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BugGuide Gathering 2018 - Massanutten Resort

Mark your calendars for the BugGuide Gathering July 27 - 29, 2018.

The event will take place at the Massanutten 4 Seasons Resort located in McGaheysville Virginia.

Housing and meals are made available to us nearby through the summer conference rates at James Madison University, Harrisonburg Virginia
The University agrees to provide air conditioned lodging accommodations for double and single occupancy for a maximum of 50 persons in Grace Street Apartments.

Arriving the day of Friday 7/27/18 through the night of Saturday 7/28/18, and departing Sunday 7/29/18.

A/C HOUSING* (Per person/per night)
SINGLE OCCUPANCY $42.00
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY $30.00
Linen service available for $8.00
housing and linen subject to 5.3% state tax

MEALS tickets available for purchase, cafeteria style on campus
MON - SUN
Breakfast $7.60
Lunch $9.47
Dinner $9.78
meals subject to 7% local meals tax and 5.3% state tax

Saturday night catered meal in the Festival Allegheny Room on campus - $15.72 (tax included)
Saturday boxed lunch - $9.55 (tax included)

I am working with the coordinator of the Nature Center at the Massanutten Resort to determine suitable locations for installing bug lights. I have two Mercury Vapor bug lights and generators. Please remember to bring your UV safety eyewear while photographing at the high intensity lights. Please indicate in the comments for the coordinator section upon registration if you plan to bring and install additional bug lights. There are several trails along the ridge that originate within the resort, but the George Washington Forest is situated adjacent to the property and offers hundreds of square miles to explore. The US Forest Service has granted access for us to enter the federal land. They have requested that anyone who wishes to explore the area beyond the boundaries of the resort to carry a copy of the letter that grants us access. We have also been given permission to collect insects that are not found on the Virginia Endangered and Threatened Species (TES OAR) List. A copy of each of these documents, access rights and official TES OAR List, will be included in the welcome package upon check-in to the Grace Street Apartments. I can also e-mail a copy if requested prior to the event - that request can be made in the comments to the coordinator section or feel free to send me a personal e-mail request.

Here is a link to registration:
https://www.ent.iastate.edu/bg2018

If you are interested in activities available at the resort such as golf, water park, or adventure park, the nature coordinator recommended that you purchase tickets early to assure availability of the resort's facility. July is the peak of the summer season at the resort. Those tickets can be purchased through the Massanutten Resort website here: https://www.massresort.com/

Link to a map of the Harrisonburg and Massanutten area. https://www.google.com/maps/dir/JMU+Convocation+Center,+University+Boulevard,+Harrisonburg,+VA/Massanutten,+VA/@38.3847217,-78.8602603,12z/data=!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b492e922becedf:0xe7a7b62d67feeee5!2m2!1d-78.8687645!2d38.4318774!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b48b1717db1fdb:0x81b45cb6bad92b11!2m2!1d-78.7378004!2d38.4095701

Great time!
I finally got through all my photos from the 2018 Gathering- ended up submitting 49 different insects to Bugguide from the trip. That was a really great experience, and truly a pleasure to meet everyone. Thanks very much Marcia for all of your time and effort to make that happen! I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the next one!
-John

Gathering page created
I have created a page for the 2018 gathering similar to previous gathering pages.

 
Thank you!
Thank you for all of the support to this event that you have provided.

 
Marcia, I am trying to get a
Marcia, I am trying to get a hold of you to find out how to check into our room.

Deadline tomorrow
Reminder! Tomorrow is the deadline to register for JMU housing and meal tickets for the 2018 Gathering at Massanutten Resort in McGaheysville, Virginia.

Final week to register
There is still availability at JMU housing! Looking forward to seeing everyone in the Shenandoah Valley this summer!

Deadline approaching
I just want to remind all who are interested in attending the BugGuide Gathering 2018 in Virginia that the deadline for registration is June 22, 2018. Also, the accommodations and meals ordered via the registration form must be prepaid. There is a link to prepay JMU housing via PayPal after the registration form is submitted. There are a couple of attendees who have submitted the form but not submitted payment, and I will not be able to secure those reservations without payment. If you would like to retain your space for JMU housing and have not yet paid, please contact me via e-mail and I will supply you with the link.

