With less than 2 weeks remaining before our Memorial Day Weekend retreat (May 28-30) on Sandy Island, we urge all participants to mail in their registration forms within the next few days (email denise4@rcn.com if you need a registration form). If you can’t get your forms in by this Friday 5/20, please email denise4@rcn.com to report how many adults/teens/children will be in your group. You may invite non-FUUSN family members and friends as well.
• Watch for messages from our Sandy Island Activities Coordinator Barbara Schmitt <celeryelectric@gmail.com>
• The results of our COVID survey were largely in line with the protocols already in place at FUUSN:
–We strongly advise (but don’t require proof of) vaccination & boosting (keeping in mind that 95% of Newton is in compliance anyway).
— At-home antigen testing is voluntary, and folks are advised to stay home regardless of test results if they have any COVID symptoms (refund will be given).
— Masks will be required indoors (bathrooms, lodge, dining hall) except when eating, drinking, toothbrushing, face-washing, showering.
Sandy Island Coordinator: Denise Bousquet (email questions to denise4@rcn.com)
Sandy Island Activities Coordinator: Barbara Schmitt <celeryelectric@gmail.com>
Map of Sandy Island: (email denise4@rcn.com)
GPS address: Northwoods Camp Road, Tuftenboro, NH
What: FUUSN’s annual retreat to Sandy Island Camp (a YMCA family camp)
Where: Sandy Island, a small isle in Lake Winnepesauke (N.H.) containing only the camp
When: Memorial Day weekend (Sat. May 28– Mon. May 30)
Who: FUUSNites of all ages + their non-FUUSN family members & friends—singles, couples, families/significant others (no pets), usually about 130 campers
Why: Fun and relaxing weekend to build connections within FUUSN
How: Drive 2 ½ hrs. to a few miles beyond Wolfeboro NH, park your car, take 10 min. boat ride to island. Boats leave the mainland Sat. at 10:30a, 11:15a, 12:00p & 2:00p. Leave the island Monday at 9:30a, 10:30a, 1:30p, 2:30p.
Housing: Rustic cabins, walk to shared bathhouses (a few exceptions have in-house shared full bathrooms)
Food: Shared dining-hall meals (to suit many dietary needs) provided by Sandy staff. If you need to bring special food items, a few shelves of easily-accessible refrigerator space are available in the serving area. You can make special dietary requests (vegan, low-carb, gluten-free, etc.) on the registration form.
Activities: Sports, crafts, discussion groups, music, swimming, boating, fishing, yoga, art, nature walks, photography, happy hour, bonfire, talent show, dancing, lounging, etc. Watch for messages from our Activities Coordinator requesting activities & leaders.
What to bring: A flashlight for each member of the family–most bathrooms are in separate buildings & there is minimal outdoor lighting. Sandy Island provides linens, pillows, medium-weight blankets. Cabins are unheated and unlocked, so unless the weather is unseasonably warm, bring your own sleeping bags or comforters to supplement camp blankets.
Bring warm clothes, jackets, bath towels, beach towels, bathing suits, rain gear, extra shoes or mud boots (it can be quite muddy after wet weather). Sandy Island provides Pack ‘N’ Play cribs, island-hardy strollers, baseballs, bats, basketballs, Capture the Flag equipment, life jackets. Bring your own board games, tennis rackets, baseball mitts, camera, binoculars, musical instruments, fishing gear.