Alternative Family Camping Holidays -
for Singers, Dancers and Magical Beings
2012 august 4 - 12 (sat - sun)
natural
voice
camp
We are dedicated to finding the natural, authentic expressive voice in all of us - by really listening to ourselves and each other and by exploring our vocal potential we can experience empowerment, healing, fun and devotion.
2012 august 13 - 17 (mon - fri)
Healing
Camp
The first Unicorn Healing Camp will feature Family Constellations, 7 Words and Sufism, and have a number of other events and opportunities.
2012 august 18 - 26 (sat - sun)
peace
through
the arts
camp
Being inspired by the wisdom and sacred phrases of the many spiritual traditions of humankind, this camp is based on Dances of Universal Peace - a form of celebration and meditation in sound and movement.
information
The rules and conventions governing the everyday running of the Unicorn Camps are the result of years of experience and the feedback we gather each year from the campers.
Please follow the links to find out why these rules are in place, and how they contribute to making every camp a wonderful experience.
Camp Rules
No alcohol (onsite or in local pubs) or illegal drugs More
When Samuel Lewis created the Dances of Universal Peace in 1960’s San Francisco, it was specifically with the intent of providing the young people of that city with the experience of a spiritual ‘high’ as an alternative to drugs. In the decades since, in which the Dances have grown and spread throughout the world, it has been understood that all Dance events, whether single sessions, residential retreats or camps, have benefitted from a ‘no alcohol/no drugs’ rule.
Many people have experienced these events as having the power to trigger significant personal transformation, and that the use of alcohol or drugs would have blocked the process.
When the Unicorn Dances of Universal Peace Camp (now called the Peace Through the Arts Camp) began in the early nineties, it was a given that this rule would apply, and the reasons for it were understood and appreciated by the first wave of campers.
It also proved to be a very practical rule for a family camp, which along with the 11pm. ‘Quiet Time’ convention allowed camping families to feel secure and to get a good night’s sleep. It has been our experience that on camps which allow alcohol this is often not the case; with the best will in the world it doesn’t take many drinks for us to forget both the lateness of the hour and the fact that we are surrounded by people trying to sleep with only thin canvas between themselves and our revelry!
When the Unicorn Natural Voice Camp began in 1998 it seemed natural to continue in this ethos and the majority of campers the first year were familiar with it through the Dance Camp.
As the Voice Camp grew it took in more participants from the world of Community Choirs and the Core Group became concerned that a clash of cultures would occur, as in the broader European culture singing and drinking very often go together. Indeed in our feedback some participants felt that moderate drinking should be allowed.
The majority opinion however was considerably in favour of the alcohol ban so we have retained it across both our main camps. The policy continues to be enthusiastically endorsed by our feedback process.
Singing itself can be a very powerful and transformative activity, especially combined with the experience of the camp community and the back-to-basics focus of simple everyday camp life away from our usual patterns. Most people who have experienced the camps have appreciated how the no-alcohol rule enables this opportunity for personal growth.
There are many participants who say that Unicorn Camps have changed their lives. This is something of which the Core Group are very proud and they are most unlikely to ever abandon this key policy.
No amplified music or noisy electronic devices More
Both our camps are full of musicians and singers and provide lots of opportunities to get together to make music both as part of the programme and informally in the Café or in the camping circles. We want to encourage actual in-the-moment music and not pre-recorded material which has no interaction with the present moment.
We have experienced other camps where loud recorded music in one marquee has made it very difficult to lead an acapella singing workshop in another, or where although live music is ostensibly encouraged in the Café, you have to ask the staff to turn off their ghetto blaster first, which puts one under a lot of creative pressure, and makes spontaneous music making impossible.
The worst of all is when the canned music from the next tent keeps you awake into the small hours, and when you finally crawl over to complain, they are all unconscious!
It is no small blessing to be at a camp where these things will never happen!
Mobile phone calls must be made away from the camping area More
At Unicorn Camps being present in the moment is encouraged. In the context of the community of the camp, where everyone has access of communication with each other, someone having a discussion with a person not physically present is disrespectful and can be disturbing.
Of course sometimes it is necessary to be in communication with someone outside the camp, but this can be done sensitively by making the call in the car park or by sending and receiving texts silently.
All gas appliances used on site must meet regulation standards More
We were obliged to include this rule after two successive years in which the Fire Brigade were called to the camp.
On both occasions the cause of the fire was a camping gas fridge which had been inexpertly assembled. We did not ban such fridges completely as they are often part of the fittings in a campervan but we do require them to meet regulation standards.