Bug Guide Gathering 2018 confirmed
Hi all - Polish up those camera lenses. The Shenandoah Valley is bursting with beauty after the rains and life is stirring all around us! Just wanted to let you know that there is still availability in JMU housing for any who hope to attend the gathering and join me in exploration.

Registration is open
There is link in the body of the event details above, and for those of you who have subscribed to this discussion thread, you can find the link here: ent.iastate.edu/bg2018

Please remember to compute the necessary taxes (rooms and linen/5.3% state tax, and meal tickets/12.3% state and local)

Happy trails!

Are arrangements still tentative or confirmed
marcia, I should start making my (non refundable) airline reservations soon in order to get the best deal. How are housing arrangements coming ?

 
event details
The housing arrangements are confirmed. The registration page, with complete details, is under construction, and John VanDyk has graciously agreed to assist in that capacity. All will be posted soon.

I want to bring my stepdaughter
She is 14. I took her to Arizona last year to hunt scorpions and we had a blast. Is this teeen appropriate?

 
contract language
The contract allows teen participation with 24 hour adult supervision, 1 adult per 25 non-adult participants, so yes, your stepdaughter is welcome.

 
Great! I’ll see if I can ge
Great! I’ll see if I can get pto!

Linen service
I too will probably be flying in and would like linen service if available

Gathering 2018
I am planning to attend based on current information for meals and housing at JMU. I would be flying from Wa. state so the idea of transport to and from airport would be great. I also like the linen option if available.

 
SHD terminal
For planning purposes, the local airport is located in Weyers Cave, VA and the airport id is SHD. If you decide to fly into that terminal, I will endeavor to be there to meet you. The major airports in northern VA (IAD-Dulles Washington and BWI-Baltimore Washington) are 2 hours away. If you fly into either of those airports, it seems to me that a weekend car rental would be the way to shuttle from northern Virginia. I hope that helps.

 
The is also Charlottesville
For flight, you may also want to look into Charlottesville. It is about an hour away, should have a fair number of flight choices and is a nice city to visit as well. I occasionally bicycled from the to Massanuten (back in the days when I had scary fitness) but that should give an idea of driving convenience.

 
Shuttle service
It would be problematic for me to drive over to Charlottesville to shuttle anyone, but again, rental car service is available in the CHO terminal.

Be prepared for a sales pitch
My wife and I went there once. They pushed us (unsuccessfully) to buy a time share. It's a nice area though.

 
Interesting comment
That would be true for someone with accommodations at the resort. The hiking trails are somewhat off the beaten path, or in our case the path to be beaten and swept. JMU is not recruiting adults who are registered in summer conference to audit classes. I am still waiting for the finished details, and will supply them to the group as soon as they are finalized and available.

some questions for the group
Hi all! I am negotiating with James Madison U, the contract is in preparation. There is some question about use of the linen service. Does anyone think they will be using the campus linen service or will you bring your own bedding?

Also, there is some question about meal service. I was hoping to have a catered dinner Saturday night, so that everyone can get together, even if not staying in campus housing. The price of that meal will be separate, the location has not yet been determined. I suggest to those who will be staying in campus housing to include breakfast for Saturday and Sunday morning on campus, but since Massanutten resort is some distance from the campus, there are many other options for dining apart from the university and you may want to grab a meal closer to the resort, or on the resort for the remaining meals.

Registration will begin when I receive the contract, and a deposit will be required at registration.

 
Linen service
My plans are still tentative, but if I attend I would be using the linen service.

 
My husband and I definitely want to attend.
We are interested in JMU housing. We can bring linens or use linen service. I'm assuming beds are singles?

 
Some questions for the group
I like the plan so far. thanks Marcia

 
Bringing our own linen is fine with us
if that works out better.

I'm going to try to make this
I'm going to try to make this if I can get the day before and day after off but it's prime time at work so it might be tough. I have 2 light set ups that I could bring. 1000 watt metal halide with pvc frame and sheet and a portable black light set up that I run off the power in my jeep. I do not have a generator though and typically use an outlet for the 1000 watt set up. I'll chime in if it looks like I can get the time off. I would need someone to bring a generator or arrange access to a power source.

