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Traditions and Holiday Customs of New England: A Hands-On Experience

Program Number: 6170RJ
Start and End Dates:
12/8/2013 - 12/13/2013;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: West Swanzey, New Hampshire
Price starting at: $598.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Holidays
Meals: 15; 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners    
Meal Options: Gluten Free; Low Fat; Low Salt; Vegetarian    

Explore the rich traditions and unique customs of the New England holiday season. Experience a hands-on celebration and take your creations home to enhance your holidays. Through recordings, concerts, and participation, enjoy the music of the season from carols to the classics. There's no better way to begin the holiday season than this beautiful New Hampshire setting.




Highlights

• Make gingerbread houses and create traditional decorative crafts including woodcraft, wreath-making, painting and holiday crafts.
• Learn traditional recipes of holiday fare, especially breads, cookies and chocolates from several different ethnic heritages, then enjoy the final product.
• Explore lessons and dramatic readings along with classical literary expressions.



Activity Particulars

No experience is necessary and a limited amount of walking is required. Choices always given to accommodate interests and physical abilities.



Coordinated by Pilgrim Pines Conference Center.




West Swanzey

Nestled in the valley of southwest New Hampshire, West Swanzey is one of several postcard-perfect towns in the Monadock region. Winding roads pass covered bridges, historic sites and the 3,000-foot Mount Monadnock, one of the most popular ascents in New England.
Accommodations
Comfortable retreat center with beautiful sites on the shore of Swanzey Lake. Single rooms available at no extra cost.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Janet Grayson
Dr. Janet Grayson is professor emeritus of English at Keene State College, a liberal arts college in New Hampshire. She received her Ph.D. from Columbia University. Janet’s major academic work was in medieval literature but her interests and writing cover a broad range of topics. The Janet Grayson Lecture in Literary Studies was established in 2002 to honor Professor Grayson’s 35 years of service to Keene State College and has featured many award-winning authors and poets.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Pilgrim Pines
  West Swanzey 5 nights
 Pilgrim Pines
Type: Conference Center
  Description: Retreat center located on a lake with a quiet country friendly atmosphere
  Contact info: 220 W. Shore Rd
Swanzey, NH 03446 USA
phone: 603-352-0443
web: www.pilgrimpines.org
  Facility amenities: All rooms have private bath. Cabins by the Lake, condo style housing available and enjoy the quaint historic Mayflower Lodge. New beds in all units... single and double beds available.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Additional nights prior: NA 
  Check in time: 3:30 PM
  Additional nights after: NA 
  Check out time: 10:15 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
3:00 p.m. in Mayflower Lodge - Office You will be staying at Pilgrim Pines that night.
  End of Program:
12:15 p.m. Mayflower Dining Room -Lunch You will be staying at Pilgrim Pines the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
Parking is free
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  West Swanzey
  Nearest city or town:  Keene, NH
  Nearest highway: Interstare Rte. 91, Highways #10, #32
  Nearest airport:  Manchester, NH
  From End of Program
  Location: West Swanzey
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

Logan/, Boston/Hartford Springfield, Bradley/Manchester

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
Thomas Transportation
phone: 800-526-8143
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

Logan & Bradley-$59.00 for shuttle to Keene - call for time(s). Manchester - $114.00 per person
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

2 hours 
 

Distance:

 

Logan - 95 miles. Bradley - 85 miles. Manchester - 75 miles
   

Bus service is available from Bradley - requires bus change. No bus service from Logan or Manchester. Rental car rental is an option. Avis and Enterprise have drop-sites in Keene. Please call Chuck Anderson, Coordinator 603-499-1994 to ask about the possibility of coordinating schedules with other participants.
 
Driving Directions
  Boston, MA Highway #2 West to 140 N. 140 N to 12 N. 12 N through Troy, NH to Flat Roof Mill Rd., (3.5 miles N of Troy) L on Flat Roof Mill Rd to #32. (about 4 miles - stop sign). R on 32 and an immediate L on Swanzey Lake Rd. 2.2 miles on Swanzey Lake Rd to West Shore Rd. Turn R and follow 1 mile to Pilgrim Pines sign.. continue 1/4 mile to Mayflower Lodge - Office.
  Hartford, CT/Springfield, MA #91 N to exit 28A...(N of Greenfield, MA exit) Follow #10 N from that exit through Winchester, NH. Four miles N of Winchester look for Pilgrim Pines sign. When you pass the Shamrock Reality building, turn R on Swanzey Lake Rd. Follow 4 miles, bearing R to West Shore Rd. Turn L on West Shore Rd and follow one mile to Pilgrim Pines sign... continue 1/4 mile to Mayflower Lodge - Office.
Equipment Requirements: Bring your favorite apron or work clothes for crafts, baking and wreath making and containers to bring home your food creations.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Afternoon arrival/Welcome, orientation
(Sunday, December 8)