No noise after 11pm More
From our first camp on the present site in 1993 we have had an 11pm ‘Quiet Time’ in place so that everyone on the camp can get a good night’s sleep and be refreshed for early morning activities. Our experience from other camps is that last night noise causes a lot of discomfort and resentment, especially for families.
Although our camping fields cover a reasonably large area we do not sleep within thick walls and loud noise on one part of the site can be heard on any other.
As with the ‘no alcohol’ rule, this was challenged by some in the early days of the Natural Voice Camp but since then it has been widely acknowledged in the feedback as being a practical restriction on a long family camp.
Also since then we have entered into an agreement with the village Parish Council that we will always acknowledge the Quiet Time at 11pm as there were complaints from the village when it was transgressed a few years ago. Unicorn Camp Time (see U.C.T.) allows us to have occasional late nights on the Natural Voice Camp without breaking that agreement.
Dogs are not permitted More
Unfortunately the history of trying to accommodate dogs on camps is an unsuccessful one and nearly all current camps do not allow them on site. They have been known to be a menace to young children and their excrement is a health hazard. They have been guilty of transgressing curfews and the theft of camper’s foodstuffs, including breaking and entering!
We are prepared to accommodate well-trained guide dogs.
No visitors and no new arrivals after the first Sunday of the camp More
One of the things which enables the very special quality of community on Unicorn Camps is the feeling of safety which comes from being part of a settled group of people.
The camps are small enough that all faces become familiar after a day or two and the sudden appearance of new people can be quite strange after we have become sensitised to each other. It’s also disturbing when people leave early so we ask them not to if at all possible. These rules do not apply to children who are brought to the camp after it has started; we ask that they are met at the Gate Marquee or outside the camp.
Participants should not arrive before Arrivals Day (Saturday). We impose a £20 per adult per night surcharge for early arrivals.
Suggested Things to Bring
Here is a suggestion about what you will need to bring: List
- a suitable tent, dome, tipi, bender or yurt
- sleeping mat, warm bedding, hot water bottles
- torch, lantern
- rugs and sheepskins
- ear-plugs
- a lighter
- a saw, an axe
- wellies and waterproofs
- a strong reusable shopping bag
- large pots and pans
- a trivet or grill
- plates, bowls, cups, cutlery
- a chopping board and knife
- a washing up bowl
- a stool or chair to sit on
- toilet rolls
- a small first-aid kit
- sun-screen
If travelling light, join a well-equipped circle!
About Us
Unicorn Voice Camps and Peace through the Arts Camps are organised by a core group of four people, Bob, James, Jenny and Nickomo. On a day to day level the camp is run by teams led by co-ordinators working in and supervising:
The Gate Team More
When you arrive at camp you will check in at the Gate Marquee where you will be welcomed by the Gate Team. The role of the Gate Team is to welcome you to the camp, help you get settled into a camping circle and act as an information point. They also monitor the physical boundaries of the camp to keep out intruders and act as intermediaries between the camp and the outside world.
When you check in at the Gate on arrival you will be given a Karma Yoga ticket. ‘Karma Yoga’ means offering work as a service for the benefit of the community. All adult and teenage participants are asked to contribute to the everyday running of the camp.
The work is likely to require one to three hours of your time during the week. Some of the Karma Yoga duties include lantern lighting, helping in children’s workshops, serving in the café and toilet cleaning (rubber gloves provided!).
The Site Crew More
The Site Crew spend the week before the camps assembling the structures and facilities and the week after taking them down. While the camps are running they maintain these facilities which include:
Compost toilets, including a toilet with disabled access
These are organic toilets which use sawdust instead of flushing with water. Please do not put anything inorganic into the toilets, a bin is provided. You need to remember to supply your own toilet paper!
Standpipes with running filtered water
There are a number of water points throughout the camp. The water is filtered and good to drink. Please take water away in containers for use in your circle; washing up and teeth cleaning at the standpipe is discouraged as it creates mud and a health hazard!
Hot showers
There are three shower heads served by a wood-fired boiler in a spacious dry enclosure. Communal showering and sharing of water is encouraged as being the most efficient mode of use but special times are set aside for separate genders and young people who prefer more privacy.
Compost and recycling facilities
As part of our green ethos we do not provide for the collection of general rubbish which you must take away with you (if you have produced any!). Local recycling facilities are excellent however, and there is a recycling facility for all recyclables. The Site Crew will provide bin bags for this. There is a compost area to receive organic waste.
The field we camp in is at the end of a track on an organic farm. The farmers who own the land make us feel very welcome and look forward to having us to stay each year. In turn we respect the land and minimise our impact upon it in every way that we can.
The Creativity Area More
The Creativity Area is a group of marquees and other structures including a magnificent climbing frame and sports area manned by an extensive staff of experienced facilitators.
