BERWICK CAMP RULES

THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS ARE FOR THE PROTECTION, SAFETY, AND THE COMMON GOOD OF ALL BERWICK CAMPERS. THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING THEM.

REGISTRATION: All campers must immediately register upon arrival, indicating the names of all people in their party. The office should be notified of the arrivals/departures of family members and the registration of guests throughout the encampment to facilitate the forwarding of messages and to enable accurate head counts in emergency situations.

NO SMOKING permitted on the grounds, including tents, trailers, cottages, dormitories, apartments, and private vehicles, except in the sole designated smoking area, located adjacent to the main gate.

ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES or ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES are permitted on the grounds, including in tents, trailers, cottages, dormitories, apartments, and private vehicle trunks and interiors. Anyone found to be in possession or under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs will be asked to leave the grounds immediately, for the remainder of the encampment without refund, and may not be considered for registration at future encampments. Anyone discovered supplying or transporting alcoholic beverages for minors will be dealt with according to law.

IDENTIFICATION: buttons or wrist bands supplied at registration should be worn at all times, while on the grounds. This is especially important for those wanting to leave and re-enter the grounds once security staff is on duty and for youth participating in evening events. Good help for meeting new friends too!

PARKING: From Friday 18:00 [camp officially opens] until final Sunday at noon [camp officially closes] there will be no parking by cottages, dorms or apartments. The loading and unloading of vehicles is permitted – particularly upon arrival at and departure from camp — but it is expected that such will take a reasonably limited time.

· Although provision continues to be made to unload vehicles near accommodations during the encampment, campers are urged to drive on the grounds as infrequently as possible. As outlined below, there is increased capacity for campers to be “bussed” from their vehicles to their accommodations.

· Parking will be allowed only in designated areas. General parking will occur in the former “ballfield” area of the upper campground. The plan is to expand the capacity for parking in that area. There will be designated spots in the lower campground [near the entrance] for those with handicap stickers.

· In the upper campgrounds, for rigid side camping equipment (real trailers, 5th wheel etc.) there will be no vehicle parking on site.

· In the upper campgrounds, for soft side equipment [trailers and tents] vehicle parking is permitted. However, this current exemption will be reviewed regarding its consistency with the overarching focus on safety. This will be done in consultation with affected campers during the encampment this year.

VEHICLE MOVEMENT: Speed limit is 10km/hr. Vehicle movement in the pavilion area during worship services is prohibited. At all other times, travel on the grounds at the lowest possible speed is the rule. Noisy, poorly maintained or nuisance vehicles will be banned. Bicycle riding is prohibited within the grounds.

CAMP HOURS: Registered guests and daily camp participants not having accommodations on the grounds are asked to leave no later than 11:15pm. All campers are to observe quiet from 11:30pm to breakfast time. Security personnel will enforce this regulation.

FIRE HAZARD: Only fully-attended oil, gas or electric stoves are to be used for meal preparation, and never as an unattended alternate heat source. No open flames sources permitted, such as campfires, charcoal barbeques, citronella candles, etc.

WASTE and RECYCLABLE materials are to be disposed of in designated containers only.

GREY WATER generated in accommodations, tents and trailers is collected in buckets for pick-up or disposed of via sewer connections, where available. It must not be discharged on the ground.

PETS which are well behaved are welcome (see our full pet policy below)  as long as they are accompanied by responsible owners who will keep pets on leashes, clean up waste products, and ensure no inconvenience or annoyance to fellow campers. Pets are not allowed in the Fireside Rooms or the Dorms.

TREE PRESERVATION: Please treat all small trees with tender loving care. No cutting of trees or removal of branches.

DORMITORIES and the FIRESIDE ROOM are not wired for electrical appliances (ie. heaters toaster, kettles, hot plates etc.) so please do not bring them to camp. Electric blankets are permitted. NO preparation of food is permitted in the Dorms or Fireside room.

