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Wisteria Event Campground, Community, and Nature Retreat |
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General Policies and Guidelines
Alcohol and Tobacco. Use of alcohol and tobacco are limited to adults of legal age. If you smoke, be respectful of those who do not. Extinguish and properly dispose of your butts - do NOT throw butts on the ground!
Boundaries. The campground area used for events is only a small part of the 620 acres that make up Wisteria. Please be considerate and do not stray from the areas shown on the map. Other areas of the land are off-limits because they are either private sites, unsafe for people to use or are wildlife habitat areas.
Camping. Camper vans and recreational vehicles are permitted, but there are no septic, water or electrical hookups. You may be directed to a pre-designated location for RVs. Please use light-colored marking material to flag your ropes and tentstakes. Camp in the Pines (remote woods camping) for a quieter camping experience.
Cell Phones & WiFi. Please be considerate when using cell phones and radios - don't talk intrusively and bother people. Take the opportunity to unplug. Cell phone signals are improving and most can find a workable signal. WiFi is now available in the campground.
Clothing. There is no standard of dress for the events but participants are encouraged to express themselves through costume and dress. Wisteria's event site is clothing-optional. There will probably be few people who will exercise this option but it is allowed at Wisteria as a freedom of expression on private land.
Creatures. Insect repellent may be needed to repel mosquitoes though we are not known for them. Check your body daily for ticks. Keep food stored securely with lids to discourage raccoons, ants and other creatures from visiting camp. Please treat local wildlife and insects with respect and remain calm if you have encounters.
Disability and Physical Needs. Wisteria is a rustic licensed campground and may not be suitable depending on your condition and level of mobility. If you have special needs, please call us prior to registering to see if we can accommodate your needs. Those with highly specialized diets need to provide for themselves rather than depend on the food vendors. Bring your medications and take them as directed.
Firearms and Fireworks. Firearms and fireworks are not permitted.
Fires and Firewood. Firewood is sold near Caffeina's Café by the level cartful. Do not bring in firewood from other forests to avoid infestion from invasive insects. Attendees are permitted to gather small downed wood from the forest. Do NOT dig fire pits. A limited number of community fire rings are available for sharing. Please do not leave unattended fires burning (including candles). Use only established firepits in wood camping sections.
Should a fire get out of hand, immediately shout for help. Fire extinguishers are available at Caffeina's Café and throughout the campground on poles underneath RED fire buckets. Keep water handy near fires. Please use caution when kindling fires of any size including candles, torches and cigarettes.
Fire-play activities (including spinning lit fire poi, fire fans, fire staffs and fire-breathing) at Wisteria are limited to approved performers rather than the general public. Spinning unlit poi, staffs and fans is allowed. Please be cautious to avoid injury to others.
First Aid. A First Aid Station is located at the Wisteria Office located next to Caffeina's Café. If case of injury, report to First Aid where you can be routed to a local hospital or receive basic treatment. In the event of a medical emergency, summon help immediately from Wisteria Staff. Do not attempt to move an incapacitated victim unless s/he is in physical danger.
Three critical items of importance that will improve your chances of a safe and enjoyable gathering experience: water, sunscreen, and comfortable, hard-soled shoes. Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated, as you may be out in the elements and doing a lot more walking than you may be used to. Wear sunscreen and/or headgear to prevent sunburn. Wear appropriate footwear to lessen the chances of foot and ankle injuries. Be extra careful when navigating around tents to avoid tripping on stakes and ropes.
FRS Radios. The Wisteria staff uses FRS radios for communication to keep the gathering running smoothly. If your party uses these radios, please use only even-numbered channels and reserve the odd-numbered channels for staff use.
Pets. Pets are not permitted at Wisteria with the exception of service animals. Really, NO DOGS!
Photography and Electronic Recording. Please be respectful of the privacy of others while photographing and recording its polite to ask first.
Vehicles. Please do not bring motorized vehicles for driving on-site. Bicycles are encouraged. Bicycle travel may be temporarily restricted when campground roads are wet. Staff vehicles (such as utility vehicles and golf carts) will be operating for the benefit of the event.
Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is a set of principles for participation in outdoor recreation that seeks to minimize the impact on the natural environment. Proponents of Leave No Trace believe that individual impacts caused by recreation can accumulate to degrade the land. Therefore, the Leave No Trace message encourages people who spend time in the out-of-doors to behave in such a way that they can minimize unavoidable impacts and prevent avoidable impacts. It is often summarized: "Take only photos, leave only foot prints."
The Principles
Leave No Trace provides a framework for outdoor recreation decision making, which is summarized in the following principles:
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare: Poorly prepared people, when presented with unexpected situations, often resort to high-impact solutions that degrade the outdoors or put themselves at risk. Poor planning can result in improperly located campsites because groups failed to plan enough time to reach their intended destination, or improper campfires or excessive rubbish because of failure to plan meals or bring proper equipment.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Damage to land occurs when surface vegetation or communities of organisms are trampled beyond repair. The resulting barren area leads to unusable trails, campsites and soil erosion. In high-use areas, Leave No Trace suggests that people concentrate activity, which makes further damage unlikely. In areas of very little or no use, Leave No Trace encourages people to spread out. Taking different paths when hiking off-trail will avoid creating new trails that cause erosion. Dispersing tents and equipment, and moving camp daily will avoid creating permanent-looking camp sites.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly: Though most trash and litter in the backcountry is not significant in terms of the long term ecological health of an area, it does rank high as a problem in the minds of many backcountry visitors. Many people believe that trash and litter detract from an area's naturalness. Thus, Leave No Trace recommends that rubbish should be packed out. Further, backcountry users create body waste and waste water which requires proper disposal according to Leave No Trace. Waste water: Avoiding soap and dispersing dishwater far away from natural water sources will prevent contamination.
4. Leave What You Find: Leaving rocks, plants, archaeological artifacts and other objects as found will allow others a sense of discovery. Similarly, Leave No Trace directs people to minimize site alterations, such as digging tent trenches, hammering nails into trees, permanently clearing an area of rocks or twigs.
5. Minimize Use and Impact of Fire: Leave No Trace encourages people to use lightweight camp stoves, instead of fires, because the naturalness of many areas has been degraded by overuse of fires and the increasing demand for firewood. If a campfire is constructed, Leave No Trace suggests using an existing fire ring in a well-placed campsite or to use a fire pan or mound fire. True Leave No Trace fires show no evidence of having ever been constructed.
6. Respect Wildlife: If enough people approach or interfere with wildlife, it can be disruptive to animal populations.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors: Following hiking etiquette and maintaining quiet allows visitors to go through the wilderness with minimal impact on other users.