Booking Terms & Camp Conditions
Springs Camp : Terms and Conditions 2024
These Terms and Conditions are intended to make sure you all enjoy a happy and safe stay at Springs Camp. All campers are asked to agree to them as a condition of staying on the site.
Booking Issues
Purpose of Camp : The camp is a temporary one set up solely to accommodate people attending the Keswick Convention. By booking to come to Springs Camp you are agreeing that you (or some of your family) are attending Keswick Convention.
Accommodation Units : A ‘unit’ is a tent, trailer tent, campervan, motorhome, or caravan with or without an awning. 'Pup' tents will be allowed as part of a 'unit'. All units must be used for accommodation rather than storage, with the exception that youth groups may use one tent for storage.
Subletting of Units : Subletting , or substituting names other than those on the original booking form, is not allowed without the permission of the Booking Secretary.
Security : Responsibility for personal safety and for theft and damage to your personal possessions cannot be accepted by Springs Camp, including, but without limitation, to your tent, caravan, car or motorhome.
Insurance : Your attendance at Springs Camp is at your own risk. You and your party are recommended to have adequate insurance to cover personal injury, cancellation fees, property and cancellation of the event due to unforeseen circumstances.
Cancellations & Refunds : Refunds are applicable on the following basis:
- Cancellations made 8 weeks or more prior to planned arrival date = full refund less non-refundable deposit.
- Cancellations made between 8 -4 weeks prior to arrival = 50% refund less non-refundable deposit.
- Cancellations made less than 4 weeks prior to arrival = zero refund.
- Cancellations made as a result of exceptional circumstances shall be considered on a case by case basis
In the event of the cancellation of the camp due to unforeseen circumstances, such as heavy flooding or other Acts of God, it is not always possible to offer refunds on any fees paid. It is recommended that campers take out their own insurance against such unlikely events.
Drugs & Smoking: Illegal drug use is not allowed on site. Smoking or vaping is permitted away from other campers and shared camp facilities.
Staffing : Springs Camp is run by volunteers on a non-profit making basis.
People
Children and Vulnerable Adults : Keswick Ministries operates a policy for children and vulnerable adults, but this does not apply to this site. Therefore, parents, carers and youth leaders have sole responsibility for the well-being on site of children and others in their care.
Youth Groups : Unless attending as part of a family unit supervised by parents or carers, young people aged 17 and under will be deemed to be attending as members of a youth group. In this case, they must be supervised on site by responsible adult leaders aged 18 or over, with current DBS enhanced clearance. The ratio of DBS-cleared leaders to young people must be 1:6 or better, and must include both male and female leaders if the youth group is mixed. Before a booking can be confirmed, the DBS details of all leaders must be given to the Booking Secretary and a satisfactory reference obtained from the minister of their home church.
Disabled Facilities : As this is a temporary campsite on farm fields, there are no dedicated facilities for the disabled. Please discuss individual needs with the Booking Secretary.
Illness : Any serious illness should be notified to the Site Manager. You may be asked to leave the site if it is considered that the illness is a hazard or danger to other campers.
First Aid Facilities : In the event of illness or injury please contact the local hospital or Castlehead Medical Centre in Keswick. You are recommended to purchase a basic first aid kit for you and for your family or group.
Site Facilities and Procedures
The Nature of the Site : The site is agricultural land which is uneven in places, and is used for cattle grazing when the camp is not in operation. Suitable footwear should be worn at all times, and care should be taken when walking over the site, playing games, cycling and driving. Since the site is not well lit, you are strongly advised to bring adequate torches and lamps for your family or group to use at night.
Temporary Toilets : Separate male and female toilets are available. There is also a separate unisex portaloo. Children under 5 yrs old must be accompanied to the toilets by a responsible older person. Toilet tents may be erected on pitches if desired, to supplement the toilet facilities.
Chemical Toilets : These must be emptied at the designated disposal point, which is out of bounds to children.
Showers : There is a portable shower block. This comprises individual cubicles; users will make one queue to use these facilities. Campers are requested to respect the needs of others and to keep usage time to a minimum. These will operate over all three weeks of camp and will be available at all times except when being cleaned.
Marquee : A marquee is provided for camp use. It has several picnic tables which campers can use to eat their meals if they so wish. It also houses an information board, facilities to freeze ice packs, milk fridge, hot water, microwave and toaster. It may be used by individual groups at other times by request to the Site Manager, and for wet weather play provided children are adequately supervised by responsible adults.
Play Area : It is considered safe for children to play in the top area of the field near the marquee provided they are supervised by a responsible adult. Children must not be allowed to play in or near the toilets, the waste water pit, the stream, any other area of potential danger, or near the property of others which could be damaged.
Hours of Quiet : Quietness must be maintained between 11pm and 7am on the site, and nearby, in order to avoid disturbance to other campers, especially young children, and to local residents.
