Vegan Camp

OUR GUIDELINES

Vegan Camp is open to all vegans. If you don’t know, the definition of vegan is someone who excludes all animal products from their diet.

If you’re not vegan you can still attend by going vegan for at least two weeks before the event or by accompanying with a vegan. We ask for everyone to behave respectfully towards each other.

Photos taken at Vegan Camp may be used by us to promote veganism. If you have objections to being in photos please let us know in advance.

This is a drug and smoke-free event.

Due to camp rules, dogs are not permitted (guide dogs ok).

OUR COMMUNITY

Vegan Camp is a community event organised by volunteers. To make our stay easy for everyone, we ask that you:

–  be at meals on time
–  volunteer for three kitchen shifts – this will happen at the camp
–  wash up your own dishes after meals
–  if attending with children, to be responsible for your own child at all times
–  be present when there are whole group activities
–  clean up after yourself and your children and leave your room as you found it
–  help with the general clean up on departure day

If we have plenty of participants, parents of young children will be relieved of their shift duties.

WHAT TO BRING

– Bedding – (unless paid for linen)

– Torch and sunscreen

– Personal belongings

– A small portion of vegan baking (prepared or purchased) to share

Activities will include:

Welcome and getting to know each other

Quiz Night

Ice Cream Eating competition

Easter Egg Hunt

Games

Walks

Rafting

Visit to Hot Pools

Cookery Demo

These are all optional and you are welcome to join in or do your own thing. At the start of the camp we will put up a timetable in which some time will be structured but also people can plan activities too. We will meet every morning to discuss.

Please contact us if you would like to offer a workshop. Previous suggestions for workshops have included:

1.    Get together for vegan parents – a chance to chat about parenting, kids, being vegan and parenting

2.    Vegan cream workshop – how to make vegan creamy foods such as yogurt, whipped cream, sour cream and cheese sauce (please bring a small – about 100ml – leak-proof container so you can take home a yogurt starter)

After breakfast each day there will be a brief meeting to organise those who wish to do an activity together. Hanmer Springs offers something for everyone. We will organise shuttles to drop you off or pick up in Hanmer village if you want to go there during the free time sessions to swim, walk, explore or shop. Otherwise it is a pleasant 2.5km walk to the village from the venue. During the free times, you might wish to do some of the following activities:

Walks – there are a variety of short and longer walks or varying difficulties. Some are suitable for children.

Swim in the pools – by going as a group we will receive a discount on the entry price

Massage – you must pre-book a treatment before you arrive at Hanmer Springs

Mountainbiking – bring your own bike or rent one there

Mini Golf – by going as a group we will receive a discount on the entry price

Shopping – Hanmer Springs has many boutique stores to buy clothes, gifts and arts and crafts.

Vegan Camp is especially welcoming to vegan families. The Hanmer Forest Camp venue is ideal for children. There is an excellent playground, a large grassy field for games, cabin rooms that can accommodate families of up to 6 people and lots of other kids to play with. We hope that child-free participants will offer to spend time with the children and play games with them; however it is important to remember you are responsible for the children you bring and that Vegan Camp is unable to provide child care. Parents may wish to share care (e.g. taking a group to the playground) and should work this out between them. If you can bring some toys and games for your child and other children to play with, that would be very welcome.

Please understand that children like everyone, are welcome at Vegan Camp, but everyone, including the children, feels happier and safer when there are clear boundaries and expectations of behaviour.

Parental guidelines

Parents are responsible for their children at all times. The Christchurch Vegan Society do not provide childcare services or supervision of children at Vegan Camp.

Please talk to your children before arrival and encourage your child to go into camp with the mindset of making a few new friends. Everyone is entitled to feel safe and happy while at camp so we ask the following:

1. Your pre-schooler must not be left without an adult who is directly responsible for them. Parents of older children must know where they are.
2. Please watch children carefully and act quickly to support your child if you think they will struggle to be respectful of other children’s wellbeing, personal space, or belongings at camp.
3. Name calling, fighting, bullying, and arguing are not tolerated at vegan camp.
4. This is an all-ages camp. Noise/physical games might need to be taken outside or away from sleeping spaces to make this work. Please don’t be offended if you are asked to take noise elsewhere.
5. Please tidy up after your group/family/children.
6. We do not allow children into the kitchen for health and safety reasons. This supports our food prep team to maintain an organised, clean and safe space to cook food. Parents will need to prepare any food for their children and take it out to the dining area.

