LineupThe Pickathon Campground Host Idea By Pickathon . 2012-06-15 . (27) comments
One area Pickathon is looking to improve is our ability to help anyone camping in the woods settle into their respective campsites.
As we like to do this with most of our new ideas, we wanted to share our thoughts and get your feedback.
Let us start at the point when you arrive onsite with all your gear.
If you do not know where you should camp, the first thing you should do is head to the new and improved Campground Host. You can find the Campground Host by asking any volunteer or looking on the 2012 Pickathon sitemap. *The Campground Host is located at the north pedestrian overflow parking entrance which is just east of the entrance to the Quail trail that heads to the Woods Stage.
Once you have successfully arrived at the Campground Host we want to empower you on where you should start looking for your weekend campsite before you ever step into the woods. This will be possible by interacting with our friendly Campground Host crew to determine the best zones of available camping using a new large gridded map of Pendarvis Farm that breaks up the farm into small zones that are uniquely labeled.
At this point you need to go find your campsite in the woods, here we also have a newly improved vision for how this might happen. One initial suggestion is for you to consider sending one or two people in your party with enough gear to find and reserve a spot(s) while leaving someone else to sit and watch your gear back at the Campground Host. This way you don’t have to haul your gear to your campsite until you know where you plan on camping. As you look for your campsite you may encounter the all new Pickathon Campsite Scout, whose purpose is to help find the best available campsite for anyone that is looking.
Once you find your campsite you will then need to haul your gear to the chosen campsite (if you haven’t already). In years past we tried to figure out effective ways to provide some sort of cart system to help in this task, but the carts have been problematic every year (breaking down, creating long lines of frustrated people waiting, and were generally insufficient overall). This year we want to empower everyone to be prepared to haul their own gear as we believe it will be far less frustrating and if folks
plan ahead it will go way faster and smoother.
When planning on hauling your own gear to your campsite we suggest two possible strategies. The first
is to bring your own hauling device with big wheels such as a bike trailer or wagon, which is relatively easy to pull gear up trails in the woods. The second strategy is to think about bringing less stuff overall as Pickathon is full of amazing amenities such as quality and reasonably priced food, drink, and beer (think of it as backpacking in the woods except with great restaurants and showers). If hauling your own gear sounds like a serious issue don’t worry as we still will have a limited number of motorized gators assisting the neediest people to help get their gear close to their campsites in the woods, but it will be a tiny fraction of the overall campers who can count on this.
Once you have found your awesome 2012 Pickathon campsite you may want to make improvements (i.e. flatten your spot) and we plan to help here by introducing a way to checkout a limited number of shovels and other useful tools. Simply go to the Campground Host and swap an ID for a shovel and get the ID back when you return the shovel.
Well, that's the plan and we hope that this can help everyone in advance and create known expectations for what will happen once arriving.
Let us know what you think.
Newer >>
A new playlist, volunteer applications, and the daily stage schedules coming out this week. << Older:
The Kitty, Daisy & Lewis Story - All In The Family.
As we like to do this with most of our new ideas, we wanted to share our thoughts and get your feedback.
Let us start at the point when you arrive onsite with all your gear.
If you do not know where you should camp, the first thing you should do is head to the new and improved Campground Host. You can find the Campground Host by asking any volunteer or looking on the 2012 Pickathon sitemap. *The Campground Host is located at the north pedestrian overflow parking entrance which is just east of the entrance to the Quail trail that heads to the Woods Stage.
Once you have successfully arrived at the Campground Host we want to empower you on where you should start looking for your weekend campsite before you ever step into the woods. This will be possible by interacting with our friendly Campground Host crew to determine the best zones of available camping using a new large gridded map of Pendarvis Farm that breaks up the farm into small zones that are uniquely labeled.
At this point you need to go find your campsite in the woods, here we also have a newly improved vision for how this might happen. One initial suggestion is for you to consider sending one or two people in your party with enough gear to find and reserve a spot(s) while leaving someone else to sit and watch your gear back at the Campground Host. This way you don’t have to haul your gear to your campsite until you know where you plan on camping. As you look for your campsite you may encounter the all new Pickathon Campsite Scout, whose purpose is to help find the best available campsite for anyone that is looking.
