IU WEST ALL INFO
IMPORTANT STAFF CONTACT NUMBERS:
CAMP NURSE Ashley Knaysi - 310-210-8492
ASST. CAMP DIR. Jacque Arend - 480-251-0027
CAMP DIRECTOR Wendy Penrod - 435-590-7352
BRING A WATER CONTAINER TO ENSURE YOU STAY HYDRATED
CAMP MAP & LOCATIONS
Main Lodge - Meals & Evening Events
Fireside Room - Michelle Gilliam, Merch & Bar
Mini Amphitheater - Afternoon Jams & Group Photo
Craft Room - Jeffrey Thompson & Arts and Crafts
Nature Museum - Josh Nicols
Amphitheater - Todd Couch
Pines Lodge - Anděl Sudik and Teacher’s Lounge
ACTIVITIES INFO
Opening Night Events
7pm Reception - now that you’ve eaten and moved into your cabin, settle in at the Main Lodge with our staff and meet new folks with SOCIAL BINGO!
8pm Opening Ceremonies - We’ll introduce you to the weekend!
Followed by the Teacher Show - All five instructors join together for a one-time ever event.
9:45pm Cabin Camaraderie - plug into camp, connect with your cabinmates & ask questions.
10:30pm Meet & Greet - The IU Bar is open so join us for a night cap. Meet more fellow campers before turning in.
Free Time Activities
Saturday & Sunday 1:30pm-3:30pm - Classic Camp Activities:
Archery & Axe Throwing
As & Cs are in the Craft Room.
There is paint, markers, wood burning, decoupage & buttons! Jessica Young will guide you to see out any vision you may have.
Saturday Breakouts
1:30-2:30p - Tiny Jams with Michael (mini-amphitheater, outside main dining hall)
Participants play and submit games/gimmicks for each round - lottery style.
3:00-4:00p - 6for6 Jam with Jacque (mini-amphitheater, outside main dining hall)
Six people for six minutes, selected via lottery - longform jam. Everyone is welcome.
Sunday Breakouts
1:30-2:30/2:45p - Diversity Roundtable Check-In with Anita (main dining hall fireplace room)
Diversity Roundtable - We will share what's on deck for 2024/25 events (virtual series, scholarship, discount, diversity page) AND brainstorm what else you feel we should do. Feel free to share what's going on in your area. Do you feel things have improved? ALL people are welcome to attend including any diverse human (be you LGBTQIA, neurodiverse, BIPOC, physically disabled, female, over 50 or anything in between) or allies.
3:00-4:00 - Improv Famous with Nick (mini-amphitheater, outside main dining hall)
Improv jam - a team of campers combine with an improv vet for this longform jam. Everyone is welcome and folks are selected via lottery.
Jam City & Cabin Shows
Saturday Night = Jam City!!! 90 to 100 minutes of Improv Jam! featuring short form games & longform gimmicks. Folks interested in participating will be selected via lottery to get up throughout. This event will also feature our traditional affinity jams where folks will be invited to get up where they may identify. This is a celebration of diversity in improv and we welcome folks to get up more than once to celebrate their affinities. The event will allow folks to specify if they are early to bed, or stay to the end to help your odds if you choose to turn in early.
Sunday Night - Cabin Mash Up - This is a mega event featuring all of you. You’ll perform with your cabins for the fun of it! Cabins will select a simple style of show at dinner on Sunday to apply to your set later that night.
MORE INFO
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IU believes that every participant should feel safe from harassment and discrimination. If you feel you are being harassed, treated unfairly, or you feel unsafe, please do not hesitate to contact us immediately on site. Here is our Harassment Policy, and our Camper Bill of Rights, also pasted below.
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If you are not comfortable with speaking to a staff member:
Report concerns safely, securely and anonymously 24/7. This can be as minor as feedback to the camp including class concerns or suggestions for counselors / staff. You can also use this to report uncomfortable interactions, fraudulent activity / theft, misconduct, discrimination, safety violations, or questionable behavior no matter how minor you feel your issue is. To file a report, click this link RedFlagReporting: and enter client code Utopia.
We welcome you to use Red Flag Reporting to share with us any issues that occur with your Camp Utopia experience. We are looking for all feedback to continue to create a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
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Activities Outside of the Retreat:
Anything you do outside of our Retreat is at your own risk, we are not responsible for anything outside the premises of Improv Utopia and Camp Ocean Pines. Folks are welcome to leave to explore Cambria during afternoon free-time.
