THE Event Rules

Please read and understand these rules. They are for your safety and comfort, as well as the safety and comfort of those around you. If you have a problem with anyone at the event or notice disregard for these rules that could put the Event in jeopardy please notify Safety Staff or other Event Staff immediately. Unwillingness to follow instructions from Safety Staff or other event staff may result in your removal from this and all future Turtle Hill events.

General Rules

EVENT STAFF AND SAFETY STAFF

• Event and Safety Staff are here to work for your safety and enjoyment of the Event.
• If you have any issues we can help you with, please feel free to let us know either by alerting a Staff member or Safety Staffer or by coming to HQ.
• We ask that any orders issued by the Staff be followed without argument.
• If you have an issue with any interaction with the Staff, please feel free to bring it to the attention of the Coordinator.
• Failure to obey Staff or Safety Staff may result in your removal from the Event without refund.

CHECK-IN

• Check-in may be at the Parking Field or by the Canteen
• All attendees must be checked in to the Event, regardless of arrival time
• If Check-in is unattended, use the radio to call Event Staff to assist you
• If you will, or think you will, be arriving after Check-in is closed, email the Event Coordinator so we can have Event Staff available to check you in
• If you arrive after Check-in is closed, you may be asked to leave your ID with Senior Staff until Check-in opens the following morning
• Event Check-in closes at 6pm on Saturday

• At that time the Event is considered closed
• If you arrive after 6pm on Saturday you will not be admitted to the Event

BADGES

You must wear your name badge at all times that you are not in your lodgings during the Event. You will not be permitted to enter any portion of the Event without your badge. If you lose your badge, please contact Check-In immediately.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND CELL PHONE USAGE

Photography and cell phone use is allowed at the Event, with the following limitations:

• For the privacy and safety of all of our attendees, you must have the explicit permission of all people in any photograph or recording, including those in the background.
• Photography and/or audio/video recording of those who have not given explicit permission is not allowed, and will result in your immediate ejection  from the Event without refund.
• Photography is strictly forbidden in workshops and rituals unless you have obtained explicit permission from both the presenter and all participants.
• Out of common courtesy we ask that if you must talk on your cell phone, do not use it in any event areas such as the play spaces, workshops, poolside, dining hall, HQ, etc.
• This policy may be overridden or altered by event-specific circumstances, so please check the event rules below for any exceptions to these rules.

PARKING

• Parking is permitted only in the parking field. Your car will be towed if parked in an inappropriate space.
• You may park your car at your cabin or tent site while you are loading in or loading out. When you’re done unloading your car, please take it back to the parking field.
• During periods of recent heavy rain, you may be required to keep your car on the paved surfaces, which are not always close to the cabins or tent sites.

ATTIRE AND DINING HALL RULES

• You must be clothed (street legal) while you are in the parking field.
• While in the Dining Hall, you must be clothed from the waist down and wearing shoes. In other words, no bare butts or bare feet in the Dining Hall. G-strings are not sufficient.
• No sex of any kind, including oral sex, is permitted in the Dining Hall.

CABIN RULES

• Do not smoke or vape inside or near cabins, on porches, or in buildings. This includes the open-sided pavilions. If you smoke, please dispose of your butts properly. Throwing butts on the ground does not constitute proper disposal.
• Do not use grills or camp stoves inside cabins or on porches. You may not dig your own fire pit; you may, however, use a portable fireplace/firepit.
• Do not burn incense, burn candles, smoke, vape or cook inside cabins or on cabin porches! The local Fire Department charges a substantial fine for false alarms. If you cause a false alarm, you will be responsible for paying the fine.
• Please be respectful of and courteous to your fellow attendees — your cabin-mates in particular — when indulging in adult activities.
• We request that all attendees help with cabin cleanup by sweeping the floor, mopping the bathroom floor, and taking the trash out to the big cans at the end of the Event. If you re-configured the beds, please put them back the way you found them.

