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Membership Policies

Definitions

In order to eliminate any confusion the following are common terms used at Four Quarters and in this handbook.

Fee Paid Fund Raising Event: Events organized by the Church and covering a specified period of time, usually including the weekend. For these fee paid events Members’ and non-members’ pre-registered prices are advertised in advance and admission to the Camp is by payment of the event registration. Drum and Splash is one example of this type of event.

Outside Group Weekend: Events sponsored by outside groups that have reserved a part of campground for their use, usually the North Crook and High Meadow. During these events the Members Camp is always open for Members’ use and camping. The organizers of the outside event may restrict access to the part of camp that they are renting, or may open their event to our Members, at their discretion. Members must register with the outside event organizers to attend their event. LumensGate is an example of this kind of event.

Moon Service Weekend: Those weekends on which Four Quarters holds its Full Moon and New Moon Services. These services sometimes fall on weekends that are also Four Quarters Fee Paid Fund-raisers, and require registration for that event. They sometimes fall on Outside Group Weekends in which case the Moon Service will be held in the Members Camp or jointly with the outside group organizers. These weekends do not require registration with the outside event in order to attend the Four Quarters Moon Service.

Off Weekend: Weekends when no Moon Service, fee paid fund raising event or outside group event is scheduled.

Grounds Fees: Those fees paid in order to have physical access to the Camp; either for a Moon Service of Off Weekend overnight visit. Grounds fees are paid when you sign in and do not include any consumables, campfire provisions, meals or parking.

Members Camp: That area of camp to the South of the Fairy Cairn on both sides of the access road and to the South and East of the Loop Road; generally reserved for Members Only camping.

Public Camp: The North Crook as far South as the Fairy Cairn and the High Meadow area including the Meeting Hall as often made available to outside groups.

Each adult (16 or older) must exit the vehicle, sign in the Guest Book and if required fill out and sign a Liability Waiver before entering Camp. You can never, ever sign in for another person. Any adult, Member or non-member, who comes on the Land must exit their vehicle and sign themselves in. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Filling out and forging another person’s signature to a liability waiver or guest book will be cause for removal from the site.

Members Sign In for Moon Service, Outside Event and Off Weekends

Members need only sign themselves into the Guest Book on these weekends. Please do remember to pay your Grounds Fees and any other camp fees when you sign in. Payment envelopes are provided at the Church Office for self registration if the office is not staffed. Please mark your envelope with your name and what your payment is for. If you have moved since your last visit, please use one of our liability waivers to let us know your new address. Fill out the appropriate areas and write "address change" in big letters on the top.

Fundraiser and Outside Event Registrations

For any attendee, Farm Members or non-members, liability waivers must be signed when attending Fee Paid Four Quarters Fund-raisers or when registering for Outside Events. To receive the Members Event Subsidy to a Four Quarters event you must pre-register for the event by the published pre-registration date. We will honor registrations postmarked by that date. In an emergency we will honor a telephone registration made the week before the event, which you can pay when you arrive. We will also process your credit card over the telephone.

Refunds

Refunds are 100% of payments made if requested before the close of registration, with 100% credit applied towards future events or other fees if made afterwards. For Members, generous exceptions are made by request.

Grounds Fees

$5 for Members; $10 for non-members

Grounds fees are those fees paid for physical access to the camp on Moon Service, Off Weekends, or extra nights before or after an event. Grounds Fees are per night, per person. There is no charge for a day trip visit to Four Quarters. (Note: Grounds Fees are waived for Staff, Promoting and Lifetime Promoting Members)

It is very important that your fees are paid when you sign in. If the office lights are on, someone is available for your sign in. Otherwise, we use the honor system and provide envelopes at check in for your fees. Please do write your name and what the fees are for on the envelope.

Members Village

During Moon Service Weekends the Members Village, the Casita Nueva, and the Meeting Hall are available for the use of all Members and Guests on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no fee for this use although we rely on donations to maintain these facilities.
For other days, the Members Village may be booked with a week advance notice for $15 per night for Members, $30 per night for guests.

During Four Quarters Fund-raisers the Members Village is reserved for the use of presenters and guests.

Moon Service Fees

Other than grounds fees for overnight camping, no fees are charged for attendance at our moon services. However, if you share in our Saturday evening meal before the service or Sunday morning breakfast, donations to help defray the cost of the food are greatly appreciated.

Automotive Policies

As part of our stewardship of the Land and in order to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all who come to Four Quarters, it is our long term goal to totally eliminate the use of private vehicles within the camp proper. But we also recognize that we do not yet have the required infrastructure in place to achieve this goal. The following policies for parking in the camp and the use of automobiles have been developed in order to reduce the impact of machinery on the Land. As the impact of automobiles on the Camp increases, we will make ongoing changes to these policies to protect the Land.

