Bluegrass Camp 2025
Mon, Aug 4 - Fri, Aug 8

IBMA Mentor of the Year, Kimber Ludiker hosts this fun and friendly week of bluegrass instruction and jamming for fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar, bass, harmony singing, songwriting, and new this year… dobro! Learn from inspirational teachers hand-picked to cultivate a magical learning experience. There’ll be classes, concerts, mini-lessons, band scrambles, open mics and more. All levels and backgrounds are welcome!

2025 Staff TBA

FOR INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED PLAYERS: Get personalized feedback, improve your instrumental skills, and jam with players of a similar ability.

FOR BEGINNERS: The schedule will include one instrument class per day at a beginner level, plus plenty of time to practice what you learned and opportunities to jam at extra slow tempos with other beginners.

“The teachers one-on-one were AMAZING. The supportive, encouraging and inclusive vibe was unlike anything I’ve ever felt before. The encouragement to try a new instrument surprised and delighted me.”

“Loved the facilities, the physical location and place, even the food was great! Loved all of the people (so rare! every single person was amazing!)”

“Plenty of time to jam. Great food. Great vibe. Positive energy.”

“A staff like this makes any place a success!”

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.

Parsley Private Cabin | $600.00
Small private cabin with two twin beds, 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
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 (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 (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 (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 attend the full camp? Stop by for our Thursday evening Open House!

<< Join the camp Facebook Group to connect with your fellow campers!

NELSON WILLIAMS | bass

Nelson is one of the most versatile bassists I've encountered in the bluegrass scene. He's been touring with bluegrass musician and Sirius XM host Chris Jones, and is part of one of my new favorite bands on the scene- New Dangerfield. We're lucky to have him at Ashokan!

Nelson Williams is an upright and electric bass player based in New Orleans, LA. Born and raised in South Louisiana, Nelson is a child of the diverse and influential music culture that permeates throughout the region. Nelson's range of musical influences extend from classical to jazz to various forms of Black string-band music (Old-Time, Blues, Bluegrass, Creole). An "On-Call" and "Go-To" bass player while in New Orleans, Nelson has performed across the nation and aboard at venues and festivals like the Kennedy Center, NPR Tiny Desk, the Grand Ole Opry, Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, Fire in the Mountain Festival and more. Nelson is a founding member of the Black string-band, New Dangerfield and a member of the acclaimed bluegrass band, Chris Jones and the Nightdrivers. He has been seen supporting artist such as Jake Blount, Eva Lovullo, Katie Martucci, Lizzie No and others.

WAYNE BENSON | mandolin

With Russel Moore (lead singer of IIIrd Tyme Out) joining forces with Allison Krauss & Union Station this summer, Wayne Benson FINALLY has time to focus on opportunities that weren't possible with their extensive touring schedule- for the first time since joining the band in 1992. We're so proud to get to have Wayne share his mandolin knowledge this year! Check out his YouTube Channel Wayne's World of Mandolin - which proves he has a great sense of humor that will fit right in with Bluegrass Week! -Kimber

Wayne Benson is one of bluegrass music’s leading mandolinists and has established himself as a unique and gifted stylist. From Concord, NC, an area rich in bluegrass heritage, Benson first arrived on the scene as a teenager when Scott Vestal invited him to join Livewire. After three years and one album on Rounder Records, Wayne joined the well-known and critically acclaimed IIIrd Tyme Out in December of 1992. After more than a decade with the Atlanta-based band, Wayne had solidified his niche among the most respected bluegrass mandolin players, being featured on the cover of Bluegrass Now, Mandolin Quarterly, and Bluegrass Unlimited, while also enjoying numerous IBMA awards and the SPBGMA Mandolin Player of the Year award, five consecutive years.

In 2004, Wayne joined the John Cowan Band, spending three years with the group and recording two albums, showcasing his instrumental prowess in the progressive genre, most widely called, New Grass. After a three-year stint with Cowan, Wayne reclaimed his long-time home with IIIrd Tyme Out in May of 2007.

In 2003, Wayne released his first solo project, An Instrumental Anthology. With 12 original compositions, Wayne explores styles ranging from straight-ahead bluegrass to more progressive melodies. Joining Wayne are some of the industry’s most awarded and finest musicians, including Jeff Autry, John Cowan, Aubrey Haynie, Rob Ickes, Mark Schatz, Ron Stewart, Jim Van Cleve, Scott Vestal, and others.

Classes: Mandolin: Beginner/Intermediate, Intermediate/Advanced

JOE NEWBERRY | guitar, vocals, songwriting

"Most contemporary old-time artists get their inspiration from recordings either commercial or field made. Most of the time the artists spend their energy trying to copy the sound of their source. Joe Newberry goes one step further... He takes the music and makes it his own, and always respectfully." -- SingOut!

Known around the world for his clawhammer banjo playing, Joe Newberry is also a powerful guitarist, singer and songwriter. The Gibson Brothers’ version of his song “Singing As We Rise,” featuring guest vocalist Ricky Skaggs, won the 2012 IBMA “Gospel Recorded Performance” Award. With Eric Gibson, he shared the 2013 IBMA “Song of the Year” Award for “They Called It Music.”

A longtime and frequent guest on A Prairie Home Companion, he was a featured singer on the Transatlantic Sessions 2016 tour of the U.K. with fiddler Aly Bain and Dobro master Jerry Douglas, and at the Transatlantic Session's debut at Merlefest in 2017 with fellow singers James Taylor, Sarah Jarosz, Declan O’Rourke, Karen Matheson, and Maura O’Connell. In addition to performing solo, Joe plays in a duo with mandolin icon Mike Compton, and also performs with the dynamic fiddler and step-dancer April Verch.