DAMAGE TO THE CAMP GROUNDS, BUILDINGS, AND CABINS

• Do not attach or tie anything or anyone to any fixture such as towel racks, shower curtain rods, closet rods, sprinkler heads, pipes, plumbing, pillars, rafters, etc.
• Be careful that your play does not damage walls, fixtures, furniture, or bedding in the rooms or the event spaces.
• All event structures, such as pop-up/EZ-up tents or pavilions are not to be attached to or tied to in any way — they aren’t built for it.
• You will be held personally responsible for any damage you cause or participate in.
• If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Safety Staff or Staff.

SMOKING, ALCOHOL, AND ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES

• Smoking and vaping are prohibited in any cabins or on their porches, workshop spaces, the play spaces, poolside, vendor areas, on taxis/golf carts, in the HQ area, and in the Labyrinth and Fire Circles.
• Since this is an outdoor event, smoking and vaping are permitted in most outdoor places in the Campground, but we ask that you be considerate if asked to move when smoking or vaping and that you dispose of butts appropriately.
• Alcohol is prohibited in any workshop spaces, the play spaces, and poolside.
• Excessive intoxication and any illegal substances, used or transferred, will result in immediate and permanent ejection from the Event without refund.
• Please follow any additional etiquette rules regarding smoking, vaping and drinking to be found in the event-specific policies below.

• Anyone providing alcohol to anyone under the age of 21 will be immediately removed from the Event without refund and will be banned from all Turtle Hill Events.

CAMPFIRES

You may have campfires! You must adhere to the following:

• Your fire pit must be a portable, off-the-ground unit.
• Your fire pit must remain at least 30 ft from all site structures.
• Your fire pit must be attended by you at all times. Unattended fires will be extinguished by Event or Site Staff.
• Burn only dry, seasoned firewood. Excessive smoke from green wood may set off the cabin smoke detectors.
• Do NOT take firewood from the stacks the Event purchases for the evening fires.
• You must have a bucket of water (or other means of extinguishing the fire) close at hand in case of emergencies.
• All ashes must be thoroughly soaked with water and COLD before being properly disposed of.
• Should the camp or Event Staff ask you to put out your fire due to dry weather conditions, please do so without complaint (we love fires, we just don't want them running wild).
• If you are visibly intoxicated and/or too rowdy, the Event Staff may ask you to put out your fire for everyone’s safety.

FIRE CIRCLE

• The Fire Tenders are here to provide you with a safe, enjoyable fire. Be respectful of them, obey their instructions immediately and politely, and don’t interfere with them as they tend the fire.
• Be aware and respectful of the people sharing the fire with you. The Fire Tenders may ask you to make room for dancers or drummers - please do as they ask.
• No glass or aluminum containers are permitted inside the ring of torches at the Fire Circles. Drinking horns, wood, leather or ceramic containers are allowed.
• Do not throw cans, bottles, cigarette butts or other trash in the fire or on the ground. There are trash and recycling cans provided for that purpose.
• Do not step into the fire pits and don’t try to jump the fire. If you do, Safety/Security will remove you from the Fire Circle. A second attempt to  step into or jump the fire will result in your immediate removal from the Event without refund.
• If you would like to make an offering to the fire ask the Fire Tenders first. Items that may be burned must be organic and burn cleanly. Paper, wooden items, small cloth bags, etc. are good examples. Cigarette butts, aluminum cans, glass bottles and other trash are not. The Fire Tenders have the final say as to what may be burned and if they say ‘No’ please be respectful of their decision.

SWIMMING POOL

• The pool is a swim-at-your-own-risk situation. We do not provide lifeguards.
• Please follow the camp’s posted pool rules and any instructions given to you by camp staff or Event Staff and Safety Staff.
• There is no diving in the pool, nor are food, drinks (other than water), or smoking permitted inside the pool fence.
• If you plan to do any bondage in the pool, please alert a Safety Monitor first so we can help assure your safety.
• Any activity which may result in bodily fluid discharge in the pool, including sex, is strictly prohibited.