Automotive Memberships
First Year $60 Renewal $50

As a Member you may purchase an Automotive Membership for your car just as you purchase a Membership for yourself. Auto Members may park in the established areas of the Members Camp off the roadways. Auto Memberships are transferable to any car, so one Membership can apply to any car in your group.
    During Fee Paid Four Quarters Fund-raisers, only cars with Auto Memberships are allowed to park in the Members Camp. The membership placard does NOT give free permission to park in the High Meadow parking area.

In Camp High Meadow Parking
$25-$35 for all cars during Fund Raisers.

In Camp General Parking at Fee Paid Four Quarters Fund Raising Events is allowed only in the High Meadow Parking Area across from the Coffee Dragons’ Lair. There are no discounts or privileges for Members. There are a limited number of parking spaces available in the High Meadow on a first come, first served basis.
    Permits for In Camp High Meadow Parking are available at registration and at the Coffee Dragons.

Members Moon Service and Off Weekend Parking

For Moon Service Weekends and Off Weekends, Members may park in the Members Camp or High Meadow parking area for free. This is a privilege and as camp usage increases will no doubt at some point no longer be possible.

Staff Parking

Staff Parking is limited to specified reserved and marked Staff Parking areas in the Public Camp and Members Camp. Only Church-owned vehicles or vehicles loaned by on duty Staff for Staff use may be parked in these areas. Any vehicles parked in these areas must have the keys left in the car and may be used on demand by any on-duty Staff person. In the case of vehicles loaned for staff use, reasonable effort will be made to notify the vehicle’s owner.

Main Parking

During Fund-raising Events, all cars without an Auto Membership or legal In Camp Parking Permit must park in Main Parking.
    At other times, parking your automobile in Main Parking shows an understanding and commitment to the health of the Land and the principles for which Four Quarters was founded.

Handicapped Parking

Those persons who have a handicapped plate or placard issued by their state are allowed to reasonably park anywhere within the camp ground, providing that they are not blocking traffic or otherwise impeding the use of the camp.
    This is a privilege, use it accordingly!

Vehicle Operation Within Camp

Please operate your vehicle in a responsible manner. Remember that there are almost always children in camp and many trails lead directly into the roads. Please observe the 10 MPH speed limit in all areas of the Farm. If you are observed operating your vehicle in a manner that is potentially dangerous to others, you may be required to move it to the main parking area and leave it there. If this occurs, you will not get a refund of any parking fees you may have paid. Repeat offenders may have their driving privileges revoked and be required to park their car at the Farmhouse parking lot.

In general, cars are allowed in the camp only to load and unload your gear, two hours is considered a maximum time. Please be as quick as you can and promptly return your car to the Main Parking area. Please do not block the roads, intersections or access points into the High Meadow. Do not take your cars off the gravel roads into the woods; just pull off to the side of the road and carry your gear to your campsite. Traffic through camp is one way, counterclockwise. To exit camp, continue down Ridge Road towards the Big Bottom and take the Loop Road out of camp.

Legal Parking

All parking areas are clearly identified with stakes and red ribbon or stanchions and rope. If your car has a visible parking permit, and is parked with its bumper (front or rear) facing toward the ribbon or rope, it is legally parked. If it is not, heed the following.

! WARNING !

The Board of Directors has adopted a zero tolerance policy for violations of the Four Quarters Parking Policy.
Cars that are parked illegally will have a warning notice placed on the vehicle. If the vehicle is not moved within two hours it will be booted with chain and padlock and will be fined to remove the boot.

This especially applies to Staff Members vehicles.

Camp Fire Policies

All camp fires at Four Quarters are by permit only!
Permitted fires come with a steel Fire Ring and all fire wood for the season or weekend!
Please! Absolutely No Rocks around your fire!

Absolutely no treated lumber, plastic, paper, foil or cigarette butts in your fire! Please be careful with your fire and never leave a fire unattended! Never, ever leave a Tiki Torch or other open flame unattended! Candles must be inclosed and anchored before leaving unattended!

Fire Rings are registered to a single individual who has absolute control over with whom they may choose to share their fire. That person has no control over any "territory" or who may camp where. It is highly recommended that people sharing a registered Fire Ring create a compact camping layout around that fire pit to preclude issues of unwanted access from arising. It is very good ecological practice to move your fire ring 10 feet every season to prevent compaction and erosion of the soil.
    ! Please, No Rocks !

Permanent Stone Lined Fire Pits $200 for the season

Stone lined fire pits are only allowed in the area of the Members Camp between the creekside access road and the creek, and are limited to previously existing sites. There are no exceptions to this policy!  Again, Please, NO ROCKS!
Any future rock-lined fire pits within this area can be created only with the approval of a representative of the Board of Directors. Rock-lined fire pits are forbidden in other areas of the camp.

Large Steel Fire Rings $150 for the season

A very large 3x4 foot steel fire ring with a large hinged grill, allowing one fire for light and warmth with a second lower fire for cooking.

Medium Fire Ring $100 for the season

A large 32 inch diameter steel ring with a grill that will fold away as well as adjust for height, good for medium groups or serious outdoor cooks.

Small Fire Ring $50 for the season

A 26 inch diameter ring with foldaway steel grill, good for a small group.

