Hocking Hills Spring Campout Details

Last Minute Details from CubMaster "Hill Blaster" Mileski

Here is the first of probably several e-mails regarding the Spring Campout on Saturday.

***NOTE THIS CHANGE*** WE ARE NO LONGER MEETING AT HUMC IN THE MORNING. INSTEAD, WE ARE MEETING AT THE PARK AND RIDE PARKING LOT AT SR 303 AND SR 8 ON THE NE CORNER OF SR 303 AND CHITTENDEN ROAD. PLEASE TRY TO GET THERE AT 7:30 AM SO WE CAN LEAVE PROMPTLY AT 8:00 AM.

DIRECTIONS:If you can open the following link to our Hocking Hills Campsite, it will give you directions to within about 600 yds from where we will meet at Hocking Hills at about 1:00pm on Saturday. This was the closest address I had. The large parking lot that we are going to meet in is located on the north side of SR 664 about 600 yards west of this address (Ranger/Check-in Station) and is immediately past Culp Road which intersects with SR 664 from the north.

If you can't open the link, then enter "Hudson" as your starting point and enter "19852 State Route 664 S, Logan, OH 43138" as your end point. This should get you there. Click on the images below for a larger view.


Satellite View:



Don't forget rain gear and bug spray. Hopefully we'll need the bug spray more than the rain gear. It looks like it's going to rain on Friday and maybe Saturday morning. Hopefully it'll pass before we get down there in the afternoon, but be prepared just the same. The good thing about the rain is the falls and streams will be flowing pretty nicely.

Randy Coleman is bringing his trailer down to Hocking Hills to pick up firewood. He'll have it in his garage Friday evening ready for anyone that has gear that they can't fit in their vehicle. We may use it to haul the food coolers unless we get to the park and ride lot and find that there is enough room for them inside other vehicles. If anyone has anything they need to bring down that won't fit in their vehicle, give Randy a call to see what time you can bring it over Friday evening.

At last count we have a cozy little group of 70. So I'll be buying food for that number. As a reminder, we'll be having hot dogs/chili dogs and smores on Saturday night and eggs and bacon on Sunday morning. We'll also provide drinks for the campsite. Please remember to bring any snacks that you and your scout like and maybe some drinks for hiking. We'll be stopping for lunch in or around Lancaster that should hold us over until dinner. Don't forget to bring forks for cooking your hot dogs and mess kits or the like for cooking breakfast.

Also, everyone is free to drive down on your own. You don't need to follow the pack down in convoy formation. I know it can be difficult.

Spring Campout Details - Hocking Hills 2009

Camping Details from the CubMaster:

Campsites:
There is no deadline to sign up for the Spring Campout to Hocking Hills State Park, however, the two campsites hold 60 people each for a total of 120 campers. I apologize, I may have e-mailed or told some people we had 2 - 100 person campsites reserved, however we have 2 adjacent 60 person sites reserved.

Therefore, it is first come, first serve for the 1st 120 scouts and parents. I will have a current head count hopefully by this weekend. This also means that we should limit it to scouts and parents first. If by early next week we are below 120 campers, we can start adding some siblings into the mix. I would imagine we'll have a little extra room. We would have to have 60 scouts go camping w/ 1 parent per scout to reach 120. Plus there are at least 4 dads w/ 2 scouts so that frees up 4 spaces.

We can drive right up to the campsite. However, the park rangers couldn't give me a maximum number of cars that we could park in the field, but they said there was quite a bit of room. We might need to work on car pooling a bit more. If you can, ride down with someone else.

Beverage Details:
Also water is about 1 mile away at Ash Cave. We can haul water in the drink coolers and we'll have 3 wash basins for dishes. One w/ soap for washing, one w/ disinfecting tablets, and one with clean rinse water. We can use them for washing up on Saturday night, then we can clean them out and refill them for cleaning mess kits and utensils on Sunday. For personal convenience, I recommend that everyone bring an extra gallon or 2 of water for washing or drinking, even though we'll provide drinks. And if you plan on hiking on Sunday, be prepared to bring water or drinks to carry along with you. We will provide bug juice in the coolers and we'll also provide bottles of water for visiting the caves and falls on Saturday, however, there may not be enough to carry over into Sunday. If there is left over bug juice on Sunday, we can refill our own water bottles, camel backs, or canteens to use it up.