EMERGENCIES

• In the event of a medical emergency remain clear of the area and let the appropriate personnel do their jobs.
• In the event of a medical emergency please obey any related orders from Staff immediately and without argument
• Please respect the privacy and dignity of anybody involved and do not stand around to watch or ask for information if you are not directly involved in the situation.
• Please do not spread any information about the situation.
• Event Staff will communicate with attendees and emergency personnel when it is appropriate.

LOST AND FOUND

If you find something, notify Safety Staff, and bring it to Check-in. If you lose anything, notify Safety Staff. If no one is at Check-in, use a radio to call EVent Staff.

VENDING

Vending from cars, cabins, or other parts of the Event is PROHIBITED unless authorized in advance by the coordinator of the Event. Unauthorized vending may result in ejection from this and any future THE Event.

FLYERS

No handbills or flyers may be distributed without advance permission from the coordinator of the Event.

HARASSMENT

• Turtle Hill Events is dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable experience for everyone. Harassment of any kind, including physical assault, battery, deliberate intimidation, stalking, or unwelcome physical attention, will not be tolerated.
• If people tell you “no” or to leave them alone, your business with them is done. Leave them alone. Do not follow them or attempt to disrupt their event experience in any way. If you continue to attempt to have contact with those people, you may be removed from the Event without refund.
• THE is not responsible for solving any interpersonal problems that may arise between individuals. In general, we can take no action to prevent a person from attending an event unless that person has made a specific and credible threat toward the Event itself.
• If you feel that a threat exists against your person, we advise you to seek a restraining order against the individual in question and to involve the site and the municipal police department in advance of the Event; otherwise, we recommend simply avoiding that individual.
• If that individual stalks, harasses, or attempts to assault you at the Event itself, you may report that individual to a member of the staff (they will report it to the site who will get the police involved if necessary) or you may report it to site staff directly, and the appropriate action will be taken.
• Conversely, any attempt to have an innocent person removed from an Event by falsely accusing him or her of threats will be itself treated as an act of harassment and will be dealt with appropriately.
• The responsibility for settling interpersonal disputes lies solely with the individuals involved, and THE will not tolerate being used as a leveraging point in such disputes.

Playspace and BDSM Rules:

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography and cell phone use is allowed in the Playspace. In addition to the general Event Photography rules, the following further limitations apply:

• Photography is allowed in the Playspace with Safety Staff permission
• Photography is strictly limited to your own scene
• Photography must not include anyone but the individuals you are sceneing with, including anyone in the background
• Photography permission may be revoked at any time for any reason by the Safety Staff
• Violation of the Photography rules will result in your ejection from the Playspace
• Repeated violation of the Photography rules may result in ejection from the Event without refund

SMOKING, ALCOHOL AND INTOXICATING SUBSTANCES

• Alcohol is prohibited in the play spaces. Intoxicated individuals, or those deemed impaired by the Safety Staff, will not be allowed in the play spaces and will be escorted outside.
• Repeated violations will result in your removal, without refund, from the Event.
• Smoking and vaping are prohibited in the playspaces.

RaCK

Our Events recognize the Acronym RaCK. A brief summary of the principles guiding our practices:

• Risk-aware: All participants are well-informed of the risks involved in the proposed activity.
• Consensual: In light of those risks, all participants have, of sound mind, offered preliminary consent to engage in said activity.
• Kink: Said activity can be classified as alternative sex
• If the Safety Staff determines that your scene is unsafe, they may choose to end it for you.
• Attendance at the Event indicates that you understand this might happen, and also that a member of the Safety Staff may feel it necessary to cut your rope or other bondage equipment in certain situations. If this happens, the Safety Staff, members, and the organizers of the Event are not responsible in any way for replacing the equipment in question.
• We are committed to working with our attendees to ensure safety without having to resort to this, but sometimes it happens despite everyone’s best efforts.

