Translators’ Conference Participant Handbook

Dear Bread Loafer,

We would like to welcome you to the Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference. Bread Loaf fosters communities where open-mindedness, respect, and appreciation are truly valued and where each person can thrive and benefit from their time on the mountain. We’re glad you’re coming and look forward to working with you. Below you’ll see information that we hope will be helpful to you as you prepare for your visit.

Shared Campus

During the session we will be sharing the Bread Loaf campus with the Bread Loaf Environmental Writers’ Conference. Each group will have its own workshops, lectures, and classes, and then come together to share social hours and meals. Many of the evening readings will feature a faculty member from each program.

Arrival and Departure

Please plan to arrive on Sunday, June 15 by 5:00 p.m. Registration is available from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be a social hour in the Barn at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. The first event of the conference, the welcome and reading, will take place after dinner.

Upon arrival, please go to the Front Porch of the Bread Loaf Inn to meet with the Front Desk Staff who will have your housing information. From there stop by the Blue Parlor Porch, located on the side of the Bread Loaf Inn, to pick up your registration materials.

The last day of the conference, Saturday, June 21, is a travel day. Breakfast is served that morning, and participants leave campus by noon.

To make shared taxi arrangements from the Burlington Vermont Airport or the train station in Essex Junction, VT, Bread Loafers reserve a ride with the conference’s transportation partner. Each summer we work with a transportation service that arranges shared rides for attendees for a fee paid directly to the service. In 2025 we will be working with a new service and look forward to sharing details with all Bread Loafers via email in late May. (If you submitted reservation information already to Vermont Tour and Charter, it will be necessary to submit your travel information again with the new company we will be working with this summer. We’ll be in touch with more details soon.)

If arriving by train in Middlebury, VT, please see the Travel Page for updated information on how to reserve a spot in a Middlebury van that will transport passengers from the Middlebury Train Station to the Bread Loaf campus.  The Middlebury train station is about a 20 minute drive from the Bread Loaf campus.

Those arriving by car may park temporarily along Route 125 near the Bread Loaf Inn while getting their housing information and registration materials.  After that, Bread Loafers with cars park in the big parking lot in front of the Barn on campus. The Front Desk staff will provide more details about parking when they share your housing information with you on arrival day.

Health and Safety on Campus this Summer

COVID-19 Protocols

Please read the Covid-19 Protocols page that outlines the protocols we’ll have in place this summer. This document is a list of protocols that acknowledges the shared responsibility towards keeping the Bread Loaf campus a safe and healthy community. Attendees are responsible for reading and following the protocols described here.

Required Measles Proof of Immunity 

A link to the College’s confidential Measles Proof-of-Immunity Form will be mailed to your personal email on May 7 and will be due by May 21.  The form link will go to participants’ personal emails, and your Middlebury email will be needed to access the form. (Those who attended a Bread Loaf conference last year or who are on Middlebury faculty/staff have already fulfilled this requirement and need not upload it again via this process.) 

The Vermont Department of Health is requiring that all Bread Loafers be able to provide proof of immunization from measles before the start of our summer sessions. As noted previously, there are three options for fulfilling this requirement of measles immunization:

  1. obtain proof of immunization from already extant records;
  2. get a blood test that proves immunity from a doctor or clinic;
  3. get an immunization shot for measles (MMR) from a local pharmacy or doctor and provide proof of it.

Note: Individuals born prior to January 1, 1957 are assumed to be immune to measles and do not have to provide proof of immunity. Instead of uploading a proof of immunity document via the forthcoming secure form, these individuals will provide a document showing their date of birth. 

You’ll find more details about measles and the College’s approach on Middlebury’s measles information website. 

Middlebury College and Bread Loaf Policies

Before your arrival on campus, we ask that you familiarize yourself with the Middlebury College and Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences policies concerning community health, safety, and responsibility. Participants are responsible for knowing and understanding these polices, which are articulated HERE. Should you have any questions at any time, please do not hesitate to contact one of the following Bread Loaf staff members or one of the Middlebury College contacts noted in the policy information linked to above.

