What is Feral! ?
Feral! is a five day furry event in the wilderness of Ontario, Canada where fans
of anthropomorphic art, writing and games can get together in a relaxed atmosphere
far away from the stresses of ordinary life.
How much does Feral! cost and why?
Feral! is an all-inclusive event, the cost of lodging at Feral!, on-site activity
costs, all of your meals (a full breakfast, lunch, diner and evening snack for each
full day) and the cost of most workshops and activities (except any material costs)
are included in your registration fee.
When you consider the full cost of a typical weekend furry con in a hotel,
including room, food, etc., Feral! is actually a great value for your money! In
2005, one fur referred to Feral! as "The greatest entertainment value for your
money on the planet."
Feral!'s membership costs for one year are as follows:
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Membership
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Cost
|
Includes
|
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Camper
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$325 CAD
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- 4 full nights of lodging
- 11 full meals and 4 evening snacks
- All on-site activities
- All workshops (not including cost of materials)
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Sponsor
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$375 CAD
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- Official Feral 2010 Tshirt
- Access to Sponsors Event: Wine and cheese, hand crafted beer, live DJ and other
treats
- 5 free raffle ticket
- 4 full nights of lodging
- 11 full meals and 4 evening snacks
- All on-site activities
- All workshops (not including cost of materials)
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Patron
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$495 CAD
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- Limited Edition Feral 2010 Hoodie
- Access to Sponsors Event: Wine and cheese, hand crafted beer, live DJ and other
treats
- 10 free raffle ticket
- The satisfaction of pitching in that little extra to help support a unique furry
experience
- 4 full nights of lodging
- 11 full meals and 4 evening snacks
- All on-site activities
- All workshops (not including cost of materials)-
- A full set of Fursuit Figurines courtesy of Pup and Jafra!
- A personalized wooden medallion (much like those seen on staff and Guests of
Honour in 2009) if you register and pay before August 1st
- Some other treats for your treat bag are in the works!!
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In addition, if you wish to take the Feral! bus, it is an additional $45 CDN.
Your membership fee covers all additional Camp Feral! activities which are held
throughout the year including the Pre-Camp BBQ and the Dead-Dog Party. We'll post
more information as to these parties as they get closer.
When must I pay by?
You should pay by August 1st, 2010. You can pay by PayPal, Money Order or Cheque
in advance. We can accept on-site payments but these must first be arranged with
Potoroo prior to attending.
When is Feral! ?
Feral! 2010 will be held from Wednesday, September 1st to Sunday, September 5th,
2010.
Why is Feral! mostly during the week this year?
In 2010, Camp Feral's dates are Wednesday, September 1st to Sunday, September 5th.
This is chiefly because our schedule is directly tied to Camp Arowhon's calendar
and we have a limited choice of dates. The Camp Feral! Staff strives to choose the
earliest dates available so as not to conflict with schools and colleges and to
also catch as much of the warm summer weather before it becomes too cold.
Where is Camp Feral! ?
Feral! 2010 is being held at Camp Arowhon
in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario,
Canada.
How do I get to Feral! ?
Attendees have the option of either driving themselves to the Feral! campsite, or
riding to and from the camp on the Feral! bus. For more information, please see
our transportation page
Who is welcome?
In 2008, Feral! became a 19+ event. This means that furs aged 18 or younger cannot
attend.
Those 19+ who are interested in outdoor furry fun and fellowship, and who enjoy
fresh air, clear skies, sunshine, and bright stars at night are welcome at Feral!'
Why is Feral! 19+?
Since it's inception, Camp Feral! has always been an all-ages event. This, however,
has meant an increase in insurance rates to accommodate minors, as well as a great
deal of logistical work to cover legalities. As our insurance rates will drop dramatically
by making Feral! a 19+ event, we are hoping additional funds can be transferred
to our operational costs, and perhaps even into a registration fee decrease!
Attending Feral!
What should I bring to Feral! ?
What you should bring:
- Canadian citizens should bring their provincial health card. U.S. and other foreign
citizens should bring proof of health insurance coverage, whether it be national,
or private. We do carry a certain amount of required emergency medical coverage
which will pay for evacuation and some emergency treatment, however this coverage
only applies while you are at Camp, and not during your journey to Feral!
