NETCamp FAQ 2022
GEAR & FIREWOOD QUESTIONS
Q: Do I need to bring my own camping gear?
A: Yes! We are seeing if we can find any camping gear available to borrow, so please contact us if you need anything!
A: Yes! We are seeing if we can find any camping gear available to borrow, so please contact us if you need anything!
Q: Can I use my own camping stove or make a campfire to cook?
A: Campfires and camp stoves are allowed, as long as the fire danger level and burn bans allow.
A: Campfires and camp stoves are allowed, as long as the fire danger level and burn bans allow.
Q: Is there firewood available at camp?
A: Yes. Firewood will be available at no cost if the fire danger level allows us to build campfires.
A: Yes. Firewood will be available at no cost if the fire danger level allows us to build campfires.
FOOD & WATER QUESTIONS
Q: Do I need to bring my own food?
A: Yes and no! :)
A: Yes and no! :)
- Friday dinner is your responsibility to bring and eat at camp, or eat before you arrive.
- Saturday lunch will be provided for free if you choose to attend the NETCamp Annual Recognition Event - you'll order this meal ahead as you register for camp.
- You may bring your own food, for the rest of your meals!
- You may also purchase the NETCamp meal option! This includes Saturday breakfast, Saturday dinner, Sunday breakfast, and a grab and go snack after the deployment exercise on Sunday.
Q: If I'm bringing my own food, do I need to bring my own dishes and flatware? What about cookware?
A: If you are bringing your own food, please bring your own dishes, flatware, and cookware. We suggest you bring easy and pre-made meals that require little preparation. If you need a kitchen, two small kitchens will be available - one in Rafters and one in Pavy's. The Lodge kitchen will be used by our team to prepare the meal plan meals and won't be available to attendees this year, except for medication.
A: If you are bringing your own food, please bring your own dishes, flatware, and cookware. We suggest you bring easy and pre-made meals that require little preparation. If you need a kitchen, two small kitchens will be available - one in Rafters and one in Pavy's. The Lodge kitchen will be used by our team to prepare the meal plan meals and won't be available to attendees this year, except for medication.
Q: Is there potable water?
A: Yes! The Lodge (aka Marilyn's Place), Pavy's, and Rafters all have potable water. There is non-potable water available up near the Adirondacks and the hike-in campsites for washing dishes, but we don't suggest you drink it or cook with it because the pipes are very old.
A: Yes! The Lodge (aka Marilyn's Place), Pavy's, and Rafters all have potable water. There is non-potable water available up near the Adirondacks and the hike-in campsites for washing dishes, but we don't suggest you drink it or cook with it because the pipes are very old.
Q: Is there a kitchen available?
A: Yes! There are two kitchens available: One in Pavy's and one in Rafters. The commercial kitchen in the Lodge will not be available this year, with a few exceptions, due to meal plan prep. If you're camping, consider bringing a camp stove.
Pavy's has one stove, a refrigerator, and a microwave.
Rafters has one stove and a fridge.
A: Yes! There are two kitchens available: One in Pavy's and one in Rafters. The commercial kitchen in the Lodge will not be available this year, with a few exceptions, due to meal plan prep. If you're camping, consider bringing a camp stove.
Pavy's has one stove, a refrigerator, and a microwave.
Rafters has one stove and a fridge.
Q: Are there refrigerators available?
A: Yes! There are two kitchens and 2 fridges available to attendees: one in Pavy's and one in Rafters. The commercial kitchen in the Lodge will not be available this year. There is limited space, so pack light, please, and maybe even prepare your food before you come, so everyone's stuff fits!
A: Yes! There are two kitchens and 2 fridges available to attendees: one in Pavy's and one in Rafters. The commercial kitchen in the Lodge will not be available this year. There is limited space, so pack light, please, and maybe even prepare your food before you come, so everyone's stuff fits!
PARKING QUESTIONS
Q: Can I park my car near my campsite?
A: No, but if you have a primitive site, you can drive up and park closer long enough to unload and load your gear at the beginning and end of your stay. Meadow sites are less than 1 minute from the parking lot, so you can unload from the parking lot. If you choose a primitive site, you may need to haul your gear between 1 and at most about 15 minutes to get to your campsite. Pack light, and we'll do what we can to help you! Note that the upper, hike-in primitive sites are uphill from the unloading area and be prepared for that.
A: No, but if you have a primitive site, you can drive up and park closer long enough to unload and load your gear at the beginning and end of your stay. Meadow sites are less than 1 minute from the parking lot, so you can unload from the parking lot. If you choose a primitive site, you may need to haul your gear between 1 and at most about 15 minutes to get to your campsite. Pack light, and we'll do what we can to help you! Note that the upper, hike-in primitive sites are uphill from the unloading area and be prepared for that.
INACTIVE NET
Q: I haven't been active in NET for some time. Will I be able to keep up with more experienced NETs in the skills sessions?
