Our Haven Nature Sanctuary

The 2009 Women's Goddess Retreat will be held at Our Haven Nature Sanctuary, with 175 acres of beautiful deciduous forests and reclaimed fields in Southern Indiana, only minutes from the "Playground of the Mid-West", French Lick, IN. For more information about Our Haven, please visit their website at: http://www.ourhaven.info.

Amenities

Our Haven Nature Sanctuary has hot showers, limited electricity, a sheltered stage, a shelter barn for weather emergencies, fresh drinking water, a skinning dipping creek, port-o-lets, ice, firewood, firepits, hiking trails, and over 175 acres of beautiful deciduous forests and reclaimed fields. You may view a map of Our Haven's grounds and amenities here.

Food

We ask that all of our guests bring their own food, and enough personal supplies to be self sufficient. All participants in workshops are welcome to bring snacks and drinks along. If you forget your lotion or shampoo or personal items we do have some available for use.

Rules of Our Haven

Local Laws
Our Haven Nature Sanctuary is a privately-run clothing-optional festival ground that obeys all local ordnances and laws. Firearms, illegal drugs, or alcoholic beverages not intended for personal consumption are not permitted.

Tolerance
Our Haven Nature Sanctuary is open to all races, genders, sexual orientations, and positive lifestyles and spiritual paths. Anyone heard or seen engaging in hurtful racism, sexism, genderism, ageism, hetroism, religious intolerance, or any other hurtful prejudiced behavior will be asked to leave Our Haven immediately with no refund.

Waivers
All visitors to Our Haven must sign a waiver. Waivers are available at the front gate and the founder's home. Other festivals may have additional rules, regulations and waivers.

Hunting, Fishing, & Foraging
No hunting/fishing/foraging is allowed at the sanctuary without prior approval of Our Haven staff.

Personal Welfare
Be responsible for you own welfare and for the welfare of those in your charge while at Our Haven. Our Haven will not be held liable for personal loss or injuries while attending the festival. Most of the festival season is very warm. Please be sure to drink plenty of water, and wear sunscreen. Also, please take precautions against poison ivy, poisonous snakes, and insects, including mosquitoes, ticks, and stinging insects. Remember, you are in the woods! Keep foodstuffs contained and sealed up to eliminate wildlife raids.

Trash and Glass
Keep your camp area cleared to trash and clutter. No cigarette butts or other debris is to tossed on any part of the grounds. Glass is not allowed at the main fire. Please decant all beverages you will be bringing to the main fire into plastic containers.

Garbage Removal
Plan to remove your own trash from your campsite when you leave the Our Haven. We strongly encourage you to bring a majority of what will become trash in paper form as this can be burned on site.

Fire Tending
The fire tenders around the main fire are trained and authorised by Our Haven to work with the main bonfire. Unless you are an authorised fire tender, please keep a safe distance from the bonfire. Only approved Our Haven fire tenders may handle fire wood or fire tending of the main bonfire. You can learn more about becoming an Our Haven fire tender here.

Choosing a Campsite
Camping is permitted in nearly any suitable location throughout Our Haven except for those areas specifically designated for vendors or where your campsite would be an obvious obstruction (in the middle of the road, or right in front of the main stage would likely be a bad idea). Also, please avoid setting up camp where it would block access to any of the shrines around Our Haven. If you require electricity, you will also be limited to a few campsites with power hookups. Please let the staff know if this is the case.

Firepits
If you arrive early to the festival (Wednesday or Thursday) there is a very good chance that you will have access to a firepit at your campsite. Many firepits are located in the camping fields at the festival location. You may view a map of Our Haven's grounds here to help you plan your campsite. If you are arriving to the festival later (Friday morning) you may still have access to the firepits, but may need to share with other later arrivals.

Firewood
Please do not bring firewood with you to Our Haven. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is working with campsites throughout Indiana to control the spread of the Emerald Ash Borer. Firewood is available to purchase on site for use for just $5.00 per wheel barrow load.

Clothing Optional
Although there are designated clothing-optional areas of Our Haven year-round, the entire Women's Goddess Retreat is clothing optional in all areas beyond the main gate. Clothing optional means just that -- clothing is optional. You don't have to be nude or skyclad to visit the area, but please be aware that other people may be. As a result, children under the age of 18 are not allowed in the clothing optional area without parental supervision. Some festivals may be entirely clothing optional. Please check the festival websites for details. Please remember that nudity is not an invitation to touch, nor does it imply consent in any way. Please be courteous and respectful of other people's space. Harrassment will not be tolerated. Also, we reccommend that you plan you clothing, or lack thereof, with the weather in mind! The weather may become hot, wet, or chilly.

Internet Service

Free Wi-Fi Internet access is available at the Pavilion area.

Cell Phones

Our Haven is located in a deeply rural area in a valley, and cell phones rarely work on the main field. Some cell phone service providers are more likely to have signal at the festival location than others, and occasionally cell phone signal is stronger in the High Pasture. The most reliable place for celluar phone service near Our Haven is at the turn off of North Hillham Road onto Spencer Hollow Road. Cell Phone use is discouraged during the retreat except for in emergency situations.

Weather

Weather is notoriously unpredictable in Southern Indiana, but the average temperature for September is 66° with a high of 79 ° and low of 53 ° with some precipitation. Past experience at other Our Haven events has taught us that you should plan for all types of weather: hot & dry, hot & wet, cold & dry, and cold & wet. Be sure that your tent/shelter is waterproofed, and dress in layers. Bring an extra towel! For the most accurate forecast and local conditions, please see our weather magnet below.

Supplies

Firewood is available to purchase on-site at the festival. There are several nearby options for ice, gas, and groceries. Please view the map below for details.

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