BOOKING FORM
Home Education Network Conference 2017
Venue: Drewstown House, Athboy, Co. Meath
Dates: Thursday 15th June to Sunday 18th June 2017
Use this form to book your place at our upcoming annual Home Education Network Conference
to be held in June. As always, there are options to suit everyone including camping, dormitory or
private room accommodation; full, partial or self-catering; as well as a variety of activities for all
ages (bring wellies!), from paid adventure activities for teens, arts and crafts for the little ones and
talks and panels for the adults. This conference is for those just checking out home education for
the first time, as well as for the seasoned home educating family - parents and kids alike! We look
forward to seeing you all there!
Please note that booking preferences will be honoured on a first come, first serve basis (upon
receipt of a completed booking form and payment), and those booking by Friday 7th April will
receive an early bird discount of 20% on accommodation only. So get your forms filled out and
returned as soon as possible! In an attempt to make the process as smooth and efficient for
everyone possible (organisers as well as attendees) we have instituted a few changes this year. The
booking form is only available electronically, but links will be sent to HEN members by email, as
well as being posted on various Facebook groups, public and private. We have set up a dedicated
email for the conference for submitting forms as well as answering conference related questions.
This email is [email protected]. We are strongly encouraging all attendees to fill out their
forms and submit them electronically to this address, which can be done by simply filling in the
appropriate information and using the “save as” option to rename the document including your
last name in the title; for example: “HENCON 2017 Booking Form” becomes “Smith-HENCON
2017 Booking Form.” Alternatively, you can print, fill in the form and then scan and resend the
form back to us (ensuring you use the same naming format so that we can track booking forms
easily.) We need all bookings and payments in by 31st May.
Similarly, we are encouraging everyone to pay electronically this year by transferring the money
directly into the HEN bank account via the bank details on the booking summary page or via
PayPal to [email protected] being sure to include your full name so we can match
payments to booking forms. If you are unable to pay by either of these electronic methods, please
contact Natacha at [email protected] to discuss alternatives.
While our team is busy finalising details for this year’s conference, the experience is always
enhanced for everyone by the active participation of as many members as possible. If you would
like to participate on a panel, lead a discussion or conduct a session (whether it be in crafts, music,
yoga, non-violent communication, a new approach to Maths, or whatever!), please indicate on this
form, or contact us at the conference email to discuss opportunities or to volunteer.
Accommodation
There is an out building which contains family/private rooms that accommodate four or five
people with a double bed and single mattresses on the floors. All bedrooms in the main house are
hostel-style dormitories and are located on three different floors. They can accommodate 8, 10 or
12 people. Most are single beds, however some bunk beds have a double base with single
overhead.
For ALL accommodation please bring sleeping bags, pillows, bedding and towels, etc.
There are 9 showers and 15 toilets on site for people to use. We will also have two portable toilets
at the campsite.
Shared dorms : capable of holding 8, 10 or 12 people. (To help us facilitate this please indicate on the
booking form who you wish to share with).
Camping and caravans - unlimited spaces.
Private rooms : We have four family rooms that can accommodate four or five people. Priority will be
given to people staying for three nights.
Catering
Catering : this year, we have published the menu of the catered options ahead of the conference,
allowing people to choose which meals and how many they want to purchase ahead of time. If
you choose any catered food, full three or two day catering or the single day option, you must
complete the catering survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZGM8DR9 separately to
specify your meal choices.
Self – Catering : We have a dedicated self-catering room with a cooker, fridge, toaster and a sink.
PRICES
Conference fee per family : HEN members €20; Non-members €30.
Shared Dorms : €6 per person per night (max. €30 per family per night), 0 - 3 year olds go free.
Camping : €6 per person per night (max. €30 per family per night), 0 - 3 year olds go free.
Private rooms : €40 per family per night.
Catering
Full Adult/12+ Catering - 3 days (Thursday – Sunday)
€45
Full Child Catering - 3 days (Thursday - Sunday)
€38
Full Adult/12+ Catering - 2 days (Friday - Sunday)
€32
Full Child Catering - 2 days (Friday - Sunday)
€24
One Day Adult/12+ (3 consecutive meals*)
€16
One Day Child (3 consecutive meals*)
€13
Self-Catering : €10 per family with free tea and coffee in main house. This €10 fee will cover the costs of
the service provided, energy used and give us an idea of number of people self-catering. Please note if your
family is availing of at least one day's catering and also plans on self-catering, you do not need to pay the selfcatering fee.
