Well BB,
I think the format is 'weekend workshop' with programing for all ages and lots of hanging out social time in between. There is a seperate program of activities for kids, for teens, and for adults. The adult programing is mostly lectures about topics of interest of Gifties. The teens often attend the Adult programing and kind of 'come and go' as they please, which I find very sweet. Lots of people come just to hang out in the hallways and chat.
I'm not sure there is an 'organizing principle' except that there are a bunch of people who love to get a chance to get together each year, and some of them would be bored without something to stimulate their mind - so there are lectures, and lots of them have kids - so there is stuff there to do of the sort that gifted children usually like.
I hope that helps -
Grinity
