Well after a long winter its time to hang up the skis and snowboards and break out the summer toys!  

I want to thank Northern Escape heli trip for a great week in the snow.  Hopefully it’s the last time I’ll be seeing snow until next winter.  If you go out west I highly recommend their trips.  There was a 28 foot base of snow!! http://www.northernescapeheliskiing.ca/

We have made some changes at the DZ and I would like to go over a few of them so you are not surprised or left in the dark. 

First, we have added locks to the shower house.  The locks are alpha-numeric combinations that you will receive when we get your monthly rent payment.  We are trying to keep the shower facility as nice as possible for the people that are paying for it.   I apologize for any inconvenience and please bear with us while we work out the kinks.

For those of you with slots in the campground, please come in and sign a new 2008 rental agreement.  There are a few changes to it.  First, you can only be plugged into a max of 30amps (the larger plug).  We are seeing some trailers plugged into both sides of the box!  I try to keep the rent as low as possible but with raising utilities I have to monitor this more.   You have until April 1st to remedy your connection or we will do it for you and charge a fee. 

The second change is that you cannot have more then 2 cars per trailer.  We are not a junkyard!! And lastly you must maintain your slot.  We are still going to cut the grass, weed whack and empty garbage cans.  We are not going to clean up fire pits, garbage piles, etc.  Also, to stay in the campground you must be either Skydiving or canoeing.  This is a private campground not open to the public.  Please know that I’m trying to make the facility nicer for your guests and our residents.

I would also like to mention a clause that has always been in the agreement, yet is still ignored.  We will not accept mail in the office for campground residents.  There is a Post Office in town with very reasonable rates on boxes.  From now on mail that is received in the office will be returned.

Campground rents for 2008:
Tent            $30 per
Bunkhouse         $15 per night
Elec. Only         $25 per day     $120 part time     $230 full time
Full hook up         $35 per day     $160 part time     $260 full time

Part time is less than 10 days per month.  Prices are for normal size trailers.  Oversized trailers will be $30 extra per month. 

Lastly with the campground we are adding a TV to the Tiki bar so you can watch your daily videos. 

Next I would like to go over the jump packages for 2008.  First if you have purchased a 100 or 200 jump package you must use your jumps prior to the end of the season (December 1st).  If you do not use them your jumps will be up-charged.  If you use all your jumps you are locked into your jump rate for the year.  You can use your jump packages for big-way, and formation load events; however, you will be charged the ‘big-way’ jump rate.  This rate varies depending on what event you are doing. 

If you have a 50 jump package your jumps will not expire at the end of the year.   Your jump rate expires when you go through your package.  You are not locked into your rate meaning when you go though your package your jumps will be back to the full price unless you purchase another jump package.  

Jump rates for 2008:
13,000 feet                $24
50 jump package             $1100  ($22)
Wednesday’s                 $22
Gear Rental                 $35 plus jump ticket
Hop ‘n’ Pop                 $15
200 jump package             $3600  ($18)
AFP graduate 50 jump package     $900  ($18 each!) **
    ** must be purchased within two weeks of graduating. 

The 2008 calendar has been added to the events page of the website.  For the latest calendar please look on the website. 
We add the upcoming events to the front page of the website as well. 

Speaking of upcoming events we are hosting safety day March 14 in the skylounge.  Geniez Café will be open for food and drinks.   She will be serving pasta with optional meatballs or sausage.

Saturday is our official opening day.  We have a handful of reservations, and the Otter is just finishing maintenance so it will be ready too!  We will have one Otter here until May when the other arrives.  

April 11 is the AFP refresher.  This is open to any AFP students that didn’t finish last year and want to get back into it.  There is no fee for any enrolled AFP student.  April 11 is also the first AFP in a week program for the 2008 season.  

A little further into the summer we are hosting some invitation events.  If you are interested please contact the person listed next to the event.  This will insure your invite and not leave you on the ground. 

July 4 celebration and POPS record will be July 2 – July 6.  

Summerfest will be held July 26th – August 3rd. 

Norman Kent will be is offering a workshop during Summerfest.  The following was copied and pasted from his website www.normankent.com

Photography & Video Workshop 2008

For the first time ever, Norman Kent will be sharing his 32 years of knowledge and experience in photography and video in the form of a workshop for all experience levels.

PRICE: $450 (4 days).

DATES: Two separate workshops. July 26th-29th and July 30th-August 2nd

LOCATION: Skydive Chicago, during the Summerfest Boogie

DISCOUNT: Register for both workshops for $800 (Same person only)

Make sure you register early as there is limited space available and it is on a first come first served basis.

FORMAT.:This workshop is designed for two purposes:

The first is to have Norman Kent as your personal coach. Norman will cater to you specific needs and questions. Think of it as a trip to shoot an amazing boogie along with Norman and a group of fellow photographers of all skill levels who will also be shooting during the boogie, all interested in experimenting and learning from each other, this is why it is open to all experience levels. This is NOT a seminar.

The second is to compare and exchange information with other photographers, all with individual skills and ideas there will be a wealth of knowledge available to you for the duration of the workshop.

Think of the classroom as a place for technical support, exchange of information and a bank of ideas to take home with you.

There will be two classroom sessions each day. One in the morning (one hour) designed to plan your day and get tips from Norman for executing your plan and one in the evening after jumping (two hours), designed to share your work from the day, get tips from Norman on how to improve your skills, and to see other photographer’s results from the day’s shooting (including Norman’s). We will ad an afternoon session when necessary.

As an additional benefit, many photographers find it useful to take turns shooting each other in freefall. The benefit of this is that you can see yourself in freefall and learn from it (like others do), after all, when is the last time you saw yourself in freefall while shooting?

The advantage of this format, is that you learn and shoot at your own pace while having Norman Kent as your personal coach.
Some Notes and Conditions

Participants will be required to sign a model release as the sessions will be video taped.

The images and/or video you shoot during the workshop may be requested for an instructional DVD being produced by Norman (this is not a requirement but a request, it is your choice) and for use as samples of the workshop results. This will be an opportunity to have your material featured and viewed by others.

All boogie fees, jumps and expenses are the responsibility of the participant

A $200 deposit (refundable if canceled 30 days or more before workshop start day) is required to reserve your space, the remaining balance is due 30 days before the workshop start date. Cancellations within 30 to 15 days before start date will be subject to a $200 fee. No refunds 15 days of start of workshop. Slots are transferable to a different person for a fee of $50. 


The staff and I are excited for another great year.  All you are missing is you…see you this weekend. 


Rook