FIRE SAFETY: please ensure that on your arrival at camp you become familiar with the location of fire extinguishers, alarm stations and your nearest emergency exit from accommodations and the grounds. Fire hoses are not to be tampered with or used for any other purpose.

911 EMERGENCY SERVICES: All emergency services such as police, fire and ambulance can be accessed by dialing 911 from any phone on the grounds (including the payphones) or from phones in the office, gate house, or any cellular phone. For your safety, become aware of your nearest phone.

ACCOMMODATION POLICY

The selection process for accommodation assignment are allotted with the following priorities:

• 1. Staff (as defined by the Program Committee); Long-service staff returning as campers are Treated as #4 below.)

• 2. Returning campers who have occupied the same accommodation for the past two years wishing the same accommodation.

• 3. Returning campers after a one year absence.

• 4. Returning campers wishing different accommodations

• 5. New campers (don’t be discouraged, most are accommodated.)

• 6. Senior citizens have priority for serviced apartments until May 15th. After May 15th, ALL accommodations are allotted on a first come-first served basis.

BAPTISMAL AND WEDDING POLICY
(EXECUTIVE MINUTES OCTOBER 2005)

Any requests for using the campgrounds as a site for baptisms and weddings need to come with the approval of a congregational Session.

PET POLICY
UNITED CHURCH CAMP MEETING ASSOCIATION

Dog Policy Effective Date: 2013 for a two-year trial period

Purpose

The purpose of a dog policy for the United Church Camp Meeting Association annual encampment is to ensure a safe environment for campers, pets and have minimal impact on wildlife.

Preamble      

Dogs can be wonderful companions, and a source of great joy. However, in the Berwick encampment where campers live together in close proximity there are circumstances that pets may pose risks to other campers or animals. Risks may include but are not limited to severe allergy reactions; infectious diseases or parasites; unpredictable or aggressive behaviour; and fearful reactions. For Berwick encampment, pets are limited to dogs.

Policy

1. Pet free areas are the Dorms, indoor program space, public washrooms, the Dining Hall and play areas (playgrounds, volleyball/basketball courts). Accommodations can be made for service dogs.

2. Pet friendly indoor areas include the Fireside second storey rooms and the lower campground washroom.

3. Dogs are to be well behaved and kept under control at all times:

• a. Includes but is not limited to crates, kennels, small fenced enclosures; tie outs and leashes.

• b. Leashes are not to extend longer than 6 feet while walking dogs on the campground.

• c. Ensure tie outs do not pose a fall risk hazard.

4. Children are to be at least the age of ten to walk a dog on their own.

5. Children under the age of ten are to be supervised at all times with any dog on the campground.

6. Impact on the campground’s wildlife is to be minimized.

• a. Dog owners can help prevent a skunk spraying by keeping dogs on a lead at night when skunks wander the grounds. First aid for skunk sprayings is covered in the appendix.

7. Dogs’ feces are to be cleaned up and disposed of in garbage bins.

8. Pets are to be free from any infectious disease. It is strongly recommended that pet’s immunizations be up-to-date and are on a flea treatment regime.

9. Dogs that exhibit the following behaviours to other animals, children or adults will require stronger boundaries/control measures:

• a. Ferocious barking

• b. Lunging

• c. Growling, snarling or snapping

• d. Outside continuous barking for more than 15 seconds without correction

10. Pet or pet owner behaviour that is concerning to any camper is to be handled according to the following process:

• a. Strongly encouraged to communicate directly with the pet’s owner.

• b. If the situation is unresolved, the concerned camper is to contact the chair of the Grounds and Safety committee who will attempt to mediate an agreeable solution.

11. If aggressive behaviour escalates or results in harm to another animal or person:

• a. Restrain the dog/s

• b. Initiate first aid and /or 911

• c. Report the incident immediately to the chair of the Safety and Grounds Committee.

12. Camp operations will request the dog owner to make alternate boarding arrangements off campgrounds if a dog’s behaviour is deemed to be a safety risk.