- Government-issued photo ID, such as a passport or a driver's license.
- If you are on any medications, be absolutely sure to bring enough for the duration
of Feral! There are no pharmacies or drug stores within an easily accessable distance
from the camp.
- A sleeping bag, sleeping roll, or blankets; and a pillow. (Camp Arowhon has cabins
which have bunks and mattresses.)
- Insect repellent
- A flashlight (this is an absolute must, as the terrain around Camp Arowhon is densely
treed and somewhat rocky, and very dark at night)
- Sunscreen (SPF 30 or more!)
- A bath towel
- Soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, razor, shaving cream, etc. (colognes
and perfumes are discouraged, as they tend to attract mosquitoes and black flies!)
- Warm clothes for the evening: we suggest hoodies, long sleeved shirts or sweaters
as the temperature can drop by ten degrees celcius or more in the evening.
- Day clothes that you don't mind getting dirty
- Long pants, and hiking boots (for the Predator-Prey game, as there are thorns and
prickly bushes around the play area)
- Money to help cover materials workshops, off-site activities, and purchases you
wish to make. (There is a trading post where our talented artists sell their wares
and take commissions)
The following items are highly suggested but not required:
- Umbrella or poncho
- Snacks/soft drinks, if you wish (please note that Arowhon is nut and seed free,
as many children who attend during the summer are allergic!) Please bring drinks
in cans or plastic bottles - glass is prohibited.
- A re-usable water bottle such as a "nalgene" bottle, to carry beverages in (Arowhon
prefers to avoid potential littering situations as much as possible)
- A swimsuit
- Art supplies
- Art to show or sell at the Art Trading Post (Please notify us prior to Feral! if
you need a table!)
- A musical instrument, hand drums, percussion instruments, and/or sheet music for
the campfire sing-a-long and Musician's Circle
- Your original poetry or favoure piece to read, if you wish to participate in the
Poetry Corner
- Board games, or card games
- Tennis racket/racquet, if you want to play tennis!
What we discourage you from bringing:
- Candles, incense, etc. - anything that could accidentally start a fire is strongly
discouraged!
- Valuables
- Computers (you can if you want, but remember that Feral! is in the wilderness, and
as such, there are no internet hookups)
- Cell phones and pagers - most will not work as there are no cell towers nearby!
What you may not bring:
- Firearms, Crossbows and Airguns (Per Ontario's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act)
- Fireworks (They are banned in provincial parks)
- Any knife other than pocket utility knives and small folding-style camping knives
- Any hazardous substance, including anything highly combustible, explosive, or toxic
What you must ask for permission to bring:
- Anything that looks like a firearm or other deadly weapon
- Anything that launches or fires a projectile, other than a standard watergun or
Nerf-style foam gun
- Any other weapon, including martial-arts type weapons
Please note that outdoor tobacco use is allowed on the Arowhon grounds in designated
areas, provided that all cigarette butts are placed in the provided receptacles.
If you're not sure whether you should bring something, please ask us about it.
We have, in the past, allowed campers to bring certain items such as staffs for
purposes such as martial arts demonstrations. If you want to do something similar,
please be aware that you must ask for permission to bring anything weapon-like before
you arrive, and you may be required to have it peace bonded and/or held by Arowhon
staff outside of any time you are making a demonstration that's been approved in
writing by Feral staffers in charge.
Is alcohol allowed at Feral! ?
Responsible alcohol consumption will be allowed at Feral! this year, subject to
these rules:
- Drinking is permitted in designated areas only. We'll let you know where these
are after you arrive.
- No drinking allowed before 5:00pm each day.
- The waterfront area is absolutely off limits for anyone who has
been drinking alcohol, no matter how much or how little they have imbibed.
- No glass bottles! - They are banned by our site. (Exception: You
can bring a bottle of wine to have with dinner, which we will keep for you until
you request it. Please e-mail us at info@campferal.org
if you'd like more information about this service.)