Meals:
If you don't already know, the Pack will be providing hot dogs/chili dogs, drinks and smores on Saturday night. On Sunday we will be providing eggs and bacon and orange juice. We don't plan on bringing any plates or cups or plastic ware, so please bring your own utensils and mess kits w/ cup and bowl/plate, store bought or homemade will do just fine.

Parents, you know what your scouts like to eat for snacks, so please bring snacks for you and your scout to tie you over between meals.

Saturday Lunch:
I haven't been able to find anyplace cool or unusual to stop for lunch. Worst case scenario, we can stop at a Dairy Queen or the like in Lancaster. I know I'll never turn down a flame broiled burger and a large strawberry milkshake. If anyone knows of anyplace, please let me know.

Schedule:
We can't check in until 3:00 pm. So I figure the daily schedule will be something like this:

SATURDAY
7:30 am - Meet in HUMC parking lot
8:00 am - Leave promptly from HUMC
11:00 am - Noon - Eat lunch in or around Lancaster
1:00 pm - Arrive at Hocking Hills State Park in the huge, long parking lot on the north side of State Route 664 across from Old Man's Cave.
5:00 - 6:00 pm - Check in and start setting up camp. We can't check in before 3:00 pm but we can check in as late at 7:00 pm. However, if we check in by 6:00 pm that'll give us plenty of time to set up camp and start dinner, etc.
8:00 pm - Skits, songs, etc
10:00 pm - Quiet time in park

SUNDAY
Breakfast, hiking, fishing, and depart at your own leisure.


No Hauling Firewood:
Note that we were planning on bringing down firewood, however due to the Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine, we cannot. Even though Summit County is not yet under quarantine, we are not allowed to bring the wood through any counties that are, which we would have to do in order to get to Hocking Hills. So, we will purchase firewood in the park or outside of the park in Hocking County. So, please don't bring any firewood down individually.

Fishing Opportunity:
Also, if there is anyone who wants to go fishing on Sunday and you don't have a license, you are in luck, May 2nd and 3rd are Free Fishing Days in Ohio. Kids under 16 years of age don't need a license regardless.

***For those who long for the aroma of fall campout, there are pit restrooms at the campsite***

Gear List for Spring Campout

What to pack for the Spring Campout: (or ANY campout)

Gear for each adult/Scout team:-Tent
-Ground cloth for tent
-Water containers
-Marshmallow roasting sticks

Gear for each person:
-Clothing to wear:
-Hiking boots (or if you don’t have them, wear tennis shoes)
-Scout shirt
-T-shirt (under Scout shirt)
-Jeans or other pants
-Underwear
-Socks
-Jacket or warm sweatshirt (if it’s cold, layer up and wear a coat over a sweatshirt)
-Wolf hat

-Clothing to pack:
-1 extra pair of jeans or pants
-1 extra T-shirt for Sunday
-Sleeping clothes: pj’s, long johns, or an extra T-shirt and underwear
-3 extra pairs of socks (1 for sleeping, 1 for Sunday, and 1 emergency pair)
-2 extra pairs of underwear (1 for Sunday, 1 for emergency)

-Wash kit:-Soap
-Washcloth
-Hand towel
-Toothbrush
-Toothpaste
-Comb
-Soap (small bar)
-Travel bag or Ziploc bag to hold wash kit items

-Mess kit:
-Plastic or metal plate
-Plastic or metal bowl (optional)
-Fork, spoon and knife
-Plastic or metal cup or mug
-Washcloth or sponge for cleanup
-Container or Ziploc bag to hold mess kit items

-Other gear:
-Backpack or duffel bag (to hold everything except your sleeping bag, tent and what you are wearing)
-Sleeping bag (inside a trash bag -- keeps it dry)
-Flashlight
-Gloves and warm hat
-Poncho or rain coat
-Canteen or water bottle (already filled)
-Toilet paper in a Ziploc bag (optional)
-Dirty clothes bag (plastic trash bag)
-Hand cleaner

-Optional items:
-Extra pair of shoes
-Air mattress
-Pillow
-Cards or tent game -- NO ELECTRONIC GAMES!

