The following information lists all the details you need for the various accommodations on the days between the pujas, whether you want to continue staying at the Warner Center Marriott (the puja hotel), the Cottontail Ranch (more openings will become available), or the Yuva Shakti camp at Malibu Creek State Park, less than a mile away from the Cottontail Ranch.
Please read the information carefully, and most importantly, please be assured we will find acceptable accommodations for everyone that needs them. This may not happen with everyone prior to their arrival, but will definitely be taken care of before the weekend is finished.
Warner Center Marriott
Make your reservations if you haven’t already. We have rooms reserved for the Warner Center Marriott at our discounted rate of $99/night with good inventory available. The number for the Warner Center is: 1-818-887-4800. If someone in registration is confused about the rate, be sure you have identified yourself as being with the Vishwa Nirmala Dharma group. If for some reason this does not work, ask to be transferred to the Sales & Catering department.
We will have some limited transportation in the form of two 12 passenger vans for shuttling to the Cottontail camp for the evening program, but it will be greatly appreciated if you can provide your own transportation.
Yuva Shakti Camp at Malibu Creek State Park
This camp is generally reserved for Yuva Shakti, but there is room for another 2 or 3 aunties/uncles that would like to help out. It is located less than a mile from the Cottontail Ranch. Tents are provided but Malibu campers will need to have a sleeping bag and pad. The yuvas will have simple breakfasts and lunches at the Malibu camp, but will be having their dinner meals at Cottontail Ranch with the larger collective and remain for the evenings activities.
Please go to the Yuva Shakti website: www.yuvashakti.com for more information regarding registration and costs.
Cottontail Ranch
Registration: the on-line camp registration filled up fairly quickly, but we know that there will be at least 15-20 vacancies plus some unknown number of no-shows for final payment at Shri Ganesha Puja registration, so there is a good chance that many of you that would like to go to the Cottontail Ranch can still do so.
The Cottontail registration/payment will take place in the same room as the Ganesha Puja registration. The cost is $200 for ages 18 and over, $175 for students and developing countries, and $150 for ages 4-17. Registration on Friday and Saturday is reserved for those that registered on-line, but we will be accepting names for the waiting list during this time. Beginning on Sunday, those that are on the waiting list can then register for available vacancies.
There will an additional optional signup at registration for “beach day” on Wednesday, September 13. The additional transportation cost for this is $7/person. There will be a 1pm departure and 4pm return, plus another 2pm departure and 5pm return. The bus ride to Malibu Beach is about 20 minutes each way.
Cottontail Ranch/Malibu Creek Departure From the Hotel: will take place on Monday after the puja starting at noon with two 56 person buses, then another trip with the buses at 1:15pm, then a final bus and 12 passenger van run at 2:30pm. The 12 passenger buses will be dedicated to the Malibu Creek State Park transportation. Bus tickets with your time of departure will be issued at registration.
Accommodations: there are a number of cabins with beds and mattresses so all you will need to bring is a sleeping bag. Cabins will be allocated as Mens, Ladies, mommies with small children, and mommies with infants if necessary. Some cabins have showers in them, some don’t, but are available to everyone. There is a swimming pool which we have reserved for Tue and Thur from 1-5pm, including lifeguards.
Meals are catered beginning Monday dinner through Friday breakfast and begin promptly at 8am, noon and 5:30pm (6pm beach day). We are also required to provide setup assistance 15 minutes prior to the meal, and some amount of cleanup afterwards. We are planning to run a snack bar with yogi volunteers for brief periods 3 times a day, for those that would like to purchase water (tap water is safe but not so tasty), snacks and other refreshments.
Daytime temperatures are forecast to be in the 70’sF (23-26C) and in the upper 50’sF (12-15C) at night. A light to medium weight jacket is advised as meditation and evening programs will be taking place outside. Also bring swim suits for the pool and beach day, plus sunscreen and hats. It is not likely to rain this time of year.
Tentative Cottontail Schedule
Monday Sept 11
Noon - start boarding buses for Cottontail
2pm-5pm - check-in to various cabins and rooms
5:30pm - Dinner
7:30pm - Announcements & Evening Meditation
Tue-Thur
7am - Morning Meditation
8am - Breakfast
9:30am-11am SY Treatments/Workshop
noon - Lunch
1pm-5pm - Free time, music/writers/and(?) workshops, Cottontail swimming pool, organized hikes to Malibu Creek, Beach Day
5:30pm Dinner
7:30pm Evening Meditation & Program (Bhajan & Stick Dancing Night, Game/Entertainment Night, Individual/Group Performances Night)
Friday Sept 15
7am Meditation
8am Breakfast
11am-noon - board buses for hotel
Jai Shri Mataji |
