Here’s some handy information on staying warm and basic fire safety at NECTR. The woods of CT have unpredictable weather in October! Be prepared for nights with below freezing temperatures. We have had light snow!
HOW DO I STAY WARM!?
Stay Dry! Make sure to dress yourself in layers. NECTR is often both cold and damp so avoid cotton layers as they do not dry as well as synthetics and natural fibers (wool, silk, etc). Wool hats and wool socks are recommended – keeping your head and feet warm is critical. Bring waterproof shoes or extra pairs in the event of rain. Think about warm and dry when designing your costumes.
Bring a good sleeping bag and keep it dry! A sleeping bag rated to 0 or less is generally what you want if it is 20 out. If you do not have this, bring extra blankets and layers to improve your insulation or nest a summer bag inside of your main sleeping bag. A light insulating layer under and above your tent can do wonders. Use a closed cell foam mat and/or sleeping pad between your sleeping bag and floor of the tent. Air mattresses do not insulate well. Mylar sheeting can be placed between the ground and your bottom layer of bedding to reflect any body heat that escapes back to you for an extra measure. A light insulating blanket between your tent and rain fly will also help keep the heat in. Small dashboard heaters (12v) hooked up to a car battery can be nice in a tent. Be sure to follow safety instructions and don’t use the battery from the car you drove in with.
We encourage theme camps and groups of people to collaborate on ways to stay warm together! There will be some community campfire spaces/burn barrels which you can feel free to use.
BURN BARRELS
Burn Barrels and above ground fire pits are allowed in camping areas but you will need to check with the fire safety team about positioning before lighting them. You will also need to have someone constantly monitoring it while lit and have a 5 gallon bucket of water to douse it with if needed. For more details see Fire Safety
IF IT IS DRY OUT, BE EXTRA AWARE OF FIRE SAFETY!
Space heaters and camp stoves that consume wood-based or oil-based fuel carry a serious risk of fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, air pollution and oxygen depletion. Do not operate any heat source that poses a threat to you or other attendees in a closed space (i.e. not in your tent!). If you plan to burn fuel in an enclosed space, use a combination FIRE and CARBON MONOXIDE detector! NECTR event leads reserve the right to have you to discontinue use of anything that poses a fire threat.
A Few Winter Camping Resources:
http://www.theozarks.com/WinterCamping.htm
http://www.backpacking.net/wintertips.html