LODGING

On-site Accommodations

Banjo Camp students have several lodging options. At Camp Weed, we have room for all students to stay on site and we strongly encourage all students to stay on-site. However, students may elect to stay off-site – at a private home, motel/hotel, AirB&B, or conventional B&B – and register for camp as commuters.

How to Reserve Your Lodging

You must reserve and pay for your lodging directly through our host, Cerveny Conference Center.  Here’s the best procedure. After you register for camp, to arrange for your on-site lodging contact Cerveny Conference Center directly by phone (386-364-5250), and ask for Gina (or explain that you wish to reserve lodging for Suwannee Banjo Camp). Simply ask to reserve the type of lodging you prefer. Your options are: guest room single occupancy, guest room double occupancy, cabin bunk, RV site, or tent camping.  Lodging types are described below on this page.

NOTE: YOU CAN ALSO TRY USING THE LODGING RESERVATION APP ON THE CERVENY CONFERENCE CENTER WEBSITE. In the past however, this app has been plagued with software glitches and hasn’t proved useful.

Lodging FAQ’s

Here are the answers to what we expect will be the “FAQ” about the current housing sign-ups arrangement.

• Prices for Lodging. To obtain prices for the different types of lodging available at Cerveny, click here; lodging price information is repeated on the Registration Information page
• Refunds for lodging. Housing reservations are fully refundable up to 72-hours prior to the start of Camp
• Deposits for lodging. You may reserve a lodging unit at Camp with a deposit of 25%; it is also fully refundable until 72 hours prior to the start of Camp.
• Roommates. The Cerveny payment platform allows you to specify a guest-room roommate, or ask to be assigned a double occupancy roommate.
• Handicap-Accessible. You will have an opportunity to indicate special needs.

Note: Cerveny Conference Center has not always been quick to get back to people re housing inquiries. If they don’t return your call within 24 hours, contact SBC directly.

Reserve Guest Rooms and RV Spots early

Lodging reservations are assigned on a first come, first served basis. There are only a limited number of guest rooms and RV sites and experience tells us they will probably go fast. If you want to assure yourself of a guest room or RV hookup reservation, please sign up early!!

Guest Rooms

We have a limited number of motel-level residence rooms – called Guest Rooms – right on site. The guest rooms are very comfortable with double beds, “en suite” bathrooms and individual climate control. They are all a very short walk from most of our classrooms and the dining hall. They are close to the center of the action, but still well out of earshot of late night jammers. Students may sign up for either single or double occupancy. If you sign up with Cerveny Conference Center for double occupancy, you may either suggest a roommate or ask them to assign you one. Cerveny has six handicap accessible guest rooms. Please specify upon registration if you require a handicap accessible room.

Important Note: There are only a very limited number of guest rooms, so if you wish to reserve one be sure to sign up early! Most years all Guest Rooms are reserved by mid-to-late November.

Also Important. Please do NOT reserve a guest room unless you have already registered for Camp, or intend to do so within the next day or two.

Guest Room Waiting List

Once all guest rooms are reserved, there will be a waiting list for guest-room accommodations. To get on the waiting list contact Cerveny Conference Center directly by phone (386-364-5250), and ask for Gina (or explain that you wish to get on the waiting list for guest-room accommodations at Suwannee Banjo Camp). While you’re waiting, we recommend that you reserve a space in our cabins or tenting/RV site; or reserve lodging in a local hotel or BnB.

** Note that we usually have a special arrangement with Holiday Inn Express in Live Oak. **

Lodging Arrangement for Spouse/Companions: Spouse/companions who stay on site must register for housing separately and pay the full lodging price.

Note: we may need to limit the number of spouses and companions. If we begin to run out of space for additional registrants at Camp, we reserve the right to prioritize the admission of regular students.

Cabins

We have plenty of beds in relatively modern cabins that have electricity, heat, air conditioning, and indoor plumbing. Each cabin will have a maximum occupancy of nine students (note: we assign lower bunks only). All cabins are handicap accessible. Each cabin has 3 showers, 3 toilets and a 2 sink vanity. The cabins are located in scenic wooded areas. Cabin residents will need to walk a few minutes through the woods or along a road to get to the dining hall. A few classrooms are close by, but most of them are near the dining hall and require a few minutes of walking.