Joe has taught banjo, guitar, singing, and songwriting at numerous camps and festivals, including Ashokan, Midwest Banjo Camp, American Banjo Camp, the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop, Targhee Music Camp, the Swannanoa Gathering, Centrum Voice Works, the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Pinewoods Camp, the Australia National Folk Festival, the Blue Ridge Old-Time Music Week, Bluff Country Gathering, and Vocal Week, Bluegrass Week, and Old-Time Week at the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, WV,

Growing up in a family full of singers and dancers, Joe took up the guitar and banjo as a teenager and learned fiddle tunes from great Missouri fiddlers. he moved to North Carolina as a young man and quickly became an anchor of the incredible music scene in the state. He does solo and studio work, and plays and teaches at festivals and workshops in North America and abroad.

Classes: Guitar, Vocals, Songwriting

AUSTIN SCELZO | fiddle, beginners lab

"I am passionate about education, empowering others, and inspiring a lifelong love of music in people of all ages. I aim to draw the best out of my students and love to coach them in whatever direction they might desire. My eclectic background in classical, folk, and jazz styles lends me a wide variety of opportunities for teaching and performing." Austin

Austin Scelzo is a renowned New England / NY based musician, teacher, and performer most known as a bluegrass fiddler and singer.

He was introduced to various fiddle traditions at Mark O'Connor's early Berklee String Camps, learning from powerhouse players like Billy Contreras, Jason Anick, Casey Dreissen, Jeremy Kittel, Andy Reiner, Bruce Molsky, Mark O'Connor, and Christian Howes. Austin's Bluegrass journey began with the Western CT based group the "Angry O'Haras", then later "On the Trail", with which he recorded fiddle and vocals. He actively records and performs with the Southern New England based Bluegrass band, the Rock Hearts (615 Hideaway Records)

Austin is also an active bluegrass community advocate, teaching Wernick Method Jam classes and launching the Connecticut Bluegrass Music Association. He was selected as one of 25 candidates for the International Bluegrass Music Association's "Leadership Bluegrass" after committing his work to performing and serving the bluegrass community. He was nominated for International Bluegrass Music Associations "Mentor of the Year" in 2023 and also for the 2024 Momentum Industry Involvement award. In 2024, the Connecticut State Government also named him 2023 Connecticut Arts Hero, an award that "celebrates the remarkable contributions of Connecticut residents who have made a profound impact in, for, or through the arts"

Classes: Fiddle, Beginners Lab

ALEX SENS | dobro, jam class

Dobro class is back by popular demand! We loved having Alex usher us into a whole new slide-filled era at Bluegrass Camp. His wit and knowledge know no bounds. We're so happy to have him back! -Kimber

Alex Sens has been playing and teaching the dobro for 40 years. He is a mainstay of the bluegrass scene in Washington, DC, where he has played and recorded with numerous artists, including Virginia Blue, the Good Deale Bluegrass Band, Randy Barrett and the Barretones, Kevin Church, Terry Pearson and Norman Wright, and Bob Perilla’s Big Hillbilly Bluegrass. He is currently a member of Big Chimney, along with fellow DC area musicians Kimber Ludiker, Avril Smith (of Della Mae), John Seebach, and Neel Brown.

And just for fun, Alexander Sens is Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the Markos and Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis Professor of Hellenic Studies. He teaches courses on Ancient Greek and on Greek literature. He studies the poetry of the late Classical and Hellenistic periods and is particularly interested in the ways in which the authors of these ages engage with antecedent literature to create meaning in profoundly new literary and cultural contexts. In addition to more than 50 articles, book chapters, and encyclopedia entries and numerous book reviews, he is the author or co-author of six books. In 2017, he received the Georgetown University President’s Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Award.

Classes: Dobro, Jam Class

KIMBER LUDIKER | fiddle, camp organizer

Born of fiddle playing parents in Spokane, WA, Kimber Ludiker is a 5th generation fiddle player. She started learning on the lap of her grandfather at age 3, and went on to win three National Fiddle Championship titles. She is the founder of Della Mae, a GRAMMY-nominated, service-driven, all-woman string-band that has traveled with the US Department of State to over 20 countries spreading peace and understanding through music.
Kimber received Mentor of the Year at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Awards in 2022. Kimber has been mentoring kids, artists, and up-and-coming bands for quite some time and is also the Director of CBA’s Youth Academy and IBMA’s Kids on Bluegrass.

During the pandemic, she organized Jam-a-Thon, a 50-hour mega livestream featuring artists from 12 countries (nominated for '21 IBMA Event of the Year), and has raised close to $20,000 to fund bluegrass educational opportunities for kids.

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 (Esopus Courtyard)
6-7pm: DINNER
7:30-10pm: CONCERTS & JAMS
10pm: SNACK & INFORMAL JAMMING

FRIDAY

8:30-9:30am: BREAKFAST

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 towels. There 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

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!

Bluegrass Camp 2025
Mon, Aug 4 - Fri, Aug 8

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

Scholarships

Thank you for supporting the Ashokan Center and each other!

Can't attend the full camp? Stop by for our Thursday evening Open House!

Additional Info:

Bluegrass Camp 2025 Waitlist

NEED HELP?

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

Bluegrass Camp 2025Mon, Aug 4 - Fri, Aug 8

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

Scholarships

Thank you for supporting the Ashokan Center and each other!

Can't attend the full camp? Stop by for our Thursday evening Open House!

Additional Info:

Bluegrass Camp 2025 Waitlist

NEED HELP?

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

Bluegrass Camp 2025
Mon, Aug 4 - Fri, Aug 8