A: No worries. We're structuring the sessions for all NETs - from new or less experienced NETs to NET veterans. AND you'll have a choice of sessions to suit your interests and needs. Toward this end we are calling our classes "Beyond Basic" rather than "Advanced."
A: No worries. We're structuring the sessions for all NETs - from new or less experienced NETs to NET veterans. AND you'll have a choice of sessions to suit your interests and needs. Toward this end we are calling our classes "Beyond Basic" rather than "Advanced."
ACCOMMODATION QUESTIONS
Q: What is an Adirondack?
A: An Adirondack is a single-room cabin with most of one side missing and no door. There are four bunks in each of our two Adirondacks: 2 on the back wall and 1 on each side, if you're peeking in the door. So each one sleeps 8. Our Adirondacks will be split - female identifying campers in one and male identifying campers in the other. The Adirondacks are up at the back of camp, but there is cell service up there, whereas there isn't from Rafters on down to and including the Lodge.
A: An Adirondack is a single-room cabin with most of one side missing and no door. There are four bunks in each of our two Adirondacks: 2 on the back wall and 1 on each side, if you're peeking in the door. So each one sleeps 8. Our Adirondacks will be split - female identifying campers in one and male identifying campers in the other. The Adirondacks are up at the back of camp, but there is cell service up there, whereas there isn't from Rafters on down to and including the Lodge.
Q: Are there showers and flush toilets available?
A: Yes, if you're in the Lodge or meadow camping, or if your campsite is near Pavy's. There are not a lot of showers, so come as though you're deploying for a few days - who needs a shower every day?! The Lodge has a large bathroom on the first floor, with several showers. We intend to make this an all gender bathroom this year, after checking to make sure all showers and toilets are in stalls. The men's bathroom on the 1st floor has one shower. The bathroom upstairs in the Lodge mezzanine will be designated an all-gender bathroom also, but has no shower. Pavy's bathrooms have 2 showers and will be designated all gender as well. There are also outhouses scattered generously about the entire camp; these have no running water. Upgrades have been made to the water supply system since last NETCamp.
A: Yes, if you're in the Lodge or meadow camping, or if your campsite is near Pavy's. There are not a lot of showers, so come as though you're deploying for a few days - who needs a shower every day?! The Lodge has a large bathroom on the first floor, with several showers. We intend to make this an all gender bathroom this year, after checking to make sure all showers and toilets are in stalls. The men's bathroom on the 1st floor has one shower. The bathroom upstairs in the Lodge mezzanine will be designated an all-gender bathroom also, but has no shower. Pavy's bathrooms have 2 showers and will be designated all gender as well. There are also outhouses scattered generously about the entire camp; these have no running water. Upgrades have been made to the water supply system since last NETCamp.
Q: I can't use stairs. Is there lift to the mezzanine of the Lodge, so I can stay overnight?
A: Yes! There is a wheelchair lift available for anyone who is physically unable to manage stairs, or who is in a wheelchair, and several bottom bunks that are wheelchair accessible as well.
A: Yes! There is a wheelchair lift available for anyone who is physically unable to manage stairs, or who is in a wheelchair, and several bottom bunks that are wheelchair accessible as well.
Q: The map doesn't mention a Lodge, and what is Marilyn's Place?
A: Marilyn's Place is the official name of the Lodge. It is the only Lodge on camp, so for simplicity's sake, we're calling it the Lodge.
A: Marilyn's Place is the official name of the Lodge. It is the only Lodge on camp, so for simplicity's sake, we're calling it the Lodge.
COMING AND GOING QUESTIONS
Q: Can I arrive or leave camp at any time?
A: Please plan to arrive and leave during arrival and departure times on the camp schedule. Mountaindale is a closed camp, meaning there's a gate and it's closed and locked from the outside unless the Ranger or Event Coordinator opens it. It opens automatically for people leaving, for safety. Therefore, arrival time for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are scheduled and camp staff will be posted at the gate during those times to let everyone in. Of course, we will not make you stay! If you need to leave, sign out with HQ so we don't send out a search party. We do our best to know who's at the event at all times, just like at a deployment, and do PAR checks periodically. If you leave and want to come back, we'll have a sign on the gate with the staff radio channel, you'll have the phone to the landline at HQ, and you may be able to buzz us from the gate. :)
A: Please plan to arrive and leave during arrival and departure times on the camp schedule. Mountaindale is a closed camp, meaning there's a gate and it's closed and locked from the outside unless the Ranger or Event Coordinator opens it. It opens automatically for people leaving, for safety. Therefore, arrival time for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are scheduled and camp staff will be posted at the gate during those times to let everyone in. Of course, we will not make you stay! If you need to leave, sign out with HQ so we don't send out a search party. We do our best to know who's at the event at all times, just like at a deployment, and do PAR checks periodically. If you leave and want to come back, we'll have a sign on the gate with the staff radio channel, you'll have the phone to the landline at HQ, and you may be able to buzz us from the gate. :)
If your question isn't answered here, please send it to us!
We will answer it and also add it to this FAQ.