Camp Instructions and Information

Sunday, June 17 — Saturday, July 23, 2011

Plan to arrive between 10:00 am to 12:00 pm on Sunday, June 17th. If you must arrive later, special arrangements need to be made.

Camp Schedule

Sunday

• Participants, Questers and Council can arrive by 10:00 AM to set up camp. Tents must be set up before dusk.
• Orientation and scheduling of week with Camp Mother
• Questers locate their questing spot.
• Talking circle takes place each evening after dinner throughout the week.

Monday

• Opening Ceremony takes place in the morning.
• Elders Intitiates begin ceremonial preparations.
• Questers are ready immediately following opening ceremony and will be taken to their sacred circles sometime during the week.
• Sacred fire tending begins following opening ceremony.
• Cleansing Ceremony.
• Various meditations, drummings, and ceremonies will take place at a special Celebration Prayer Circle throughout the week, beginning on Monday.
• Morning prayers and songs at the Sacred Fire take place every morning, beginning on Monday.
• Healings and Readings throughout the week from SpiritQuest participants. Everyone shares without charging for their gifts.

Tuesday — Thursday

• Questers are in silent meditation in their sacred questing spots.
• Elder Intitiates are in silent mediation in and next to their tents near the Sacred Fire Circle.
• Women's Water Ceremony and Initiations for female elders and adult intiates — Thursday night.
• Naming and Sacred Awakening Ceremonies throughout the week.

Friday

• Elderhood Recognition for female and male Elders.
• Welcoming Ceremony for the returning Questers.
• Sacred Awakening Ceremony, spiritual birth and rebirth Welcoming Ceremony for people of all ages.
• Naming Ceremonies.
• Divine Reunion Ceremony — Reuniting with the sacred feminine and masculine
• Sound Blessing Ceremony.
• Sacred Fire Ceremony
• Celebration Dinner
• Give Away Celebration

Saturday

• Break camp. Everyone works to help break down the camp.

Single Parents

If you are bringing children and are a single parent or planning to attend without your partner, we recommend you bring a friend with you so that you can take turns attending some of the adult-only ceremonies and healing journeys throughout the week. Please understand that you or an adult you bring with you are responsible for your children at all times. We do not consider teen-aged brothers or sisters to be adult supervision.

We do have crafts and books available to help the children learn about the ceremonial environment they are in, while having fun and exercising their creativity. You are welcome to use those materials to help guide and entertain your children.

If there is an emergency or accident and your children are left unattended, they will be expected to follow the reasonable instructions of the adults in the camp, acknowledging that our intent is to lovingly maintain sacred space throughout the week. Time-out is the method of discipline used when children are unable to comply with adult instruction.

Adults in camp have varying degrees of experience with children, so you should be aware that adults tend to do their best, given their level of experience and ability to respond, in a space where the ceremonies are the focus. Again, if you wish to attend any ceremonies without your children, you need to bring another adult with you so that you can fully participate and your children can be given the full and proper attention you desire.

At Camp

Meals — Meals are provided Sunday evening through Saturday morning. Everyone in camp takes turns helping with meal preparation and clean-up.

Clothing — Please dress modestly during your time at Quest.

Skirts for women, walking in their feminine, are appropriate. Feel free to dress up a bit for opening ceremony and closing.

Gentlemen keep your shirts on!

This is a place where you are welcome and invited to dress up
in your ceremonial clothing, whatever that mean to you.

Fire Tending — Individuals will be asked to tend the Sacred Fire. If you have tended before you will probably be asked to do so again.

Volunteer Work — Because there are several tasks that need to be attended to daily, we invite you to volunteer for kitchen duties and maintenance duties.

Your help with these tasks makes a big difference in creating an atmosphere that flows easily!

Even the humblest task is part of the ceremony!

Food and Meals

Meals are provided Sunday evening through Saturday noon. Everyone in camp participates and takes turns helping with meal preparation and clean up.

You are responsible for your own snacks and drinks.

Meals will be prepared with vegetarian, wheat, sugar and dairy free options. If you have other dietary needs, let us know.

We thank you for not bringing alcohol or drugs. (None is allowed on the land during ceremony.)

Bring plenty of DRINKING WATER CONTAINERS and BLOCK ICE for yourself and to share! People staying all week also appreciate fresh supplies.

What to Bring

• Your own tent or camper, sleeping bag, etc.
• Clothes for hot and cold weather (clothes that can be layered work best)
• Rain gear
• Flashlight
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Towel
• Folding chair(s) — if you are able.
• No need for solar showers this year. Bathrooms and showers are available to all participants, even those who are tent camping. Showers will be at an extra cost of $5/shower, payable at the camp.
• Game sets: backgammon, checkers, scrabble, cards, etc.
• Crafting materials to share. If you know how to make Native American crafts, this is a wonderful way to share your gifts.

Bringing Friends — Your friends and family are welcome to join us and help. If you bring others, you are responsible for them, so please refer them to this site and help them become familiar with proper protocol.

Arrival at Camp

Arrive Before Dusk — We will not be setting up tents after dusk.

Be sure to arrive on Sunday promtly to set up your camping spot and help set up camp. Tents must be up before dusk!

Please arrive -- QUIETLY -- until someone in the main camp informs you about acceptable noise levels, so that we do not interfere with the questers' ability to hear their songs.

Stop in at the kitchen to let people know you have arrived. Someone will meet with you to discuss ceremonial protocol.

Ask for information about parking and tent sites before you set up.

Car Pooling is strongly recommended. To make car pooling arrangements, visit the Yahoo Group:SpiritQuestTravel

SpiritQuest is a registered trademark of SpiritQuest Sedona Retreats and is being used with their permission.