Jennifer Grotz, director, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences (jgrotz@middlebury.edu) or 802-443-5286)

Noreen Cargill, administrative director, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences (ncargill@middlebury.edu or 802-443-5062)

Jason Lamb, coordinator, Bread Loaf Writers’ Conferences (jlamb@middlebury.edu or 802-443-5286)

A Middlebury Email for Participants

Bread Loaf participants are assigned a temporary Middlebury email for use during the conference. Bread Loaf staff will continue to use the personal emails on file for conference communications, but the Middlebury email will be necessary to: use the College’s online Nelnet payment program; access the measles proof-of-immunity form; access Wi-Fi on the Bread Loaf campus; and use and print from the computers in the Library on the Bread Loaf campus. 

The ITS helpdesk sent the “Middlebury Account Activation Instructions” note to Bread Loafers’ personal emails the week of April 21. If you have not yet received it, please contact us at blt@middlebury.edu, to let us know.

For those with a balance due to the College, the Student Financial Services office sent an invoice to the students’ Middlebury emails on April 30. Invoices are due by May 14. If you have not yet been able to access the Middlebury email and/or the invoice, please contact us at blt@middlebury.edu, to let us know.

Packing

Items you may want to bring

  • We encourage bringing a mask with you to campus; masks will also be available on the Bread Loaf Campus while supplies last.
  • We encourage attendees to bring antigen test kits with them to campus to have on hand in case they are needed; rapid test kits will be available on campus while supplies last.
  • Water bottle—Conference days are long and it’s important to stay hydrated.  Water fountains are located in the Barn, where most meeting spaces are located.
  • If you’re driving, you may want to bring a fan; there are no air conditioners on campus, and the evenings can be warm.  Evenings can also be quite cold, so an extra blanket may be useful as well.
  • You should plan to bring clothes for both warm and cool weather.  Temperatures during the day and evening could range from the 40s to mid-70s.
  • Raincoat
  • Flashlight or head lamp with batteries
  • Toiletries
  • Sunscreen
  • Insect repellant
  • Medication such as Benadryl in case of bug bites
  • Your prescription medications and your medical insurance card. We also recommend that you bring a list of your current prescription and non-prescription medications and the phone and fax numbers for your health care provider.
  • Laundry detergent
  • Bathing suit—you can swim in Lake Pleiad (the outing will require use of a car and there is a short hike through the woods to get to the lake)
  • Hiking boots—in case you would like to explore hiking trails in the Green Mountain National Forest.  The Long Trail, stretching from Massachusetts to Canada, is just a few miles away.
  • Ear plugs, just in case
  • Bathrobe and flip flops—there are shared bathrooms in student housing.
  • Running and walking gear—in case you would like to explore the dirt trails near campus.
  • Funds—the bookstore will accept cash and cards. The Barn Socials and evening Pubs will provide a cash bar, with cash and cards accepted.  There is no ATM on campus.
  • Alarm clock
  • Small cooler, if you wish—access to a refrigerator is not generally available.
  • Book-light
  • Eyeshade/sleep mask
  • Reusable mug/thermos
  • Yoga mat (see Yoga section below)
  • We’re sorry, but pets are not allowed on campus.
  • Binoculars (for the nature walk, if you would like to attend).
  • Extension cord
  • Adapter for your three-pronged laptop or hairdryer (many outlets on the mountain are two-pronged)
  • There is a fully equipped computer room on the Bread Loaf campus, with Macs (not PCs); however, if you like, you can bring along your laptop or iPad.  Wi-Fi access is available in most public spaces, including the Library, Inn, and Barn.

Workshops

Workshops will meet four times during the conference—from 10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. The workshop meeting dates, times, and locations will be noted on a packet cover included with the forthcoming workshop materials.

