Membership

This is a community run gathering, it is all of you (and you and me and us and you) who attend, that make it happen and make it awesome. Each and everyone does a small part that makes something massive happen. Many hands make light work! And so we ask that you contribute a small amount of your festival time to a volunteer shift of your choice. For Early bird, General and Late bird Memberships, you will be given a scheduled shift upon arrival at the gate. When each of us volunteers we each become an essential part of the festival that makes it a whole.

Engagement, Empowerment, Enjoyment.
We want each member to be engaged on a personal level.
We want each member to feel empowered.
We want everyone to enjoy themselves!!

PEACE, LOVE, UNITY & RESPECT (P.L.U.R)

We hear PLUR a lot in our community but what does this really mean? Its just as it says, be peaceful, act lovingly, remember we are united and be respectful! When you sign up for membership to our festival you agree to the act within these perameters:

Respect the land.
Respect yourself.
Respect others.
Respect the local laws and customs.

Every member is expected to conduct themselves with honour, respect, compassion and in a responsible manner while at the festival. We are here to have fun, but let that not be at the cost of someone else's enjoyment. Any kind of violence or abuse (physical, sexual, verbal or emotional) will not be tolerated, and members will be asked to leave if their actions are deemed inappropriate by the festival organizers.
We are all here to have fun and if you are not having fun because of another member, please bring it to a coordinators attention, find a response person or go to Health and Safety. Please party responsibly and take care of yourselves and your campmates.

What to bring to the Kitchen

Together, we will feed the masses! Our deliciously amazing communal vegan Kitchen relies on donations. We ask that you bring about $30 of food to share. A full list of suggested awesome foods the kitchen needs can be found on the KITCHEN page. While we completely appreciate your generosity (THANK YOU!), we ask that you refrain from donating any animal-derived products, eggs, dairy, soy or nut-containing products to the Kitchen.

The Tea Tent always appreciates your donation of teas and natural sweeteners. Although our Kitchen aims to keep us happy and full, we remind you that you know your body and what it needs, so bring any extra things you can keep at your tent to snack on. There will also be hot water for drinks, oatmeals and dried soup/noodles.

Remember to pack a wash-rag and dishes/cutlery, you'll feel silly if you have to eat out of your shoe!

::What to bring::

- your own tent (or permanent warm spot in someone else's)
- sleeping mattress
- sleeping bag
- water bottle
- snacks
- warm & waterproof clothing!!!!
- sunscreen / sun block / hat
- rubber boots
- bug repellant
- headlamp / flashlight
- earplugs
- bowl, cutlery and your own mug
- costumes, deco for your camp, gifts to share...
- something to sit on
- kind kitchen donation (see kitchen)
- garbage bags to take your trash / recycling home
- any medications you need (meds, allergies, etc)

Leaving no trace is an essential core value of membership of our solstice festival. “Pack it in, pack it out.”

Leave extra packaging at home, bring bags for your recycling and garbage and leave space in your vehicle to transport it out. Really!! During your stay in the forest, keep your campsite clean, pick up as your go along, don’t let it hit the ground and if it does, pick it up. It makes it easier for when you are on your way home if you don’t have a big mess to deal with. We do not plan or budget to dispose of YOUR trash, please don't make volunteers be forced to deal with your stuff. For instance, rope and strings strangle trees. Untie every string and pick up every twist tie. Its the little things that add up. Please plan your activities and camps with this in mind. Smoker? Think about where you are going to put your cigarette butts! Many people bring portable ashtrays, film canisters or tins for the dancefloor. What's your plan? Each member is responsible to keep the forest and land as pristine as it is when we arrive. Please leave it beautiful!!!

Last year many camps and theme camps left an unacceptable mess for longcrew to clean up. This year we will be taking photos of your garbage you leave at your camp and will be posting a wall of SHAME !!!

We thank every member who understands and follows through on this responsibility.

::No Vending::

Many festivals have vending, but we enjoy a week without money or commodity. This is a vending free festival. Many other gatherings have vendors but we are free of that vibe. Here, gifting is encouraged! Bring something you made that you would like to share with people. Make and share snacks! Bring extra costumes, makeup, deco or patches you made, even hugs. Feel free to share things with other members, but without monetary exchange. While giving just for the sake of it, you will enjoy the surprise and joy people experience when there is no expectation of return.

::No Personal Sound Systems::

We all love our own music, but does everyone else? While the stages are going there will be music throughout the whole forest, so during the off-hours, lets reflect in the silence of the forest and the laugher of our friends. If you have a small radio for Om Radio that is ok as long as the volume is moderate in the campground.

::No Fireworks or Campfires::

They are fun, but for safety and neighbour consideration, we must enforce a no fireworks policy! Also, no personal campfires other than at designated fire areas. When we asked to use this land we were made to promise one thing, “Please don’t burn down my forest”. Please always be aware of fire safety when using fire-toys and feel empowered to tell someone their renegade fire is not permitted - they might not know.

::No Glass::

Glass seems to be an easy one to forget but while packing, please leave it at home. Pour any glass items into portable containers. There won’t be a need to worry if it gets knocked over and breaks. Many members enjoy being barefoot and enjoying the earth beneath their feet, let's keep it all glass free!

::No Dogs::

We regret that Solstice will not be offering dog memberships. This means NO DOGS. We apologize for any inconvenience, but we will be enforcing a strict no tolerance to bringing dogs to the land. Solstice in 2012 tried a dog membership trial run; unfortunately there were too many accidents with fellow members to revisit the policy. If you bring a dog or try to sneak one in, you will be turned away at the gate.

::Fire and wood::

Although personal fires are not permitted in the forest, we are permitted by the landowner to have two community fires for warmth and sharing. Firewood will be provided for each evening. Once the wood pile is done for that night, that’s it! Please be frugal as this is a finite resource. Please refrain from using forest deadfall. Please leave all dead trees to nurture the future forest soil. We thank all members for their awareness and for being the keepers of this sacred element.

::Drum, drum, drumming::

Our drummers keep our rhythms and enhance our experience of the Solstice. Drummers play our bodies, drummers keep the dance around the fires. We do ask all of our drummers to be mindful of sound during the week. Please drum no later than 11pm during the week, ideally not after sun set. “When the big ball drops, the drumming stops”. Once the sound systems starts, drummers are welcome to play late into the night, around the community fire.

NO dogs allowed - woof!

We regret that we will not be offering dog memberships.

This means NO DOGS.

We apologize for any inconvenience, but we will be enforcing a strict no tolerance to bringing dogs to the land. Solstice in 2012 tried a dog membership trial run; unfortunately there were too many accidents with fellow members to revise the policy for the future. Please do NOT bring your dog(s). If you bring a dog or try to sneak one in, you will be turned away at the gate.

If you have any questions and comments, you can email dogs@omreunionproject.org

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FINAL DROP IN !!!!!!!!! Sat June 14 from 1pm - 5pm 87 Oxford St. Apt. 1