Alternative Family Camping Holidays -
for Singers, Dancers and Magical Beings

august 7 - 15 (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.
Booking Form Voice Camp

august 21 - 29 (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.
Booking Form PTA

feedback on 2009 camps

camp

All the generations living playing & celebrating together
We need this broad spectrum, this broad brush to paint the world
For me it gladdens my heart and gives me great hope - that people and communities like this exist, are growing, are all over the world, have solid foundations and lots of energy, are inclusive and have a good sense of fun
Thank you again for creating a safe, loving and inspiring environment that cares both for the land and people
The opportunity to explore head and heart in a safe environment
Community Heaven
Thank you so much for setting up an environment which continues to attract an openness of spirit

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. More
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

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. More
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.

* Unauthorised camping vehicles will incur a £50 surcharge.
** 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.
More
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

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 2010:
Voice Camp: 7 - 15 August
Camp of Magick: 16 - 20 August
PTA Camp 21 - 29 August

PRICES - if pre-booked:
Voice Camp: £195 | £125 | £90 | £75
Camp of Magick: £125
PTA Camp £175 | £100 | £75 | £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.

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

Singing in the Church

From David Cross in the local magazine.
More... ‘Joyous’ and ‘Joyful’ are the two words which sum up the evening of Singing in the Church on Tuesday, August 11th, courtesy of much loved Unicorn Voice Camp. An hour and a half of beautiful acapella singing interspersed with three public participation songs, culminating in a song led by a professional counter tenor who – having first sought Rev Sarah Muffet’s permission – led from the pulpit and added his own obligato to the three different strains we audience members were struggling with. This brought the house down!

At the beginning, the compere spoke of the pleasure the campers all derived from their annual visit, and said this free concert was their way of saying thanks for us treating them with so much respect. This was later referred to in a letter from the Church Wardens thanking Unicorn for putting on such a wonderful show and contributing handsomely to Church expenses.

Our church is rarely so full! For some, on this occasion, it was ‘standing room only’! The acoustics of our church are incomparable and served only to enhance the magnificent quality of the unaccompanied singing. Each year more from our community discover the delights of the Unicorn Campers’ concert but even so only a handful of our fellow villagers were there – it would be lovely to see more next year.

It should be remembered that most of the campers are complete strangers to each other, having come from all points of the compass, and had only had a single day in which to practice and rehearse.

Their current charity is Water Aid, and in the one week they raised £6,600 among themselves, as well as patronising the Shop and Post Office, the Church and the Thursday Fish n’ Chips van run by Roger and Ginny.

The evening finished with a resounding vote of thanks from our own Sarah Muffet who spoke in her habitual clear strong voice, saying what each and every one of us would like to have said; only she did so with practised ease and charm.

In Your Hands

A few inspiring thoughts from Jo Hanstead about healing opportunities, particularly Ilahinoor
More... Here are some ways the Dances of Universal Peace weave through our lives with far reaching effects. For me, they link my love of music, a spiritual path, and being a teacher and body worker.

I first met Sufi Dancing at the Osho ashram in India in 1990. It was about the most gentle thing on offer in an otherwise full-on programme of workshops and meditations. Back home, I followed up the connection and attended James Burgess’s New Year Retreats. At that time, learning the words of the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic in a few days seemed a huge accomplishment. Now people pick it up in an afternoon – it is in The Field.

Talking of fields, a profound and regular aspect of my DUP experience has been on camps. They are brief, questionably unsustainable microcosms of life, reflecting whatever aspects of oneself are most up for mirroring. Love, pain, anger, aloneness, friendship, joy, almost wholly orchestrated by what one brings to camp along with one’s tent. After 18 years I actually experienced a camp without a very wobbly Wednesday.

I have been a McTimoney chiropractor and craniosacral therapist since 1987. I learned I loved to pass on practical skills to enthusiastic students as a tutor at the McTimoney Chiropractic College. In the last 3 or 4 years I have offered short workshops at UK dance camps (Sacred Arts Camp, Unicorn, Peace Through the Arts) with the evolving title ‘I can’t believe its not craniosacral therapy’. This may only be funny to those of you who see ‘I can’t believe its not butter’ at the supermarket. Yet also to those of you who like me are stunned at how much desperate ownership there seems to be these days of skill that are our birthright. We have forgotten how to help each other.

In the past, hands-on healing skills were passed on from teacher to student, rather like a Sufi silsilla, or Kabbalistic shalshelet, chain of souls. Teacher and pupil were only different in relation to time. The stream was passed through the generations. My experience of teaching chiropractic for a number of years showed me that whereas there is still a component of this, it is often engulfed in politics, and other 21st centaury hurdles. Refreshingly, DUP still has a large component of ‘catching’ the teaching. Many of our teachers, for example Tansen Philip O’Donohoe, teach by their very presence and how they bring through the dances; teaching from the heart.

I discovered that camps are wonderful place to teach the hands-on healing skills that can be ‘caught, not taught’. This is because: a) The skills are intrinsic to us. b) It is simply permission and tuning-in that is required. c) A heart space is common to both the dances and simple hands-on healing. d) By having no outside-led agenda, there are far less block to picking up what is going on in someone’s body. Often during a professional course it can take months to ‘feel’ anything. Yet in a field, having danced all week, it takes minutes! Many people who have never tried before find that their partners experience lasting and positive physical and emotional effects from their first ever five minutes of hands-on work. This is in all senses truly a Field effect.