On May 16 you will receive access to a folder of materials for your workshop. For Translation Manuscript Workshops, the folder will contain the manuscript of each person taking part in your workshop. For the Introductory Workshop, the folder will contain reading materials selected by the faculty workshop leader. It will be important for you to print the full set of materials for your workshop at home so that you can bring the hardcopies along with you to the conference.

Also on May 16 you will receive a first assignment to prepare for the first workshop meeting. Though the first assignment varies depending on the faculty member, it usually involves reading a selection from the packet of workshop materials. Some faculty will include reading from an additional source, in which case, the additional pieces will be sent along in the same email.

Agent and Editor Meetings

We will use the online Agent/Editor Sign-Up form that you submitted to arrange a meeting for you. You will receive a sheet during registration on Sunday, June 15, that lists your meeting details.

At these meetings you will have an opportunity to make a contact, ask questions, and get advice about seeking publication. These meetings are not designed for you to secure an agent or editor, but you can expect to get good advice from someone expert in the field.

Bread Loafer Readings

During the conference, you are invited to take part in the Bread Loafer readings. These informal readings, hosted by a Bread Loaf staff member, will take place in the Barn. These readings are an opportunity to share some of your work and to meet Bread Loafers from other workshops. Spots are limited, so those interested in reading will be asked to sign up in advance on the mountain. Participants should plan on reading for up to three minutes. You’ll find more information about the readings in the materials you receive on registration day.

Barn Social and Pub

The Barn, located in a central spot on the Bread Loaf campus, is a place for participants to gather and socialize. During the conference the Barn Social will take place from 5:30 p.m. until just before dinner each day, and the Barn Pub will take place from 8:45 p.m. to midnight. The Social and Pub offer soda and snacks that are free of charge and beer or wine for purchase. There is no ATM on campus, however the bars will accept cards as well as cash.

Housing

Most rooms at Bread Loaf are doubles, and bathrooms are shared on each floor. Participants should plan on having a roommate. Due to the size of the conference, changes in room assignments will not be possible.

Participants who are uncomfortable sharing a room with another participant may make arrangements to stay off campus and let Bread Loaf staff know. Please note that any off-campus lodging will require a vehicle in order to commute to the Bread Loaf campus in Ripton.

Please note that some rooms are located on the second and third floors of buildings. If you have special needs for medical reasons, please let Noreen or Jason know right away, so arrangements can be made for you.

Pillows, sheets, blankets, and towels are provided. Each bed will have the folded stack of clean linens placed at the end of the mattress so participants and faculty are able to make their bed. The Bread Loaf Inn Front Desk staff can assist with providing additional linens during the week as requested.

Bread Loaf is a smoke-free campus. Vermont State Law prohibits smoking in any building on campus, including dormitories.

If you have arranged for off-campus housing, please notify Noreen or Jason as soon as possible and provide them with the address and phone number of where you’ll be staying.

Meals

Meals are served as a buffet in the Bread Loaf Inn dining room. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available, and the kitchen staff is able to accommodate food allergies.

Bread Loaf Translators’ Meals Times: Breakfast will be available at 7:30 AM, lunch at 12:45 p.m., and dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Bread Loaf has a large Dining Room, but for those who would like to enjoy their meals outdoors, a selection of picnic blankets will be available as well as picnic tables and Adirondack chairs on the Bread Loaf lawns. We invite those driving from home to bring along camping chairs. 

Please follow the meal start times as noted here. Meals during the conference are staggered with the Bread Loaf Environmental Writers’ Conference in order to help cut down on waiting times.

Wi-Fi

Participants will receive a temporary Middlebury email via an ITS Welcome note (see details in the Middlebury Email section above). Once on campus, participants access Wi-Fi by choosing MiddleburyCollege from the WiFi options that come up on their personal device and entering their Middlebury email and password.

Ways to Connect with Home While on Campus

Email:

You will be able to stay in touch via email. A computer lab located in the library on campus has Macs available and with some PCs available on the main floor of the library. And if you bring your laptop, iPad, or phone, wireless access is available in public spaces (and possibly in your room, though that is not a sure thing). Please see the important wi-fi note above on how to register for wi-fi once on campus.