Fires and Barbecues : Open fires, chimeneas and Chinese lanterns are NOT permitted on site, There is a dedicated area for barbecues behind the marquee. Barbecues (gas or charcoal) must be at least 30cms off the ground, must at all times be supervised by a responsible adult and must be fully extinguished before being left unattended. All hot utensils and dishes must be well clear of the grass to prevent long term damage. Due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, never take a barbecue inside your unit for any reason.
Fire Procedure : In the event of a fire, however small, shout “Fire!” . Evacuate the accommodation immediately, and if the fire is not suppressed quickly, and/or if there is a danger to personal health and injury, the fire brigade should be called (999). Fire buckets, supplied by the campsite, must be filled with water by campers, kept filled, and remain adjacent to each unit. You are strongly recommended to bring with you a small dry powder fire extinguisher.
Ice packs : A freezer is provided in the marquee, to be used for ice packs only. Ice packs will be available to borrow each morning and evening.
Dishwashing Facilities : There will be dishwashing sinks with hot and cold water behind the marquee.
Disposal of Water : The disposal of waste water must be at the waste water pits provided on site.
Rubbish : Recyclable and non-recyclable waste should be separated and placed in the appropriate bins provided near the site entrance. Non-recyclable waste should be bagged in non-spill bags before placing in the bins. Broken glass and other dangerous or sharp objects must be removed from the site and disposed of safely.
Dogs: Dogs must be under strict control at all times, either on a leash, penned, or tethered. The maximum length of a dog’s leash should not exceed two metres and must be fixed securely so that the animal cannot break free. Those responsible for dogs are accountable for their behaviour at all times and for their humane welfare. Dogs should not be left in vehicles or units. They should be exercised well away from the camping areas. Dog owners must remove any droppings in a non-porous receptacle and dispose of this safely. If any animal causes injury to any human or other animal, the legal responsibility for its actions and any compensation claims are the sole responsibility of the owner or the individual responsible for the animal at the time of the incident. Please note we do not allow on site any breed of dog listed under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. With the exception of assistance dogs, pets are not allowed in the marquee, toilets or showers.
Vehicles
Cycling is permitted on site, but care should be taken at all times and the 5mph speed limit observed. All cyclists are strongly advised to wear protective headgear in view of the uneven nature of the site.
Motor Vehicles : Vehicles may only be driven on site by persons who are licensed to drive on the public highway and must observe the 5mph speed limit. At no time should vehicles be parked so as to obstruct any of the access routes. Cars should be parked beside your unit within your pitch or on a separate designated part of the field.
Cars may be parked on the field at the discretion of the Site Manager, who may apply a “once off, stay off” rule during wet weather. Movement of vehicles on and off the fields must be kept to a minimum to avoid damage to the field’s surface, and for safety reasons. Motor caravans are admitted, but once sited should not be moved, and only moved on and off the field in the case of an emergency.
The speed limit on the site is 5 miles per hour and will be strictly enforced. For the protection of the field, onsite repairs of vehicles should not be undertaken (other than immediate emergency repairs) without the consent of the Site Manager.
General Site Safety
- You are reminded that the site is comprised of agricultural land, normally grazed by animals. Animal droppings may be found on the ground. Do not remove these by hand. Use a spade or other suitable implement to remove any unwanted animal faeces. You are advised that footwear should be used while walking across the ground and this should be removed before entering accommodation areas.
- The risk of encountering ticks is deemed to be no greater than elsewhere in the locality. Advice on recognising ticks and how to remove them will be posted on the site noticeboard and in the toilets. You are advised to reduce the risk of insect bites and tick attachment by wearing socks and closed footwear on site.
- Obvious risks include barbed wire fences. Do not attempt to climb over these as they can cause personal injury or damage to clothing and damage to the fence itself. Use only designated access points to the site.
- Thistles, nettles and other plants capable of causing injury may be encountered on site. Please avoid these.
- Some areas on site and adjoining (such as farm buildings, areas containing agricultural implements and the stream) are strictly out of bounds. Entering these areas is expressly forbidden.
- Within the marquee, the screened-off storage area is strictly out of bounds to all campers other than Springs Camp team members.
- The camp site and its facilities must be preserved in good condition. Please ensure that good care is taken of the field, together with all equipment and facilities provided for camp use, and that all rubbish is cleared and disposed of appropriately before you leave.
Site Manager and Springs Camp team: Whilst at camp please get acquainted with the Site Manager and Springs Camp team, who will be pleased to assist you if there are any problems and generally help you to enjoy your time in Keswick.
Springs Camp is committed to making sure that all campers have a safe, healthy and happy time on the campsite, and conducts routine health & safety monitoring to this end. However, neither Springs Camp, its Directors, nor members of the Camp Management Committee can accept any liability for any claims, costs, actions or demands arising out of your use of the site.
Updated January 2024