Songwriting, great food and friendship amid mountain meadows and forest.

Zigzag Mountain Songwriting Camp is a weekend songwriting retreat the third weekend in July on 50 beautiful acres on Mt. Hood near Zigzag, Oregon. The 2010 camp saw 28 songwriters gather from Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning to work on songwriting, share songs, and enjoy the beauty of the natural site. The 2012 camp, July 19 through 22, promises to be even better.

Writing workshops happen in the mornings, with free time to write and enjoy the site in the afternoons. Evenings we gather for song circles and camp fires. Emphasis is on crafting songs that ring true and express the unique voice and experiences of the writer. All levels are welcome; space is limited.

Three nights of camping, music, friendship, good food, songwriting workshops - and a lot of fun - an hour's drive from Portland.

We'll start at 7 pm on Thursday, July 19, and go through noon on Sunday, July 22. Enrollment is limited to 30 participants. All meals are provided (and they are amazing!) from Thursday dinner through Sunday breakfast.

The cost is 230, plus tent or yurt fees. A 100 deposit will hold your registration spot. Yurts are available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be reserved by paying the 3-night yurt fee.

Slide show of the 2010 camp:

Comments from the 2010 Zigzag Mountain Songwriting Camp:

"Thank you so much for helping to make such a gorgeous, memorable retreat... now just want to write songs and sing them forever! "

"I floated home on such a high I haven't come down to earth yet."

"Just spent three days in a beautiful retreat camp in ZigZag,Oregon. A gathering of wonderful songwriters. Morning workshops with Chris Kokesh and Matt Meighan, I could not ask for more. Good Songs Good friends ... what a treasure. Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!! See you all next year"

"Awesome first year, and I'm excited to see how it grows and changes over the next 20 years.....Count me in for the next 20!"

"Wonderful! 10 out of 10!.. thanks!"

"Thank you. Can't wait for next year. It takes a lot to hold a space, so thanks for being the space holders.. it was perfect."

"I've got wonderful music running through my mind. This camp conjured the muse. This is as close as I get to church - I look forward to next year!"

"Wonderful content, music, people, tone, sharing. Thank you thank you thank you Matt & Chris."

Located on Mount Hood about an hour from Portland, Zigzag Mountain Farm is home to an organic garden, old homestead, house, yurts, and barn. 50 acres of open meadows and forest, bordering thousands of acres of national forest. A year-round creek flows through the property and 3 major rivers are nearby. The Zigzag Mountain Lookout Trail leaves from the property.