Camping
The price of the gathering includes camping on-site. Camping is rustic and available in designated areas, keeping to trails. Please respect other campers by holding to a 10 p.m. curfew on noise and/or bright outside light in the campground.
There are many places near the Arthur Morgan School to camp - some in the woods, some in a big field across the road from AMS. When you check in at Registration, we will give you some options. Please note: there are private homes in the area, so be sure you are in an approved spot before setting up camp.
Walk softly on the Earth. Protecting life is a sacred activity, so please treat land, plants and creatures and the people you meet with respect, taking nothing from the land but your connection to it.
Parking: Park only in designated areas, around the ball field where our tent camping is located. If your vehicle is leaking oil or other contaminants, you must place a container under your vehicle.
Privacy: Arthur Morgan School is nested within Celo community and there are several private residences located near the campground. Please be considerate when walking near private residences.
Trash & sanitation: Use designated recycling and trash containers for your discards items. Use cans as marked. Be especially careful about diapers and bare-bottomed babies. Pack out disposable diapers, and empty cloth diapers into a toilet.
Bathing: There is a bathhouse for both men and women on the AMS grounds which you are welcome to use.
Toilets: In the early years of the Gathering, our event really stressed out the plumbing system causing the toilets to be backed up. Being zesty, creative permaculture activists, we turned a problem into a wonderful opportunity! We read the book, The Humanure Handbook by John Jenkins and designed several stalls of humanure composting toilets within the AMS bathroom facility. Voila! We now have a proven means of reducing the plumbing stress at AMS, saving clean water for better uses, and giving back to the Earth. If you need to pee, we encourage folks to pee out in nature as long as it is away from paths and creeks. We expect all participants to try out the humanure composting toilets and to give generously with your deposit.
Drinking water: Drinking water is available at the AMS kitchen. Our water comes from a well.
Swimming Hole & Sauna: There is a pond at AMS and we ask that you swim at your own risk. All children must be with an adult.
Flora & fauna: AMS is home to a few species to watch out for. Do not sample any plants or fungi unless you are SURE they are edible! The most common biting insects are no-see-ums, tiny gnats at sunrise and sunset. There are mosquitoes, especially after wet weather, and there are a number of stinging insects such as wasps and bees. If you have strong reaction to bee stings, please come prepared with an epi-pen or other treatment for allergic reactions. The best defense is long pants and sleeves. Use natural insect repellents
There may be poisonous snakes of the region—copperheads and rattlesnakes. Be most cautious after dark, when snakes may lie in the warmth of the road. Always use a light when walking at night! Otherwise, general precautions are enough to keep them away: stomping (snakes don’t “hear,” they sense vibration), not reaching into or under piles of rocks or wood, and watching where you step.
Safety: You are responsible for your own safety. Be responsible and pay attention.
Intoxicating substances: Do not use or bring with you any illegal substances. Please refrain from excessive use of alcohol.
Phone: There is a phone at the AMS for short calls.
There are many places near the Arthur Morgan School to camp - some in the woods, some in a big field across the road from AMS. When you check in at Registration, we will give you some options. Please note: there are private homes in the area, so be sure you are in an approved spot before setting up camp.
Walk softly on the Earth. Protecting life is a sacred activity, so please treat land, plants and creatures and the people you meet with respect, taking nothing from the land but your connection to it.
Parking: Park only in designated areas, around the ball field where our tent camping is located. If your vehicle is leaking oil or other contaminants, you must place a container under your vehicle.
Privacy: Arthur Morgan School is nested within Celo community and there are several private residences located near the campground. Please be considerate when walking near private residences.
Trash & sanitation: Use designated recycling and trash containers for your discards items. Use cans as marked. Be especially careful about diapers and bare-bottomed babies. Pack out disposable diapers, and empty cloth diapers into a toilet.
Bathing: There is a bathhouse for both men and women on the AMS grounds which you are welcome to use.
Toilets: In the early years of the Gathering, our event really stressed out the plumbing system causing the toilets to be backed up. Being zesty, creative permaculture activists, we turned a problem into a wonderful opportunity! We read the book, The Humanure Handbook by John Jenkins and designed several stalls of humanure composting toilets within the AMS bathroom facility. Voila! We now have a proven means of reducing the plumbing stress at AMS, saving clean water for better uses, and giving back to the Earth. If you need to pee, we encourage folks to pee out in nature as long as it is away from paths and creeks. We expect all participants to try out the humanure composting toilets and to give generously with your deposit.
Drinking water: Drinking water is available at the AMS kitchen. Our water comes from a well.
Swimming Hole & Sauna: There is a pond at AMS and we ask that you swim at your own risk. All children must be with an adult.
Flora & fauna: AMS is home to a few species to watch out for. Do not sample any plants or fungi unless you are SURE they are edible! The most common biting insects are no-see-ums, tiny gnats at sunrise and sunset. There are mosquitoes, especially after wet weather, and there are a number of stinging insects such as wasps and bees. If you have strong reaction to bee stings, please come prepared with an epi-pen or other treatment for allergic reactions. The best defense is long pants and sleeves. Use natural insect repellents
There may be poisonous snakes of the region—copperheads and rattlesnakes. Be most cautious after dark, when snakes may lie in the warmth of the road. Always use a light when walking at night! Otherwise, general precautions are enough to keep them away: stomping (snakes don’t “hear,” they sense vibration), not reaching into or under piles of rocks or wood, and watching where you step.
Safety: You are responsible for your own safety. Be responsible and pay attention.
Intoxicating substances: Do not use or bring with you any illegal substances. Please refrain from excessive use of alcohol.
Phone: There is a phone at the AMS for short calls.