Once you find your campsite you will then need to haul your gear to the chosen campsite (if you haven’t already). In years past we tried to figure out effective ways to provide some sort of cart system to help in this task, but the carts have been problematic every year (breaking down, creating long lines of frustrated people waiting, and were generally insufficient overall). This year we want to empower everyone to be prepared to haul their own gear as we believe it will be far less frustrating and if folks
plan ahead it will go way faster and smoother.
When planning on hauling your own gear to your campsite we suggest two possible strategies. The first
is to bring your own hauling device with big wheels such as a bike trailer or wagon, which is relatively easy to pull gear up trails in the woods. The second strategy is to think about bringing less stuff overall as Pickathon is full of amazing amenities such as quality and reasonably priced food, drink, and beer (think of it as backpacking in the woods except with great restaurants and showers). If hauling your own gear sounds like a serious issue don’t worry as we still will have a limited number of motorized gators assisting the neediest people to help get their gear close to their campsites in the woods, but it will be a tiny fraction of the overall campers who can count on this.
Once you have found your awesome 2012 Pickathon campsite you may want to make improvements (i.e. flatten your spot) and we plan to help here by introducing a way to checkout a limited number of shovels and other useful tools. Simply go to the Campground Host and swap an ID for a shovel and get the ID back when you return the shovel.
Well, that's the plan and we hope that this can help everyone in advance and create known expectations for what will happen once arriving.
Let us know what you think.
Photo:
Newer >>
A new playlist, volunteer applications, and the daily stage schedules coming out this week. << Older:
The Kitty, Daisy & Lewis Story - All In The Family.
2013-02-16 04:08:52
olgakurayalanko@gmail.com
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2013-01-24 02:32:06
olgakurayalanko@gmail.com
I cant identify your rss button, how will you join with it? best mattress brand
2012-07-22 10:57:25
Donhaupt@ ymail.com
I seriously got zero sleep last year between the music going to 3am and super happy/drunk festival goers walking back and forth. We'll try a single day pass this year thank you very much.
2012-07-18 21:19:24
Here's another vote for "Quiet Camp." We love Pickathon, and so do our kids. But up until 3am and then up at 7a is a real drag. There are plenty of places to go and keep your party going, but it would be awesome to have a "quieter" spot for families.
2012-07-02 14:46:43
Hooray for ***Quiet Camp*** idea!!!!! YES!!!!!!
2012-07-02 14:41:33
We love the idea of a Quiet Camp for 12 hours, such as 9pm-9am, in which quiet time is encouraged, and reminders are posted in the designated camping area. The many, many families with small children who go to bed early (9pm-ish) and wake early (as small children do), should all be able to enjoy the fun of Pickathon AND get a good night's rest. Families with small children can't sleep in until noon, the way late night musicians often can. It's a bummer, but it's true! Being awake till 4am, then waking at 7am with the little ones can make for some pretty grumps parents. And, there are a lot of us at Pickathon! :-) With 84 acres, there really should be a designated area of quiet camping for the families who need it. Babies, children, and parents lying wide-eyed awake in their tents at 4am because of an ongoing jam within earshot should be a problem that can be taken care of, in order to foster an ongoing environment of respect and consideration. Thanks in advance for being responsive. Looking forward to an update!
2012-07-01 09:17:42
camping@pickathon.com
So - adding on to my previous comment - when the gates open on Thursday at noon for early arrival tickets, we'll be ready to help!
2012-06-28 11:04:27
There is a tool called a Japanese hoe that is available at good nurseries, compost and garden places, etc. It is handheld and can fit on your back and is easy and ergonomic to flatten out a space. Much more portable and easier to use than a shovel and does the job.
2012-06-28 10:58:03
k8shantry@gmail.com
That is exactly what my boyfriend and I discussed. Bring less stuff and eat more yummy food at Pickathon.
2012-06-25 23:02:12
This is a great idea! and I love the shovel check out idea too!! Much better than last year, thank you for improving as you grow!
2012-06-20 15:57:43
Super proud that Brunch camp is the background for this post! We all have loved pickathon for many years and really enjoy nothing more than a hearty, chaotic breakfast party to start a day of music. Old friends see one another, quiet afternoon jams happen and relationships blossom in these woods. Pickathon facilitates community. Can't wait for another year!
2012-06-19 01:00:07
I think you should also have a quiet hours camp and designated late night jamming/socializing area that is far far away from quiet camp. I think early rising families with excited children and late night social musicians should all have a place at Pickathon, but it would be great to get some sleep amongst them all. It would be great to have a swath of camping areas that aim for quite for a 12-hour period, either 9pm-9am or 10pm-10am.
