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
Arrival and Setting up in Circles
On arrival you will be met by one of the members of the Gate Team, who are available for information and, if needed, to introduce you to a circle and find help to put up your tent. You will be given a programme of the week’s events. We aim to provide strong and safe boundaries to enable participants to experience a sense of inclusion and belonging.
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Once the camp has been established it is very unsettling if people arrive late or visitors come on to the site. To maintain the security, safety and the integrity of the community, we maintain a no visitors policy. Children brought to camp after it has started are met by parents at the Gate.
Camping Circles are formed and members share collecting and chopping wood, keeping a supply of water at hand, tidying up, and keeping the fire lit for meal times. Fires are made directly onto the ground because the farmer has asked us not to dig holes. Time for circle sharing is included in the programme near the beginning of the camp in which it is established how you wish to operate evening meals and washing-up. Your circle is the first place to look to for company, friendship, practical help and emotional support.
Joining a circle can be stressful - when you have set up please be sensitive and welcoming to new arrivals. We have found that the holding of spaces for latecomers can cause distress, especially to first-time campers. Please be willing to accept new friends into your circle. 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! 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?
The Quieter Area is intended to be a restful place for those who want or need to be away from the busyness of camp-life. Though the ‘Quiet Time’ (from 11:00p.m-8:00a.m. except on certain designated nights) 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.
Facilities and What to Bring
We camp in a quiet and secluded spot, where we are welcomed each year; in turn we respect the land and minimise our impact upon it in every way that we can. There are many things provided for your comfort and enjoyment, and some that you may like to consider bringing yourself. More
The camp facilities include: a plentiful supply of firewood, hot showers - with certain times allocated to men/women/teens only, enclosed willow-toilets, cold running filtered water, a store selling staple foodstuffs, café providing drinks, cakes and lunches. We have marquees and large yurts for gatherings, dances and workshops, a Creativity Area with space for workshops and play structures.
Here is a suggestion about what you will need to bring:
- a suitable tent, dome, tipi, bender or yurt
- air bed - warm bedding, -hot water bottles
- torch - lantern
- rugs and sheepskins
- ear-plugs
- a lighter
- a saw, an axe
- dry newspaper
- 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
- epi-pen if needed
If travelling light, join a well-equipped circle!
Cooking and Camp Recipes
Your circle is the arena for demonstrating culinary skills and we have been ever more impressed with what can be achieved with limited facilities.
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The organic farm shop is a five-minute walk up a leafy 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. There is a grocery shop in the village and an on-site store for staples such as rice and tinned tomatoes. We ask everyone to follow a vegetarian diet on the camps for reasons of hygiene.
Recipes for delicious possibilities of cafe cuisine!
Camp Rules
Living in community, even for a short time, requires that we all observe courtesies and standards of behaviour appropriate to maintaining harmony while living in rather intimate proximity. Our rules have been evolved by community processes over 20 years and so we ask participants to be willing to adhere to these conditions of attendance. More
- No alcohol or illegal drugs,
- No CD players, radios, noisy electronic games etc.
- Mobile phones must be switched off. Outgoing calls must be made away from the camping area.
- All gas appliances used on site must meet regulation standards.
- Freedom from 'noise' is a feature of Unicorn Camps: We ask people not to bring things such as CD players, cassette-players, radios, noisy electronic games etc. to keep our acoustic environment live and natural. Please note that this extends to the use of mobile phones which must be switched off. Outgoing calls must be made away from the camping area.
Participants are asked to be quiet after 11p.m. to enable everyone to enjoy a full and restful night's sleep. Parents are asked to ensure that their children are back in their camping circle by 10 p.m. On special occasions such as full-moon celebrations, and the Voice Camp campfire nights, there is an extension. Parents are asked to take responsibility for keeping their small children quiet during morning gatherings so that everyone can be heard. This also applies to the performance evenings on the Voice Camp, especially the final night, which is recorded for the camp CD - Children are only permitted on camp if accompanied by a responsible adult who supervises their well-being and conduct. Our hope is that the whole camp will be mindful of the welfare of our children, ready to intervene if problems arise. Ultimately of course, as parents we are responsible for their welfare and behaviour. This includes being responsible for our teenage children.
- Parents are asked to ensure that their children are in their camping circle by 10 p.m.
- We are happy for 15+ year-olds to camp in circles together as long as they observe the same rules as the adults, particularly with regard to alcohol, drugs and noise. Younger teens may camp together if their circle is immediately adjacent to supervising adults. If any do transgress, they will not be allowed to continue camping in a different circle to their parents.
- It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure their children and teenagers are aware of the rules of the camp and that they are observed.
- From Arrival Day until Departure Day no vehicles are permitted on the camping fields except for the official site vehicles.
- The only vehicles permitted to stay in the camping area are those camper vans or caravans belonging to people with a condition that makes it impossible for them to sleep in a tent. Permission for this must be requested from Jenny prior to the camp.
- Dogs are not permitted.
- Participants should not arrive before Arrivals Day (Saturday)**
- No adult arrivals after the first full day of the camp (Sunday)***
- No visitors.
** There is a £20 per night surcharge for early arrivals.
*** Late arriving children must be met at the Gate.
Karma Yoga
All adult and teenage participants are asked to contribute to the everyday running of the camp. ‘Karma Yoga’ means offering work as a service for the benefit of the community.
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When you check in at the Gate on arrival you will be given a Karma Yoga ticket. 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!
Well Being
Please bring a small first-aid kit with you including sun-screen, and something for wasp stings - since all participants are responsible for their own health and well-being and that of their children, although we have a team of first-aid specialists on site and if required there is a doctor’s clinic in the village. More
Mindfulness of hygiene is especially important when camping together. The weather is usually 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.
Health and Safety
- All gas appliances (gas fridges, gas cookers), especially in campers and caravans, must be British Standard kite marked and have been serviced in the past 12 months as part of annual vehicle service. Rubber connector hoses need to be checked yearly for cracks or perishing, and completely replaced every 4 years.
- All campers & caravans must have a simple smoke alarm fitted - these cost under a fiver, you can buy them in any caravan shop and most hardware shops, they run on batteries, they are tiny, about the size of a tin of tuna, and can be easily fixed to the ceiling. Ensures safety while people are sleeping, (day or night)
- Each caravan/camper must have a small fire extinguisher kept by the door.
- See about fire safety in caravans.
- The Site Crew tent is completely out of bounds to Under 18s (all adults please look out for young teens who take lamp oil, axes etc ...confiscate them immediately).
- Absolutely no wax-bombs, or hot air balloons (those ones made of wicker & paper with tea lights in them). No fire poi or fire blowing anywhere near tents.
- Except for the big top, no candles or hurricane (oil) lamps in tents or vehicles.
- There are full fire buckets available at appropriate places.
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.
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DATES for 2011:
Voice Camp: 6 - 14 August
Astrology Camp: 15 - 19 August
PTA Camp 20 - 28 August
PRICES - if pre-booked:
Voice Camp: £195 | £125 | £90 | £75
Astrology Camp: £95 | £95 | £50 | £50
PTA Camp £175 | £100 | £75 | £65
Extra for adults if paid on gate: £30 | £20 | £10
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.
Do I need 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 for reasons of disability please request permission by contacting
£50 surcharge for unauthorised vehicles
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
I booked a ticket last year and couldn't come 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