Note: Areas within each cabin are separated by built in cabinets, so that there is some privacy.  Please also keep in mind that if you participate fully in our program, you won’t be in your rooms very much (aside from sleeping)!

Note: We will have designated all male, all female, and couples’ cabins. 

Note: Guests staying in the cabins must bring their own twin-size sheets, linens, towels and toiletries.

RV Hookups & Tent Camping

We have a limited number of RV hookups available plus plenty of space for tent-camping. There is a conveniently located bath house with male and female sections that is available to both RV and tent residents. Note that it is a good 10-15 minute walk from the RV and tent site to the dining hall and main classroom area. Those staying in the RV/tenting site might consider bringing along a bicycle or planning to negotiate this short commute via your car.

Note: The RV and tenting area has picnic tables and other amenities; some great jam sessions have sprung up there in the evenings.

A Note Regarding Complete Non-Participants

If your spouse/companion plans to simply stay in an on-site lodging space, RV, or tent through the weekend without signing up for meals, attending concerts or having any other contact with the camp, they do NOT need to register for camp; nor do they need to pay a facilities use fee. However, we do ask that you supply us with their names and emergency contact information.

Lodging Prices

Note that “Full-Camp” refers to three nights’ lodging (Thursday thru Saturday) and “Weekend-Only” refers to two nights’ lodging (Friday and Saturday). Full descriptions of each kind of lodging appears above.

Here are the latest lodging prices, including 10% Florida Housing Tax:

• Guest Room, Single Occupancy (motel-level accommodations). Full Camp: $270; Weekend-Only: $180
• Guest Room, Double Occupancy (motel-level accommodations).  Full Camp: $135; Weekend-Only: $90
• Cabin Residency (bunk beds but with indoor plumbing, a/c and heat). Full Camp: $75; Weekend-Only: $50
• RV Residency with Hookup. Full Camp: $57*; Weekend-Only: $86*
• Tent Camping Residency. Full Camp: $30*; Weekend-Only: $20*

* Note:  RV charges are per vehicle; tent camping charges are per tent. If there are multiple residents in the RV or tent, only one resident pays the RV or tent rate; all additional residents simply  simply pay the tuition and meals rate*

Camper Tips

For advice on finding the site, climate-appropriate dress, bedding, what to bring, etc. check out our Camper Tips! Please be sure to read this advice prior to coming to camp!

Off-site Accommodations

Special Arrangement with Holiday Inn Express in Live Oak

We have reserved a block of rooms at a discounted rate for SBC students at the Holiday Inn in Live Oak. Once our guest rooms are full, students who prefer motel-level accommodations may elect to reserve a room at the Holiday Inn. The rooms are very nice and have all recently been renovated. They have a pool and also offer free breakfast. Students who stay at the Holiday Inn register at the commuter rate. If you elect to eat breakfast at the Inn, and let us know by Feb. 28, 2024, we will refund that portion of tuition that covers breakfasts. Breakfast refunds will be made at check-in and amount to roughly $10 per meal.

Another Hotel Option

In the past Cerveny Conference Center has arranged for a group rate at another area hotel, namely Fairfield Inn and Suites.

Other Hotels and AirBnB

There are three sizable motels right in Live Oak, Florida, in addition to the Holiday Inn Express. In addition, quite a number of motels, etc. are to be found in and around Lake City, Florida, less than half an hour away. And don’t forget AirBnB; a quick check showed that there are quite a number of airbnb purveyors within easy range of our site.

Note: Because there are sometimes large regional events in March that draw crowds (such as stock car races), be sure to make your motel reservations early.

Other Motels in Live Oak, Florida

• EconoLodge: 386-362-7459
• Sunshine Inn 386-362-7828
• Best Western Suwannee River Inn 386-362-6000

Tuition & Meals

One Price for Tuition and Meals

At SBC, a single price covers tuition and meals, but lodging must be paid for separately through Cerveny Conference Center. There are several lodging options: guest room single occupancy, guest room double occupancy, cabin bunk, RV site, tent site, and commuter. All the lodging options, and how to reserve lodging from Cerveny Conference Center are are all explained in detail on the Lodging Page.

