DETAILED INFORMATION FOR SELAH
6 WILSON ROAD
WARWICK, MASSACHUSETTS
Selah is designed to be a self-managed, rustic camping facility. No one will be at the site when you arrive; the place is all yours from start to finish. It is important that you carefully read over these instructions, and if something is unclear, call for further information before beginning your trip. Being a self-managed camp also means that the owners completely trust that you will be responsible in caring for the camp, as well as the health and safety of your guests during the time you are there.
- ARRIVING AT "SELAH"
- SLEEPING AREAS
- BATHROOMS
- KITCHEN
- ACTIVITIES
- SAFETY
- COMMENT
- CHECK LIST FOR CLOSING UP
- SELAH EVALUATION
- GROUP LEADER'S CHECK LIST
- GROUP MEMBERS' CHECK LIST
- CAMP SELAH ADDITIONAL POINTERS
- WINTER CLOSE-UP PROCESS
- SLEEPING AREAS
Unless other arrangements have been made, keys will be sent to unlock the driveway chain and padlock on the front doors of the Main Cabin. However, before going onto the porch, you must deactivate the siren alarm. Directions explaining how to do this will be provided with the keys that are sent. Once on the porch, you will unlock the doors with the keys provided. If the wood doors are not there, you will only have one padlock to open, otherwise, after taking off the lock to the wood doors, reach in behind them and use the other key to unlock the padlock to the French doors. The smaller key also unlocks the Bunk House, Guest House, and Lake Boat House. Keys for the Chocolate House, and Pump Box, will be found inside the Main Cabin. Please be careful to replace each key after you have used it so that it will be there for the next guests. When you arrive, the main electric breaker will no doubt be on. However you will have to turn on the breaker for the Water Heater (presently, the Water Heater breaker will need to be turned off once the water is hot as it tends to overheat). The electrical box is located in the far right corner as you walk into the cabin, to the left of a small chest. Please help economize by using electricity only as necessary, and by turning the water heater off some time prior to leaving the camp so as to avoid leaving a tank full of hot water. At the present time no hot water is available in the Chocolate House and Guest House, only cold water for the sink and toilet. Also check to see that the propane gas valve is open - the tank is behind the Main Cabin.
For the pump motor there is also a switch at the Pump Box which is located down the hill from the Bunk House, 50 feet from the brook.
When you arrive at the camp the water pump may be turned off. If so, first open the valve left of the pump. Then plug in the white cord at the left end of the box. Once the pump is on, open valves near the pressure tank behind the Bunk House - one [blue] for the main cabin, and the other [orange] if you are going to be using the Chocolate and Guest House.
After unloading, you may park your vehicle(s) in the spot provided at the bottom of the driveway on the opposite side of the road from the brook.
Available sleeping space is as follows: The Main Cabin has a queen size bed, (please provide your own linens). The Bunk House has beds for five. The Chocolate House has beds for three. In the Guest House there is room in the loft for 6-8 people to sleep on the double thick carpet. There is a double bed downstairs (linens needed), and a seating area that can be pulled out and used for sleeping. Each person will need to furnish his or her own sleeping bag, pillow, and towels.
If it becomes cold, the wood stoves may be used by responsible persons. Newspaper and kindling for the Main Cabin stove can be found in the cabinet nearest the stove and in the barrel respectively. After lighting the stove, close the doors; once a good fire is going, close off the air intake by rotating the handle at the center of the door. Matches are to the right of the wood stove, or next to the kitchen stove. Additional firewood can be taken from the pile in front of the Bunk House. Kindling for the stove in the Guest House is in the round barrel.
There are three toilets, one in the Main Cabin, one in the Guest House and Chocolate House. The bathroom in the Main Cabin could be used for both men and ladies by using the reversible sign hanging near the doorway. There is a shower with hot water in this bathroom. For drinking and cooking purposes, if you would prefer different water, there is a constantly flowing spring one mile toward Warwick Center, on the right side of the road.
If when you arrive, the gas for the cooking stove in the Main Cabin is not on, open the valve at the top of the tank behind the cabin - top burners and oven need to be lit with a match. In addition to the gas stove, the kitchen is equipped with refrigerator, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, pop corn maker, cooking utensils, dishes and tableware. Suggestion: to cut down on food preparation time, have some precooked main dishes that can be frozen, transported and heated on site. To cut down on clean-up time, bring along paper products for some of the meals and drinks.
The beach at the end of Moore's Pond near the road is the property of Selah. However, other members of the community are permitted to utilize this area. Consideration should be given to their safety as well as those in your group. No child or teen should be permitted to be at the pond alone. Children and teens should not be there without adult supervision, and should wear life preservers when boating. In the Boat House (the larger of the two sheds near the pond) are life preservers, and small boats. Special care should be taken to ensure that everything is back in place, and that the Boat House is locked before leaving the area.
Mount Grace provides a pleasant afternoon hike. Turn left at the end of Wilson Road, drive to the center of Warwick and turn left again. On your left there will be a parking area. The trail begins at the far left corner of the large field that rises above the parking lot. Be careful to note landmarks so you can find your way back. At the top of the mountain is a fire tower.
