<p>It is too quiet over here on the parents forum...are their any other USMA parents that are going to PPW in October?</p>
<p>It is quiet. I would hope that this part of the forum would be utilized for the majority of the threads on the Naval Academy forum. I am from New York, it is simply beautiful in the fall. My grandmother lived in a little hamlet called Cornwall which is not far from WP. I remember going to WP when I was child. My son chose USNA and I have to admit Annapolis is beautiful too.</p>
<p>I will be heading north for my second PPW in October -- it is such a great time! Make sure you take the tour of the Supe's house. It is so interesting to think of all the people who have lived in that space.</p>
<p>I love Cornwall. We stayed at a b&b there and had a wonderful time. It's a lot nicer than Highland Falls. </p>
<p>Yes, the area is beautiful in the fall. Unfortunately most of the parents of the class of 2009 wouldn't know that based on our PPW. It rained dreadfully (understatement) the entire weekend. Our big mistake was to arrive the day PPW began. You really should try to arrive the evening before. That way you'll be able to fit in all the tours. We missed quite a bit. Don't miss the Uniform Factory Tour if they are offering it this year.</p>
<p>Definitely try to attend some classes with your cadet. I can guarantee you'll find it quite a bit different an experience than your own first fall at college. With the very small class sizes, and the expectation of widespread participation from the cadets, the classes are structured more more like a graduate program than a freshmen introductory year. Plus, you'll enjoy seeing all those wonderful young men and woman rushing to class with a purposefulness you probably won't see everywhere else.</p>
<p>One other thing you'll also want so see is the Corps mustering for lunch in front of Washington Hall, especially if they are doing so to fife and drums. It's a great, albeit short, show. As they say, arrive early, leave late.</p>
<p>As for lunch, the Officer's Club overlooking the Hudson is great and very convenient.</p>
<p>Thanks for the tips. They are doing things a bit different this year. Here is what the schedule looks like.</p>
<hr>
<p>11 October, Thursday:
Arrival Date for parents. This is a full day of classes for cadets. </p>
<p>12 October, Friday (Corps Training Holiday):
Uniform Factory Tours 8:30 a.m. -9:30 a.m. and 1:00
-2:00 p.m., 3:00 -4:00 p.m.
Leader Team Welcome 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Academic Open House 2:30 p.m. -4:30 p.m.
USCC Open House 4:30 p.m. -6:30 p.m. </p>
<p>13 October, Saturday:
Review 10:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.
Tactical Officer Orientation 1:00 p.m. -3 p.m.
Banquet 7:00 p.m. -8 p.m.
Receiving Line 8:15 p.m.
Hop 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.) </p>
<p>14 October, Sunday:
Departure Date</p>
<hr>
<p>A tentative schedule with more detail has been posted on the USMA website but there are several mistakes on it per plebe net moderators. </p>
<p>We are taking a red-eye Wed. night from the West coast so we will have all day Thursday to rest. We rented a house in Fishkill for the weekend. There will be five of us so it was cheaper than two hotel rooms for four nights. </p>
<p>I have been to West Point in March and in August, so I am really looking forward to seeing the fall colors. I hope we don't get a lot of rain like you did MOT.</p>
<p>My husband and I will be attending PPW at West Point, also. We will be getting in late Thursday night. Thank you all for the tips on things to be sure to do!</p>
<p>Last year, our parents club offered a few great suggestions, mainly for the Moms, for the Banquet/Hop:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Since parents/guests can take home the wine glasses used at the Banquet, you'll want to bring some bubble wrap to protect them as you travel home. </p></li>
<li><p>Bring your Class Tote Bag to carry your purse, dress shoes, walking shoes, camera, wine glasses, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>If you plan on making a scrapbook of your Cadet's West Point years, save the printed menus and placecards.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Have fun and enjoy the weekend!</p>
<p>yes - for us 2009 parents the weekend was miserable weatherwise - very very rainy and cold. Bring your umbrellas just in case. Uniform factory - get there early so you're in line to buy the parkas, some of the sizes sell out quickly. Our biggest regret was getting there late - I think Friday or Sat. a.m. - and we missed out opportunity to visit our son's barracks room. It's the only time that parents are allowed to see the rooms. Now our only vision of where he lives are grainy cellphone photos. I second idea about bubble wrap for glasses. </p>
<p>Also - don't miss the tour of the Superintendent's Quarters - Quarters 100 - there's a small museum in the basement and I know from personal experience that the house is haunted but I'm not sure who - could be former Supt. Robert E. Lee (who's picture in my opinion should be taken down since he betrayed the Union) or Millard Fillmore, whose bed is in one of the upper bedrooms.</p>
<p>Another suggestion for the wine glasses is to put them inside a thick sock. It's easier than bubble wrap and we didn't lose a single glass.</p>
<p>Oh, Big Green, the rain! There was so much rain, I expected the California cadets to scream "surf's up!"</p>
<p>(I just wish I was going again.)</p>
<p>Just yesterday they posted on the USMA website an updated schedule for the weekend. I don't see the uniform factory tour on there at all - darn it! </p>
<p>I will not miss the opportunity to see my son's room, that is the number one thing to do on my list. The parka sales are on Friday from 8 am - 4 pm., thanks for the tip about going early, we'll be sure to do that.</p>
<p>Is PPW the only time they allow tours of the Superintendent's Quarters? I want to do that too, but it is scheduled for Sunday afternoon and we had planned to pick up our son early Sunday morning and not bring him back to post until an hour or so before formation (they get OPP's on Sunday 0700-1900).</p>
<p>Thanks for this. I got booted from pelbe-net for...actually dont know what for. Anyway was getting pretty wierd there. Need this info thanks.</p>
<p>PPW is a wonderful weekend -enjoy! </p>
<p>2 additional thoughts from my side:
I was glad I had taken something warm to wrap around my shoulders while waiting outside in the reception line (it was a long line and a really cold evening).