Phone:

Cell phone service is available in the Bread Loaf Inn and the Barn on the Bread Loaf campus but access is intermittent depending upon your provider. Verizon and AT&T should work fine.  Other providers may not work. While on campus participants have successfully stayed in touch with home using their smartphone to access wi-fi calling, Facetime, or Zoom. There are landlines available on the campus—usually one phone per floor in each of the buildings. After you arrive, you could share that floor phone number with family at home. The phone for the main switchboard on campus is 802-443-2700 (hours are usually 8 AM to 10 PM). The Front Desk staff member will transfer the call to your floor or take a message for you, if needed. 

You can also give people the Bread Loaf Office info, and we will get any messages to you (e-mail: blt@middlebury.edu; phone: 802-443-5286).

Mail

Address for mail

Participant’s Name
Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference
PO Box 216
Ripton, VT 05766

Address for FedEx or UPS

Participant’s Name
Bread Loaf Translators’ Conference
4229 Route 125
Ripton, VT 05766

Incoming mail will be held daily at the Front Desk of the Bread Loaf Inn.  Stamps will be available for purchase at the Front Desk as well.

Library

The Davison Memorial Library at Bread Loaf hosts a collection of reference books and literature, including a reserve shelf stocked with books by faculty.

Computers & Printers

The Apple Cellar (Bread Loaf’s computer room) is located downstairs in the Library.  It features Macs that have internet access and connections to printers; one or two PCs connected to the internet and printers are available on the main floor of the Library.  To print during the conference, Bread Loafers use their Middlebury email to log into a College computer and print to a local printer from that computer. (See the Middlebury Email section above for more details.)

Bookstore

The store stocks books written by Bread Loaf faculty, participants, staff, and guests. Cash and cards are accepted.

Consignment Books

Our bookstore partner, Phoenix Books will accept books to sell on consignment.  If you would like to sell your book(s) on consignment, please read the following instructions.

In order to sell books on consignment, please complete the Bread Loaf Consignment Form by 5 p.m. EST, Monday, May 12. 

On the consignment form, please list your name, address, email, phone number, title of book, 13 digit ISBN (if available), the retail price, and the quantity you will be bringing with you to Bread Loaf (we ask that you bring no more than 10 copies). After the conference, Phoenix Books will send you a check for 80% of the sale price.  They will keep 20%.

If you do not submit the consignment form by Monday, May 12 we will not be able to sell your book(s) on consignment.

When you get to Bread Loaf on June 15, stop by the bookstore to give them the copies of your book(s). Please note that there will be a 24-hour turn around before your books can be sold at Bread Loaf. 

You must pick up any unsold copies on Friday, June 20 by 4 p.m.  Any books not picked up will not be returned and will become property of Phoenix Books.

Front Desk

Visit the Front Desk in the Bread Loaf Inn for matters regarding your room and lodging, moose facts, lost and found items, local lore, information about local walking/running trails, buying postage, mailing packages, transportation tips, and other general information.

This summer the Front Desk will have COVID-19 antigen tests available while supplies last.

Back Office

Visit the Back Office in the Bread Loaf Inn with any workshop, class, or scheduling questions. Faxing via the Back Office may be possible.

Laundry

Coin-op washers and dryers are in the Laundry House in front of the Barn. Attendees provide their own laundry detergent. If you need change for the machines, the Front Desk staff will be glad to help. Some irons are also available.

Parking

Please park your vehicle in the large parking lot in front of the Barn. It is illegal to park on Route 125 and you may get a ticket.

Self-care During the Conference

The conference schedule is quite busy, and we want to take this time to note how important it will be to pace yourself and to take care of yourself during the session. To this end, yoga classes will be offered daily. AA Meetings are scheduled to take place each evening. See details below, and find more ideas listed in the Extracurricular Activities section later in this Handbook.

