Be the first to I found out about Enota on the Internet, but I've been camping there ever since then. This time, I want to write about a retreat I personally took up there in March 2008.
Describe your camping trip:
We four choral directors took our 16 girl chorus for a weekend rehearsal retreat. We directors stayed in a cabin, and the girls and chaperones lived in the Dakota Retreat House, which includes a multi-purpose room. That was a godsend, as it rained the entire weekend and this spacious room served as a rehearsal hall, a yoga room, and a rec room, complete with arts and crafts and games. The girls enjoyed the camaraderie of Dakota's rooms and loved the lodge meals. Their favorite thing was cuddling the baby goat at the farm, hiking to the base of the waterfalls and watching the cow being milked, which was a first for them. The nice young people on the staff really made them feel special, and we appreciated this. We had a few hours when the rain let up, which enabled these activities, but they really loved sitting in front of the fireplace up at the lodge before and after meals, singing, playing chess or just chatting with the other guests. We adults loved the fact that the girls could safely wander around the grounds and enjoy nature on their own terms. Even in the rain, it was beautiful. We all loved giving a concert Saturday night for the others that shared Enota with us that weekend. Afterwards, we also shared one gigantic bonfire built and hosted by the Enota staff, who even supplied dry firewood!
Pros: Everything.
Cons: The girls griped about the mud out by the garden, but since this was a working farm and it was rainy, they soon realized this was to be expected. It didn't stop them from visiting the rabbit houses and petting the occupants, though!
Cons: The girls griped about the mud out by the garden, but since this was a working farm and it was rainy, they soon realized this was to be expected. It didn't stop them from visiting the rabbit houses and petting the occupants, though!
Nearby attractions: Vogel State Park, Helen and Brasstown Bald, but we didn't leave Enota, which kept us all busy, even in the rain.
Further comments: As a camper, I've always wondered about what it would be like to be a retreater while campers were present. It turned out to be a plus, not a minus. Folks who come to this place are already invested in being a part of nature and have a nice mindset and really buy into the ecology/environmental aspect of Enota. This was a valuable lesson to our city girls.
