Health Notes

Beltane, Free Spirit Gathering, Fires of Venus, and Mythical Journeys are all held at Camp Ramblewood, which is, first and foremost, a camp. Our site features fairly comfortable cabins, running water, and a pool. It also features stinging and non-stinging insects, poison ivy and other noxious plants, mold and other allergens, and more bugs. Bring your insect repellent, sunscreen, allergy meds, and anti-itch stuff; remember your sting kit if you need one. In addition, while there are many nice trees, there are lots of open, unshaded parts of camp, and many activites take place out of doors. With this in mind, please remember:

• Sunscreen! Sunscreen! Ok! We usually see 2 or 3 people with severe sunburns every year. For some of us, these gatherings are our first time out in the sun in a given year, or at least the first time out in the sun for certain parts. Please protect yourself and your friends and neighbors.
• Drink lots of water (or gatorade or...), regardless of the weather. Beverages with caffeine and alcohol don't necessarily help rehydrate you. If you let yourself get dehydrated, you run the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Some early warning signs of these include thick/ropy saliva, stopping sweating, a headache, and a lack of need to urinate.
• Sometimes the weather deities smile on us; sometimes they don't. There have been MJs where we woke up to frost, Beltanes where it never got above 70°, FSGs with multiple 60° rainy days, and FSGs with multiple 90°/99% humidity days—and some of those started out 55° and cloudy. As we say in our Packing & Prep Page, layers are your friend, as are a poncho/raincoat/other waterproof, extra socks, sunscreen, and a hat. Neither hypothermia nor heat exhaustion will enhance your event experience. Did we mention sunscreen?

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