There is a daily programme for over 5’s of Arts & Craft activities, music, games and creative play. It is called the ‘Creativity Area’ because it provides a space and materials for creative projects for the whole camp, not just the children. Likewise, most of the adult programme is open to children as well and it will be stated in the morning gathering if any sessions are not suitable.
Every day there is a Storytime session in the Big Yurt for listeners of all ages held by our well loved team of experienced storytellers.
Our hope is that the whole camp will be mindful of the welfare of our children. Ultimately of course as parents we are responsible for their welfare and behaviour, ensuring that our children are aware of the rules of the camp and that they are observed. Parents are asked to ensure that their children are back in their camping circle by 10pm.
Teenage Activities More
The Creativity Area is a group of marquees and other structures including a magnificent climbing frame and sports area manned by an extensive staff of experienced facilitators.
There is a daily programme for over 5’s of Arts & Craft activities, music, games and creative play. It is called the ‘Creativity Area’ because it provides a space and materials for creative projects for the whole camp, not just the children. Likewise, most of the adult programme is open to children as well and it will be stated in the morning gathering if any sessions are not suitable.
Every day there is a Storytime session in the Big Yurt for listeners of all ages held by our well loved team of experienced storytellers.
Our hope is that the whole camp will be mindful of the welfare of our children. Ultimately of course as parents we are responsible for their welfare and behaviour, ensuring that our children are aware of the rules of the camp and that they are observed.
Parents are asked to ensure that their children are back in their camping circle by 10pm.
Well-Being More
We have a team of first-aiders on site who respond to accidents and emergencies. They will be identified at the first morning gathering and information given on how to locate them.
Most day to day problems will hopefully be dealt with within your camping circle, where it is useful to identify the location of first-aid kits.
All participants are ultimately responsible for their own health and well-being and that of their children.
If required there is a doctor’s clinic in the village.
Mindfulness of hygiene is especially important when camping together. The weather is often hot, the facilities are more basic than those we are used to at home, and with our proximity to each other there is an increased risk of bugs being spread.
Wash your hands!
Keep your food covered!
Clean your eating utensils with hot soapy water after use!
The Café More
The Café is open most of the day for drinks and cakes. It also provides cooked breakfasts and lunches. Musicians and storytellers are always welcome. You will need to bring your own cutlery and crockery but the ‘tab’ system means you don’t have to carry money with you.
Outside the café there is a stall set up each morning by the organic farm shop when you can buy daily essentials such as bread and milk as well as other local produce. The organic farm shop itself is just a five-minute walk up the lane. It is supplied daily with a wide range of freshly picked organic vegetables from the farm. It also sells locally baked organic bread, organic milk and many other groceries.
We encourage all campers to support the café and local shopkeepers and to try to keep from using their cars during the camp. We also ask everyone to follow a vegetarian diet on the camps for reasons of hygiene.
Unicorn Camps have been running since 1988. Over this time an ethos and policy has developed through shared experience and feedback. Our hope is that everyone will feel accepted as an individual, and as a part of the community.
Camping Circles
Circles are formed organically as people arrive and select a space in which to set up their tent.
A fire is made in the middle of the circle directly onto the ground (the farmer has asked us not to dig holes). Circle members share collecting and chopping wood, keeping a supply of water at hand and tending the fire.
The evening meal and washing-up is something that is usually shared with the whole circle, a talk with your circle will establish how you wish to operate.
Time for Circle Sharing is included in the programme near the beginning of the camp.
More about circle sharing
Circle Sharing is usually done with a ‘talking stick’. This can in fact be any object which can be passed around the circle. The important thing is that once the process has begun, only the person holding the stick is empowered to speak, and the rest to listen without interrupting.
Traditionally the stick is then passed clockwise around the circle. Speakers are asked to speak from their own experience, and not to engage in speculations or accusations! By common consent the stick can go round again, or be abandoned in favour of free conversation.
The formality of this method has the advantage of giving everyone a safe space in which to be heard. It is a good opportunity for sharing personal needs whether medical, emotional or dietary.
Your circle is the first place to look to for company, friendship, practical help and emotional support. Some thoughts: Do you want to camp with families with children, if so what ages?
Do you want to be near certain facilities e.g. the Creativity Area, the climbing frame, or the main marquee? Do you want to camp with others with plenty of experience of camps willing to share their knowledge and cooking equipment? As most circles cook communally, size is another factor; would you rather cook more often for less people or vice-versa?
We encourage first-time campers to arrive as early as you can, as it can be difficult trying to join circles who consider themselves to be complete!
You may wish to camp in the Quieter Area which is intended to be a restful place for those who wish to camp away from the main camping area.