Member Owned Fire Rings $40 for the season

Members who supply their own steel fire ring or grill. Bowl shaped, tripod support styles seem to be in favor with the Membership, as well as free standing, screen inclosed models which are very safe. If it burns wood, it must have a fire ring permit, even if you bring your own wood.

Member Owned Charcoal Burners

Members may place charcoal burning appliances in their campsite for the season without a fire permit.

Temporary Weekend Fire Ring $10 Members ; $15 non-members

Temporary Campfires are by permit only, available at Registration or Camp Hospitality. These fire permits includes a steel fire ring and your firewood for the weekend. Please return your Fire Ring to registration or Hospitality when breaking camp. Yes, even if you are a Member!

Tent and Tarp Permits

Four Quarters encourages Members to leave their tents set up throughout the camping season, from April 1 through November 1. We discourage tarps left up when you are away from camp, and tents left standing through the winter.

You must register any tent or tarp that you intend to leave standing for the season. Tents and tarps set up the weekend preceding a Fund-raising Event need not be registered if they are removed at the event’s conclusion.

Any free standing tent or tarp must have a separate permit.

If your tent/tarp is up to 150 sq ft $20.00

If your tent/tarp is up to 450 sq ft $60.00

Tents or tarps above 450 sq ft are not allowed.

Downed Tents

If you decide to leave your tents or tarps set up over the winter, please understand that they will be subject to the ravages of weather and, depending on how well secured, may not survive some of the more severe storms in this area. This is particularly true of winter weather.

If a tent is down and not considered salvageable, our staff will dispose of the tent. Every reasonable effort will be made to remove any salvageable belongings from the tent, pile them up and cover them with a tarp.

If the owner does not claim their downed tent and belongings by Beltaine of the following season, staff will dispose of them. All downed tents and belongings will be removed from site after Beltaine weekend.

Tent Platform Policies

For those Members who wish to make a more permanent site, the use of platforms for your tent/camp is encouraged. If properly placed and constructed, platforms have the potential for increasing the capacity of the camp as well as minimizing the damage to the earth and vegetation, especially if placed on sloping ground.

Platform Ownership

All platforms are the property of the Church. The Member that constructs the platform will have use of the platform for the first three years (beginning the year of ground breaking) with no rental fee.

Afterwards, the Member has the right to renew their use of the platform by paying the platform fee with their Membership Renewal. If the Member does not renew their platform by April 1, the platform will be offered to other Members on a waiting list basis.

Platform Fees and Location

The fees for each platform are $0.60 per sq ft per season; if the platform is on a site otherwise unsuitable for a tent (slope greater than 5 degrees). For those sites that are suitable for tent camping without a platform the fees will be $.90 per sq ft per season. This includes the seasonal fee for any tent or tarp placed on the platform .

The location and size of all platforms must be approved by a representative of the Board of Directors before any construction starts. The site will be approved by marked stakes with red ribbon being placed for every support column used in building the platform.

Materials, Construction and Plans

If desired, the Church can receive delivery of your platform building materials, and will recommend local suppliers. Members are welcome to use Church construction equipment for their platform project.

All support posts used for the platform will be 6"x6" pressure treated wood and must be placed at least 18" deep with a concrete or coarse gravel footer.

For spans of up to 10 feet joists will be pressure treated wood and must be 2"x8" material, spaced on no more than 24" centers. Rim joists will be a doubled 2"x8" or single 2"x10" and must be bolted to the support posts.

For spans over 10 feet joists will be pressure treated wood and must be 2"x10" material, spaced on no more than 24" centers. Rim joists will be a doubled 2"x10" or single 2"x12" and must be bolted to the support posts.

The decking material may be either 5/4" pressure treated deck boards or 1 inch rough saw oak, placed with 1/2 inch gaps between each board. Decking should be applied at 45 degrees to the joists.

The platforms will be as close to ground level as practical. At highest point of slope of the Land, the bottom of the rim joist will be no more than 8" above grade.

While plans are not required for approval, a rough sketch of the size and shape of your proposed platform will help us determine if it is suitable for approval and is encouraged.

RV/Trailer Camping

Seasonal RV/Trailer Camp Sites
$300 for the season

There are a very limited number of seasonal RV/trailer camping sites available. These sites may be registered for the season and the RV/trailer left in place.

RV/trailer campsite registration incudes one (1) tent/pavilion up to 200 sq ft placed no more than ten feet from the RV/Trailer. Any other tents, tarps or pavilions must have the proper tent permit. Camp fires for RV/Trailers must have the proper fire permit.

Weekend RV/Trailer Camping
$35 during Events.

No charge during Moon Service and off weekends.

Car Camping
Trailer and car camping permits are $15 for under 20' and $25 for over 20' during fund raising events.

Car camping is allowed in marked areas of the High Meadow and trailers are restricted to less than 24' in length. Car camping is defined as camping out of your vehicle or trailer, with that ensemble being stationary during your stay.

During Moon Service and off weekends there is no charge to Members for trailer or car camping in the High Meadow.