To get to the school yard, turn right at the center of town. The school is a short distance up on your left. There is a good sized ball field and some play equipment.
Foot ware should be worn at all times outside, as well as while walking to and from the beach. Fires in the stoves should only be lit by persons designated by leaders. A first aid kit should be brought along and kept handy. The nearest hospital is in Athol, about 12 miles away. Extreme care and responsible oversight should be exercised at the waterfront. Wood cutting tools are to be used only by authorized persons, careful supervision should be provided if young people are using them. Only dead wood should be cut for firewood.
For obvious reasons, it is assumed that each individual or group will take special care of the facilities. There is no on-site care taker, consequently, whoever uses Selah next, will find it the way you leave it. Be sure that all areas are clean and neat so that they will find it the way you would like to. Brooms and a vacuum cleaner are available for this purpose. As we join in partnership of responsibility, Selah can be an ongoing benefit to many people and groups.
At the end of the season, both sets of double doors should be padlocked for extra security. This is accomplished by reaching in behind the wood doors to lock the inside doors first. Of course this cannot be accomplished within the one minute allotted before the motion detector is activated, so a minute will have to pass before turning on the alarm switch.
While closing up, mark the check-list to be sure that nothing is overlooked. Mail the check-list along with the evaluation, keys and payment to the person from whom you received keys.
____1. Turn off gas valve at the tank behind the Main Cabin.
____2. Pull down the shades in the Bunk House, Chocolate House,
and Guest House.
____3. Make sure all the locks and doors are securely closed:
____Chocolate House button inside front door, and padlock on water heater in rear;
____Guest House back door slide lock, loft door pad lock and front door pad lock;
____Boat House pad lock.
____Water Pump pad lock. (Remember to turn off the valves near the galvanized pressure tank.)
____5. Turn off the refrigerator - a switch is located behind the micro-wave - and leave the doors slightly open.
____6. Turn off all lights, and the breaker for the Water Heater.
Use the pull string to turn off the light in the porch
ceiling.
____7. Replace the padlocks on the Main Cabin doors, and the
twisted wire on the porch screen door. After waiting a full
minute you can turn on the alarm switch. If the power has been left on, the
siren will give a quick "chirp."
____8. Take with you all of the trash you have accumulated.
____9. Kindly return the keys immediately to the person from who
you received them along with this check list, the evaluation
sheet and your final payment as
figured below.
If your church membership or average attendance at worship is less than 100, multiply the number of people in your party ( )
times 2, times the number of days at Selah ( ) = $ . . (This is in addition to the $50.00 reservation fee).
If your church membership or average attendance at worship is more than 100, multiply the number of people in your party ( )
times 3, times the number of days at Selah ( ) = $ . . (This is in addition to the $75.00 reservation fee).
If you represent a single individual or family using Selah, your fee is a simple $20.00 per day.
Whenever a group of people intentionally come together for an extended period of time, it is helpful if the leadership provides an opportunity for evaluation. If your group is planning to do that, please include questions that would assist you in filling out the following. If the group doesn't do an evaluation, your input would be appreciated. Please circle a letter grade (A being excellent) in answer to each question.
Were the travel directions clear? A B C D F
Were instructions adequate? A B C D F
Did you find the area free of litter? A B C D F
Were the housing areas orderly and clean? A B C D F
Was space ample for group meetings? A B C D F
Was the kitchen adequately supplied? A B C D F
Were there sufficient activity options? A B C D F
Was there sufficient information provided? A B C D F
What we liked most about Selah was:
We had a problem with:
We would be happy to recommend Selah because:
In order to improve Selah, we suggest:
Please include any other comments you think will be helpful.
What Group Leadership Should Bring 1. Patience.
2. Basic First Aid Kit
3. Trash Bags.
4. Inspiration.
5. The Keys.
6. Dish Towels and Detergent.
7. Paper Products:
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Optional: Cups and Plates
9. Directions to Selah.
10. And, of course, food!
What Group Members Should Bring 1. Out-door clothing.
2. Excitement.
3. Insect Repellant.
4. Swim Suit.
5. Hiking shoes.
6. Laughter.
7. Towels.
8. Sleeping Bag and Pillow.
9. Concern for Others.
10. Flashlight.
11. Toothbrush and soap.
12. Bible and Note Pad.
13. Sweater or jacket.
14. Appetite.
Supervision of all activities is very important. This is especially so with regard to use of the water front as well as use of wood cutting or other dangerous tools. Young people need to be taught safety procedures and how to use these implements properly - they should be observed and corrected when necessary. If there is target practice, using guns, bow and arrows, etc., it should be restricted to a designated area, again with proper supervision. (Empty shells and broken arrows should be thrown away.) No youth should be at the lake without an adult being present to supervise.
Split wood stored by the bunk house should only be used for Franklin fire places, not for open camp fires.
Only dead wood should be cut for burning.
Pine needles should not be raked from the ground around the cabins.
A few tools are located in the tool chest located to the left of the main cabin doors. These may be used when necessary, but care should be taken to return them after each use, and to lock the chest.
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The last time this page was edited was October 22, 2003.
____Bunk House padlock;
____4. Be sure Chocolate House and other keys have been replaced.
Napkins
8. Lots of Smiles.
