Attending events at camp is perhaps the best way to learn about all that the club has to offer.  In the meantime, here's a little bit about what to expect. 

Leaders/Volunteers 

The club is a cooperative venture in which voluntary contributions of time and work are needed so that we can all enjoy Thendara.  As a new member, we encourage you to join us as an active host, trail maintainer and/or leader of outdoor activities. These could include hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing, swimming, canoeing, orienteering, etc... If you do not have prior experience, the appropriate committee chair or experienced members will be able to guide you through procedures.  The Workshop Completion form also indicates interest in volunteering and can be found under the Members Only tab in the Hosting Resources section. Please consider what abilities you have that could be shared and enjoyed by the other members. 

Occasionally the camp needs repairs, upgrades, etc. If you have skills or the energy to help in such endeavors, please let us know. We always appreciate the extra hands. 

Camp Access 

Camp-access privileges allow entrance to the camp's grounds and outdoor facilities at other than registered events. 

Gate Access:

To obtain access to the main gate, you will need to: 1) be a member in good standing for three months,  2)participate in at least one weekend and 3)complete three workshops and the online Swim Supervisor Safety Course (found under the Members Only tab):  These workshops are: A) Camp Safety, B) Hiking safety, and C) Trail Maintenance in order to become familiar with camp procedures, safety issues and Palisades Interstate Park regulations. Availability of these workshops is listed in the bulletin's scheduled events, on the website and can be scheduled by request. You can also ask the host/leader if they will provide the appropriate workshop when registering for a weekend or a hike. Please be sure to print out a copy of the Workshop Completion form found under the Members Only tab in the Hosting Resources section and bring it with you when you take the workshops or stay overnight at a hosted weekend. Make sure to get the workshop leader or weekend/weekday host to sign and date the form for you. You must keep this form or store it at Thendara in the black box file in the office as it is your only verification of having taken the workshops and required to get gate access. Once it is completely signed and dated, please email a copy to Andy Schlossberg at Andy.schlossberg@gmail.com to get the gate combination and access to the gate combination section under the Members Only tab. 

House Key:

After qualifying for gate access, you are eligible, if you wish, to obtain a key to the lodge. This entails one-year membership, completion of a lodge operating workshop, which is a more intense camp operations orientation, and then co-hosting two weekends -- one in summer and one in winter -- with an experienced host. Please contact the chair of the camp committee or the camp manager for more information about this.

Upon arrival at camp, all members and guests, including children, must sign the registry book.  All fees, that are not payable to the host for a scheduled weekend, should be placed in an envelope provided and slipped into the lock-box next to the registry.  Do not place cash or checks into the lock-box without using an envelope. Please print clearly and fill out the envelope completely.  If the lodge is locked and you do not have a house key, mail a check for your fee made payable to “Thendara Mountain Club, Inc.” to the club treasurer listed in the Bulletin. Envelopes can be found in the mailbox outside the lodge door.

Any use of the camp lodge or waterfront requires payment of a house fee, even for a short period of time.  Members will be exempt from fees only when parking at Thendara to hike only, hosting a scheduled weekend or midweek, coming to camp exclusively for club business, to show camp to prospective members without using facilities, or perform work details approved by the Camp Manager. Members should not park in the lower parking lot .

Camp Thendara is never to be used by a select group to the exclusion of the general membership.  All members are welcome at camp at anytime.  There should never be so overwhelming a number of guests at Camp to prevent use by members.

Members planning to visit camp overnight for or during hosted events must register with the host no later than the preceding Thursday for weekends and midweeks or as by the day/date stated in the event write up.  Hosts may specify an early registration date in their Bulletin listing.  Participation on camp weekends, midweeks and events is on a first come, first served basis.  Hosts are under no obligation to accept registrations for children under 18 years of age and may limit the number of children attending.

Guests are only permitted at camp as the guest of a member.  Members are fully responsible for the behavior of their guests. Only 2 guests are permitted at Thendara per member (children under the age of 23 that are part of a family membership are not considered members). Each guest is required to sign a Guest Waiver Form every time they visit camp for the day or weekend.  The forms are available in the black plastic file box in the nature room and in the back of the log books inside and outside the lodge and the completed forms should be filed in the black box or back of the log books.