Camping Reminders

It’s always nice to be nice.

Camping Trip Reminder List – no, really – PLEASE read it all

  • Please pick up after yourself, keeping the entire camp area clean and organized makes packing up at the end of the trip easier, ensures safety from both trip hazards and attracting wild animals, and it ensures that you don’t misplace your gear.
  • Be aware of the people around you. Don’t block walk ways. Ensure that everyone can join the circle if they want to. Don’t hog or block the resources (tables, chairs, camp stoves, etc.).
  • When leaving the circle for any extended amount of time please drop your chair (fold it up) and place it out of the way. Don’t just leave it in the circle or drop it in the middle of the circle where it becomes a trip hazard. Also ensure that all the pockets and cup holders are cleaned out or the contents are secured. We don’t want to accidentally create trash and litter by letting it escape the chairs.
  • While we allow smoking and many of us do smoke, please be aware of who is around you when you light up. If you are sitting near a non-smoker it is your responsibility to get up and move if the smoke will bother them. It is not the non-smokers job to stay away from your smoke. We have a few members who are very sensitive to tobacco smoke and they deserve to enjoy the camping trip also.
  • There is a zero tolerance policy on ALL illicit drugs. Please remember that as a federally recognized church we fall under federal laws for all drugs, not state laws. Don’t bring it with you, don’t use it on the camping trips, don’t offer it to others, just don’t. Not the time or the place.
  • We camp in some very wild and sometimes remote places. Wild animals live in these places. We absolutely must pack up ALL food items before going to bed for the night. The only exceptions are: Unused coffee grounds, factory sealed cans (not jars), salt and pepper, and hard unflavored liquors (Whiskey, plain vodka, gin, etc. NOT including any liqueurs or flavored spirits like Irish Cream, Schnapps, Jagermeister, fruit flavored vodka, etc.) Everything else must be packed up into one of the vehicles or the cooler tent (if we are using one that trip) for everyone’s safety.
  • Leave no trace. As Pagans this should be a no brainer, but we don’t always think about how we impact the environment. We should always strive to leave our campsite better than we found it. This not only includes picking up all of our trash but also not cutting or damaging trees, while moving a rock out from under your tent is fine we wouldn’t want to dig a large rock up out of the ground, no taking souvenirs (a small pebble or feather is probably fine, but for an example don’t make a pile of quartz rocks you find and take them with you).
  • Take turns doing camp chores. This part’s not the most fun. However, when we do these chores as teams it actually can be. It is so much more fun to do camp chores in small groups than it is to do them alone. Dishes need to be washed at least once a day (often twice), the camp kitchen needs to be wiped down in the evenings after meals, fire pits need to be kept scooped out so there is room for the next fire to be built, trash and recycle bags need to be checked/taken to the truck/replaced. If you look around and someone is doing one of these chores ask them if they could use a hand. If you haven’t done one of these chore yet on the trip check to see if they need to be done, or ask Council, we usually know which chore is next to be done. With many hands the work is light, if one person has to do all the chores it makes for a sad camping trip.
  • Dogs, many of us bring our dogs camping. Please also remember their leash, a long lead and stake, dog poop bags, food and water bowls, and anything else they may need for camping. Please do NOT bring dog toys (creates issues between dogs). Please be aware that some dogs don’t get along with other dogs, be ready for this and check with each dog’s human before letting them interact. Also be aware – for some reason Moose hate dogs. Be careful out there.
  • Use common sense, you are all smart people but even smart folks forget to stop, look around, and then think about the situation. We’re all out in the wilderness to relax, we get it, but it only takes a moment to think about what’s going on around you and then act accordingly.
  • Be patient with each other. People make mistakes. We get tired, we get cranky, we get hangry. Try to take everything in stride and be forgiving. Council has faith in all of you, that you can be adults and work out any issues that arise, as long as everyone tries to stay calm and be patient with each other.
  • Wild Animal Safety Tips – please read.
    Fall and climate change are making wildlife/human interaction a little more frequent.

We don’t usually need these but as mentioned above we camp in wilderness. Knowing a few simple safety tips could save your life.

This year (2021) there have been more incidents in Colorado with folks finding themselves near moose. Moose are seen every year near our camping area. These are very dangerous animals. They are one of the most deadly in Colorado. See more information near the end about dealing with moose. Bears in the western Denver suburbs have become bold. As winter approaches bears are seeking food with gusto. See below about the tent for coolers. Clean out your car before you come. Bears have been known to break into cars to get a cupcake wrapper. They know how to get into cars (but not out!)

