many days early... There are people who actually show up the weekend before, or come on Monday... and during the whole week, people do stuff.
(-8) They do do something with shooting guns. You might have to ask others on that one though.... Last time, I wanted to go shoot, but ended up missing it. I'm sure they will have it again this time. It will probably be at an outdoor site.
One of the little flaws of the event is that the informal events are a bit disorganized. A lot of things are not listed officially on paper with a time the event is occuring, per se'... You kind of need to ask around and actually talk to people. That was part of my problem, I idin't talk to people to ask when the various events were going to be... so I missed out on a few things I wanted to do. If something interests you... ask around there... people will tell you.[/list]
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