Note: In order to maintain the community spirit of the festival, we encourage attendees to join us for the entire event. The gates will open at 4:00 on Friday, April 25. Festival ends Sunday at 5pm.
Festival begins Friday at 6pm with an opening ceremonial lighting of the community fire.
We will have a community Appalachian-style Beans and Greens and Cornbread supper.
8am simple breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, followed by Morning Circle.
Dinner served Saturday night in the main Dining Hall, followed by a guest speaker and music and maybe some dancing.
Please check the weather and pack accordingly. If you forget something, you can probably borrow it from an organizer or neighbor. Don't be afraid to ask!
There is cell reception at the 4H Camp.
NO PETS ALLOWED - Service animals with appropriate paperwork must be leashed throughout the event .
The most important thing to bring is a fun, flexible, family-friendly attitude!
Required
Optional (recommended!)
PLEASE DO NOT BRING
Medic Welcome
Please read these wise words from our Medic Team – they know how to keep us safe.
Welcome to Whippoorwill! We are excited that you’re here and we want you to learn, have a blast, relax, work hard, and enjoy new experiences that help you grow to be the best version of yourself. We also want to make sure that you allow plenty of space for everyone else here to be able to do the same.
With that in mind, the last six years have taught us a lot about how to make sure that people feel safe emotionally and physically during the gathering. This list has been compiled through the years from your suggestions and the organizers’ own experiences. It is intended as an ongoing collaborative agreement between everyone here to provide the safest learning environment possible, while recognizing the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized among us.
Drink water, about 4 times as much as you would if you weren’t spending all day outdoors in July. Feeling thirsty is the first sign of dehydration. Know the other signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion: dizziness, confusion, headache, fainting, fatigue, profuse sweating, rapid heartbeat.
Wear sunscreen or protective clothing.
Wear your shoes and have your kids wear their shoes. We get it, this one’s hard. Our kids are probably not wearing their shoes right now. We treat a lot of foot injuries. Snakes bite when you step on them in the dark.
Check for ticks at least once every 12 hours. Check your kids for ticks. Check your friends for ticks. Have someone check you for ticks. Gain consent and check everywhere. Remove a tick by grabbing it as close to your skin as possible and pulling it straight out. Burning, twisting, or doing anything else you might have heard about to the tick will cause it to regurgitate its diseases into you.
Wash your hands before meals, after the toilet, as often as possible. If you touch poison ivy, wash with soap and water. Don’t use soap in the lake or in the streams.
Close the lid of every toilet you use every time you use it. Then wash your hands. This is super important to break the cycle of feces> flies>food> gastrointestinal illness.
Please see a medic if you or your companion ends up sunburned, covered in ticks, dehydrated, heat exhausted, sick or hurt in any way. These things happen. We have water, electrolyte replacement, sunscreen, aloe, bandages, non-chemical bug repellent, and basic herbal and over the counter remedies. We will care for y’all compassionately and without judgement.
Care for each other.
Ask before you touch someone. Then, wait for their response. Do not proceed without a “yes.” Example: “Can I give you a hug?” “Yes, please!” or, “No, I don’t want that.” No always means no. Good consent is sometimes a little awkward to learn at first. It’s worth it.
Be respectful of other people's identities. This means not assuming you know someone’s abilities or interests based on your perception of their appearance. Ask someone what pronouns they use before using them. Avoid identity specific terms for people you don’t know. Avoid cultural appropriation. Unsure about what this means? Please attend the community discussion about this topic – identified on the Workshop Schedule.
Don’t teach someone else’s workshop. You may know way more about the topic than the instructor. We know. We designed it that way. We have workshop leaders of all levels of knowledge and skill, and we like to provide opportunities to help people grow into teaching roles. Please help them by applying to teach your great ideas next year.
Don’t be intoxicated
Respect the quiet hours. We ask that any sound above conversational level be over and done with by midnight. Any sound at conversational level should take place away from where people are sleeping.
Please talk with a medic about any concerns you may have about anything on this list or anything we may have left out. We are here to help.
Festival begins Friday at 6pm with an opening ceremonial lighting of the community fire.
We will have a community Appalachian-style Beans and Greens and Cornbread supper.
8am simple breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, followed by Morning Circle.
Dinner served Saturday night in the main Dining Hall, followed by a guest speaker and music and maybe some dancing.
Please check the weather and pack accordingly. If you forget something, you can probably borrow it from an organizer or neighbor. Don't be afraid to ask!
There is cell reception at the 4H Camp.
NO PETS ALLOWED - Service animals with appropriate paperwork must be leashed throughout the event .
