Camping

Camp Rules

• 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 thecamping area.
• All gas appliances used on site must meet regulation standards.
• No noise after 11p.m. (unless there is an extension)
• Children are only permitted on camp if accompanied by a parent, close relative orlegal guardian.
• Parents are asked to ensure that their children are in their camping circle by 10p.m.
• 15+ year-olds may camp in circles together as long as they observe the same rules as the adults.
• 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.

Arrival
The Unicorn organisation aims to provide strong and safe boundaries to enable participants to experience a sense of inclusion and belonging. 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. These rules need not apply to children who are being brought to camp after it has started. The parents are asked to meet their children at the Gate or outside of the camp.

Camp Facilities

The field we camp in is at the end of a track in a quiet and secluded spot. 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 camp facilities include: basic enclosed earth closet toilets with individual compartments, willow-toilets, standpipes with drinkable cold running filtered water and hot showers.

The showers are communal with certain times allocated to men/women/teens only. We have marquees and large yurts for gatherings, dances and workshops. There is a café providing drinks, cakes and lunches, which now provides meals on Saturday evenings. In the café is also a store selling staple foodstuffs. There is a Creativity Area with space for workshops and play- structures. We have a plentiful supply of firewood during the camp. Fire extinguishers are kept at the main marquees. During the week there is a Market in the main marquee where you may buy and sell goods with fellow campers.

Things 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 need

  If travelling light, join a well-equipped circle!

Noise
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 10p.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 and Teenagers

A full programme of activities is provided for all children above the age of five, specialised for different age ranges. 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. 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.

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. 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!).

Health and Safety

• All gas appliances (gas fridges, gas cookers), especially in campers and caravans, must be British Standard kitemarked 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 tealights 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

Hygiene

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!

Well-Being

Although we have a team of first-aid specialists on site, all participants are responsible for their own health and well-being and that of their children. If required there is a doctor’s clinic in the village.

The Quieter Area
You may wish to camp in the Quieter Area which 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. Please note that this area is part of a camping field and is only relatively quiet, which is why it is now called the ‘Quieter Area’, as we felt the old name (The ‘Quiet Area’) encouraged unrealistic expectations!

Would you like to work on camp?
The working teams this year were absolutely fantastic. A huge thankyou to everyone on the Site Crew, Gate Team, Café Team, Wellbeing, Teenagers Team and the Creativity Area Team. You were all extolled in the feedback.

We are expanding Wellbeing on both camps to include massage, counselling and more homeopathy - all being responses to acute conditions that arise on camp. If you have skills and experience in these areas, including first-aid, and would like to be part of the team please get in touch.

Letters inviting team members to work on the 2007 camps will be sent out in the Spring, If you were not a team member but would like to work on camp, send an email and it will be forwarded to the relevant team leader.

Frequently Asked Questions