Release Forms

Prior to your arrival at the Forge, the leader of your group/organization must read and sign the Release Form for Organizations.

Copies of the Release Form for Participants must by distributed to and signed by all individuals in the group.

These release forms will be collected by the camp host upon your arrival.

Welcome to the Forge

Please read these rules and the accompanying waiver BEFORE completing your reservation application. You will be required to provide an electronic signature indicating that you have read and agree to abide by these terms.

Introduction

The Forge is approximately 322 acres of remote, yet accessible, private property located at 53800 Oregon State Highway 203. It is approximately 12 miles south of the historic city of Union, Oregon, and was acquired in 2019.  Its procurement was inspired of the Lord, and as such its development and operation are guided by Him to fulfill His purposes.

Today’s fast-paced modern lifestyle has placed so many demands on the family that year after year it has become increasingly difficult to schedule and designate time for our boys and girls to have life-changing–and indeed possibly life-saving–experiences. The close proximity of the long-established Catherine Creek Girls’ Camp, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located directly adjacent to the Forge at Catherine Creek, provides for unique opportunities for both camps.  Leaders can now coordinate their boys’ and girls’ camp and other activities to occur in the same week and in close proximity but in separate, secure and supervised locations.  This allows for the limited resources of the two facilities to be scheduled and shared, effectively reducing the strain on each and greatly increasing the opportunities for both groups.

Our Location, Your Supervision

We are pleased to provide The Forge as a place for your group to conduct their activities; however, we cannot be responsible for ensuring the safety, nor the appropriate conduct, of your individual group members and their activities. The Forge will not provide supervision nor technical instruction for your group’s activity. The direct supervision of all participants in any of your activities lies solely with your group leaders. You must provide adequate numbers of adults to be present and involved in every activity.  It is also your responsibility to provide appropriate medical support for your campers. We recommend that each group have a trained medical person present during their stay.

We provide areas that are designated for specific activities, such as rappelling, archery, and the climbing wall. There are also many gathering places, including amphitheaters and pavilions, that are conducive to spiritual reflection, counseling opportunities, leadership meetings, etc. All activity areas must be reserved in advance.  Scheduling is done on a first-come-first-served basis. The rappelling site, archery range, and climbing wall are only available for use by groups who have appropriately trained and certified instructors with them.

Responsibility of Campers

We work by the honor system and expect campers and visitors to follow the rules. Breaking the rules and asking for forgiveness later is not in harmony with the expected standards of conduct and sets a bad example for others. Like our church buildings, it is the users’ responsibility to clean up after using an area. The Forge does not have a cleaning crew.  Please leave any area that you use in better condition than you found it. You must bring an ample supply of large heavy-duty 42-gallon trash bags to line the trash cans provided at the pavilion and activity areas.  Gather all trash and replace the trash bag with one you have brought. Tie the full bag closed and place it in the dumpster by the Teancum Ridge parking lot.  If it is off-season and the dumpster is gone, haul all trash out with you.  If fires are permitted, you may burn paper products in your campsite fire ring. Do not burn plastic, Styrofoam, or any other item that would produce noxious fumes or pollution.

Standards of Conduct

The Forge is intended to be used for the benefit, enjoyment, and personal development of all who come here. At all times, its use must be consistent with standards of personal conduct becoming of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whether guests are members of the Church or not. Courtesy and kindness should be the hallmarks of everyone’s conduct while at The Forge. Dress and grooming should be modest and tasteful. Coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes (including e-cigarettes), and any unlawful substance abuse are prohibited.  Foul language and music or behavior that is not in harmony with the respectful atmosphere that is to be maintained on the property is also prohibited. Use of personal electronic devices, including (but not limited to) cell phones, MP3 players, and CD/DVD players, by campers is not allowed.  Leaders may use cell phones and other appropriate devices as needed to supervise and teach. We ask that all guests will help to enhance the uplifting and spiritually-edifying experience that we hope you and your group will have here, by being a good neighbor and respecting others (including their campsites, property, and programs).

Fireworks

Absolutely no fireworks or pyrotechnics of any kind are allowed to be used on The Forge property.

