[Grumpy_G]

First and foremost, be sure to bring a firm handshake and a willingness to meet new people. That is the key to getting the most out of the experience. The site is semi primitive. There is a vault toilet on site, and a shower house/restroom about 1/2 away. There is no water on site. As we told Johnathon, you can get water at the shower house or at the free potable water station down by the paid camping area; about a mile away. There is no power, so if you want to charge stuff bring a portable generator.

The site is well shaded; I would suggest bringing a pop up awning, though. You will see some 4 season tents. If the weather holds true to past years, though, a three season tent should be good. There’s been a couple of times we had to deal with frost, so be prepared, just in case; warm clothes, extra blankets, and maybe a buddy heater for the tent. You’ll be doing all your cooking on either your camp stove, or an open fire. You’ll see people cooking over the communal fire pit, their own camp fires, and propane camp stoves. We’ve even brought the sun oven out a time or two. When we all used to go spend the week out there, we used to pitch camp next to Tag and Bee. Yoda and Bee would set up a gourmet kitchen. The last year we camped they had a 3 burner stove, a two burner stove with an oven, prep tables, and a dish washing station. Tag, Snugs, Craig, 86, myself, and any other urchin that wandered near by were very well fed. Speaking of food, make sure you have something to secure it in, as the raccoons in the area are very brazen, and have a knack of getting in to what we thought were the most secure containers.

Be sure to bring camp chairs and such, as you’ll need them for the camp fire circle, classes and the pot luck. You can be as primitive, or as extravagant as you like. My first year I went alone and basically took whatever fit in my pack; plus a tote of food. I hammock camped for the weekend and cooked my meals over my fold up back pack stove. The last year we camped we basically loaded out like we were going to be living in the two room tent for three or four months. If it fit in the back of the pickup, it went with us. One year an attendee even brought a portable shower house, re-pleat with hot water shower, and a sink for hygiene.

That’s about it. You can get as elaborate, or as plain as you want. The key to getting the most is to be open, approachable and personable You will be surrounded by a bunch of alphas, male and female, and as long as you don’t prove to be crazy, an unbearable irritant, nobody will really care what you do.

Hope this helps.