familyweekend

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July 25-27th, 2008

Tybee Island, Georgia

Strengthening Families through Community

For the third year, families from all over Georgia and the South will gather for the MEGA Family Project’s 3rd Annual Family Weekend, a weekend of fun, learning, adventure, and friendship. MEGA’s 3rd Annual Family Weekend will provide a safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender couples, parents, their children, and our friends and family to gather on a beautiful beach destination. It is an idyllic opportunity for our children to meet other children with LGBT parents, and for parents to meet other parents and share experiences. The weekend will be filled with opportunities to celebrate LGBT families and for families to make connections with other families like theirs.

Your registration rate covers the cost to organize this weekend, participant t-shirts, rental space for our different events, and food for our cookout. You are responsible for your lodging and restaurant expenses (including group meals).

MEGA Members who have paid their 2008 dues or are MEGA Family Champions will get a reduced registration rate!

Click here to register!

Schedule of Events

Thursday (for our early arrivals), July 24th

Beach time during the afternoon at Base Camp

Group outing to a local restaurant to be announced

Friday, July 25th

Beach time during the afternoon at Base Camp

4-8pm Registration at Ocean Plaza's Harbor Hospitality Suite

5-8 Dinner at Fannie's Restaurant on the Beach

7-7:30 Pajama Party Story Time

7:30-10pm Under the Stars Pool Party

8-9pm Late Registration: Poolside

Saturday, July 26th

9am-2:30pm Beach Base Camp

9:30-11:30am Sculpture Fest! Sandcastle Contest-Judging at 11:30!

Noon Just for Dads' Luncheon (Ocean Plaza Restaurant)

1pm Beach Social (drinks and snacks provided)

2:30 Parenting Workshop

4:30 Older Kids' Program (kids ages 9-17 only--no parents allowed!)

5pm Group Dinner at the Crab Shack

7-9pm Family Dance Beach Party & Silent Auction

Sunday, July 27th

9-11am Beach Base Camp

10am Dolphin Tour (we'll send out registration details)

11:30 Kids' Activities at Memorial Park Pavillion and Playground

Noon Family Weekend Picnic at Memorial Park Pavillion

Registration Rates:

MEGA Family Champions special rate $100

MEGA Families who have paid their 2008 dues $125

Families who have not paid their 2008 dues $150

Single Parent Families who have paid their 2008 dues $75

Single Parent Families who haven't paid their 2008 dues $95

Limited Income Families $50

Single Person rate (one person--couples are considered a family) $50

Click here to register now!

MEGA's Scholarship Program:

There will be a limited number of scholarships available to families who demonstrate a significant financial need to attend the weekend. Click here to learn more about our scholarship program (deadline to apply is June 14th).

Click here to register at our secure online site!

Click here to view pictures from the 2006 MEGA Vacation!

Click here to view pictures from the 2007 MEGA Vacation!

About Tybee Island

Located 18 miles east of Savannah, this small barrier island boasts a wide, 3-mile long beach that's backed by sea oat-covered sand dunes and is perfect for sunbathing, people-watching and frolicking in the waves of the Atlantic Ocean. The island's south-end pier and pavilion is a splendid venue for strolling above the ocean and listening to the music of the live bands.

Accomodation Tips:

Families find their own housing and pay for their own food outside of our scheduled meals. Depending on your family's budget, you can stay at the host hotel (Ocean Plaza Beach Resort), a Bed & Breakfast, rent a house or condo, or go camping at the local campground (tent or rv). July is high season in Tybee, so rooms are going fast and are at their most expensive. If you reserve a space early, you can actually stay at a house or condo cheaper than a hotel. There are some excellent deals if you want to go in with some other families and stay at a bigger house. If you want to stay at the Ocean Plaza Beach Resort, they will make every effort to put MEGA Family Project people together at the hotel. You must tell the Ocean Plaza Beach Resort you are part of the MEGA Family Project to be put in the group. If you are not staying at the host hotel, I highly recommend you check the website Vacation Rentals By Owner in Tybee to find deals much cheaper than the host hotel (and you'll likely have a bigger place). If you really want to save, you can stay in Savannah and drive over. Savannah has a lot of inexpensive hotels, but it is a little bit of a commute. The private condos can offer you the best deals if you reserve them early.

Some Accomodation Ideas:

Ocean Plaza Beach Resort (host hotel: most convenient, and will sell out)

Vacation Rentals By Owner in Tybee(highly recommend you check here first)

Howard Johnsons (across from host hotel)

Royal Palm Motel (inexpensive by Tybee standards)

Sandcastle Inn (near host hotel)

Dunes Inn and Suites (near host hotel)

Seabreeze Inn (near host hotel and shops)

Desoto Beach Hotel (near Memorial Park)

Various Bed & Breakfast Options

River's End Campground

MEGA Family Vacation 2008 Sponsors