Hearst Castle: http://www.hearstcastle.org
Main Street Cambria
Mozzi's Saloon, Linn’s and other Restaurants, & Thrift Stores.
2277 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428
Cambria Chamber of Commerce: http://www.cambriachamber.org/
Moonstone Beach
Elephant Seals
Hikes and more
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We do have Wifi at camp, and the best signal is near the main lodge. Cell service may be spotty at this location. Remember, we are at camp, and we will live like rustic campers over the weekend. Share on Instagram @improvutopia and our FB Group your experiences throughout the weekend and use #IUWEST as the hashtag.
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This bill of rights is so that you feel comfortable knowing what you can do at camp. It is okay to make mistakes as we build a better community together.
You have the right to be and feel safe during performances, camp activities and workshops
You have the right to be treated respectfully.
You have the right to set boundaries regarding physical contact and subject matter that might trigger a negative emotional response. You have the right to dictate what kind of physical touch you will receive.
You have the right to immediately step out of any scene, performance or camp activity in which you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. And you have the right to excuse yourself from any scene or exercise at any time without explanation.
You have the right to inform your teacher or camp staff of anything you want them to know ahead of time, such as physical or emotional conditions that might make playing certain games difficult or uncomfortably challenging.
You have the right to speak to any camp staff member regarding behavior by any person that you feel infringes on your rights.
If you are personally aware of any conduct that would have been a violation of your rights if directed toward you, you have the same right to report that conduct as if you were the target.
You have the right to define what feels fun and what feels comfortable (and uncomfortable) for you without judgment from others.
You have the right to turn down a suggestion you feel is demeaning.
You have the right to fail.
You have the right to be brilliant.
You have the right to love your work.
You are enough!
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DIRECTIONS to CAMP: If you're coming from LA or SF, please allow yourself 4 hours to get to camp due to holiday traffic. Enjoy the drive - it's one of the most beautiful there is.
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Registration opens at 4pm on Friday. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE EARLY. Cambria is gorgeous with amazing beaches & thrift stores to visit if you need to waste a little time.
Arrive by 5:30pm to be greeted when you pull in.
If you arrive after, you will drive to the left (see map below), find your cabin and park temporarily just outside to unload and move in. Then drive back down the hill and stay to the left to park and go to the main lodge to check-in with Ashley or Jacque.
Dinner is at 6pm, followed by a short reception, opening ceremonies, teacher show & cabin camaraderie.
Do everything you can to arrive by dinner. If you cannot arrive by 6pm, please contact Jacque Arend, phone or WhatsApp (480-251-0027) to let us know. If you’re later than 6:45pm make sure you grab dinner on the way.
On Monday, check out is at 11am. Breakfast is the last meal in the morning at 8am, and we say our goodbyes. Please aim to be out of your cabin by 10am.
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Covid test: We require proof of negative covid tests upon arrival to ensure the safest weekend possible.
Acceptable tests (either/or):
A negative at-home antigen test: 24 hours before arrival
A negative PCR test: 72 hours before arrival
To fulfill your testing requirement:
Snap a photo of your test results to your phone and show that at check-in when you arrive.
Please do not email them.
The registration coordinators will request to see it in person upon arrival.
If you feel at all sick, PLEASE DO NOT COME TO CAMP.
If this is the case, please contact jacque@improvutopia.org as soon as possible.
You assume any risk while coming to camp.
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In our FAQ section on the website, look under the question "What to Bring" and you will find a list of recommended things to bring to camp. We also recommend that you bring allergy medicine if needed.
You will need to provide your bed linens/sleeping bag, pillow & towel for the weekend.
If you’re traveling far and not able to pack these things, reach out to the Facebook group to see if any folk have extra to bring for you.
If you have medication or special food needs that require refrigeration, you will have access to a fridge in the main lodge.
We’ve found it’s helpful to have 1 or 2 power bars and extension cords in your cabin.
And, represent your theater or festival. Bring postcards, submission info, business cards, stickers, magnets and other giveaways!
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Weapons, firearms, illegal substances or alcohol.
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We will have a cash/card bar in the evenings on site. For returning campers, we are no longer leaving Camp to go into town at night to enjoy adult beverages, we are instead staying on site for safer, more accessible events similar to our other camps. There are also designated smoking areas should you need it.