Looking out for each other
Safety & Care at Future Forest
Safety and care at Future Forest mean looking out for ourselves and each other. We meet people where they are, reduce risk, and support informed choices without judgment, so everyone can look after themselves and the people beside them in the forest.
Need help right now?
In an emergency
Find the nearest team member or go to the First Aid building. First Aid is open around the clock through the weekend.
Worried about someone
If someone is unresponsive or you think it might be an overdose, get a First Aid or care team member right away. Naloxone is available on site. It is always okay to ask for help.
To report something
Talk to any Safety team member or Consent Kitty, or come to the Info Hub or First Aid building. You can also report confidentially online through REES, anonymously if you prefer. You will be supported, not blamed.
In the moments that matter
If someone is in trouble
You do not need to be an expert. Knowing a few signs, staying with the person, and getting a team member fast can make all the difference.
Signs to watch for
Someone may be in real trouble if they cannot be woken up, their breathing is very slow or has stopped, their lips or fingertips look blue or grey, or they are limp and unresponsive.
Stay with them
Do not leave them alone. Try to wake them, keep them on their side if they are lying down, and keep talking to them while you get help.
Get a team fast
Send someone to the nearest team member or the First Aid building right away. First Aid and our care teams carry naloxone, which reverses an opioid overdose only, so getting them there fast always matters. No one will be searched, removed, or punished for getting help, so never hesitate to ask.
Finding your way
Where to find help on site
The forest is big, so it helps to know where to go before you need to. The First Aid building is the heart of our safety and care on site, the one place to head for hands-on help, with First Aid at the front and the Safety Headquarters at the back. The Tea Hive and the Info Hub each have their own marked, signed spot on the grounds too. When you arrive, take a minute to find them so you can get there fast, or guide a friend, if you ever need to. If you are not sure where something is, ask any team member and they will point you the right way.
Because phones do not work reliably out here, the fastest way to get help is to find a person. Our teams are easy to spot once you know what to look for:
- Red First Aid
- Orange shirts Safety team
- Kitten ears Consent Kitties
- Lanyards staff, volunteers, artists and production
Not sure who to ask? Flag down anyone with a lanyard and they will get you to the right place.
Who's here for you
Our care teams
Trained, caring people are on site all weekend. Look for them at their marked spots and around the grounds.
First Aid
First aid around the clock, with naloxone on hand. You can also ask our team to show you how to spot an overdose and use naloxone. Come to the First Aid building or send someone to find them.
Safety team
A roaming team in orange shirts and your first point of contact for any concern. They look out for everyone and are ready to step in and help however they can. Their Safety Headquarters is at the back of the First Aid building.
Security
Here to keep the space safe and respectful, and to step in and resolve more serious or escalated concerns.
Avenue B substance testing
Free, confidential drug checking, plus fentanyl test strips. No test can make any drug safe and risk can never be fully removed, but knowing what is in a sample helps you make informed choices.
The Tea Hive
A calm space and a caring presence if you are having a hard time. Come rest, ground, and feel held.
Consent Kitties
Consent advocates who help keep the space respectful, and who you can talk to if something feels wrong.
If something goes wrong
Reporting an incident
If you experience or witness harassment, assault, or anything that does not feel right, you can report it, during the festival or long after. Reports are confidential, you can stay anonymous, and you will always be supported, not blamed.
Report confidentially through REES
REES is a secure, confidential online platform built for survivors. It is there for you any time, from anywhere, on your own timeline. You choose what happens next: connect with our team so we can act, report anonymously to help us spot patterns, or create a private, time-stamped record to keep your options open and decide later. You stay in control the whole way through.
Open REESIn person, on site
Talk to any Safety team member or Consent Kitty, or come to the Info Hub or First Aid building. Our Security team is there to help resolve more serious concerns. We will take it seriously and help however you need.
Hotline and email
Reach our safety team at 1 (506) 560-HELP (4357), or email hrsrm@futureforest.ca.