Boyne Valley Activities : €28 per activity per person (12+).
Attendees: Use this page to tell us who is attending the conference.
Information for the Main Contact
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
Information on all family members attending*
NAME
AGE
First Adult
Second Adult
First Child 12+
Second Child 12+
Third Child 12+
Fourth Child 12+
Fifth Child 12+
First Child 11 and under
Second Child 11 and under
Third Child 11 and under
Fourth Child 11 and under
Fifth Child 11 and under
*Please let us know in the comment section below if any of the people listed are not your
immediate family members and indicate what the relationship is.
Comments:
Accommodation
Use this page to calculate the cost of lodging at the conference.
Thursday
€6 per person
per night
Friday
€6 per person
per night
Saturday
€6 per person
per night
Total
€
Friday
€40 per room
Per night
Saturday
€40 per room
Per night
Total
€
CAMPING OR SHARED DORM
No. of people camping max. total cost per night of €30
e.g., 3 people x €6 = €18 x 3 nights
= Total camping cost of €54
No. in Shared Dorm max. total cost of €30
e.g., 4 people x €6 = €24 x 3 nights
= Total dorm cost of €72
Family you wish to share with :
OR
PRIVATE ROOM
Sleeps 4/5 people
Thursday
€40 per room
Per night
Private Room - €40/room a night.
Please put an X per room per
night.
Priority will be given to people
staying for three nights.
Accommodation total
Apply discount of 20% ONLY IF BOOKING FORM AND PAYMENT RECEIVED
BY FRIDAY 7TH APRIL
OVERALL TOTAL FOR ACCOMMODATION
(place this total in the booking summary on page 8)
Costs for Catering: Use this page to calculate the cost of catering for your family
members.
Please Note: In addition to filling out this form, if you are booking any catered food, you have to follow this
link [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZGM8DR9] to the survey to choose your food options. Don’t
forget! If you have any trouble with the link please, contact Natacha at [email protected].
CATERED OPTION
TYPE OF CATERING
Cost
per
Day
Full Adult/12+ Catering - 3
days (Thursday – Sunday)
€45
Full Child Catering - 3 days
(Thursday - Sunday)
€38
Full Adult/12+ Catering - 2
days (Friday - Sunday)
€32
Full Child Catering - 2 days
(Friday - Sunday)
€24
One Day Adult/12+ (3
consecutive meals*)
€16
One Day Child (3 consecutive
meals*)
€13
TOTAL FOR CATERING:
(Place this total in the booking
summary on page 8)
Number of
adults
Number of
children
12+
Number of
children 11
and below
TOTAL COST
IN ROW
XXXXX
X
XXX
XXXXX
X
XXX
XXXXX
X
XXX
XXXXX
X
XXX
XXXXX
X
XXX
XXXXX
X
XXX
XXXXX
X
XXX
XXXXX
X
XXX
XXXXX
X
XXX
XXXXX
X
XXX
XXXXX
X
XXX
XXXXX
X
XXX
*The three consecutive meals include a breakfast, lunch and dinner, however they do not all have to be on
the same day. For example, if you arrived Saturday afternoon and spend the one night, you could have the
Saturday evening dinner, Sunday morning breakfast, and Sunday lunch.
NB: People choosing the full catering option will be given a wrist band to wear for the weekend when they
register. Anyone opting for the One Day option, will be issued meal tickets for the specific meals chosen.
(Meal choices are made by following the above link to the survey on catering choices.)
NB: Individual meals can be purchased at a cost of €8 per meal directly from the caterer at the event. There
will be a limited number available based on the availability of food at that particular meal.
NB: All Adults and Children 12+ will automatically be signed up on a rota for kitchen prep or cleaning
duty either before or after a meal. You may be assigned one or two shifts depending on need. Please check
the rota posted in the dining area when you arrive at the conference. If you are unable to make your
allotted time, it is your responsibility to find someone else to cover your shift.
Boyne Valley Activities
Once again, we are delighted to offer some adventure activities at the 2017 HEN Conference. We have engaged
Boyne Valley to deliver more of their fabulous activities, however, we are offering some new and different
activities as well as bringing back the popular Team Building Activities from 2015! We will be offering two paid
activities for anyone aged 12 and over, High Ropes and River Kayaking, which must be booked and paid for in
advance via this booking form. The cost of each activity is €28 per person per activity (this includes bus
transport for River Kayaking). Spaces are limited to 16 people per activity with a minimum of 14 per session
required for the session to go forward.