Kiara Windrider came as a participant to the UK Unicorn Dance Camp (PTA) this year. His students, Sarah and David have been offering Ilahinoor, a newly available ancient healing practice, at camp for a year or so. Once having received the Ilahinoor transmission it can be passed on to others. Its roots include a connection to Rumi, and it is here to help us align to changes happening to the earth. Kiara is committed to keeping it non hierarchical and available to all. It is completely in the Unicorn spirit, seeding healing and connection. Visit www.ilahinoor.co.uk for more details.

So … putting all the above together, soon after the Unicorn camp, In Your Hands was birthed. Parented at least in part by DUP, camps, our caravan of souls. It is a network, an umbrella for short, inexpensive courses to teach whoever needs to learn the basic hands-on skills needed to help friends and family physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It is not about professional qualifications. It includes workshops in tuning-in skills, in Ilahinoor, and other similarly available techniques. Visit www.inyourhands.net to watch it evolve.

DUP has helped many of us discover our passions. I love being a musician for the dances. This means embodying among other things a blend of sun and moon – actively creating, yet being responsive to the leader and the group. Empowering people in hands-on skills is similar.

There will be big changes over the next few years in the earth, in society, and in our consciousness. We all have a unique contribution to creating a connected and heart centred society. We can use DUP as itself, as part of the Sufi path, or as a vehicle for some other manifestation of the Dance of Life.

Thank you Rumi, HIK, SAM, Matin, James, Rasullah, Nickomo, and all DUP beloveds, past, present and future.

Jo Siari Hanstead, Frome, UK,

Unicorn Voice Camp

Sian Kerry submitted this article to the Guardian's eco-holiday competition.
More... I am lying in my tent, damp earth beneath me, the smell of wood smoke, the rhythm of rain on canvas, feeling safe and dry. Sounds filter in: singing, sawing, laughing. This is Unicorn Voice Camp, a mythical land that exists once a year in a field on Gold Hill organic farm in Dorset. Ostensibly a singing camp, but so much more.

Over 400 people for eight days camping in circles of around 10 tents, cooking collectively on woodfires, hanging out with old friends old and making new ones. No alcohol, no drugs, no meat, no electronic music, no overt use of mobiles, makes it sound like a place of correction and maybe it is, because every so often we need to come back to the earth (literally), to basics emotionally, to live simply, to remember what is most important to us.

Unicorns arrive on foot, by train, on bikes, most by cars which rest redundant in a field as we walk to the organic farmshop or stroll to the river to splash and play amongst dragonflies. Barefoot children clamber on a rustic climbing frame, a petticoat- wearing cherub swings on a rope swing. There’s plenty of dressing up, playing and laughing for all ages.

Once a year I go to ‘church’ – in a big top each morning ‘Harmonic Temple’ takes place, an hour of global spiritual songs and chants. A few hundred voices resonating in glorious harmony feeds my soul. And aside from this daily weep (don’t forget the tissues) there’s music and singing everywhere, from barbershop to pop, from Abba spoof to Georgian drinking songs, African gospels to Indian ragas.

Communal woodfired showers and long drop toilets are a challenge to our 21st century sensibilities, but it’s only bodies, we all have one and it’s good to be reminded that they come in a remarkable range of shapes and sizes. Coinciding with the arrival of the Leonids we are treated nightly to shooting stars with a soundtrack of owls, as we sit by the fire in the evening feeling that we share both with each other and our ancestors, jokes, stories and intimacies. Yes there are wasps, arguments, the occasional axe –idents but there are so many moments to treasure; returning to the modern world is an annual grieving process.

Unicorn is green, not just because it’s low impact, generates little rubbish, conserves resources, facilitates intergenerational eco dialogues; but because the ethos of the camp is about community, cooperation, support and play - aspects of society that have got lost along the path to individual material wealth. We need to work together, trust each other and remember crucial human values in order to find a way forward that is for all. Hearing self penned songs performed by amazingly talented teenagers, calling out for green justice, generates faith in this post-Thatcher generation, because there certainly is still such a thing as society.

Articles Archive

Link

Article submissions welcome...send to Jenny or James

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2010

Newsboard

Activities

quotes

Feedback

Alternative Family Camping Holidays -
for Singers, Dancers and Magical Beings

august 7 - 15 (sat - sun)

natural
voice
camp

august 21 - 29 (sat - sun)

peace
through
the arts
camp

feedback on 2009 camps

information

Arrival and Setting up in Circles

Facilities and What to Bring

Cooking and Camp Recipes

Camp Rules

Karma Yoga

Well Being

Frequently Asked Questions

featured articles

Singing in the Church

In Your Hands

Unicorn Voice Camp

Articles Archive

2010

Newsboard

Activities

quotes

Feedback

Alternative Family Camping Holidays - for Singers, Dancers and Magical Beings

august 7 - 15 (sat - sun)

natural voice camp

august 21 - 29 (sat - sun)

peace through the arts camp

feedback on 2009 camps

information

Arrival and Setting up in Circles

Facilities and What to Bring

Cooking and Camp Recipes

Camp Rules

Karma Yoga

Well Being

Frequently Asked Questions

featured articles

Singing in the Church

In Your Hands

Unicorn Voice Camp

Articles Archive

Alternative Family Camping Holidays -
for Singers, Dancers and Magical Beings

natural
voice
camp

peace
through
the arts
camp