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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

Outdoor Camping

Cornell regulates camping on its grounds for health and safety reasons, to balance multiple users of campus property, and to maintain appropriate outdoor living, learning, and event spaces for all members of the university community.   Camping may be authorized on the Ithaca campus, subject to the following guidelines:

Registration

All camps must be registered and approved through the 25Live Scheduling System.   To register, visit the Academic and Event Scheduling Website and log into Scheduling@Cornell.  All camping requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Authorized Locations

You may camp only in an authorized location.  The university has identified multiple campus locations for outdoor camping.  All locations are subject to availability and to approval through the University Events Team (“UET”).  Approved camping may be subject to certain conditions in addition to these Guidelines depending on time, location, or other factors. 

Camping is not permitted at the WCM, WCM-Q, Cornell Tech, or AgriTech campuses.

Duration

Camping is only permitted for the time period authorized in your registration approval.  Under no circumstance will camping be permitted in any location for longer than seven days.   The university may direct you to leave sooner if warranted by weather or other health and safety concerns, staffing capacity, conflicts with other events, failure to follow these Guidelines, or other good cause.

Participants

Only members of the Cornell community (students, faculty, and staff) are permitted to camp on university property.  All participants must show university ID upon request to demonstrate their university affiliation.  Anyone who does not show university ID may be directed to leave.

Access by University Officials

Authorized university officials, including but not limited to public safety and facilities staff, may enter camping areas from time to time to ensure compliance with approvals, to monitor for health and safety purposes, and to confirm that no unauthorized individuals are present. 

Additional Rules

  • No pets
  • No fires, camp stoves, grills, or any other source of open flame 
  • No fuel sources or other fire hazards
  • No amplified sound without prior approval
  • Battery operated equipment only.  No extension cords, generators, or gas-powered devices.
  • No public urination or waste buckets.  Use public restrooms in adjoining facilities.
  • No refuse.  Keep your camp area free of garbage.  
  • Camping tents and tarps only.   No event-style tents, platforms, fencing or other structures.   
  • To avoid potential interference with utility lines, do not dig or pound stakes into the ground other than standard tent stakes.  
  • Remove your tent and any other materials you have brought into the camping area at the end of your authorized camping period.   

If you fail to observe these Guidelines, your permission to camp may be immediately revoked, and you may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards or other appropriate administrative offices.  In addition, any property damage or other charges incurred by the university as a result of your camping activity will be billed to your sponsoring organization or the individuals participating in the camp.