Sherwood Forest Campgrounds Grand Plan

[mpullen]

Updated 09/23/09

Okay, a long post that covers alot of subjects.

Index

I. December-January site clearing
II. General Campground Information

I.   December-January site clearing

The areas that will go quickest are those closest to the Pub/campgrounds entry into the faire area (i.e., minimum staggering distance, but not TOO close). All the area close to the Pub location have now been reserved. Available sites are now about 4 minutes walk.

If a group is not willing to clear their area and maintain it during the faire season, then they should consider camping in the general/open camping area (if it is available when/if I get the resources/equipment to clear those areas). Maintenance means that the group will keep their area clean and haul off any trash at the end of the weekend. If I have to clean up a group area, then that group will lose their area. Groups will be responsible for security in their area. There will not be a security patrol, so folks are on their own. Since the first couple of years won't have a mass of folks, this shouldn't be a problem. I suggest group leaders purchase two-way radios. I'll purchase one and we can tune them to a common security frequency.

Marking off an area is easy, just layout some form of boundary area. I used a yellow plastic tape. Suggestion is to cut a passage through the trees/brush about 10 feet wide by at least 20 or 30 feet long. Next to the entry path, you will have to clear spots by the roads for vehicle parking. Clear enough parking spots for your expected campers vehicles.

As far as clearing of reserved camping areas, it took me 3 weekends to rough clear a 50 ft radius area. I needed a chainsaw to cut the trees (less than 3" diameter per owner's request), a machette and garden hoe to chop up the small growth, and a rake to clear all the leaves. I had my Son working with me and even Zane on one day. We could only work until about noon because of the heat in June and July. I have still another weekend or two to clear off the rest of the small ground growth and use a leaf blower.

So groups need to organize their resources when they come out to clear their areas. A four to six person group with a couple of chainsaws and implements of destruction can clear the necessary area on a weekend once the weather gets cooler (December-January).

If groups want to build a permanent structure (shelter, fire circle), in their area, please make sure it doesn't meet a permanent building construction that would require a building permit (e.g., doesn't have four walls).

The roads in the campgrounds are presently loose sand and not passable with anything less than a 4-wheel drive, except just after a rain that firms up the soil. In December (and possibly earlier), gravel will be laid on the roads which will allow all vehicular traffic.

When groups clear their areas, they will also have to clear parking spots by the road. You will not be able to drive into your camping area unless you lay down gravel, due to the sandy soil. This means that RV's and travel trailers (other than small pop-up's that can be moved by hand) will not be able to get into the camping areas). I am a travel trailer user, but will have to resort to tent camping like the old days. After a couple of years, the management should be able to get gravel roadways through the camping spots, especially the general/open campgrounds.

II.   General Campground Information

There will be a ticket booth at the entrance to the campgrounds, where folks can pay the $5 per head camping fee and also faire admission tickets. The requirement is that in order to camp, each person must pay the $5 fee per person for the weekend and also purchase at least one faire admission ticket per person. I'm probably going to require exact change if possible and no bills larger that $20. I'll need a person or two to help me with the campgrounds ticket booth. Pay will be per scale, same as mine (i.e., nothing, but you get to camp for free and I may be able to swing some comp tickets for faire entry). I don't intend to tie my life to the campgrounds, since I really like to party and meet people and enjoy the faire. Hence, I may just post a sign at the entrance booth of where to find my campsite in the evenings and you can come find me and pay for the tickets. If the owners can get some two-way radios, then I can be reached).

[*Teach*]

Mike, I will be glad to lend a hand as many weekends as I can get out there once it cools a bit. I have a chainsaw and once upon a time was a backhoe operator.
I won't be available during TRF season, not because of faire but because that is when I will be moving and my weekends are to unpredictable at the moment.
We'll talk this weekend and figure out where I can be the most help.

*you'll have rum handy right? For AFTER the chainsaw work... not before*

[Bonny Pearl]

For the August 8th get-together:

For vendors/participants not building sleeping quaters at their shops, please contact me.

For clans/groups interested in established in claiming and clearing a camping area, contact me.

I will be onsite from around noon Friday to sometime around noon Sunday.

I really need folks input on what they want in a campgrounds environment. I know what I want. I need to know what YOU want.

We will see you Saturday!  Lots to discuss it seems.

[MysticXSab]

For clans/groups interested in established in claiming and clearing a camping area, contact me.

Interested. Sent you a PM also, just in case thats how you wanted to be contacted. See you for the volunteer work session Saturday.

[Yrose]

Mike, we saw one of the rules for getting a reserved space was the clan had to camp every weekend of faire. At this time McLotofus does not feel they would be able to do this. While we would be able to clean and maintain it this eliminates us.

[mpullen]

Mike, we saw one of the rules for getting a reserved space was the clan had to camp every weekend of faire. At this time McLotofus does not feel they would be able to do this. While we would be able to clean and maintain it this eliminates us.

The general rule is that each claimed area has to have campers from the group each weekend. That means if a group clears an area for 20 tents, I would expect to see the area full on at least one weekend and maybe 5 or 6 tents on other weekends. I just don't want to have a group claim a massive area and only use it one weekend. That sort of cheats those willing to camp every weekend.

[Yrose]

It's understood and we'll just have to do the land grab in the general camping area when it becomes available.

[mpullen]

Besides the great entertainment and abundance of old and new FaireFamily members, we had a good influx of new groups reserving camping spots in the Playtron area.

Welcome to Valhalla and Brigadoon, Pirates of Poseidon, Free Spirits, Phoenix Risen. Still need to hear from the Celtic Rogues. If I missed your group, please have the group leader contact me and I'll explain the grand plan. I won't be onsite until December due to TRF.

We already had one problem this weekend, where a group had started clearing in the woods that form the security/sound barrier to Participants. Over the past few months, I have reported which groups I knew of and had not contacted me. I listed my cell # on the Yahoogroup, but none have contacted me. Eric and Zane are concentrating on the Faire area. I have gotten their approval for my overall plan, which supports future expansion of the Faire area

We are now over half way in filling the reserved campgrounds. In order to plan the number and location of port-a-johns in the campgrounds, I need to see how much of the available space is actually going to be used.

Also, due to the narrow road on the backside of the campgrounds, I'm considering making the road one-way. Upon entry, the vehicles will bear right at the intersection (heads up to the Pub area). Movement will be counter-clockwise around the reserved campgrounds. I'll post an updated map when the new GPS survey is available.

If you have any questions, I'll be in the Drunken Gnome area around row 3 along the paved road at TRF. Look for my MaxLite travel trailer.