Scouting – Texas Style

Polar Bear 2010 Campout, @ McKinney Falls State Park

The Polar Bear campout at McKinney Falls State Park is coming up fast. It is scheduled for Saturday January 16th starting at 1:00 pm through Sunday January 17th mid-morning. The WHOLE family is welcome. We have a group campsite reserved both nights of January 16th and 17th, so families are free to come Friday if they would like. Please let Karl Shackelford know if you wish to arrive on Friday so he can let park staff know.

Directions:
The park information provides the following directions: The park is located 13 miles southeast of the State Capitol in Austin off US Highway 183. Take McKinney Falls Parkway, off US 183 South, straight to the park entrance.

GPS or Mapquest: 5808 McKinney Falls Parkway, Austin, Texas 78744

Basics:
Families need to provide their own lunch for Saturday. The opening ceremony and activities will start at approximately 1:00 pm. Saturday afternoon we’ll earn some belt loops by playing kickball, hiking and learning about photography. We’ll all eat dinner together as a Pack and have a campfire. Sunday morning we’ll have breakfast together and maybe go on another hike. The park has a great biking trail for those interested.

The Pack will provide some drinks for these meals. However, please bring your own additional drinks so that everyone stays hydrated.

Schedule

(Times may not be exact. Let’s just see what works)

Saturday

12:00 – 1:00 pm: Arrive, set-up and each family have lunch (if you haven’t already).

1:00 – 1:15 pm: Opening ceremony (DEN 4).

1:30 – 4:30 pm: Kickball, Photography & Hiking

KICKBALL: John Alexander and Hilton Moore will head this up, but they will need parents to help the day of. It basically involves explaining the rules, practicing, and then playing a game.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Keith Savage will head this up, but will need some assistance at the campout itself.  Plan to bring a camera if you have one. Does not need to be anything fancy.  For the photography belt loop activity everyone does need to bring a camera. Also, please show your son how to operate it before the campout.  Just the basics are necessary: on/off, snap picture, review/delete pictures.

HIKE: Steve Poole will head this up. We’ll discuss safety and equipment and go on a hike. Bring good shoes and water bottles.

4:30 – 6:30 pm: cook/eat/clean up. The Adam Haynes is heading this up, but will need help at the campout.

6:30 – 8:30 pm: “Campfire” activities. Remember: Each den should plan to do a skit, lead a song, etc.

Sunday

6:30 – 8:30 am: breakfast cook/eat/clean up. Adam Haynes is heading this up, but will need help at the campout.

8:30 – 10:00 am: TBD

10:00 – 10:15 am : Leave No Trace cleanup

10:30 am : Closing ceremony, campout officially over.

Leave group site by 11:00 am.

(If you are listed in a volunteer position and can no longer volunteer, please let Karl Shackelford know as soon as possible.)

Please email your den leader as soon as possible if you are planning to be at the campout so we can get a headcount.

As you’re gearing up to return to work and school and begin a new year, don’t forget about the first campout of the year, the Polar Bear Campout!

This year it is scheduled for the weekend of January 16-17, at McKinney Falls State Park. It’s only about 30 minutes from Austin (if that). We have some sports and other activities that are getting lined up, so it will be a lot of fun, as usual, and as usual — we encourage the whole family to attend!