High Ropes: The High Ropes are in the forest at Drewstown. Participants will gather at a meeting point near the
house 10 minutes prior to the session and walk to the site together. This activity is 2 hours long and following
the High Ropes, participants will get one free go on the Zip Line (see below) in the hour immediately following
their session. Please note, the age limit of 12+ will be strictly enforced for the High Ropes activity.
River Kayaking: The River Kayaking will be held off site in Trim on the Boyne River where Boyne Valley have
built rapids and have a base set up. This activity is 3 hours long including travel time. Participants will depart
via bus at 10 a.m. and return to Drewstown by 1 p.m. (Boyne Valley may accept experienced 10/11 year olds for
the River Kayaking, however, you must contact Anne McCartney Cutbill* to discuss this prior to booking for
anyone under 12.) As this event is off site it is vital that participants arrive 10 minutes prior to departure time so
they can check in with the organisers. The bus will leave promptly at the designated time.
Name
Age :
+12
Friday a.m.
High Ropes
Friday a.m.
River
Kayaking
Saturday a.m.
High Ropes
Saturday a.m.
River
Kayaking
No. of activities
x €28 =
Total Due
Total Due (place this total in the booking summary on page 8)
Please place an x under the activity. NB: you can choose one activity per person each day, e.g., high ropes
Friday and kayaking Saturday. The activities on each day run concurrently.
We are also including an additional Boyne Valley activity, a newly installed Zip Line, suitable for anyone aged 5
and up (height restrictions may apply.) The Zip Line is by the lake and Boyne Valley staff will man it for one
hour at the conclusion of each of the High Ropes sessions. Tokens can be purchased on site for a nominal charge
of €2 per go to allow us to cover the cost of staffing this activity (High Ropes participants get one free go).
NB: We will endeavour to provide everyone with their preferred time slot, however depending on numbers, we
may have to consolidate the Friday session into the one on Saturday morning.
NB: Please remember, if you book a spot and for any reason, you miss the activity, the money paid is nonrefundable as we are paying Boyne Valley directly based on the actual bookings.
Activities may be subject to change.
* Contact Anne McCartney Cutbill at [email protected] or 046-943-8259 with any queries about these
activities.
Liability Waiver
Please sign the following Liability Waiver for you and any minors in your care during the 2017 HEN
Conference to be held at Drewstown House, Athboy, Co. Meath from 15 to 18 June 2017.
Failure to sign this form will invalidate your right to attend the 2017 HEN Conference.
Name of Child under your care for the duration of the 2017 HEN Conference
Age of Child
By signing below, I/we agree to the following, for ourselves as well as for any minors in our care
as listed above, for the duration of the 2017 HEN Conference on 15-18 June 2017.
As a participant or volunteer, I/we recognize the risk and acknowledge that there are certain risks
of physical injury – including death, damages, property damage, or loss – which I/we may sustain
as a result of participating in any and all activities connected with the 2017 HEN Conference, or
the use of the facilities or equipment.
I/we agree to waive and relinquish all claims that I may have for injuries or damages as a result of
participating in the program or using the facilities or equipment against HEN and its officers,
agents, employees, other volunteers, and affiliates.
I do hereby release and discharge HEN, its officers, agents, employees, volunteers and affiliates
from any and all claims for injuries, including death, damages, property damage, or loss which
may have or may in future accrue to me in account of participating in or volunteering for HEN.
Name Printed
Signature of Adult*
First Adult/Parent/Guardian
Second Adult/Parent/Guardian
*Electronic signatures are accepted on this form and are legally binding.
NB: This does not waive your rights to claims due to negligence on behalf of HEN that may cause
injuries or damages, as outlined in HEN’s insurance policy.
Booking Summary
Family name :
€
Conference Fee Per Family
(€20 HEN Members, €30 Non HEN members)
Total Accommodation Due
Total Catering amount/self-catering fee
Total Boyne Valley Activities' Fees
Total Due
Please note if you are availing of at least one day's catering and plan on also selfcatering, you do not need to pay the self-catering fee.
Please ensure your form has your name on it to aid matching with payments, e.g.,
"HENCON 2017 Booking Form” becomes “Smith-HENCON 2017 Booking Form.”
Details for Bank Transfer:
Home Education Network
Ulster Bank, Carlow
BIC: ULSBIE2D
IBAN: IE24ULSB98521010172680
Please ensure your payment has your name on it to aid matching payments to booking forms.
Via paypal to [email protected]
Please tick here if you agree to have images of yourself and your children in our
newsletter and Facebook group and page.