- Aluminum cans, boxed wine, and plastic bottles are acceptable, but all drinking
vessels must be recycled using the provided recycling boxes on site.
- All drinking at Feral! is to be done in responsible moderation.
PLEASE: Only bring alcohol for yourself to consume.
Large quantities of alcohol, except for wine being donated for special events and
planned for by Feral! staff, should not be brought to supply the entire camp. This
could potentially lead to someone overconsuming. Many members of Feral! staff are
smart serve certified, but since we cannot be everywhere at all times, we encourage
you to drink responsibly and only bring enough to enjoy for yourself during the
camp.
Can I bring my pet to Feral! ?
Unfortunately, you cannot. It is against Camp Arowhon policy, and the facilities
are also not suitable for pets.
What is required when attending Feral! from outside Canada?
The requirements depend on your country of citizenship, and how you will be traveling
to Canada.
NOTICE: As of June 1, 2009 you MUST have a valid passport to enter the United States.
Anyone attending Feral! from outside of Canada, and are either returning to the
US or entering the US for any reason, MUST possess a VALID passport to enter, including
US Residents.
Western Hemisphere
Travel Initiative Information
If you are a U.S. citizen traveling by air: You will need to show
a passport upon entry to Canada. Please note that this is a change from previous
customs and immigration policy, new this year. A birth certificate and driver's
license, military I.D. or other identification is no longer acceptable if you are
traveling by air.
If you are a U.S. citizen traveling by any other means: You will
need to show either a passport, or both proof of U.S. citizenship (such as a birth
certificate) as well as proof of identity (such as a driver's license) in order
to enter Canada.
If you are a citizen of any other country: You will almost certainly
need a passport. To find out what the requirements for citizens of your particular
nation are, we suggest that you visit
Canada Border Services Agency for further information.
What type of payment cards are accepted in Canada?
Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted almost everywhere in Canada.
As well, some less common cards such as Discover, JCB, En Route, Diner's Club,
and a few others are accepted in the odd location.
Most Canadian ABMs (Automated Banking Machines) are part of the Interac, Plus, Cirrus,
Maestro, or Visa Electron banking networks, so any U.S. ABM card which has the symbols
for one or more of the above-mentioned networks on the back of the card can be used
in most Canadian ABMs.
How can I get in touch with fellow campers?
Starting in 2010 we are giving campers a more unique experience on the Camp
Feral! website. Visit our community section to get access to some of these new
features, please keep in mind that the community features are still in
development.
How can someone reach me while at Feral! ?
We will provide the number for the camp to you by e-mail, well in advance of Feral.
It should only be used as an emergency contact number; whoever calls can leave a
message which will be relayed to you. There are pay-phones (calling card or collect
calls only - no coins) to return the call, and for any other call you wish to make.
Cell Phones do work in parts of Algonquin park, due to safety concerns, and as such
you may be able to use your cell phone. We do ask that you
keep your phones off unless necessary, and try to not disturb other campers, otherwise
your phone may be confiscated until after camp is over. Please note:
Canadian cell phones operate on a different frequency than most phones in the world,
so if you are traveling from outside Canada, DO NOT expect your cell phone to work
at camp.
What facilities are there?
The very first Feral! was held at Camp Arowhon Outdoor Centre in 1998, we returned
there for 2004-2008, and we are returning for our thirteenth event in 2010!
Camp Arowhon is a traditional summer camp established in 1933, located on a private
lake inside Algonquin Park, a major wildlife refuge about 250 km north of Toronto
and 300 km west of Ottawa. Arowhon has a beautiful cedar-log main lodge, many unique
and varied cabins located close together in the central area of the site, facilities
for workshops and performance, indoor and outdoor climbing walls, archery, swimming,
canoeing, sailing, and kayaking. As well, there is a softball diamond, a basketball/volleyball
court, 4 tennis courts, field games such as Predator-Prey, and several campfire
pits.
The accommodations at Arowhon are cabins, which sleep between eight and twelve,
and some cabins have electrical hookups. A late-night cabin will also be made available.
Hot showers and flush toilets are available, as well as privies close to each cabin.