Though the ‘Quiet Time’ (from 11pm – 8pm) is observed by the whole camp, it is understood that those in the Quieter Area are unlikely to welcome music-making in their circles at any time, so it is not a good place for keen singers and musicians!
Also campers with children would probably feel more comfortable camping elsewhere.
Please note that this area is part of a camping field and is only relatively quiet, which is why it is called the ‘Quieter Area’.
Vehicles
Once you have put your tent up we ask that you remove your car to the car park.
As we are living physically close to the earth, it is a wonderful opportunity to experience everyday living at its most basic surrounded by natural things. The absence of cars from the camping fields supports this aesthetic.
Unfortunately it is not practical to do without them entirely, as the daily shop delivery and the occasional wood delivery require vehicles, as do those campers who have difficulties using a tent and need to use a campervan, trailer tent, or caravan. We ask these campers to camouflage their vehicles as much as possible with awnings and tarpaulins and to park along the edge of the field.
Programme
The day begins with early morning sessions such as Yoga or Chi Gung and the ‘Dance of Life’. On the Peace Through the Arts Camp there is Sufi Practice and Buddhist Mindfulness. This is followed by a full programme of morning and afternoon workshops. Often we will have a Gathering as part of the morning schedule where the whole camp comes together. In the early evening there is Storytime in the Big Yurt.
On the Peace Through the Arts Camp there is a twilight session of Circle Dance in the open air to live music followed by the main evening events. On certain evenings at the Natural Voice Camp we have a Quiet Time extension which allows us an extra hour (because of U.C.T. see below).
To help us to run on time a conch is blown a few minutes prior to each event.
For details of each camp: Voice Camp, PTA, Healing Camp
Voice Camp programme available to download
UCT
This stands for ‘Unicorn Camp Time’.
A couple of years ago it was suggested by a group of campers that it would be good to make the most of the daylight hours by running the camp one hour ahead of British Summertime.
We tried this out in 2010 and asked for feedback. The poll was 77% in favour on the Natural Voice Camp, so we now follow U.C.T. every year.
The margin was narrower on the Peace Through the Arts Camp where there are more early morning activities at a time of year when the mornings aren’t as warm. We follow normal B.S.T. on this camp.
When you arrive at the Natural Voice Camp the Gate team will remind you to put your watches forward one hour. An additional benefit is that you get this hour back when you leave!
Frequently Asked Questions
We hope that most of the questions you may have are already addressed within the text on this page, or within the answers here.
More
DATES for 2012:
Voice Camp: 4 - 12 August
Healing Camp: 13 - 17 August
PTA Camp 18 - 26 August
PRICES - if pre-booked:
Voice Camp: £215 | £135 | £95 | £75
Healing Camp: £125 | £65
PTA Camp £185 | £100 | £80 | £65
Extra for adults if paid on gate: £30 | £20
How do I get to the camp?
Directions with maps are sent with your ticket. The nearest train station is Gillingham Dorset 13 miles from the camp. Taxis available from the station.Travel Options Link
I am travelling from abroad - how do I get to the camp?
If travelling through Gatwick, Heathrow or Bristol airports: Travel Options Link
Do I need to bring food?
There is an organic farm shop, local village shop and a café at the camp. We suggest you bring basic food supplies and something for your first meals unless you are eating in the café
Can my child bring a friend?
We are relaxing our rules about bringing extra children. All children brought to the camp must be well supervised by a responsible adult.
Can I pay online?
You can pay by direct bank transfer using the banking details on the booking form. For our overseas customers ONLY we can receive payment on arrival at the camp in Euros or Pounds.
Can I arrive late at the camp?
All participants must arrive within the arrival period, Saturday and Sunday until 10pm
Can I leave early?
We ask that people stay for the whole camp to establish a sense of security and community which supports us all
I haven’t received my ticket yet!
Please allow 21 days for delivery. If you are worried email
with your full name and date of booking
I find sleeping in a tent difficult, can I stay at a B&B?
Local B&B’s are available contact Blandford Forum Tourist Information Office. Bring a small tent if you can for storage and to be part of a camping circle
Can I bring a caravan or camper van?
Our camps are greatly enhanced by having a vehicle free camping site. If it is necessary for you to bring a caravan or camper van please camouflage it with tarps and awnings, and locate it by a field boundary to minmise its impact.
My partner wants to come but is not into singing or dancing...
There are many other activities on the programme and the experience of just being at camp is enjoyable and rewarding in itself
Can I carry my ticket over?
Normally you will lose your money if you haven't told us that you can't come. However,a 75% refund is available for a cancellation made up to 30 days before the camp starts
Enquiries
If the general information below or the FAQ’s don’t answer your query you can get in touch with us at