Vandalism

The cutting of live trees and shrubbery or destruction of any vegetation by campers is not allowed. Graffiti of any kind (including carving, painting or marking trees, buildings, or any other Forge equipment or property) degrades the wholesome experience you and others have come here to enjoy and will not be tolerated.

Pets

No pets are permitted at The Forge, even if they stay in your vehicle. Pets belonging to resident caretaker staff and bona fide service animals are the only exceptions.

Entrance to the Forge

The main gate to The Forge is located at 53800 Oregon State Highway 203, between mile marker 13B and mile marker 12B.  It is the only authorized entrance for guests to The Forge.  All other gates are closed and locked 24 hours a day and are not used for any guest arrivals or departures.

Speed Limit, Vehicle Usage, and Parking

Camp Speed Limit (10 mph)

For the Safety and protection of all camp guests and resident wildlife, and also to mitigate the severe dust hazards inherent with motor vehicles traveling on unpaved roadways, the maximum speed allowed on/in all roads, trails, and parking areas is 10 mph.

Vehicle Usage

Only adult leaders possessing a valid state driver’s license are allowed to operate any motorized vehicle on The Forge property. We are not an off-road park; however, leaders of your group may operate personal ATV’s and motorcycles here for supervisory purposes provided they adhere to the 10-mph speed limit and all route restrictions.

There are two types of roads on the Forge property: graveled roads and dirt/non-graveled roads. Established gravel roads are the only approved routs for guests’ motor vehicle use. Non-graveled roads and trails are not authorized for guest’s motor vehicle use.

There are four exceptions to the guest’s vehicle route restrictions:

1.  Teancum Ridge road from the Teancum Pavilion to the rappelling site turn-around/parking area and back.

2.   Moroni Meadows road from the main intersection to the Hand Cart Trailhead turn-around/parking area and back.

3.   Moroni Meadows road from the main intersection to the Climbing Wall and Archery Range turn-around/parking area and back.

4.   Hill Cumorah road from the main intersection to the turn-around/parking area near the Obstacle Course activity area and back.

Parking

Guest parking for all vehicles, including camp trailers, pickup truck campers and motor homes, is authorized only in the main parking lot located west of the Teancum Ridge maintenance building.  There is an equipment unloading and loading area near the Teancum Ridge pavilion.  It is provided to facilitate the efficient delivery and removal of camp guests and their gear. You may park there long enough to do so but please move your vehicle to the main parking lot immediately afterward. Furthermore, to ensure that camp staff and emergency responders and their vehicles have continuous and unobstructed access to all campsites there is no parking permitted at any individual campsite, on the camp loop, or any road or trail.

Teancum Ridge Camping Loop

There are fourteen designated camping sites with water spigots available along the Teancum Ridge camping loop. Presently only thirteen of them are available for guest use.  Campsite fourteen is temporarily assigned The Forge Staff use. Three larger group sites are also available at the Helaman Hights camping area, although there is no water conveniently available there at this time.

Movements of Your Groups

The movement of youth groups on trails is expected whenever practical. There are hiking trails leading to, from, and between all activity areas. These trails are normally the most efficient way to move large groups of campers from one location to another. Their use will enhance the outdoor experience for your group, help to keep the trails well-established, and improve your group’s safety by avoiding the inherent hazards in transporting campers in multiple vehicles.

Campfires

Authorization for open flame burning, (CAMPFIRES), is controlled by Union County and all outdoor burning is typically banned by them by the end of June. When Campfires are permitted, they are only allowed in The Forge’s provided campfire rings. All campfire rings are permanently installed and are not to be removed from their location.

Quiet Hours

As a courtesy to other campers and our neighbors, all campers should be at their campsite and observe a noise curfew from 10:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Activities that have been scheduled to take place after curfew hours are the exception to this rule.

Restrooms and Showers

We are in the early stages of development. There are no permanently installed restroom facilities available at this time. However, the underground infrastructure for the soon-to-come Teancum Ridge restrooms and shower house has been completed.  Construction of the building has not yet commenced but we hope to receive funding for the project in the near future. There are adequate numbers of portable toilets available at the main parking lot and near to the Teancum Ridge pavilion. There are three rinsing decks distributed within the camping circle.

We have one flushing toilet at the shop.  To avoid the overuse of the septic system for that single bathroom it is reserved for staff only. However, it is handicap accessible and available to anyone who is in need of special accommodation.