ETIQUETTE

• Please be polite and keep a reasonable distance from scenes and classes you’re not a part of.
• If you wish to observe a class or scene but not participate, please refrain from talking or any other distracting behavior.
• Do not touch other people’s rope, toys, toy bags or other personal belongings without permission.
• If someone asks you to move further away from a scene or class or to be quieter, please do so without arguing.
• If you see safety issues in someone else’s play, please let a Safety Staffer know and they will intervene as appropriate.
• Be considerate in terms of the amount of time you spend on a piece of equipment. Monopolizing a frame or other equipment is not courteous.

OUTDOOR PLAY

• You are welcome to take your play outdoors.
• The Safety Staff may be patrolling the site during specific hours, however, if you choose to play outside of the clearly marked play spaces or when no Safety Staff is nearby, you do so at your own risk.
• Play is not permitted in the parking field or near the private residences.

SAFE WORDS

While the house safe word for "Stop" is "Red" and the house "Caution" word is "Yellow", we strongly suggest that each scene be negotiated with a plan for clearer communication. For example, if your hand is numb, just tell your top it is numb. However, a Safety Staff member will intervene in a scene if the Top does not respond appropriately when one of these words is used. A loudly-shouted "Safe word!" will also be interpreted as a call for outside assistance.

EQUIPMENT USAGE

The equipment is there for your enjoyment, however:

• Attendees are forbidden from moving equipment in the play space. If you would like something moved, please see a Safety Staff member.

• Modification of any kind to equipment is prohibited and may result in your ejection from the Event.
• During peak hours, the Safety Staff may impose a 90 minute time limit on popular pieces of equipment.

FIREPLAY

• Indoor fire play is permitted at the Event, but only inside the indoor play space and only with Safety Staff approval. Outdoor fire play is permitted with the approval of the Safety Staff.

RESTRICTIONS TO PLAY, EDGE PLAY AND LOUD SCENES

• Certain types of play are not allowed, or are allowed with specific caveats, at our Events. Please check this list before playing to be sure you aren’t violating our rules.

• Neck Ropes: Play with neck ropes which constrict the front of the throat are not allowed. Back of the neck ropes are fine.
• Inverted suspensions or those which are dynamic and may result in inversion: You must use a mat under these kinds of scenes unless you have specifically been given permission by an Safety Staff to do otherwise.
• Watersports, scat, and roman play are not allowed at our Events.
• If you would like to engage in other kinds of play not listed above, please contact the Event Coordinator prior to your arrival at the event site, or speak to the Head Safety Monitor in the Playspace.

• In the case of a scene becoming overly loud or otherwise disruptive in the regular Playspace, the Safety Staff may ask you to utilize a gag or some other way to quiet the scene. If that fails, you may be asked to move your scene to the Heavy Play Space. If this occurs, please do so without argument.

SAFER SEX

We strongly encourage all attendees to practice safer sex and will have supplies available in the play spaces and some of the workshop spaces as needed. No matter how you play, we require you to clean up afterwards with the provided cleaning supplies.

CLEANING AND SAFETY SUPPLIES

• Cleaning supplies are available in the play spaces.
• If you need a stretcher sheet, please ask a member of the Safety Staff for one.
• You are expected to clean up after yourself, leaving all equipment free of sweat, bodily fluids, lubricants, etc.
• Bring bodily fluid contamination to the attention of a Safety Staff member
• People involved in BDSM scenes must have safety shears or some other cutting device within reach and visible by the Safety Staff during any scene.

The Not-So-Fine Print

LIABILITY

Neither the Event, its Officers, nor the management, volunteers, owners, or operators of the facilities, nor any agents, successors or assignees of any of the foregoing shall be liable to any attendee for injury to person or property incurred as a result of attendance at this Event.

STATE LAWS

Obey all federal, state and local laws and ordinances.

SOLICITATION

Prostitution, solicitation, and negotiation of payment for sexual services are ILLEGAL and will not be tolerated. Violation will result in ejection from this and all future THE Events without refund.