Tuition Prices (Including Meals) for Full Camp and Weekend-Only Options

• Full Camp (from Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon, includes meals from Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch): $690
• Weekend-Only Option (from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon; includes meals from Friday dinner through Sunday lunch): $565

Note: Lodging must be paid for separately, directly to Cerveny Conference Center. For instructions, see below and also the Lodging Page.

Commuters

Commuter rates for tuition and meals are the same as for resident students; the only difference is that you simply do NOT need to sign up for on-site housing. This said, please be sure to check the “commuter” box on the registration form so we know that in your case lodging is not required.

Non-playing Spouses, Chaperones and Companions

Half Price!! We offer a special arrangement for non-playing spouses, chaperones and companions of registered students. The spouse/companion/chaperone pays half the regular price for tuition and meals. The spouse/chaperone/companion rate entitles them to the full meal plan and access to demonstrations, jams, and concerts. They may not attend classes. Every non-playing spouse/companion/chaperone must fill out a separate registration form.

Lodging Arrangement for Spouse/Companions: We are unable to offer a half-price arrangement re lodging at camp. Spouse companions who stay on site will have to sign up for housing separately and pay the full lodging price.

Note: we may need to limit the number of spouses and companions. If we begin to run out of space for additional registrants at Camp, we reserve the right to prioritize the admission of regular students.

Complete Non-Participants Who Reside on Site

If your spouse/companion plans to simply stay in an on-site lodging space, RV, or tent through the weekend without signing up for meals, attending concerts or having any other contact with the camp, they do NOT need to register for camp. You just need to supply us with their names and emergency contact information.

Reserving and Paying for Lodging

You must reserve and pay for your lodging directly through our host, Cerveny Conference Center at Camp Weed. Here’s the procedure. First register for camp. We then send you an acknowledgement email, which also contains a Cerveny Lodging Link. Use this link to reserve and pay for you on-site lodging. All the lodging options, and how to reserve lodging from Cerveny Conference Center are are all explained in detail on the Lodging Page.

Lodging Prices

For your convenience, lodging prices are re-stated here. Note that “Full-Camp” refers to three nights’ lodging (Thursday thru Saturday) and “Weekend-Only” refers to two nights’ lodging (Friday and Saturday). Full descriptions of each kind of lodging appears above.

Here are the 2019 lodging prices, including 10% Florida Housing Tax:

• Guest Room, Single Occupancy (motel-level accommodations). Full Camp: $270; Weekend-Only: $180
• Guest Room, Double Occupancy (motel-level accommodations).  Full Camp: $135; Weekend-Only: $90
• Cabin Residency (bunk beds but with indoor plumbing, a/c and heat). Full Camp: $75; Weekend-Only: $50
• RV Residency with Hookup. Full Camp: $57*; Weekend-Only: $86*
• Tent Camping Residency. Full Camp: $30*; Weekend-Only: $20*

* Note:  RV charges are per vehicle; tent camping charges are per tent. If there are multiple residents in the RV or tent, only one resident pays the RV or tent rate; all additional residents simply  simply pay the tuition and meals rate*

Students Under 18

Minor students may attend SBC if accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult. Parents must sign a permissions form that allows their child to attend (please contact us and ask us to send a Youth Permissions Form). If a non-parent acts as “guardian” at Camp he or she must have signed permission to do so from a parent. Parents or Camp-Guardians may register as students, but if they do not wish to fully participate in Camp they may register for SBC at the non-playing spouse/companion” rate (see above).

Paying a Tuition Deposit

**Note: All new registrations made after Jan. 16, 2023 must be accompanied by payment of full tuition.**

Our internet sales platform requires a certain system for handling deposits and balances. If you wish to put down a $100 deposit to hold your place at camp, you just partially register at this time. During the deposit registration process, you will enter your name and email. You’ll also be asked to fill out a questionnaire, which allows you to provide us with information about your interests. When you select “Deposit Only” on the registration form, a charge for $100 will appear in your shopping cart. Once you finish the financial transaction, you will be issued a thank you email. Within a few days, you will receive a follow-up email from Suwannee Banjo Camp with a promo code for $100 which you will apply when you complete a full registration (see below).

