Our first year here!! Question about campgrounds..

[mpullen]

Okay, here's the "official" scoop on when the campgrounds opens.

I get onsite around noon Friday. The Faire operations manager hires the ticket booth attendants who man the campgrounds entrance/ticket/security booth. It takes me an hour or so to get my camp setup (haul stuff from truck to trailer) and then get over to unlock the gates. I could start checking passes, sell camping passes, and do the things the attendant is hired to do, but that prevents me from hovering in the General/Open campgrounds and directing folks to the quiet/noisy camping areas and keeping the non-clan campers out of the reserved clan areas (amazing how many see all that open space when they take the wrong turn).

Thus, I have to wait until the attendant arrives, usually around 2 PM. I have to make an initial sweep throughout the campgrounds to make sure everyone is out (except for Participants who camp in the Patrons campgrounds) and then I give the okay to start letting folks in.

Thus the "official" 4 PM opening time. If we stated 2 PM and weren't ready yet, folks would be upset.

When you enter, please form a line to the left, so that Participants can pass on the right into the Faire area.

Camping fee is still $10 per person ($5 per child 6-12), with a Faire ticket. If you don't have tickets, they can be purchased at the campgrounds booth. Don't lose your camping wristband (mug band/belt band/or whatever you want to attach it onto as long as it is visible when you exit the Faire area into the campgrounds). Friends of Faire - show your card and get the wristband (etc, etc, etc).

Folks with large RVs/trailers camping in the main parking lot - I will catch you Friday afternoon or Saturday morning before opening. Same fees, wristbands, yadda, yadda.

We will broadcast the evenings when Friends of Faire will be allowed back into the Faire area after closing for a very eventful celebration at the Pub and afterwards a drumming session at the Seven Sisters.

If you haven't noticed, we are pushing the Friends of Faire passes. It gives you discounted admission, free camping, free tickets for friends, and counts for clans/groups minimum attendance in their areas.

Any more questions of a general nature, please post here or on the Robinandcompany Yahoo group. More personal questions, post to my camping@sherwoodforestfaire.com account.

[KiltedPrivateer]

That's Robinandcompany for those who have not been to the Yahoo group before.

[rengypsy]

we are very excited about this year's camping.  i hope all the new comers feel free to roam around with respect to the clan campfires.  lots a very hospitable clan gatherings open to visitors who respect the mores of the various clans.  no theives, no paychecks, no blithering drunks.  but if you like the company of fireside rennies, most will welcome you openly.

you can bet george and i will be making our rounds.

rengyspy

[sloth]

So this is my groups first trip to Sherwood this year (though I've been attending TRF for 10 years) and we are not with a clan. Is it common for people in non-clan camping to do walkabouts and spend time with those in clan camping? What about the clans mingling with us non-affliated folk? I'm a little nervous as to the unspoken rules of Sherwood camping and don't want to step on anyone's toes.

[KiltedPrivateer]

Absolutey, the general campers always walk the circle and stop by the clan groups.  Feel free to stop by Clan Procrastination.  Be sure to ask "Permission To Board" when approaching the boat deck, the campers enjoy that (o:

<--- Our sign looks a lot like this

[*Teach*]

Ditto what KP said. Phoenix Risen also always welcomes newcomers (as long as they aren't of the blithering drunk variety, that's my job). Feel free to stop in and say hi!
At some point in the night I generally get it into my head that I have to introduce myself to everyone and walkabout doing just that. Be bold, clanfolk don't bite unless requested.

*Offering rum everywhere seems to make people smile when I come visit*

[KiltedPrivateer]

*Always looks forward to Teach's Rum Visits*

[sloth]

Thank you for the positive regards, guys!  We'll make sure to make our faces known in Clan Procrastination and Phoenix Risen with loki and rum in tow (probably of the good sailor variety).  Any other important tips and tricks to know for SWFF and camping out there?

[PollyPoPo]

Thank you for the positive regards, guys!  We'll make sure to make our faces known in Clan Procrastination and Phoenix Risen with loki and rum in tow (probably of the good sailor variety).  Any other important tips and tricks to know for SWFF and camping out there?

Take all posts from mpullen as "the word."  He is our most honored Camp Master Manager and does all possible to make camping safe and enjoyable.

If you have not already done so, check out the Sherwood main web site, under camping, rules of the realm, etc. 

The trash lepers do not venture into the woods outside the Sherwood Village itself, so trash goes in the big dumpster (I assume it will be there again), not by the port-a-potties, or by the road just before going into the Village.  (I've removed a collection of bottles and cans there myself.)   

The web site mentions flush toilets, but I am not sure if those are available to campers yet or not.  Mike Pullen would have more info on that.

Take some kind of lamp or flashlight for pottie walks late at night.  While most evenings there is enough moonlight, starlight and happy camper lights to find your way, I've seen a couple late nights so very black only the snoring of campers affirmed I was not alone in the woods.

Be careful where you pitch your tent as it is primitive.  While most wildlife has moved on due to the annoying humans moving about, there might be fire ants, so you might want to bring some of the killer stuff (not the bait – takes too long), just in case.  Last year there seemed to be no mosquito problem (it is February and March), but the fire ants do not like to be awakened. 

The camp grounds are much smaller than TRF, but that makes for a shorter walk to the Village, and the clans are located on a circular road, so if you do a walk-about just try to remember which direction you were headed and keep going that way.  Eventually you will get back to where you started.  The road is marked one-way, but the signs can be easy to miss in the evening. 

Hopefully there will be a clan location map on the main web site before too long. 

Go out and have a good time. 

Oh, yeah, at least some cell phones work out there.

[nomad]

Make sure to come say hi to us at Wayfairers. We might even have some space available for camping.

I'll be all over the place making new friends...been doing that since the fourth of July.

They have showers on site. Bring toiletries.

[sloth]

My roomie and I are very excited about the showers. We went through a can of dry shampoo between the two of us last year at TRF. Are there electrical plugs too for hair dryers? I can't get over how welcoming all of you are! Are there any clans interested in a big jar of cinnamon loki by the way? None of my faire friends are partial to it and I'd hate for it to go to waste.

[*Teach*]

I doubt very seriously you'd have trouble finding someone willing to take a jar of cinnamon loki off your hands.
No electrical plugs, no electricity period.

*Plenty of rum though*

[PollyPoPo]

Teach is right about the absence of electricity; in fact I don't recall seeing any outlets in the restrooms in the Village itself.  Some shops have it, but I think they paid to have it installed, or pay a premium for it. 

As for generators, I don't remember hearing any (in patrons camping – there are definitely some in participants). 

Teach?

[maeven]

They have showers on site. Bring toiletries.

Really? Wow. Neato!

[Merlin the Elder]

You're camping! No need for electricity!  Quick diversion: our group took a couple of camping virgins to an island in the middle of Lake Ouachita (Hot Springs, AR). The next morning, they pulled out their hair dryers, and asked where they could plug them in... When I camp, I camp.