How we keep the forest safe
Built into the festival
Free water
Refill stations across the site so everyone can stay hydrated. Bring a reusable bottle.
Quiet zones
Welcoming spots to step away from the noise, rest, and reset, plus the Tea Hive when you need a calm place to land.
Rest is part of the plan
We wind the music down on the stages through the late hours to make room for rest. The weekend is a rhythm, not a non-stop sprint, so listen to your body and sleep when you need to.
Look out for each other
Community is our best safety tool. Check on your people, and on the people around you.
Education
Clear, judgment-free information so you can make the choices that are right for you.
Safer sex supplies
Free condoms, lubricant, and safer-sex information are available on site, no questions asked. Just ask any team member.
Free earplugs
Protect your hearing and keep dancing all weekend. Free earplugs are available at the Info Hub, First Aid, Safety, and the Tea Hive, so grab a pair, and a spare for a friend, whenever you need them.
Thoughtful site design
Lighting, signage, and layout planned with safety and accessibility in mind.
The heart of how we gather
Consent, every time
Future Forest runs on consent. It is how we build a space where everyone can let their guard down and feel safe to be themselves. Consent is simple once you practice it, and it is on all of us, all weekend.
Ask first
Always ask before you touch, hug, dance close, or take someone's photo. A simple "is this okay?" is all it takes, and it is never awkward to check.
Only yes means yes
Consent is an enthusiastic, clear yes. A maybe, a silence, or an "I guess" is not a yes. If you are not sure, treat it as a no.
Anyone can change their mind
A yes can become a no at any time, even partway through. Respect it the moment you hear it, no questions and no pressure.
Some people cannot consent
Someone who is asleep, very intoxicated, or unable to respond clearly cannot give consent. When in doubt, stop and check in.
Consent is for more than sex
It also covers photos, hugs, dancing, personal space, and someone's story. Ask before you touch, post, or share, online or off.
If you cross a line
If someone says you went too far, listen, stop, and own it without getting defensive. We are all still learning, and making it right matters.
If you see someone being pressured or made uncomfortable, check in. A simple "are you okay?" can change everything. Our Consent Kitties and Safety team are here any time you need them.
Your part in it
Look after yourself, look after each other
Our teams are here all weekend, and the strongest safety net is each of us looking out for ourselves and the people beside us. A few simple things keep the whole forest well.
Pace yourself
Four days is a marathon, not a sprint. Eat real meals, take breaks in the shade or a quiet space, and sleep when your body asks for it.
Know your limits
Check in with yourself through the weekend. If something starts to feel like too much, it is always okay to slow down, step away, or ask a team member for help.
Buddy up
Move with a friend when you can, especially after dark. Pick a meeting spot in case you get separated, and keep an eye on each other.
Check on your crew
Notice the people around you. If someone seems unwell, too cold, too hot, or just not right, ask if they are okay or bring over a team member.
Feeling overwhelmed
Big feelings can come up at a festival, and that is okay. Find a quieter spot, drink some water, slow your breathing, and let a friend know. The Tea Hive is a calm, judgment-free place to land if you or someone you are with needs it.
Bring your meds
If you take regular medication, bring more than enough for the full weekend and keep it somewhere safe and easy to reach. Let a friend know where it is in case you need a hand.
Pack earplugs
The stages get loud, and your ears will thank you later. Earplugs are easy to pack and let you dance all weekend without the ringing. Grab a spare pair for a friend too.
Dress for the weather
August in the forest is warm by day and cool after dark. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and warm layers for the night. If a storm rolls in, follow the nearest team member to shelter and keep an eye on the people around you.
Take care of your feet
Long festival days are hard on your feet. Bring broken-in, supportive, closed shoes, pack a few blister supplies, and rest and put your feet up when you can.