Note 1: All those who have registered with a deposit must submit the remainder of their tuition by Jan. 16, 2023. Again, all new registrations made after that date must be accompanied by payment of full tuition.

Note 2:  When you place a tuition deposit, unless you plan to commute you must also reserve lodging through Cerveny Conference Center at Camp Weed. See details on the Lodging page.

Note 3: You may register right up to the start of Camp!

Paying Your Tuition Balance

Once you have paid your tuition deposit and filled out your questionnaire, you are registered for Camp as far as we are concerned. To pay your balance online, however, our sales platform requires the following procedure:

• Go to the Register Here page to find our registration form. Then register for camp as if you are STARTING FROM SCRATCH, beginning with the tuition and meals package of your choice. You do NOT have to re-do the survey about your interests.
• After you select the full-tuition amount and click, you will find yourself on a second page that has a box labeled “promo code.” Enter your promo code in that box, and the $100 deposit you’ve already paid will ultimately be deducted from your amount.

Refunds for Cancellation 

Here is our refund policy:

• • There is no penalty for cancellation until Jan. 16,  2023.
  • Jan. 17 -March 1:  students who cancel after Jan. 16 and before March 1 will have $100 deducted from their tuition or deposit refunds.
  • March 1 – March 16. We must commit to a firm meals count by March 1 and have to pay for these meals whether or not a given registrant attends camp; students who cancel after March 1 and before the start of Camp will have $150 deducted from their refunds.
  • Students who cancel on or after the start of Camp on March 16, 2023 (or who simply fail to appear at camp) will have $250 deducted from their tuition refund.

Covid-19 Cancellation Policy

We are extremely optimistic that we’ll be able to hold Suwannee Banjo Camp safely in 2023 at our usual venue in Live Oak, Florida. In the very unlikely event that we need to move the camp online again due to Pandemic concerns, here is our policy.

• If we need to cancel SBC 2023 – or move the camp online – due to Covid safety concerns, every registrant will be offered a full refund for tuition and meals payments – either by check or through our payment platform.
• Cerveny Conference Center will also refund all lodging payments and deposits
• If we move online, registrants will be offered the opportunity to roll over their deposit, or a portion of their full payment to SBC-online tuition.
• In the event that we need to cancel, registrants will also have the option of leaving their deposits or full payments for tuition and meals in the “system” for 2024,
• We will make our final decision on moving forward with the in-person camp no later than Jan. 1, 2023. However, if the situation is borderline we might wait a little longer before making the final determination.
• If at any point our venue, Cerveny Conference Center, preempts us and decides to close down for the season for safety concerns we will immediately inform all registrants and offer to refund all tuition and meals payments.

SBC Registration & Fees

You must register to attend Suwannee Banjo Camp. You may register online or by mail. We also ask you to fill in a questionnaire about your interests and playing background that will help us plan the coming Camp.

To register, go to the Register Here page. You’ll have the choice of filling out our registration form online (and paying on line via credit card), or filling out a hard copy and paying via Paypal or check.

Lodging Must be Reserved Separately

You must reserve and pay for your lodging directly through our host, Cerveny Conference Center. All lodging options, prices, and how to reserve lodging from Cerveny Conference Center are explained in detail on the Lodging Page. For your convenience, lodging options are briefly noted (with prices) below.

About the Registration Questions

We ask about your interests and playing background on your questionnaire form to help us design our program. Your responses do NOT commit you to take any particular class or pursue any particular level of instruction.

One Price for Tuition and Meals

At SBC, a single price covers tuition and meals, but – as noted above – lodging must be paid for separately through Cerveny Conference Center (more on this below and on the Lodging Page).

