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Acoustic Guitar Camp 2025
Mon, Jul 21 - Fri, Jul 25



Ashokan Acoustic Guitar Camp offers guitarists of all levels an opportunity for real immersion and growth in a friendly environment where people can sing, jam and share valuable musical knowledge. Choose from a variety of specialized daytime classes, and enjoy evening presentations, hosted jams, and mini-concerts. You’ll come away with new repertoire and techniques, a reinvigorated sense of direction and purpose, and a greater confidence and joy in making music on your guitar!

Teaching staff TBA.

“I learned so much! The teachers are incredible, so patient and warm. As a semi-advanced beginner I feel I’m coming away with a new vocabulary and sense of what to work towards. Very inspiring.”

“Aside from the excellent teaching… I loved the ambiance and camaraderie of the camp.”

“Beyond expectations by miles. The teachers were exceptional and incredibly generous.”

“Great food, beautiful setting. I loved the concerts and open mics!” 

Click here to view last year’s schedule & class descriptions.

Click here to see photos from previous years.

Registration Pricing
Description Price
Supporter Includes $125 donation toward Ashokan’s programs & scholarships. Thank you for your Support! $820.00
Standard Registration ⭐️ Not sure? Choose this one! $695.00
Economy Need financial support? Choose this one. $570.00
Youth (ages 5-25) Youth participants choose this one. $445.00
Under 5 Little ones attend for free! $0.00

Self-select from our registration tiers based on your ability to pay

STANDARD covers Ashokan’s cost per-person to host the event. If you can afford to pay the Standard price, please do. ECONOMY is for those who can’t currently afford the Standard price, but would like to attend and be part of our community. If you need financial assistance, this tier is for you. SUPPORTER not only grants you admission to the event, but includes a special donation to support Ashokan’s programs and scholarships. You're making a difference! Your donation builds a creative community grounded in the spirit of generosity, equity, and compassion. We are grateful for your support.

Scholarships

YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP is for campers age 25 and under who are paying their own way and for families in need of financial support. Please self-select this tier. PAY IT FORWARD SCHOLARSHIP is for performers and teachers who will pass on the music, songs, or dance forms they learn at Ashokan to new audiences and to the next generation. Learn more and apply here.

Thank you for supporting the Ashokan Center and each other!

Lodging Options
Staying Off-site | $0.00
Live nearby or commuting to and from Ashokan from a hotel, Air BnB, or friend's house?
Camping | $0.00
Camping areas include rec field (with bathhouse) upper pasture, and more. BYO camping gear. No open fires.
Sharing a Private Room purchased by someone else | $0.00
Ashokan doesn't assign roommates or split room costs at our end, but you're encouraged to coordinate sharing any private room.
Bunk in Men's Longhouse | $200.00
Twin-sized bunk in large shared room with large shared bathroom. Maximum capacity 24 people in 12 bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Bunk in Women's Longhouse | $200.00
Twin-sized bunk in large shared room with large shared bathroom. Maximum capacity 24 people in 12 bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Bunk in All Gender Longhouse | $200.00
Twin-sized bunk in large shared room with large shared bathroom. Maximum capacity 24 people in 12 bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Mint Private Cabin | $600.00
A small private cabin with one queen bed, sleeps up to 2 people. Shared bathrooms nearby.
Nettle Private Cabin | $600.00
Small private cabin with two twin beds, sleeps up to 2 people. Shared bathrooms nearby.
Oregano Private Cabin | $600.00
Small private cabin with one queen bed, sleeps up to 2 people. Shared bathrooms nearby.
Longhouse Private Room | $600.00
Upstairs room with shared bathroom. Sleeps up to 3 people in one bunkbed with twin top and queen bottom bunk. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Longhouse Private Room | $600.00
Upstairs room with shared bathroom. Sleeps up to 3 people in one bunkbed with twin top and queen bottom bunk. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Longhouse Private Room | $600.00
Downstairs room with shared bathroom. Sleeps up to 3 people in one bunkbed with twin top and queen bottom bunk. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Longhouse Private Room | $600.00
Downstairs room with shared bathroom. Sleeps up to 3 people in one bunkbed with twin top and queen bottom bunk. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Red Maple Private Room (Porch) | $800.00
Upstairs room with private bathroom and shared porch. Sleeps up to 4 people in two bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Red Maple Private Room (Porch) | $800.00
Upstairs room with private bathroom and shared porch. Sleeps up to 4 people in two bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Red Maple Private Room (Inner) | $760.00
Upstairs inner room with private bathroom and adjacent shared living room area. Sleeps up to 4 people in two bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries.
Red Maple Private Room (Inner) | $760.00
Upstairs inner room with private bathroom and adjacent shared living room area. Sleeps up to 4 people in two bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries.
Red Maple Private Room (Accessible) | $720.00
Accessible room with private bathroom. Sleeps up to 4 people in two bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries.
Red Maple Private Room (Accessible) | $720.00
Accessible room with private bathroom. Sleeps up to 4 people in two bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries.
Red Maple Private Room (Porch) | $800.00
Downstairs room with private bathroom and shared porch. Sleeps up to 4 people in two bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Red Maple Private Room (Porch) | $800.00
Downstairs room with private bathroom and shared porch. Sleeps up to 4 people in two bunkbeds. BYO bedding, towels, toiletries
Sycamore Private Room (Upstairs) | $920.00
Upstairs room with private bathroom and shared porch. Sleeps up to 5 people in two bunkbeds (one with queen bottom.) BYO bedding, towels, toiletries.
Sycamore Private Room (Upstairs) | $920.00
Upstairs room with private bathroom and shared porch. Sleeps up to 5 people in two bunkbeds (one with queen bottom.) BYO bedding, towels, toiletries.
Sycamore Private Room (Downstairs) | $880.00
Downstairs room with private bathroom. Sleeps up to 5 people in two bunkbeds (one with queen bottom.) BYO bedding, towels, toiletries.
Sycamore Private Room (Downstairs) | $880.00
Downstairs room with private bathroom. Sleeps up to 5 people in two bunkbeds (one with queen bottom.) BYO bedding, towels, toiletries.