Note: Orientation session and overview of week
   
 Afternoon: Registration begins at 3:00-3:30 p.m.in Mayflower Lodge - Office. Coffee and snacks, 3:30-5:00 p.m
 Dinner: Dinner, 6:00 p.m in the lodge.
 Evening: Orientation, 7:30 p.m. will feature time to get acquainted with one another, do an overview of our schedule and goals for week and learn about our home away from home.
   
Accommodations: Pilgrim Pines
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Gingerbread Houses, crafts and woodcrafts
(Monday, December 9)

Note: Design and bake gingerbread houses. Craft project and first session in woodshop.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast, 8:00 a.m in the lodge.
 Morning: 9:00 a.m. Design Gingerbread Houses 10:30 a.m. Break 10:45 a.m. Cut out design and bake
 Lunch: Lunch, 12:00 noon in the lodge
 Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. Craft Project 2:30 p.m. Break 3:00 p.m. Woodcraft project in Woodshop 4:00 p.m. Free Time
 Dinner: Dinner, 5:30 p.m in lodge
 Evening: 7:00 p.m. Evening of Songs of the season featuring a local artist.
 Evening: Evening snacks and fun 8:15 p.m.
   
Accommodations: Pilgrim Pines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Gingerbread houses Chamber Singers in Concert
(Tuesday, December 10)

Note: Build and decorate gingerbread houses Craft project
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the lodge
 Morning: 9:00 a.m. Build and decorate Gingerbread Houses 10:30 a.m. Break 10:45 a.m. Finish gingerbread houses
 Lunch: Lunch at 12:00 noon in the lodge.
 Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. Craft Project 2:30 p.m. Break 3:00 p.m. Woodcraft project
 Dinner: Dinner at 6:00 pm in the lodge with guests from the Community invited
 Evening: 7:30 p.m. Chamber Singers of Keene in Concert
   
Accommodations: Pilgrim Pines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Baking Cookies/Chocolates Jazz Band Concert
(Wednesday, December 11)

Note: Baking/Decorating/Painting
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at 8:00 am in the lodge.
 Morning: 9:00 a.m. Bake and Decorate Cookies 10:30 a.m. Break 10:45 a.m. History of different Customs of the Holiday season
 Lunch: 12:30 p.m. Lunch in the lodge.
 Afternoon: Day of discovery continues.
 Dinner: Dinner at 5:30 pm in the lodge.
 Evening: 7:30 p.m. Entertainment to be announced.
   
Accommodations: Pilgrim Pines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Breads and Chocolates Christmas Carol presentation
(Thursday, December 12)

Note: Baking Breads Finishing Woodcraft projects
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at 8:00 am in the lodge.
 Morning: 9:00 a.m. Bake Sweet Breads and do Chocolates 10:30 p.m. Break 10:45 a.m. Presentation of classic: Christmas Carol
 Lunch: Lunch at 12:30 pm in the lodge.
 Afternoon: 1:30 p.m. Finish Woodcraft Projects 3;00 p.m. A visit to Stonewall Farm and a possible hayride.
 Dinner: Dinner at 5:30 pm in the lodge.
 Evening: Participants are invited to local High School for their Holiday Program featuring choirs, dancing, instrumental music and drama.
   
Accommodations: Pilgrim Pines
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Visit to Stonewall Farm
(Friday, December 13)

Note: Hayride at Stonewall Farm
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at 7:45 am in the lodge.
 Morning: 9:00 a.m. Closing program and Yankee Swap. Break 10:45 a.m. Check out of rooms and closure.
 Lunch: Farewell luncheon, 12:15 p.m. in the lodge. Box lunches are available for those who need to leave early.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Free Time Opportunities
  
  West Swanzey New Hampshire Devision of Travel and Tourism
State of New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development 172 Pembroke Road P.O. Box 1856 Concord, New Hampshire 03302-1856 Fax: 603-271-6870 or travel@dred.state.nh.us To order your vacation kit please call: 800-FUN-IN-NH (386-4664) To speak with one of our Division office staff please call: 603-271-2665 For additional information, visit www.visitnh.gov/
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


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