I probably would attend
Dates need to be finalized (vacation time and such) but it is an area I want to get to to visit after having left 20 years ago.

Yes, let us know when to register.
and John VanDyk has often set up a spreadsheet to keep track of who is coming, driving, carpooling, who will need to be picked up at an airport, etc.

 
J and J,
Have you registerd?

 
Afraid we're not going to make it
Jane's knee replacement got delayed and now it is happening in July so big conflict with our gathering plans. Sorry to miss out this year. Will be looking forward to all the new posts!

Virginia Gathering
We're planning to be there. Looking forward to more details on housing. We will be bringing a Mercury Vapor light and generator

Loren and Babs Padelford
Bellevue, NE

Gathering at Massanutten
Count me in as well! I'm marking it in on the calendar.

Yes Please!
Count me in... how do we officially register and reserve a room? Thanks Marcia for organizing this!

 
registration
I will be receiving the contract for the rooms mid-February. At that time I will have more information about deposits and registration. I am hoping that someone will create a link on this site for that purpose when the time comes. More information is forthcoming.

Absolutely
Please count me in as well!

I'd like to attend the gather
I'd like to attend the gathering!

Confirming plans to attend
My request for time off from work has been approved, so I plan to attend. Thanks Marcia for all the work you’ve done so far.

Massanutten Resort venue
Good news, all! The Nature Center coordinator is delighted to host our Gathering at the Massanutten Resort July 27-29 as well as participate. I will be meeting with her after the holidays to work out details. The contract that will govern housing and meal packages at JMU will be mailed to me in February, so please be thinking about your lodging needs and whether you will be utilizing that housing or making other arrangements. I have requested apartment style housing rather than dorms, located to the west of campus. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding either the student housing option, reserving hotel space at the resort, or other needs such as RV or camping. I will help in any way that I can to make travel arrangements less worrisome.

 
This all sounds awesome....
Great job, Marcia!

Still haven't been able to attend
There haven't been any since I became an active editor. I would definitely be interested!

Please add me
Thanks for starting this!

Date reserved!
I have requested those dates of July 27-29 2018 for the JMU housing. As plans move forward I will let you all know deadlines for reservations, at some point we will have to know how many plan to attend as well as deposits and such. As details become available, I will post them.

 
Excellent!
I’ll be keeping my eyes open for updates!

I am interested in a VA gathering!
And Moth Week sounds like an appropriate date. Thanks for getting this started!

I'm definitely interested
*

I would love to attend as well!
Depending on the date, of course, but if I could swing it, I'd be there in a heartbeat. I have no issues with staying in a dorm room, either! I've got plenty of experience with that.

Count me in!
Thank you for putting it together. The Arizona 2013 was a life changer.

 
life changer
John,
How so? I agree that the gatherings are absolutely great, but yours sounds like it has more of a story to it!

Just curious,
Kevin

JMU room and meal rates
Hi Everyone. Information about on campus housing and meals at JMU as follows: SUMMER CONFERENCE / CAMP RATES
JMU Conference Services / James Madison University


A/C HOUSING*
(Per person/per night)

SINGLE OCCUPANCY $42.00
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY $30.00


MEALS**
(Per person/per day)
MON - SUN

Breakfast $7.60
Lunch $9.47
Dinner $9.78
$26.85 + 7% local meals tax

*HOUSING NOTE: Room rates do not include linen. For optional linen service, a per person charge of $8.00 per week will be assessed. Linen service includes: 2 sheets, 1 pillowcase, 2 towels,1 washcloth. Double towels will be provided for stays greater than four (4) nights. Linens are provided folded in each room (beds are not pre-made). Pillows are provided (free of charge) for each bed; blankets for air-conditioned dorms.

There is a window of availability for the weekend of July 27-29, which happens to be Moth Week! I suggest we make a decision about the venue before that window closes. A staging room will also be available to us, somewhere we can organize equipment if we need it.

 
 
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