Anything can come up and happen at a Medicine Camp.
Camp Environment
Most Medicine Camps are held in the wilderness far from a town, even a house. This allows attendees to live in an environment as close to the natural world as possible. As Nick has said, you can't find an eagle or deer where there are none. However, this may also mean that toilet facilities are latrine style and bathing is in a creek or using a solar shower.
There are generally opportunities for "craft" projects. Please let us know if there is anything in particular you are interested in, such as drum or rattle making, well ahead of time so supplies may be ordered.
Unless stated otherwise, camps start at sundown on the first day listed and end at sunup on the last day listed. All attendees should arrive in time to complete their personal setup by sundown on the first day. Attendees may begin breaking their camp at sunup of the last day. Attendees are expected to assist in helping each other carry gear into and out of the camping area. Furthermore, all attendees assist with the group facilities and shelters.
For various reasons, each attendee is responsible for his/her own food. This keeps attendance costs and food gripes minimized. We do work closely with those flying to camp to assist with needs as much as possible as well as giving much advice to those who have never camped before. Our "to-bring" list will be found quite helpful in this regard.
Note that the organizers do provide everything necessary for overall camp maintenance and activities including tools for digging holes and chopping wood as well as toilet tissue.
Children
Children are always welcome at a Medicine Camp! However, many of the formal activities and events may not be suitable for them. If you are contemplating bringing your child(ren), please touch base so that you may be aware of the implications and whether child-care can be made available, and at what cost. Children are absolutely the responsibility of their parents, even though the atmosphere at camp is such that all attendees watch over them. There is no refund given due to a child's needing more attention from a parent than originally anticipated thereby limiting the parent's participation.
Don't Bring
Pets (with very infrequent exceptions), drugs, alcohol, make-up, cigarettes (hand-rolls are ok), electronic devices, perfume and perfumed toiletries are absolutely forbidden.
Medical Conditions & Medicines
If you have any medical condition(s) which might impact your ability or safety, you must disclose them. Consider that camps may be held at altitude (7,000 ft) which affects the oxygen availability, include hiking and climbing with minimal breaks, spending time in confined spaces such as caves, high temperatures, exposure to the elements, and other activities which may arise. If you wish to bring any prescription drugs to camp, you must also advise the fact and the condition for which they are taken.
Disabilities
Most disabilities can be accommodated within our camp environments. Please check with us ahead of time. Some camp locations can provide significant challenges depending on the disability.
Getting to Camp
It is the responsibility of attendees to convey themselves to the camp location, and we provide detailed driving directions with your registration package. If you are flying to a US camp, we suggest either the Durango, Colorado or the Albuquerque, New Mexico airports. Both are jet-ports, even though many of the flights into Durango are on turbo-prop aircraft. Check with your travel agent for details. Drive-time from Albuquerque to Durango is 4 hours.
Drive time from Durango to Utah camps is approximately 4 hours and 1 ½ hours to Piedra River camps. Roads are suitable for street cars (but maybe not for some very low-slung sport cars).
Carpooling is encouraged, and we will assist in coordinating.
Venue Changes
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the venue of a camp may be changed. We will notify all registrants of this fact as soon as it is known. There is no adjustment to registration fees due to a change of venue.
Hazards
Camping in a wilderness environment exposes one to all the benefits of living close to nature as well as all the risks. Those risks include falls from cliffs, river hazards, encounters with wildlife, and so on. However, if you follow the leaders' suggestions and use common sense, you will find camping to be safer than crossing a street. Camp fees do not include insurance or rescue in any form in case of illness or personal injury. All attendees must execute a waiver of liability. Take responsibility for yourself.
Registration and payment of fees
Please book well in advance as attendance is strictly limited at all camps. A deposit of 50% is required to hold a space. Full payment should be received 30 days in advance of your camp. Payments and deposits to camps may be made by personal check, cashiers check or money order in the currency in which the fees are noted. Payments may also be made by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover) in US dollars only. Make all checks out to Circle of Earth People (U.S.) or Earth People (England). For US camps, mail to CEP, 595 E. 7th Avenue, Durango, CO 81301 USA. For UK camps, mail to Noela Bingham, 18 Tekels Park, Camberley, Surrey GU15 2LF England.
Cancellation
If you must cancel, there will be a refund provided you as follows: Cancellation 6-weeks or more before camp, 75% refund. 4 - 6 weeks before camp, 50% refund. Less than 4-weeks, no refund.
Other FAQ's
Stove and Kitchen Items. You do not need a stove, other cooking items or eating utensils. All necessary kitchen items are brought by the organizers.
How Many Attend. Generally, camp is limited to 5 plus Nick & Anne. Nick use to allow more—up to 15, but it was too confusing for what he intends to bring forth. Unlike a workshop, camp is more individualized.
Bathing. At the Piedra River Mountain Camp, we bath in the creek about 75 yards from camp. It has a pool you can submerge your whole body in. At Desert Camp, we share a couple of solar showers. Biodegradable soap is appropriate at all camps. If you wish a washing bowl for in your tent, pick up something cheap when you go food shopping.Water. For drinking and washing water, we bring large water containers. At the Piedra River Mountain Camp, we refill at a natural spring about 1/4 mile away. For Desert Camp, we bring enough water for the week.
Hikes. At Piedra River camp, the longest hike people are invited on is about 1 mile—there is no instance where anyone is required to go hiking. It's more a leisure activity that folks do for variety. Sort of a "let's go see if we can find any raspberries" type of thing.
However, at Desert Camp, there are exercises that require a person to hike about a mile. Those who are unable to participate in such a hike participate within these activities close (within their abilities) to camp.
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