Can't make it to the full camp, drop in for the Wednesday staff concert.


LAU NOAH

From the heart of Catalonia to the vibrant streets of New York City, Lau Noah is a self-taught singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist whose poetic compositions and masterful guitar-voice counterpoint have earned praise from artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Jackson Browne. The first Catalan to perform a Tiny Desk Concert, she has scored award-winning films, collaborated with icons such as Jacob Collier and Chris Thile, and performed at historic venues like the Royal Albert Hall. Her debut LP, A Dos, released in January 2024, features luminaries including Jorge Drexler and Cécile McLorin Salvant. Sought after for her innovative approach to guitar and composition, Lau looks forward to sharing her unorthodox methods for exploring melody and expanding the places from which we write.
TASH NEAL

Tash Neal is a world-class guitarist, singer, and songwriter from Harlem, NYC, celebrated for his versatile sound and collaborations across genres. He’s performed with rock legends like Lenny Kravitz, Slash, and The Black Crowes, jam band staples like Soulive and Gov’t Mule, hip-hop icons like Kanye West and Mos Def, and even country stars like Zac Brown Band. A former member of The London Souls, Tash debuted his solo album Charge It To The Game in 2021, featuring tracks produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. Most recently, he toured with Slash and contributed to the blues album Orgy of the Damned. Whether shredding on stage or crafting memorable songs, Tash Neal continues to push boundaries and captivate audiences worldwide. He looks forward to sharing his skills and jamming with you!
RINA ROSSI
Rina (she/her) grew up in Michigan, immersed in the folk and traditional dance scene. She moved to Minneapolis at 18 and auditioned for the Wild Goose Chase Cloggers, touring regionally and internationally with the group for 10 years. Through the cloggers, she became very involved with the vibrant midwest old-time scene and took up rhythm guitar, old time bass, and square dance calling. She currently plays guitar and tours with old time bluegrass project Steam Machine, and as a duo with fiddler AJ Srubas. She enjoys teaching and has been honored to teach at camps and festivals across the country including Augusta Heritage Center, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, John C Campbell Folk School, Minnesota Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association, the Swannanoa Gathering, and others. As a teacher, she believes that rhythm guitar can make or break a good session, and there are few things more satisfying than creating a solid pocket and using your playing to compliment and lift up the other musicians playing with you. She likes to work with students to dig into various elements of back-up guitar playing, including timing, hearing chords, articulation, tone, and bass notes and bass runs. Through close listening to different regional and personal back up styles, she hopes to give students some strategies for continued learning.
CORY SEZNEC
A French-American in Paris, Cory Seznec is an artist who traces the through-line across musical cultures and whose songs let the past reverberate in the present. His guitar-playing is cross-pollinated and idiosyncratic. He also sings, plays banjo, and wades in the deep river of American song. Travels to Africa - including a three-year stint in Ethiopia - cracked everything open. In Addis, while holding down a gig in Mulatu Astatke’s jazz club he recorded two albums and embarked on rugged field recording trips across the Ethiopian highlands.
He tours regularly with Touki and is involved in research celebrating East African guitar music.
ALI DINEEN
