12th Annual

“Hippie Jerry” Campsite Challenge

“Hippie Jerry” Campsite Challenge

“Hippie Jerry” Campsite Challenge

With nearly 4,000 Festivarian campers sharing the gorgeous mountain environment in Telluride, it is vitally important for each of us to be mindful of our camping footprint. In collaboration with Leave No Trace and Eco-Products (supplier of free compostable bags for your campground compost), we will be rewarding campsites that excel in creative, sustainable camping.

All entrants are eligible for random daily prizes, while campsites that excel in achieving the highest levels of the Leave No Trace philosophy could win FREE camping and 4-day passes for next year’s Festival!

In memory of Jerold “Hippie Jerry” Lunsford, a beloved member of our Festivarian family and proud representative of Camp Run-A-Muck.

2022 Winner - Camp Tiki (Town Park)

"Hippie Jerry" Campsite Challenge

Congratulations to the 2022 Telluride Bluegrass “Hippie Jerry” Campsite Challenge Winner: CAMP TIKI! For their efforts, the camp received a pair of 4-day passes (w/camping) to next year’s Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

There were an impressive 117 campsite challenge entries this year! We were in awe of all the innovation and effort put forth to lower the impacts within the festival campground community. It was a hard choice, but surrounded by solar powered tiki torches, Camp Tiki really stood out as a bright star.

The key to their success was planning ahead: they brought their very own set of buckets with lids to easily separate out their waste into trash, recycling, and compost; pre-cooked all of their meals and froze them to reduce their ice and fuel needs; and used refillable fuel canisters for their stove. These are great examples of how simple it can be to lower your impact.

The folks at Camp Tiki are also long-time participants of our microtrash contest and always have a little bag handy to help keep the festival grounds clean.

How do I enter?

The contest is open to all campers in any of the Planet Bluegrass-managed campgrounds. To nominate your own campsite or one of your neighbors:

  1. Complete the 1-page campsite entry form at the Leave No Trace booth inside the festival. (Download a PDF of the entry form below.)

  2. Stop by the Leave No Trace booth to submit your entry form. We will be selecting daily winners over the weekend (one chosen by our staff, one chosen at random).
  3. Planet Bluegrass will select the grand prize winner after the campground pack-out is complete on Monday. The grand prize winner will receive two festival passes, including camping, for the 50th Annual Telluride Bluegrass.

How do I win?

We will be judging on three simple criteria:

  1. Cleanliness. Are you repackaging the food you bring? Are you keeping a tidy campsite? Are items secure and not susceptible to wind gusts? Are you safely disposing of cigarette butts?
  2. Sustainability. Are you separating your recyclables, compostables, and then placing them in the correct bins at the campsite waste stations? Are you reusing products (cups, utensils, water bottles, bags) instead of trashing them? Are you using any alternative energy sources to power your campsite? Did you bike or carpool to the festival; are you offsetting carbon emissions using wind credits or carbon offsets? Will you pack out as much as possible when leaving? Did you do anything to reduce your homes’ energy while attending the festival?
  3. Creativity. Are you utilizing any unique and innovative camping techniques to reduce your impacts? Are you upcycling any items from home?

What do I win?

Random winners will be chosen throughout the weekend to win prize packages with goodies from our sponsors.

One grand prize winner will be selected after the campground pack-out on Monday. This grand prize winner will receive a pair of FREE 4-day passes and camping (in the campground of your choice) for next year’s Festival!

Some Tips from Leave No Trace

  1. Before you arrive, repackage food into reusable containers. This will limit how much waste you bring to the fest and keep your camp that much cleaner.
  2. Re-use is the name of the game. Bring re-usable cups, plates, napkins, etc. This will reduce the amount of trash you generate.
  3. Good campsites are found, not made. Bring folding tables, chairs, or other amenities to make a comfortable camp. Remember to take everything you brought with you, and leave the area better than you found it.
  4. Establish a clean and green camping community. Work together with other nearby campers to share your resources and strive to Leave No Trace in a fun and festive manner.
  5. Secure your food. Human food is unhealthy for wildlife. Protect the locals and your food by storing all your food, trash, and compost securely in your camp.

Check out this video to learn how festival goers can keep their campsites clean and sustainable.

For More Information

Share your thoughts about the contest, or even a little pre-contest “bet you can’t top our solar-powered strobing bluegrass baconizer” smack, over at the Festivarian Forum.

Leave No Trace is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide. Visit at www.LNT.org or call 1-800-332-4100