April 2009 Committee Meeting Minutes

Bob Lee brought the flag holders to the meeting -- we actually have flag holders. Now John Kozar has them.

Next pack meeting (April 17) will be at 6:30pm -- not 7pm. Scouts should be there at 6:15pm.

Jen suggested using Enchanted Learning for a resource to grab Jurrasic Pack theme printouts and games. We could start these activities at 6:15 to encourage Scouts to settle in early. Randy will pick up little prizes to offer up as incentive to complete said games.

Crossover will last 30 minutes max; we will still have a bake sale (Tigers). Bob has been in contact with both 333 and 327 regarding the crossover ceremony. Webelos will do the opening.

Larry shared with us his experience of going to the Kent Bog with the Tigers for a Jurrasic Outing.

Spring Campout to Hocking Hills State Park

Leaders need to remind their members to make up a mess kit to bring on the campout:
One side note regarding Spring campout. Once again remind dens to either purchase mess kits (Wal-mart, Target, Kamper City, Dick's etc) or make up their own before the campout. Remember everyone will be on their own for meal preparation (food will be provided). The following is Ed Kennedy's suggestion for making up your own "homemade" mess kit:

Here is a list of what the scouts can use for a simple mess kit:
-a low, flat Tupperware or other plastic bowl that serves as both a plate and a bowl (you only need one item to eat from)
-a plastic mug for drinking, or just use the canteen or water bottle that you should have brought on the campout
-an old fork and/or spoon
-a small dishcloth to wash and/or dry everything
-a Ziploc bag to hold all of the above
-if you are going to cook over a fire, bring a small skillet or frying pan and a spatula from home
-Bears and Webelos should have pocket knives to use; for Tigers and Wolves, the parent/guardian should have a knife

Randy volunteered to go down early to campsite if needed for registration.

John Kozar will fill out the tour permit.

Meet at church at 7am Saturday morning, May2, for departure soon thereafter.

Physicals: Make sure ALL people (adults and cubs) bring a Class I medical form.

All den leaders: All dens should plan to have a shakedown meeting before the campout. This is where the Cub Scouts should show up with EVERYTHING they plan to take on the campout.

Helpful hints:
Bug sprays disable the waterproofing on the tents.

Questions:
1. What time does the registrar open?
2. What are our acitivities? Hike after lunch somewhere there... Den leaders, provide any scheduled activities your own den would like to do.

Next Committee Meeting will be April 26 to finalize campout details.

P.S. From Jennifer Morris:

John asked the Den leaders to have activities ready for their dens for the gathering time for the pack meeting. Have the kids arrive at 6:15 and begin at 6:30pm. During this gathering time - the kids can do printable pages/puzzles based on the theme of the meeting. (this on is Jurasic Pack) For ever two pages they complete - they can turn them in for a small "prize" - Randy's getting a barrel of plastic dinos for incentives. I would suggest having 5-6 different puzzle pages ready for your den. This way the kids can choose what they want to do - and can have friendly competition for who can get the dinos from the den. You will want to let the dens know this - so they can get there on time to start the activity.

Here's some dino printable pages for ideas:
http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/dinosaurs.htm
http://www.kidsdomain.com/brain/dino/print2.html
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/freeprintables/ss/dinosaurprint_3.htm
http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/science/dino/
http://www.geocities.com/enchantedforest/dell/2237/dino/puzzles.html
http://printables.familyeducation.com/puzzles-and-games/mazes/51389.html
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/

I made the suggestion at our meeting that each den leader have a small first aid kit (dollar store) , an instant ice pack (dollar store) and Gold Bond First Aid Spray in their day pack for the Hocking Hills Campout. This spray covers infection, insects bites, and burns. It's the only thng that works with my boys because it doesn't sting at all and smells good. Here's a picture of it: