Baker Near-Wilderness Group Policies

• Cancellation Policy - If a cancellation is made 240 days prior to the use date, 100% of the fee will be refunded. If a cancellation is made 120 days prior to the use date, 80% of the fee will be refunded. For cancellations made 60 days prior to the use date, 50% of the fee will be refunded. All cancellations made after 60 days are non-refundable. No refunds are given due to weather conditions unless the park or facility is officially closed due to severe, life-threatening weather.
• Overnight Rental groups are required to schedule at least one naturalist-led program. Day Rental groups are not required to schedule naturalist-led programs but are welcome to do so. 
• We provide firewood and program equipment for staff-led activities as needed.
• Reservations include use of the lodge and kitchen, including appliances and utensils. Food is not provided. A kitchen orientation is required prior to use. The kitchen must be thoroughly cleaned and all items returned to their proper location before departure.
• Catering is only allowed from one of the providers on the Three Rivers Park District list of approved caterers.
• Alcohol is prohibited unless your group has applied for and received an alcohol use permit. Kegs or hard liquor are not allowed at the Settlement.
• Smoking is prohibited in all Near-WildernessSettlement buildings and within 25 feet of any door. Cigarette butts should be disposed of in the metal cans provided behind the lodge.
• Pets are not allowed.
• If you are decorating the lodge, do not push tacks, pins, nails, etc., into the wood and do not block the beam where the alarm is located. Ask about these policies prior to doing any decorating.
• Use of candles in the lodge is not permitted without prior approval. Open flames are not allowed in the lodge.
• Overnight Groups are required to attend an orientation, lasting approximately ten minutes.
• Guests under 18 years old with Overnight Groups must have a completed health form. These do not need to be turned in, but please notify our staff where the forms are being kept. We will mail health forms when a reservation is received.

Please Note

• Parking for personal vehicles is free. Please park in thepaved parking lot. Call 763.694.7662 to arrange bus parking for trips to the swimming beach or recreation area. You may only drive on the gravel path behind the lodge for drop-off and pick-up. Parking is not allowed at the back of the lodge. Carts are available for transporting luggage to and from cabins.
• A Near-Wildness Settlement staff person will be on site the entire time of your visit to answer any questions. You will find the staff person either in the lodge or in the staff cabin behind the lodge. Feel free to knock on the cabin door to ask for assistance.
• A TV with VCR/DVD/CD player is available upon request. A large pull-down screen is located in the lodge near the fireplace.
• There are no showers at the Near-Wilderness Settlement.
• The cabins do not have electricity unless needed for a valid medical reason. Cabins are outfitted with a battery-operated lantern and a wood-burning stove for heating.