2012-06-18 23:19:02
Yes, please. Last year we ended up in the saddest, bumpiest "campsite" on earth. I love the idea of having shovels available. I also love the idea of the Host reminding people to take only the space they need.
2012-06-18 18:10:52
bruce@lindeke.com
I brought way too much last year. Didn't need to bring food or beer. Just tent, bag, clothes, flashlight, and maybe a clothes line. Plenty to see until bedtime.
2012-06-18 17:30:44
camp sites should totally be a place to rest your head- groups dont need spaces as big as their houses out there! i've loved how people have gotten creative in little spots!
2012-06-18 16:06:04
PICKATHON
The gates will open between Noon and 8PM on Thursday and at 9AM on Friday.
2012-06-18 15:59:35
How early can we arrive on Friday?
2012-06-18 15:34:07
Fantastic idea. It would also be good to empower the campground hosts and scouts with the ability to monitor and gently discourage the wholesale saving of large areas for "friends" showing up later, which has been a problem the last couple of years. When large areas are occupied before the Thursday early entry even opens, it's a problem.
2012-06-18 14:47:39
bfstrick@earthlink.net
I would add that for most folks the tent spot is just a place to lay your head for a few brief hours before the music starts up again. If that sounds like you, then there is no need to bring all the chairs, tables, coolers, etc. that you might normally haul when camping. You just need your tent and a change of clothes. The food is amazing and organic and local and worth indulging in. Save yourself from hauling in your food and all that goes with it. You won't be sorry.
2012-06-18 14:31:10
timothy.marvin@gmail.com
Think this is a great idea. One humble suggestion is to ask folks to volunteer to help others. Every year I see some folks struggling and other kind folks taking some time and putting in some muscle to help them out. Maybe you could have the host spot be a place for folks to chip in helping out their neighbors if they so choose. Maybe you give them a ticket for a free beer or maybe they just get some good karma. I am hoping to volunteer with y'all this year and would be stoked to contribute to something like this.
2012-06-18 14:24:55
Thank you for these ideas...we love the democratic format. The idea of a camp host and camp site scout sound helpful. Last year, we noticed that a *vendor* had reserved (via roping off) a large, multi-site (8+) camping area in the *Staff* Camping Only section. The vendor had reserved additional sites for his family, extended family, in-laws, etc. These were roped off. Just for clarification, so that this doesn't become a trend, are *vendors* permitted to camp in and/or reserve large, multi-site camping areas in the Staff Camping Only area? Does "Staff Camping Only" mean camping only for festival staff, or does it actually mean camping for vendors, vendors' extended family, vendors' in-laws ... and others? Thanks for clarifying!
2012-06-18 14:21:44
bycroft9413@comcast.net
I need to add that if I did not go for the entire Pickathon experience, i.e. grubby camping, great grub, amazing music,including that of the numerous 'jams' going on all night, which lull me to sleep when I finally fall into my tent, I would opt for camping in a state park. Just sayin', I would discourage 'quiet rules' etc. Unless some one is being cruel or ridiculously loud. Thanks
2012-06-18 14:17:33
bycroft9413@comcast.net
While our group has never had trouble finding a site, hauling our stuff etc. it is a great idea for those who do, and or are impaired or something. I like the idea of borrowing shovels. We always bring gloves and nippers, but shovels,not so much. I have a nifty collapsible wagon that is very handy. I just love Pickathon,better every year!
2012-06-18 14:15:32
naturebroad@gmail.com
Fantastic! I would just add that our camping experience last year was only problematic in that we unwittingly camped within the bowl of the Woods Stage and had to endure pretty terrible versions of Neil Young songs until 3 a.m. Is there any way you can have quiet hours after midnight, or have a specific area where those who want to play are not in direct competition with those who need to sleep? Thanks!!!
2012-06-18 14:10:57
This is a super helpful post, especially for those of us that haven't been before and are wondering (and worrying) about the camping details. Even the picture gives me a really good sense of what to expect in August. Thanks!
2012-06-17 21:05:05
That all sounds great. Good idea to inform the folks who want to be informed. Getting people to a good camp site can be a lot like herding cats. And Cats will be cats.
2012-06-15 16:30:13
I think this is a great and informative blog. Good job, Pickathon!