Ali Dineen is a songwriter, composer and educator born and raised in Queens. Ali has performed at the Museum of Art and Design, the Caramoor American Roots Music Festival, the American Folk Art Museum, and the Brooklyn Folk Festival, among other wonderful venues. Ali worked as Musician in Residence for Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir from 2022-2024, including on their recent national tour opening for Neil Young. Ali is a 2025 NYSCA Grant Recipient and was awarded the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation Residency in 2020. She is also the music director for local puppet troupe extraordinaire The Boxcutter Collective, and is currently working on an opera about Joan of Arc. In addition to writing and performing, Ali teaches vocal harmony and guitar workshops at the Jalopy Theatre and School of Music, as well as several youth choruses at the Brooklyn New School. Ali is very excited to be returning to Ashokan this summer.
ADAM LEVY
New York-based guitarist Adam Levy is widely respected as a “musician’s musician” with many featured turns to his credit — including his memorable solos on Norah Jones’ 'Come Away with Me’ album and juicy lines on Tracy Chapman’s hit “Give Me One Reason”. Levy is a nuanced accompanist as well, as he shows on Allen Toussaint’s recording of “American Tune”. You can also hear him on recordings by Lizz Wright, Vulfpeck, Amos Lee, and Anaïs Mitchell (composer of Hadestown). Levy’s own records showcase his skills as an earthy composer and songwriter. His most recent release is ‘Spry’, with Larry Grenadier and Joey Baron.
MAMIE MINCH
Mamine Minch, your host, is a longtime staple of New York’s acoustic blues scene. Listening to her sing and play is like unpacking a time capsule of American music that’s been stored in her 1930’s National steel guitar for decades and filtered with a modern femme sensitivity. Mamie writes and performs songs and ballads that bridge between herstorical record and contemporary city life, and especially loves performing material from women musicians through time. She is also one half of Brooklyn Lutherie, NYC’s only woman owned and run instrument repair shop. Mamie has been teaching blues guitar for 20 years; she is delighted to come back to Ashokan, and to be your host once again for a fabulous and fun learning experience at Acoustic Guitar Camp!

Additional Info:

Payment/Cancellation/Refund Policy

You may pay in full or hold your place with a deposit of 25% per person if registering 4 or more weeks before camp. Full payment is due 4 weeks before camp begins. To cancel your camp registration, email events@ashokancenter.org

• We retain $50 per person for cancellations requested up to 4 weeks before camp begins, and for COVID-related cancellations made at any date.

• We retain your 25% deposit between 4 and 2 weeks before camp.

• We retain the full registration amount within 2 weeks of camp.

Schedule Overview

MONDAY

3pm: CAMPER ARRIVAL.
5pm: MEET THE TEACHERS
6pm: DINNER
7:30pm: JAMS & ACTIVITIES

TUESDAY-THURSDAY

8:30-9:30am: BREAKFAST
9:30-12:30pm: CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
12:30-2pm: LUNCH
2-5pm: CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
5-6pm: OPEN MIC
6-7pm: DINNER
7:30-10pm: CONCERTS & JAMS
10pm: SNACK & INFORMAL JAMMING

FRIDAY

8:30-9:30am: BREAKFAST
10am: FAREWELL GATHERING

Pricing & What's Included!

You may choose to pay up front or pay a deposit and balance. Balance payment is due 4 weeks before the event.

Registration includes all activities and meals. Lodging is optional and camping is free.

Children under 5 attend for free (under 3 for Family Camp). Campers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Food & Drink

All meals are included. You may indicate your dietary restrictions when registering. We make every effort to include a range of allergen-free dishes and to inform diners of meal ingredients.

