The Bay Area Country Dance Society Website

Home | Dance Series | Special Events and Projects | Dance Camps & Weekends | Performance Teams | Organization | Dance/Music Links | Online and Printable Calendars | Take Transit to Dances! | Buy Our CD! (Online Purchase Available) | For More Information |

This page is:

bacds_logo.gif

BACDS Spring Fever Dance Weekend

March 18 - 20, 2011

HomeStaffLocationRegisterProgramFAQArchivesContact Us


Fragrance Free:

Why we are a fragrance free camp...

A number of campers suffer from heightened sensitivity to solvents and petroleum products, including perfume and fragrance.  These chemicals can act not only as respiratory irritants, but also as cardiac stimulants (skyrocketing blood pressure, palpitations) and neurotoxins (symptoms include tremors, mental confusion, equilibrium loss, blurred vision).

Exposure to products containing even small amounts of the chemicals can cause these symptoms.  Please understand that this is a serious health concern - not simply a preference issue.  Chemical sensitivity results from continued exposure to solvents and products in doses thought to be safe: it could happen to any one of us.

Because the dining hall, dance hall, dorms and lodges at camp are enclosed spaces, even small amounts of fragrance or scented or toxic products on a few people can add up quickly to intolerable amounts.  Our fellow dancers with chemical sensitivities can attend camp only if we all work together to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals in the camp environment.  We will supply the bathrooms with fragrance-free soap, shampoo, conditioner, and hand lotion for your convenience.

On the positive side, many dancers in the Bay Area have learned to love fragrance-free products - it's less like walking through the "chemical aisle" at your local Safeway, and more like the pleasant, natural environment that Monte Toyon exemplifies.

What you can do to help...

We ask that you please:

A list of fragrance free personal products

Please consider bringing other fragrance-free personal products to use at camp.  This will really make a difference. They can easily be found at any natural food store or specialty stores like Trader Joe's, etc.  Here's a short sampling:

Thanks to Victoria Bestock and Ric Goldman for this information.

Got any new information about Fragrance Free practices or products?  Then contact us with the info!


Copyright © 1998-2011 for the Bay Area Country Dance Society.  All rights reserved
Send comments and questions about this webpage to webmaster
Revised:  02/17/11