UCCMA Vandalism Policy

The United Church Camp Meeting Association (UCCMA) has a zero tolerance policy for vandalism on its Berwick campgrounds.

The intent of this policy, in part, is to ensure that the camp and its buildings are kept in good and welcoming condition so that all campers (both of the UCCMA as well as other authorized organizations) can feel comfortable entering and using them.

For this policy, vandalism is generally defined as the senseless and willful destruction, damage or defacement of property. Some common examples of vandalism include cutting trees, breaking windows, undesirable painting, arson, ransacking, flooding, etc.

In the tradition of Berwick Camp, the discrete placing of moderately sized (i.e. not larger than a credit card: approximately 2 inches by 3.25 inches or 5 centimetres by 8 centimetres) signatures on the interior of association-owned cottages and washrooms using a pen, pencil or fine-tip marker will not generally be considered vandalism (buildings related to worship should not be so signed, nor should the exterior of any building). Similarly, practical jokes performed with appropriate finesse will not generally be considered vandalism; however, the practical joker should consider the risk and potential consequences of their actions. Larger scale names, phrases, graffiti, etc. done in spray-paint, other paint, thick marker, etc. is not acceptable.

Minor Vandalism and its General Consequences

Minor vandalism may be generally considered to be vandalism that:

• 1. Costs less than $500 to replace and/or restore

• 2. Takes less than 4 person-hours to clean / fix

Some potential examples of minor vandalism could include: breaking one window, breaking one chair, throwing paint on one building, etc.

The offender is to meet with two or more of the UCCMA executive (e.g. president, vice president, treasurer, chairman of property and grounds, etc.) to discuss the infraction and its consequences. If the offender is less than 18 years old then their parent(s) or guardian at camp will accompany them.

The UCCMA may involve the police even for a first offence.

The offender will generally be expected to:

• 3. Clean up the mess

• 4. Assist in the restoration / rebuilding of the damaged item(s)

• 5. Replace destroyed items

• 6. Write a letter explaining their actions and apologizing for them to the executive

• 7. Pay for the damages (ex. costs to clean up, restore, replace,etc.)

An appropriate camp representative may need to approve in any clean-up / restoration.

Significant or High-Risk Vandalism and its General Consequences

Significant or high-risk vandalism may be generally considered to be vandalism that:

• 8. Costs more than $500 to replace and/or restore

• 9. Takes more than 4 person-hours to clean / fix

• 10. Poses a real risk of significant or catastrophic damage (ex. burn a significant portion of the campground, potential to cause serious injury or death, etc.)

Some potential examples of significant or high-risk vandalism could include: breaking several windows, ransacking one or more cottages, burning or attempting to burn a building or tree, structural damage to buildings, electrical, water or sewer infrastructure, significant damage to vehicles, equipment, etc.

Note that fire is considered to be a significant and high-risk form of vandalism, period. Even if a fire that was started as a result of vandalism is small and does little actual damage, the risk that it poses and the huge damage it could do if it got out of control is such that is cannot be considered minor vandalism.

The UCCMA will involve the police and the judicial system as appropriate (i.e. the police will be contacted, an official complaint will be filed andthe judicial process and its consequences will apply).

As a minimum, the offender will generally be expected to:

• 11. Clean up the mess

• 12. Assist in the restoration / rebuilding of the damaged item(s)

• 13. Replace destroyed items

• 14. Write a letter explaining their actions and apologizing for them to the executive

• 15. Pay for the damages (ex. costs to clean up, restore, replace, etc.)

The offending camper may not be permitted to return for the next or subsequent camps. If they do wish to return they must apply to the Executive for permission to do so. This permission will not automatically be given.

Reporting Protocol

Anyone witnessing vandalism or the act of vandalism should report it to:

• 1. The Site Manager (i.e. Karen), On-Duty Security person, camp staff, or member of the Executive

• 2. The person above to whom the vandalism was reported will document the vandalism and provide that document to the chairperson of the property and grounds committee who will then share it with the Executive