The Ashokan Center is licensed to serve beer and wine in Esopus Lodge (the main building). The bar is generally open from late afternoon to early evening. Sorry, by law, guests are prohibited from bringing their own alcoholic beverages into this licensed building.

Lodging

LONGHOUSE BUNKS: Rooms hold up to 24 people and are designated women, men, or all gender. Place your belongings on a top or bottom bunk after you check in to claim it. Pillows are available, please bring your own blankets, sheets, pillowcases, and towels. There are a small number of light blankets for those bunkhouse residents who are unable to bring one of their own. If you will need us to provide one, please let us know well in advance.

PRIVATE ROOMS: There are a limited number of private rooms that must be reserved in advance at extra charge. Pillows are available, please bring your own sheets, pillowcases, and towelsThere are light quilts in each private room.

CAMPSITES: Camping is available with access to bathrooms and outdoor showers. Please park by your campsite only if you plan to leave your car in place for the duration of the camp.

What To Bring

If you’re lodging with us please remember to bring a blanket and linens (or sleeping bag), towel, toiletries, soap, flashlight, earplugs (for light sleepers). There are light quilts in each private room and we have a small number of light blankets for bunkhouse residents who can’t bring one of their own. Let us know well in advance if you’ll need one.

Flashlight, recording device, camera (or maybe those are all your phone!)

Comfortable informal clothing for wet and dry weather. Some may also bring dressy, wild or fun clothing as well but that is up to you! There’s no laundry on site so bring enough clothes for the camp.

What Not To Bring
Please, no pets or drop-in guests.
Mail/Phone/WiFi

Incoming mail

Your Name c/o Ashokan Music & Dance 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge, NY 12461

Outgoing mail leaves each weekday at 4pm.

Music & Dance Camp Phone (845) 657-8333 x 3

Cell phone reception is available but spotty. Calls may be dropped but texts are reliably received.

High speed Wi-Fi is available in all buildings.

Directions & Transportation

Physical Address: Ashokan Center, 477 Beaverkill Rd, Olivebridge, NY 12461

DRIVING DIRECTIONS   Take NY State Thruway (1-87) to Kingston exit #19. From traffic circle take Route 28 West (toward Pine Hill). In 12 miles (shortly after Mobil & Citgo) turn left onto Reservoir Rd. Cross the Ashokan Reservoir, turn left at the Tee. Head down the hill, pass the first left (Rt 28A East) and merge onto 28A West. Take next left onto Beaverkill Rd. Follow Beaverkill for about one mile, then turn right into the Ashokan Center driveway and follow the signs.

AIRPORT  Albany, NY (ALB) is the closest major airport (about 1.5 hours away). Public transportation is available from the airport to the Kingston bus station, where you can take a taxi to Ashokan. Or contact us at least one month before your program begins for a list of people driving from the Albany area who may be able to give you a ride.

Covid Safety Policy

We recommend but no longer require everyone test for COVID-19 in the 24 hours before arrival. 

All refund requests due to a positive test, COVID exposure, or COVID-related concerns will be honored (less a $50 administrative fee).

We will provide onsite rapid testing upon request.

Additional FAQ's
CAMP WAITLIST & PRIVATE LODGING WAITLIST (only join if ADD CAMPER button at top of page is disabled or your preferred lodging choice is greyed out in that form.)

If there are no camp spots or private rooms available above, you may add your name to this waitlist. If space opens up we will contact you.

The Ashokan Center builds community through shared experiences in nature, history, music and art. We have hosted traditional Music & Dance Camps at our 385 acre nature preserve for over 40 years. In 2020 we learned how to host them online and in 2021 we began to reimagine how to gather in person once again.

Come join the Ashokan family to celebrate, learn, connect, deepen your music, make new friends, and brighten your day. Our events are open to all folks, all ages and all orientations.

M&D Need-Based “Pay it Forward” SCHOLARSHIPS We are holding 5 deeply discounted spots (includes tuition, meals & bunk) to provide a learning opportunity to gigging musicians and music, vocal, and dance teachers who will be sharing out their newly learned skills with a wider community. We prioritize new applicants each year and notify all applicants within 1 month before camp begins.

NEED HELP?

EMAIL: events@ashokancenter.org
CALL 845-657-8333 x3

Click here for answers to Frequently Asked Questions about camp!

Thank you to the Martin Foundation for supporting Ashokan Music & Dance Camps.