These rules are so that everyone can have a safe and good time at Vegan Camp.  On your registration form we will ask parents to sign a form agreeing to keep to these rules, for everyone’s enjoyment.

Vegan Camp will be held at Hanmer Springs Forest Camp. Forest Camp has a range of accommodation options that should suit all budgets. Families will be staying in the cabins unless they are camping. We will be using the Big Kitchen for meals and social activities.

Accommodation options including rooms for singles, couples and families or groups of friends with shared bathrooms (or private bathrooms at no extra cost for Kiwiable/Hapai Access card holders). There are also two motel-unit type of studio flats available. Tents and camper vans can also be accommodated; however the sites are not powered. The shared bathrooms are modern and very clean.

Kiwiable/Hapai Access card holders are able to use the more private disabled toilets for no extra cost (email [email protected]). Costs will vary depending on the type of accommodation you require. For those who don’t wish to share a room, private rooms can be booked (for one or two people) when you register for Vegan Camp for an additional cost.

There are a limited number of double beds available, which are available on a first come basis. Please indicate on your registration form if you want a double bed. If you are not allocated one, it is because they were booked out before we received your registration. Please DO NOT book via or contact Hanmer Springs Forest Camp with your inquiries, email us instead.

We have reserved cabins in the Ensor Lodge. Ensor Lodge: is a modern block of cabins, with heating, which can accommodate between 3-6 people. They contain single bunk beds with a small number offering double beds also.

There are two self contained motel-type units attached to Abilities Lodge for anyone wanting a private bathroom and own kitchenette. These units have a queen bed and one has an additional bed settee. These are available on a first come basis. If another group is booked in the Abilities Lodge where these units are situated, motel users may hear sounds from the other users. However, the entrances are separate. It is possible to bring your own tent or camper van. Forest Camp offers 24 non-powered spacious sites. Please note that Vegan Camp is being held in autumn in the mountains and it could be cold if camping.

The Hanmer Springs Forest Camp has been designed with people with disabilities in mind. If you are a wheelchair user, please book an Ensor Lodge Cabin or a self contained unit. There is more information for wheelchair users below. Also go to the Hanmer Springs Forest Camp accessibility information page http://www.hanmerforestWeekend.co.nz/accessibility.html

For other disabilities, please let us know if there is anything we need to be aware of so that we can make it easier for you to attend. All of the family-style cabins in Ensor Lodge are well-suited for anyone using a wheelchair as they are an open-plan with a double bed and either one or two sets of bunks.

Accessing the Ensor Lodge is easy for people of all abilities as wide walkways and ramps lead up to the cabins. Attached to the Sequoia Wing is an accessible toilet/shower facility that is available to use for anyone that has a disability FREE of charge. Within the toilet/shower facilities there is a shower wheelchair in each facility available for use. The Big Kitchen where we will be having meals and activities is also wheelchair accessible. Please let us know at registration if you use a wheelchair or other disability so that we can ensure you are allocated a suitable room and have free access to the accessible toilets and showers.

The venue is Hanmer Forest Camp (run by the Hanmer Forest Springs Forest Camp Charitable Trust). The address is 243 Jollies Pass Road, Hanmer Springs (a 90 minute drive from Christchurch).

If you require a ride to Hanmer from Christchurch or from anywhere else, please try to organise this through the Facebook page or your own networks, as we may not able to co-ordinate car-pooling this year (we will try but we are very busy so cannot guarantee it). If you do find a ride with another attendee of Vegan Camp, please contribute $10 one way for petrol and give this directly to your driver.

You can also book a shuttle. Shuttles can be booked via www.hanmerconnection.co.nz. Please remember it is Easter Weekend so you MUST book in advance. It will pay to check times before booking flights etc to be sure you can get a shuttle for the time you need as these operate at certain times only.

We can pick up from Hanmer (only if you pre-arrange it with us) if the shuttle won’t take you to Forest Camp.