Mind your drink
Keep an eye on what you are drinking. Be cautious with unmarked bottles or drinks from strangers, and label your own container if it holds anything other than water. Sip steadily through the day rather than chugging.
On the dancefloor
Respect each other's space and notice where the exits are. Never push, walk or dance but do not run, and if you see something, say something to the nearest team member.
A wild place
Out in the forest
Future Forest is deep in the New Brunswick woods. A little forest know-how keeps you, the people around you, and the land itself safe.
Sharing the woods
This is a living forest and we are guests in it. You may share the land with deer, raccoons, foxes, and once in a while a bear. Keep food and anything scented sealed and stored in your vehicle or a closed container, never loose in your tent. Never approach or feed wildlife. If you see a bear, do not run. Stay calm, keep your distance, and back away slowly while facing it. Tell the nearest team member about any wildlife concern.
No open flames
We are in a forest in fire season, so no campfires, open flames, candles, fireworks, or fire toys of any kind. If you smoke, put it all the way out and pack out the butts. If you ever see smoke or a fire starting, find a team member right away.
Keep the water clean
The river runs through the heart of this place and everything downstream depends on it. Please do not bathe or use soap in it, even products labelled biodegradable, and pack out anything you bring to the water.
For everyone
Inclusive and accessible
Care here is for everyone, without exception. Our teams treat every person with dignity regardless of race, culture, gender, sexuality, body, ability, or background. You can ask for help without fear of being judged or profiled, and if anything ever feels otherwise, please tell us so we can make it right.
Future Forest is a 2SLGBTQIA+ welcoming space with all-gender washrooms and quiet zones to step away from the noise. Accessible camping and parking can be reserved in advance through the tickets page. We also work to support attendees with mobility, sensory, and other access needs around the grounds, so if there is something that would make the festival work better for you, email info@futureforest.ca ahead of the festival and we will do our best.
A quieter option
Substance-free camping
Phoenix
Phoenix is our quieter, substance-free camping community, away from alcohol and other substances. It is a welcoming home for people in recovery and anyone who simply prefers it. To reserve a spot, email order@futureforest.ca ahead of the festival.
Before you leave
Getting home safely
The most dangerous part of a festival can be the drive home, so we plan for it too. On the final night, into Monday morning, we bring the music to a close a little earlier so that everyone, especially those with a long drive ahead, can get real rest before heading out. Line up a rested, sober driver before you leave, and sort out your ride plan while you still have phone signal, since service is unreliable on site. Pack water and snacks, expect some delay heading out over the bridge, and rest before you get behind the wheel. Once you are off the festival site, call 911 for any emergency.
Beyond the festival
Getting help, year round
Safety and care do not end when the festival does. If you or someone you know is thinking about their relationship with substances or mental health, support is available any time, not just this weekend.
New Brunswick Addiction and Mental Health Helpline
Free, confidential help across New Brunswick, available 24 hours a day at 1 (866) 355-5550. You can also find services near you at gnb.ca.
The agreement we share
Our Code of Conduct
Everyone at Future Forest, attendees, staff, artists, and vendors alike, agrees to the same Code of Conduct when they join us. It is the short version of how we look after each other, and it is what keeps this a safe, consent-first, and welcoming space for all of us.
Consent first
Always ask before any physical contact, and respect a no the moment you hear it. Consent is the baseline here, everywhere, all the time.
Zero tolerance for harm
There is no place here for harassment, abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or discrimination of any kind. Treat everyone with care and respect.
Everyone belongs
We welcome people of all genders, races, cultures, abilities, and identities. We gather on the unceded, traditional, and ancestral lands of the Wolastoqiyik people, and we treat this place and each other with respect.
Care for the land
Pack out what you bring in, keep soap and other contaminants out of the water, and leave the forest as beautiful as you found it.
Agreeing to the Code of Conduct is part of every ticket. Anyone who breaks it may be warned or asked to leave, without a refund, so that everyone here stays safe and respected. The full version has all the details.
