What to bring to Healing the Spirit

If you need to make a change to your registration or have other questions please contact the registrar, Whittney, at registrar@healing-the-spirit.com. You may also phone 202-841-8128, however email is the fastest way to resolve a question. If you have made any special arrangements with the festival registrar please bring a copy of any email you may have received. It will help speed your registration when you arrive.

Security

Healing the Spirit will have radio equipped security staff around the camp at all times. If at any time you have a question, problem or see an unsafe situation please contact any security staff member and we will help as quickly as we can.

Smoking

Please be safe, careful and considerate. No-smoking areas include: inside any building, on the porch of any cabin and near flammable parts of the camp (e.g. in the woods or tall grass). DON’T THROW BUTTS ON THE GROUND. If you’re smoking while you walk around, please bring a portable ashtray (an old Altoids with sand in it makes a handy one) that will hold your butts safely until you find a trashcan.

Health Hints

Please make sure to bring a full supply of whatever medications you are taking and an allergy kit if you need one. We cannot provide or store prescription medications. If you have any special medical conditions of which we should be aware, please tell us when you check in, and if you have Medic Alert jewelry, please wear it all the time. Two things to remember:

Camera Policy - (Still & Video)

Do not take pictures of anyone without their express permission. do not photograph workshops and rituals without express permission of the coordinator as well as all attending the workshop. Video cameras are not allowed for attendees of Healing the Spirit. Anyone found not complying with these rules will have their camera/phone taken for the remainder of the event or be asked to leave without refund.

Transfers/Refunds

If you can’t attend you may transfer your registration to someone else or request a refund. Please contact the registrar at registrar@healingthespirit.com. We cannot make refunds made within one week of festival.

Housing & Bedding

The camp provides single beds in all its cabins, so you’ll want to bring single sized sheets and blankets or a sleeping bag if you’re staying in a cabin. You’ll also want at least 2 towels, one for showering and one for the pool, plus a grubby towel to sit on. If you’re in a cabin, the cabins have standard single beds. If you’re in a tent, do not use anything that produces a flame inside your tent; you risk setting yourself, your tent and/or your bedding on fire and poisoning yourself with carbon monoxide. If this is the first time you’re using your tent this season or it’s new, we strongly suggest that you get it out and test setting it up at least once before you come. You might also want to test its waterproofing and re-seal it if it leaks. There are few things more miserable than sleeping in a leaky tent in the rain. You’ll also probably want an air mattress or pad. Remember all the pieces and tools: tent, poles, stakes, ropes, fly, and tarp/ ground cloth, plus a hammer & possibly a folding shovel. Please flag your ropes with reflective or brightly colored tape.

Clothes

While Healing the Spirit is clothing-optional, clothes are often a good option. Layers are your friends. For a Fall event some warm clothes and a jacket along with some clothes for during the day when it gets warmer, a rain-proof of some sort, one pair of rain-friendly shoes and an extra pair of socks is always a good idea. Bring ritual garb, sandals, hiking shoes, outrageous costumes, comfy clothes, and a swimsuit if you don’t want to skinny-dip.

Food

The Camp Canteen sells a limited selection of necessary items which may or may not be open at the time of day that you need that item. Even with a solid meal plan, you’ll still probably want to bring some snacks and/or drinks. If you’re planning on preparing food/snacks in your camp kitchen, please remember that Fire regulations prohibit using camp stoves or grills inside your cabin or on the porch. We suggest: a pop-up or dining fly - at least one cooler (we cannot provide food storage) - a camp stove or hibachi (remember fuel and/or charcoal) & a lighter or matches - plates & eating utensils (reusables are nicer to the Planet) - cooking utensils & a hot pad - a can opener & a churchkey - a dishpan & soap - napkins & paper towels - trash bags

Personal Care

Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Ok! With luck Healing the Spirit will enjoy its share of sunshine. Sunburn can ruin an otherwise wonderful weekend. For some of us, a gathering like this may be one of the few times of the year that we or or some parts of us have to spend out in the sun. Please protect yourself.

Medications

If you’re taking prescription (or other) medications, please bring enough to last you the whole time you’re onsite and appropriate storage for it. If you have a Medic Alert bracelet, please wear it all the time. Buffalo Gap is a camp, complete with stinging bugs, poison ivy & other noxious plants, mold and other allergens. Bring your insect repellent, sunscreen, allergy meds and anti-itch stuff. Remember your sting kit if you have allergies to stings. You’ll probably also want: soap, shampoo/conditioner, a mini-first aid kit, razor, comb & brush, toothbrush & toothpaste, aspirin / ibuprofen / acetaminophen... We, personally, use Dr Bronners for both people and dish washing.

Infrastructure

Shade: We suggest at least pop-up or similar shade piece for your camp. If you’re running a camp kitchen, a second shade piece for your cooking/food storage are is a really good idea.

Light: We suggest a flashlight and spare batteries. It gets dark at night and it can be difficult to navigate around the camp even with tiki torches (if we’re not having drought conditions), bug buckets (big citronella candles), a propane (for outdoor use) or fluorescent lamp,

Chairs & Tables

You’re going to want someplace to sit while you’re in camp, and somewhere to set your plates and drinks. If you’re cooking, you’ll also need a sturdy table to set your stove on and to prep food on.

Tools & Miscellaneous

Stuff we’ve personally found useful or necessary: a fire extinguisher, a mini sewing kit that includes a couple of safety pins, both a sledge hammer (for pounding stakes) and a claw hammer (for pulling them), extra bungee cords, extra tent stakes, duct or gaff tape, a clock, extra trash bags, a basic plastic rain poncho, a pair of binoculars (for sky-watching or birding).

Fun stuff

Musical instruments, drums, games, cards, camp decorations & banners, windchimes, your imagination, your dancing shoes...

Ritual garb & tools

Bring your staff, wand, athame, sword, pentacle, cups, robe, masks, body adornments, body paints...

What to Leave Home

Do not bring pets, companion animals or familiars. We welcome service animals for people with disabilities; please let us know ahead of time if you’ll have one with you.

If you have any questions please contact Whittney with the words "What to Bring to HTS" in the subject line.

What to bring to Healing-the-Spirit

Registration changes