This sounds fun! Can I invite my friends?

The site can host up to 125 people. Invite anyone you think would enjoy Friendstival!  Please be sure they also sign up here.  

Can kids come to Friendstival?

Sure!  Whether you want your kids to come is really up to you.  There will be lots of activities kids would enjoy, but we are not specifically tailoring the space to kids.  In the past we have had lots of kids come, and they all end up playing together and it is adorable.  

Can I bring my pet?

If it were up to me, all pets would be welcome everywhere at Friendstival.  Unfortunately the DNR does not allow pets in the cabins.  If you want to camp and bring your pet, that is fine with me.  Your pets need to be on leash at all times.

I see a question on the registration page about volunteering. What is that about?

Pulling off a super fun weekend like Friendstival is no easy task.  To make things run smoothly so we can all spend as much time as possible enjoying the camp, we need people to help out.  Possible tasks include shopping for food before Friendstival, cooking or cleaning up from group meals, or cleaning up the camp for checkout on Sunday.  We also need help leading fun activities.  You can coordinate things with other people on our Facebook page too.

What sort of fun activities will happen at Friendstival?

That is totally up to you!  We want this to be a community driven weekend, so if you are excited about something, let us know!  If you want to organize something but don't want to do it alone, we can try to connect you up with others who are attending.  Some ideas we have are night games, giant bubbles, a silent disco, collective art projects, nature walks, etc.  

What about COVID?  Is this safe?

We take the pandemic very seriously.  We will monitor the situation, and let you know if we need to cancel.  The space we have is very large, and if needed, it is easy to keep 6 feet apart from others.  Stay home if you are feeling sick or have any symptoms. We will have extra rapid tests on site if needed.  We will probably have enough space for each household to have their own cabin, too. If you are not vaccinated, please wear a mask indoors.

Who should I talk to if I have more questions?  

Reach out to Wendy if you need anything.  We will also send you an email with more details when you register.

What are the cabins like?

Each cabin has about 8 twin beds, some are bunked.  They are very rustic, and are almost 100 years old.  There is no electricity or running water in the cabins.  Bathrooms are nearby.  Each bunk bed has a mattress on it, but please bring your own bedding or a sleeping bag.  There is one cabin with a bathroom in it.

Can I bring a tent?

If you want your own private space, feel free to bring a tent. There is plenty of space to camp on the property.

Is the campsite accessible?

Yes!  If you need an accessible cabin, just let us know when you register. 

Where is the camp located?

You can see a map of St. Croix State Park here.  Head of the Rapids Group Camp is on the lower left.

I want to sign up for this weekend of wonderment!  How do I do it?

Visit our sign up page!  We can't wait to see you!  Once you fill out the sign up form, we will send information about how to pay via PayPal or Venmo.

How does the pricing work?

The average price is $60 a person.  Please consider paying $100 or more to "friend it forward". Extra funds will be used to cover the cost of campers who cannot afford a full payment. If cost is keeping you from attending, let us know and we will add you to our private "friend it forward" list!

The cost per person includes lodging, all meals, and a weekend of fun! If you are bringing kids who will eat the group meals, we appreciate you sending $$ for them too. 

I am planning to come for only one day, does the registration fee change?

To keep things simple, the registration is the same no matter how many nights you are at Friendstival.  If you need to change your plans last minute and can only come for one night (or can make it for an extra night!) just let us know. 

I have dietary restrictions so I will bring my own food.  Does the registration price change?

Yes.  If you plan not to eat the group meals, $25 will cover your Friendstival.

I signed up and now I need to cancel, can I get a refund?

We really appreciate you signing up early so we can get an accurate count for how much food.  If you need to drop out for any reason, we will refund you half your registration up to 7 days before Friendstival.  Once we are 7 days out, we will have already bought food for you, so we will not be able to refund your money.

To make Friendstival a place where people feel free to be authentic, silly, creative, and curious, we ask that the people who attend agree to our community code of conduct.  

• Participate in an authentic and active way. In doing so, you contribute to the health and longevity of this community.

• Exercise consideration and respect in your speech and actions.

• Please avoid making assumptions. For example, if you aren’t aware of what someone’s pronouns are, just ask.

• Please ask before touching anyone. It’s easy, and the worst thing that happens is someone says no! We hope to create connection between people through many of our activities, but please participate at your comfort level, and check in with each other to be sure everyone is feeling ok.

• Allow everyone to show up in ways that work for them. Some people will want alone time in the woods, some people will want to be surrounded by people all weekend; luckily we have a huge camp to ourselves, so if you ever feel like the energy of one space is not working for you, you can move to another.  This also applies to the use of chemicals.  People's desires to connect with each other and with nature may be different than yours, so please respect that.  We will have a designated drug/alcohol free area of the camp, to allow for people to make their own choices. 

If you have feedback about this, please let us know.  We invite all those who participate to help us create safe and positive experiences for everyone. 

(Some of this CoC comes from https://queer-code.org/coc.html. Thank you!)