I enjoyed touring Nininger Hall (where the Honor Board meets) - it is worth doing if you have the opportunity.</p>
<p>Thanks for reminding me...I need to pack a wrap or a coat to wear Sat. night!</p>
<p>Last week they updated the schedule. On Friday there will be uniform factory tours from noon-3:00 and they cancelled the tours of the Supe's quarters on Sunday (no reason given). </p>
<p>Looking at the weather forecast I think we are going to get wet but it doesn't look like it will be a downpour. Showers are forecast for Friday and Saturday. Gotta pack the rain ponchos.</p>
<p>Our flight leaves Wed. night 10 p.m. so it is getting close now!</p>
<p>Have fun!! We look forward to hearing all about it....</p>
<p>I am back....We had a great time with our son but I am exhausted! I need a vacation after PPW. :D</p>
<p>We arrived in Newark early Thursday morning, drove to the rental house in Fishkill and took a nap. That evening our son asked if he could bring a friend along for dinner, he wanted to invite his buddy who is from Kenya. We went and picked them up and thoroughly enjoyed meeting his friend. We learned a lot about Kenya and heard some great stories from the summer - they were in the same company during Beast. The Kenyan cadet said our son was one of the first to befriend him and make him feel welcome in America. We invited him to come to our home for Christmas but we have to get in line because he already has several invitations for Christmas break.</p>
<p>Friday was packed full with the Commandant's briefing, academic open house, open house in the gym, and much more. We only had time to meet two professor's but that was a highlight of the day. It is so nice that they can speak to you about your cadet as an individual because they actually know them, instead of just being a face in the crowd. Before we left post we stopped at the Cadet Chapel and went inside. It is such a beautiful church. Our son enjoys Sunday services there. Before heading to dinner we picked up the girlfriend at the train station.</p>
<p>Saturday before the Plebe Review the rifle drill team class of 2011 members performed for us. They did really well. The plebes did an excellent job in the parade. My son stayed in his parade uniform so we could take many pictures of him. I think seeing him up close in that uniform was one of the high points for my mother. She had been waiting to see him in the parade uniform since he was accepted. After that we enjoyed lunch in Washington Hall and then on to the tour of the barracks. While there we met his roommate and his family. I loved seeing his room and how everything was put away neatly. We also met his TAC and the TAC's wife. After an hour we went over to Bartlett Hall for the TAC briefing. His TAC was informative and entertaining. The only thing missing was the uniform fashion show. Later we braved the locker rooms in Arvin Gym to change into our formal wear. It was crowded but the worst part was the stifling heat. By the time I was dressed I thought I was going to pass out! The banquet was excellent...good food, great company, and a beautiful setting. We ran long at the banquet so we didn't get over to the receiving line until about 9:30. Fortunately the line went quickly. My son's girlfriend had on high heels and her feet were killing her so they only danced a couple of dances. My husband and I were too tired to dance we just enjoyed people watching. We were in bed about midnight.</p>
<p>Sunday was nice because we could relax and there was nothing scheduled. We picked up our son and brought him back to the house. My husband cooked breakfast and we just spent time relaxing and visiting. We had a dinner of barbequed chicken and corn on the cob (our son's request). On our way back to West Point we dropped off his girlfriend at the train station so she could return to her college on Long Island. We arrived back on post early so we visited for awhile longer before our son returned to his barracks. He loves West Point but was also reluctant to return to his hours of homework and duties. </p>
<p>Overall we had a great time. The only thing I that would have made it better would have been one more day of unscheduled time with our son and more hours of sleep!</p>