The most important thing to bring is a fun, flexible, family-friendly attitude!
Required
- Tent and ground cloth (if you're camping)
- Sleeping bag, pad, and pillow
- Camp Chair
- Blanket or mat (for sitting, yoga, massage)
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Comfortable clothes for walking, sitting, dancing, etc. (please bring layers and check the weather)
- Comfortable water-friendly shoes for the morning dew (Keen, Tevas, Crocs work well)
- Raingear
- Hat or scarf
- Towel and personal care items (preferably biodegradable)
- Food and/or cash for on-site vendors (see Food for details)
- Cooler
- Plate, bowl, and silverware (paper plates are limited)
- Coffee mug and water bottle
- Personal medications, supplements, etc. (please talk to our medic when you arrive if you have any conditions we need to be aware of like bee sting allergies)
- Sunscreen and insect repellent
- Notebook and pen or pencil
Optional (recommended!)
- Little Red Wagon to transport your gear from your car to your tent site
- Tarp
- Hammock
- Mountain bike
- Acoustic musical instruments (no drums please)
- Trade items (see Activities)
- $$ for vendors
PLEASE DO NOT BRING
- Pets (service animals with papers are welcome)
- Firearms
- Fireworks
- Illegal substances
- Alcohol (not strictly prohibited, but discouraged since Whippoorwill is a family-friendly event)
Medic Welcome
Please read these wise words from our Medic Team – they know how to keep us safe.
Welcome to Whippoorwill! We are excited that you’re here and we want you to learn, have a blast, relax, work hard, and enjoy new experiences that help you grow to be the best version of yourself. We also want to make sure that you allow plenty of space for everyone else here to be able to do the same.
With that in mind, the last six years have taught us a lot about how to make sure that people feel safe emotionally and physically during the gathering. This list has been compiled through the years from your suggestions and the organizers’ own experiences. It is intended as an ongoing collaborative agreement between everyone here to provide the safest learning environment possible, while recognizing the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized among us.
Drink water, about 4 times as much as you would if you weren’t spending all day outdoors in July. Feeling thirsty is the first sign of dehydration. Know the other signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion: dizziness, confusion, headache, fainting, fatigue, profuse sweating, rapid heartbeat.
Wear sunscreen or protective clothing.
Wear your shoes and have your kids wear their shoes. We get it, this one’s hard. Our kids are probably not wearing their shoes right now. We treat a lot of foot injuries. Snakes bite when you step on them in the dark.
Check for ticks at least once every 12 hours. Check your kids for ticks. Check your friends for ticks. Have someone check you for ticks. Gain consent and check everywhere. Remove a tick by grabbing it as close to your skin as possible and pulling it straight out. Burning, twisting, or doing anything else you might have heard about to the tick will cause it to regurgitate its diseases into you.
Wash your hands before meals, after the toilet, as often as possible. If you touch poison ivy, wash with soap and water. Don’t use soap in the lake or in the streams.
Close the lid of every toilet you use every time you use it. Then wash your hands. This is super important to break the cycle of feces> flies>food> gastrointestinal illness.
Please see a medic if you or your companion ends up sunburned, covered in ticks, dehydrated, heat exhausted, sick or hurt in any way. These things happen. We have water, electrolyte replacement, sunscreen, aloe, bandages, non-chemical bug repellent, and basic herbal and over the counter remedies. We will care for y’all compassionately and without judgement.
Care for each other.
Ask before you touch someone. Then, wait for their response. Do not proceed without a “yes.” Example: “Can I give you a hug?” “Yes, please!” or, “No, I don’t want that.” No always means no. Good consent is sometimes a little awkward to learn at first. It’s worth it.
Be respectful of other people's identities. This means not assuming you know someone’s abilities or interests based on your perception of their appearance. Ask someone what pronouns they use before using them. Avoid identity specific terms for people you don’t know. Avoid cultural appropriation. Unsure about what this means? Please attend the community discussion about this topic – identified on the Workshop Schedule.
Don’t teach someone else’s workshop. You may know way more about the topic than the instructor. We know. We designed it that way. We have workshop leaders of all levels of knowledge and skill, and we like to provide opportunities to help people grow into teaching roles. Please help them by applying to teach your great ideas next year.
Don’t be intoxicated
Respect the quiet hours. We ask that any sound above conversational level be over and done with by midnight. Any sound at conversational level should take place away from where people are sleeping.
Please talk with a medic about any concerns you may have about anything on this list or anything we may have left out. We are here to help.
The Whippoorwill Festival - Skills for Earth Friendly Living
April 25-27, 2025 Carlisle KY
April 25-27, 2025 Carlisle KY