On Creeks and Camping

Bad Tent Location - Too Close to Creek
(Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/meganpru/5914413517/)

Creeks provide water for animals in the area and spawning grounds for fish.  Creeks are the heart of the ecosystem. When folks disrespect the creek, they disrespect the land on which we gather as well as the heart of the gathering itself. 

The creeks in this gathering have trout eggs waiting to hatch and the shrubs along the creek have birds sitting on eggs waiting to hatch. Let's give our fish and feather friends some space to raise their families.

When silt gets into the creek it covers trout eggs preventing the fish from hatching. Lots of people have been putting a lot of effort into restoring the creeks at our gathering site and supporting spawning grounds for the native trouts.  We need to honor the trout and the people working year round on protecting trout habitat.

If we are not careful, we will silt up the creek. 

THINGS NOT TO DO: Enter riparian areas with pink ribbons.  Allow yourself, your dogs, or your kids to play in the creek. Trample up the banks or in the muddy riparian areas near the creek.

THINGS TO DO: Stay 200 feet away from the creek.  The local tribes have invested heavily to restore the creeks where we are gathering. Please let's leave these creeks in as good or better shape then we found them. Educate yourself and take your knowledge home and share with others.

~~~Nothing is biodegradable in water.~~~

Good Tent Location - In Woods away from Creek
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/50461467@N00/6075694833/)

Soil filters and decomposes soapy water, food scraps and urine.  We always need to make sure we keep all our waste far enough back from the creek so that the wonderful micro-organisms in the soil have the chance to do their magic.

In my mind, our shining stars are folks who make signs asking people to not camp along the creek. Family who go around and talk to people about why we don’t camp adjacent to creeks are my heroes and I workshop at your feet.

When we gather, we are visitors to the land. The plants and animals that live there year round are depending on us to tread lightly and leave the ground upon which we drummed and danced, ate and loved, in better shape than when we arrived. This, my friends, is the Rainbow way. 

Of course every site is different. The soil drainage and the type of creek varies ecosystem to ecosystem and the down-stream features indicate how close is too close. Different areas have different animals who need access to the creek for drinking purposes. If you’re too close, you’ll scare them off. This year the local First Nation tribes have requested that no one harms the restored streams by keeping camps at least 200 feet away from any creek.  This includes insuring that kitchens and/or shitters are at least 200 feet or more away from the creek. When you come home, check in with INFO to learn the site specific considerations for each the current gathering. Or find a friendly Forest Service Resource person and pick her/his brain.

Or camp on the promenade -- a flat plateau with trees to shade your tent.


A gathering is not a festival. Please don’t camp on the grass.  Camp in the woods, under the trees, 200 feet back from a creek.

Be the consciousness you wish to see in this world!