  • Safe food storage is a must. Most wild animals have much better senses than humans. So pack it away where they can’t smell it, see it, or get to it. The food storage should be kept 25 – 40 ft from the nearest tent so that if an animal does detect it and goes after it, they won’t be in direct contact with any of the campers.
  • Buddy system – if leaving the area of the main camp site take a buddy. Don’t go hiking long distances alone.
  • Better yet, stay with the group. Most of the time wild animals avoid humans, especially in groups.
  • Make noise – most animals hate the sound of the human voice. Periodically while hiking you should talk, sing, or make other noises to alert any large animals of your presence. Startling a large animal leads to confrontation.
  • If you do encounter a large animal NEVER run from it. Stay facing the animal.
  • NEVER feed a wild animal. I don’t care how cute that squirrel is, or how much he begs. Don’t do it. The only exception to this are hummingbirds, we put up feeders for them but they don’t attract other wild animals.
  • Keep an eye on small children, especially in early mornings and dusk (most common wild animal interaction times). Any time you encounter a wild animal pick up small children, it doesn’t matter how just get them up off the ground quickly, small children look like easy snacks to most wild animals.
  • Bears – Black Bear: Bears cannot be identified by color alone, all types of bears can be all the natural colorations. Black Bears are the most common type of bear we would encounter (which is good for us because they are easier to deal with). Black Bears have a more rounded head but with more pointed ears, they are also smaller – just a little larger than a full grown human male.
    • Make eye contact
    • Get big, stand up, put your arms up and out like a ‘Y’ shape.
    • Talk to it loud and clear: “Hey bear. I see you bear! Go on now.” You could recite the Gettysburg address for all I care, it doesn’t matter what you say just keep making noise.
    • Start backing up slowly.
    • At this point the bear will 9 times out of 10 turn and go away. If it doesn’t be ready to fight it off, grab something big and hard. If the bear charges you swing said hard object at it’s head.
    • If you have to fight a black bear hit it hard and fast and don’t stop hitting it until it runs away. You will have some cuts and scrapes but you’ll live.
  • Brown and Grizzly Bear: Less commonly seen, Brown Bears or Grizzly Bears are larger than Black Bears, they have a more angular face, but with shorter more rounded ears (tiny versions of Mickey Mouse ears).
    • Make eye contact
    • Back away slowly
    • Stay quiet and hope they do not notice you, Brown Bears do not have the great senses that Black Bears do.
    • If attacked by a Brown Bear curl up in a ball using your hands to protect your neck, stay like this until the bear decides you are not a threat and goes away.
  • Mountain Lion – Not as scary as you think but they are very fast, don’t look away even for a second.
    • Make eye contact
    • Back away slowly
    • Make yourself big
    • If attacked by a Mountain Lion shout at it suddenly as it charges or before it pounces (it will behave just like a house cat about to pounce).
    • Just like fighting a Black Bear, use a tool to help you: a walking stick, a rock, anything hard. Hit it around the head and neck area.
  • Wolf/Coyote/Bobcat/Lynx – These animals are extremely easy to deal with and they are all the same.
    • Make eye contact
    • Make yourself big
    • Talk and shout
    • Grab a long stick or pole
    • From long range start swinging the stick in their direction
    • If attacked by any of these animals use the stick to keep them at bay and/or kick at them. You can also throw rocks at them to get them to change their mind about attacking. Don’t stop shouting. They will quickly decide that this big animal using tools (you) are not worth the effort and they will run away.
  • Deer and Elk – Most people don’t think of Deer and Elk as being dangerous, but they are if startled.
    • Make eye contact
    • Back away slowly
    • Start talking
    • If attacked by Deer or Elk they will either charge or rear at you (standing on the back legs while hitting you with the front legs). Your best bet is to dodge sideways so they miss you. Get behind a tree or boulder and keep the Deer or Elk on the other side of that object from you. After about a minute of this they will decide you are no threat and will run away.
  • Moose and Bison- These are massive animals that can weigh up to 2 tons. They are much faster than most people would think, be cautious.
    • Back away slowly
    • Do NOT make eye contact.
    • Stay very quiet and they will probably not notice you.
    • Moose are irrationaly angered by dogs. Keep your dog close, preferably on a leash, if walking away from the camp site.
    • If attacked by Moose or Bison they will charge you or try to flip you with their horns/antlers. Dodge to the side just like with Deer/Elk, but you then need to keep your distance (both can kick backwards quite hard, stay out of range of the legs) but try to keep behind them. Neither of these animals turns very quickly or very well. Keep them turning, staying behind them until they trip and fall to one knee, then make quick distance between you and them but never turn your back to them.
    • Keep an eye out at all times for a second animal as Bison especially tend to travel in small herds and look out for each other.