realness

realness summit 2011

On May 27-30, 2011, Waveplace is sponsoring the second annual Realness Summit on the island of St John, US Virgin Islands. Each night, attendees will get together and watch the sunset while talking about our experiences from around the world. Presentations will be given each afternoon. Attendees will also get to watch the concurrent mentor workshop and two children's pilots at the local schools. With attendees coming from five continents and the Caribbean, we're excited to have so many different perspectives in one tranquil place.

mentor workshop and pilots

Waveplace is returning to where it all started, again bringing new XOs to the two public schools. As usual, we're holding a mentor workshop in the morning and children's classes in the afternoon. We've expanded our workshop to accommodate as many as 40 adults, since we're gearing up for many more pilots. If you'd like to take part in the workshop, it runs for ten days, from May 23 to June 3rd. No extra cost involved. Mentors should be willing to travel. Trips are usually two weeks each. (more details)

maho bay camps

Maho Bay is located in the middle of the Virgin Islands National Park, which covers half of the island of St John. Opened 38 years ago, Maho might well be the world's first eco-resort, with 114 tent-cottages connected by wooden walkways and stairs, surrounded by the natural beauty of St John. Bathrooms are shared between guests, though electricity, grills, balconies, and screens are included in each tent cottage. All three meals are served on property, though there are some wonderful restaurants a short taxi ride away. Maho has one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, with incredible snorkeling and water sports.

questions

What should I bring?

Bug spray, suntan lotion, shorts, tee-shirts, and a bathing suit! The US Virgin Islands use standard US electrical outlets, so if you need an adapter, bring those as well.

Is food included?

No, we decided to let people buy their own food since there's so many great options on the island. At Maho, dinner costs between $17 and $23 USD, with breakfast and lunch much cheaper. You can also buy food from a grocery store and cook it on your grill.

How can I connect to the Internet while I'm there?

We'll have a USB modem which you can use for short periods. Also, there's a computer room with machines that use dial-up. There are wireless hotspots on the island at various pubs, diners, etc.

Can I get mobile phone service?

Yes, AT&T provides service to that side of the island, though we won't know how reliable it is until we're there. Landlines are available too.

Will you be streaming the event over the Internet?

We're videotaping each of the sessions, which we'll post as soon as we're able, but live streaming is probably an impossibility. If you have questions for the speakers, please send them to us via the contact page or our twitter feed.

Do I need a passport or visa?

If you're a US resident, you don't need a passport, though you will need a driver's license or birth certificate. As for visas, if you can travel to the US, then you can travel to St John.

How do I get there?

Fly into Saint Thomas (STT) and take a ferry over to St John. Ferries run from both Charlotte Amalie (near the airport) and Red Hook (on the east end). Ferries cost $6 plus $2.50 each bag, one-way. You can easily get a taxi to either ferry at the baggage claim.

Why are we holding a "realness" meeting in the Caribbean?

St John has a magic that's hard to describe. It's certainly not the usual Caribbean resort place. Maho is very laid back. We think it's the perfect setting for the summit. Also, the very first twenty production XOs were brought to St John, so there's a symbolic benefit as well.