Three Camping and Activity Areas at The Forge

The Forge is currently under development.

The Teancum Ridge area is the most developed of the three planned areas. It has a large pavilion, camping loop, maintenance facility, and usable activity areas.

Helaman Hights has received some development. There is a graveled access road, a rain shelter and a new pavilion there. A kitchen, a water well, and a restroom are planned for future development.

Moroni Meadows has not yet undergone any development. It is planned to be the last camp to be developed.

RAPPELLING SAFETY STANDARDS

Purpose of Safety Standards

The purpose of these safety standards is to provide guidance to those leading rappelling activities at The Forge church camp and regarding the requirements for running rappelling activities.  These standards help limit risk to those organizing, and participating in, rappelling activities.  Following these rules will ensure rappelling activities at The Forge for years to come.

Participant Requirements

All participants in a rappelling activity at the Forge will wear the following equipment according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Required Equipment:

Climbing certified helmet.

Climbing certified harness.

Gloves while rappelling.

To ensure the safety of participants at the activity there will be areas where participants are not allowed to go without proper safety equipment.  This includes:

Any edge area at the top of the rappel as marked.

The fall zone below the rappel.

Any additional areas as designated by the on-site climbing instructors.

In the designated top edge area, a harness and helmet are required.  A safety line attached to a properly worn harness is also required until the participant is on belay.  A helmet is required in the fall zone.  Even with a helmet the participants will NOT stay in the fall zone longer than is required to exit the space. 

Before participants engage in rappelling, they will have a safety briefing, and orientation to the equipment used and location of the activity.

Leadership Requirements

Rappelling instructors must be able to demonstrate competency prior to beginning the activity and be approved by the Forge’s Climbing/Rappelling leadership.  Said leadership is currently Kathy Olsen or Neil Goodfellow.  Contact for approval and/or training must be done a minimum of 30 days prior to the activity.

There must be a minimum of two approved rappelling instructors onsite at all rappelling activities.

To use the rappel site, leaders must provide their own equipment.  This includes harnesses, helmets, ropes, and hardware certified for climbing. No harnesses, helmets, ropes, webbing, carabiners or other equipment not rated for climbing and rappelling will be used.

The onsite rappel instructors have authority to start and stop the activity at any time to maintain a safe site and safe activity.

Camp gear available for use on the climbing tower will not be used at the rappel site.

Site Setup Requirements

Top belay only.  The rockfall risk at the bottom of the site is too great to use a bottom belay.  Use a top belay only.

Redundant ropes are required.   Minimum; one rappel line, and one belay line.  Rappel line should be a static line.  Belay line should be a dynamic line.

Follow “EARNST” in our anchoring systems.  (EARNST = Equalized, Angle, Redundant, No Extension, Solid, Timely)
See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mxzLtxNOd8

Use a releasable rappel setup.  The Rappel line should be able to lower a stuck climber to the ground from anywhere on the wall.  Line should be rigged so that the top system can be used to lower them. For example, a radium release hitch, a Munter hitch or a belay device so rigged.

Have a rescue plan and the required equipment. See site emergency plan.

Rescue plan should include scenarios for:

• Participant stuck on a rope
• Participant stuck upside down
• Injury from a rock fall
• Injury from a fall

The Forge Climbing Wall

Participant Requirements

All participants in the climbing wall activity at the Forge will wear the following equipment according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Required Equipment:

• Climbing certified helmet
• Climbing certified harness

Leadership Requirements

There must be a minimum of two leaders who are properly trained in how to dress participants in helmets and harnesses at the climbing tower to run climbing activities.

Camp gear available for use on the climbing tower will not be used at the rappel site.

The “CHECK” system (see below) will be used to ensure proper equipment set-up and use for all climbing wall participants.

Safety “CHECK”

Clothing—No baggy clothing, jewelry removed, and long hair tucked in

Harness/Helmets—Properly fitted helmets; belay and buckles attached per manufacturers guidelines

Environment—Program areas free from obstructions; people on ground in safe location

Connections—Belay system connections and all rigging checked and rechecked

Knots—Properly tied and dressed

Climbing wall participants must be attached to an auto-belay system before climbing.