Attendance Options: Full Camp vs. Weekend-Only Options

Payments

The Suwannee Banjo Camp payment platform accepts Visa and Mastercard. You may register right up until the start of camp, depending on space. Until midnight on Jan. 13, 2024 you may reserve a place at camp either by advance payment of full tuition, or by paying a deposit of $100. Beginning 12:01 AM on Jan. 14, 2024, all new registrations must be accompanied by payment of full tuition. All balances are also due on Jan. 14, 2024.

How to Register Online

Simply click on the link right below this paragraph to get to the registration page . . .  Then fill out the registration form, complete your payment and you’re in! You may register right up until the start of camp.

Register Here

Registering Multiple Attendees

You may register one, two, or even multiple attendees on the same registration form. However, if you wish to register two or more students with different main interests, skill levels, etc., we would appreciate it if you fill out a separate form for each person.

Payment via Postal Mail

If you prefer to pay by postal mail, simply fill out a Printable Online Registration Form. Then send the form with a check or money order (made out to Suwannee Banjo Camp) to this address:

Suwannee Banjo Camp
c/o Ken Perlman
307 Bellevue St.,
Boston, MA, 02132

One Additional Payment Method

Send us a scanned copy of your filled out Printable Online Registration Form, and pay us via Paypal. For more information on sending Paypal payments email us directly.

Paying a Tuition Deposit

If you wish to put down a $100 deposit to hold your place at camp, fill out the questionnaire in full but select “Deposit Only” at the end, and a charge for $100 will appear in your shopping cart. If you are registering more than one person on your form, you must pay a $100 deposit for each one.

Promo Code. Once you finish the financial transaction, you will be issued an automatic thank you email. Within a few days you will also receive a follow-up email from Suwannee Banjo Camp with a promo code that credits you for $100 when when you go to pay your balance (see below).

Note: All those who have registered with a deposit must submit the remainder of their tuition by Jan. 14, 2024.  All new registrations made after that date must be accompanied by payment of full tuition.

Also Note:  When you place a tuition deposit, unless you plan to commute you must also reserve lodging through Cerveny Conference Center at Camp Weed. See details on the Lodging page.

Paying Your Tuition Balance

Once you have paid your tuition deposit and filled out your registration form, you are registered for Camp as far as we are concerned. To pay your balance online, however, our sales platform requires the following procedure:

• Return to the Register Here page and find our registration form. Then register for camp as if you are STARTING FROM SCRATCH, beginning with the tuition and meals package of your choice.
• After you select the full-tuition amount and click, you will find yourself on a second page that has a box labeled “promo code.” Enter your promo code in that box, and the $100 deposit you’ve already paid will ultimately be deducted from your amount.

Cancellation Policy

• There is no penalty for cancellation until midnight, Jan. 14,  2024.
• Jan. 15 -Feb. 29 (it’s a leap year!):  students who cancel after Jan. 14 and before Feb. 29 will have $100 deducted from their tuition or deposit refunds.
• Feb. 29 – March 14. We must commit to a firm meals count by Feb. 29 and have to pay for these meals whether or not a given registrant attends camp; students who cancel after Feb. 29 and before the start of Camp will have $150 deducted from their refunds.
• Students who cancel on or after the start of Camp on March 14, 2024 (or who simply fail to appear at camp) will have $250 deducted from their tuition refund.

Covid-19 Cancellation Policy

We are extremely optimistic that we’ll be able to hold Suwannee Banjo Camp safely in 2024 at our usual venue, Cerveny Conference Center. In the extremely unlikely event that we need to move the camp online again due to Pandemic concerns, here is our policy.

• If we need to cancel SBC 2024 – or move the camp online – due to Covid safety concerns, every registrant will be offered a full refund for tuition and meals payments – either by check or through our payment platform.
• Cerveny Conference Center will also refund all lodging payments and deposits
• If we move online, registrants will be offered the opportunity to roll over their deposit, or a portion of their full payment to SBC-online tuition.
• In the event that we need to cancel, registrants will also have the option of leaving their deposits or full payments for tuition and meals in the “system” for 2024
• If at any point our venue, Cerveny Conference Center, preempts us and decides to close down for the season for safety concerns we will immediately inform all registrants and offer to refund all tuition and meals payments.

2024 Instructors