Yoga instructor Joanna Colwell will offer Iyengar yoga classes daily from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. in Barn 008. The classes are appropriate for all abilities and all are welcome. A handful of mats will be available. If you’re able to bring your mat from home, please do.  There will be no yoga on Saturday, June 21, the departure day.

AA Meetings are scheduled to take place daily from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Upstairs Library (Back end of Building). To schedule additional meeting times while on the mountain, just let a Back Office Staff member know. Staff will reserve the room and include a note about the meetings on the Crumb Bulletin Board near the Dining Room.

Health Matters

In case of emergency dial 911 from any campus phone. A sign near each phone lists important details including the exact address and phone number for that location.

For non-emergency health matters, a self-care cart is available near the lobby of the Bread Loaf Inn. The cart is stocked with items such as Band-Aids, Advil, and Tylenol. Please plan to bring Benadryl pills and ointment in case of bug bites as well as any other first-aid items you feel might be necessary for your personal comfort during the session. And should you find that the cart does not address your particular concerns, the Bread Loaf Inn front desk staff will help you with a referral, and Porter Hospital is located in Middlebury, if needed.

For mental health matters, contact the conference director, administrative director, or coordinator (Jennifer Grotz, Noreen Cargill, or Jason Lamb) for a referral, or call the emergency number at the Counseling Service of Addison County (dial 9 and then 388-7641 from any campus phone).

When packing, remember to bring your prescription medications and your medical insurance card. We also recommend that you bring a list of your current prescription and non-prescription medications and the phone and fax numbers for your health care provider.

For details regarding the 2025 COVID-19 protocols and also the required Measles proof-of-immunity process, please see the “Health and Safety on Campus this Summer” section included earlier in the Handbook.

Emergencies on the Bread Loaf Campus

In case of serious medical emergency or fire on the Bread Loaf Campus, always call 911 from any campus phone or from your cell phone. Though it’s possible to use your cell phone, it’s best to use an on-campus phone, if possible. The on-campus phone will alert 911 to your location automatically. Otherwise, a sign near each campus phone lists important details including the exact address and phone number for that location.

In case of non-life threatening but urgent matters, contact the Bread Loaf Inn Front Desk at x2700 from any campus phone or 802-443-2700 from your cell phone (Front Desk Hours: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.). Outside of office hours, call x2911 from any campus phone or 802-443-2911 from your cell phone to reach facilities staff who will help you with the situation.

We recommend making note of the numbers listed above so you can have them handy during the session.

For emergencies that affect the Bread Loaf campus, the Middlebury Department of Public Safety uses the RAVE alert system to notify attendees via email and also by text for those who have cell service on campus.

Extracurricular Activities

Scheduled

  • Robert Frost picnic
  • Music Night at the Barn Pub
  • Book-signing Outdoor Reception
  • An evening coffee reception
  • Barn Social and Barn Pub
  • Nature Walk

Unscheduled

  • Hiking trails around campus
  • Visiting the stream just across the hayfield
  • Swimming in Lake Pleiad, which is a good quarter-mile hike down the Long Trail. Transportation is needed to get to the trail head.
  • Tennis
  • The Front Desk may have some equipment available for games such as volleyball, Frisbee, whiffle ball, and croquet.

Middlebury College Athletics Facilities

The Middlebury College athletics facilities, located on Middlebury’s main campus, are available to Bread Loaf participants; however, you will want to note that a car will be needed to get to the facilities. The main campus is about a twenty-minute drive from the Bread Loaf campus. You’ll find the hours listed on the Athletics Facility web page. The athletics facility staff will have a list of conference participants on hand, so you will just need to give your name to a staff member upon entering the building. The Bread Loaf Inn Front Desk staff would be happy to give you directions to the athletics complex.

Crumb Bulletin Board

The Crumb bulletin board will be posted near the dining hall of the Bread Loaf Inn throughout the session. Please take a moment after breakfast each morning to check the board. We’ll use it to inform you about any schedule changes, guest arrivals and departures, and other important conference information.