National Capital Area Council
Cub Scout Pack 343

Family Camping

Twice a year, Pack 343 has a Family Campout. The Fall Campout is in October (20-22) at Watkins Regional Park, MD, and includes the October Pack Meeting. The Spring Campout is in May (18-20) at Cedarville State Forest, MD, and includes the May Pack meeting and graduation. The main activities occur on Saturday, with Pack meeting on Saturday evening (usually around a bonfire), with overnight camping Saturday evening, followed by breakfast, clean-up and a short service on Sunday before leaving camp. Usually there is an option to camp out on Friday night, too. Family camping involves the family. It is the Scout plus family (parents and siblings) camping out in their own tent. Depending on the planning, food is usually by family, den or sometimes the pack. Details vary for each Family Campout. For our Fall Family Campout... Saturday lunch is provided by the Pack; Saturday dinner is done by den; and other meals/snacks/drinks are on your own.

When and Where

What: Fall Family Camping
When: Fri, Oct 20, 2006 to Sun, Oct 22, 2006
Where: Watkins Regional Park, MD, family camp sites 30 (Fri/Sat) and 31 (Sat)
Directions: From the Capital Beltway (I-495), take Exit 15A (Central Avenue, MD-214 east). Continue for approximately three miles. Turn right onto Watkins Park Drive (Route 193), continue for approximately one mile and turn right. Then follow the park signs to the facility. Once inside the park, pass the main facility on the right and the next left is the family camping area. Drive around the loop (counterclockwise). Sites 30 and 31 are on the left, just past the bath house, near the end of the circle.
Costs: None
Pack 343 POC: Dave Berthe (berthedad@comcast.net)
RSVP to your den leader by Thursday, 19 Oct 06, with number of people coming to camp, and whether you will be there for hayride and/or lunch on Sat
Weather Outlook for Upper Marlboro, MD at 20 Oct 06, 0900:

Friday Night

Saturday Day

Saturday Night

Sunday Day

Clear
Clear

Mostly Sunny
Mostly Sunny

Mostly Clear

Partly Cloudy

Overnight Low
40°F

High
63°F

Overnight Low
41°F

High
64°F

There is a possibility of rain on Friday morning, but sunny in afternoon and clear into the evening. Rest of the weekend should be nice, but cool at night, so bring warm clothes for any evenings.

Equipment

The Bolling AFB outdoor recreation office is at the marina, and offers camping equipment rental

Other members of the pack may have equipment as well -- check with your den leader if you need something)

If you don't have a stove, don't bring one... plenty of people have them

Bring light waterproof or water-resistant outergarment, and suggest everyone dress in light layers in the morning and shed down as it warms up

Schedule Details

Friday Night (20 Oct 06) - optional
- Camping overnight on Friday is optional
- No planned activities for Friday night
- Campfire time
Saturday (21 Oct 06)
- Morning activities (0900-1200)
  - A to Z Hike (0900-1000)
  - Playground (1000-1030)
  - Hike back to campground (1030-1100)
    - Due to staff shortage, there will not be a hayride
  - Bottle Rockets (1100-1200)
- Lunch (1200-1300)
  - Hotdogs, chips and veggies (provided by Pack)
- Afternoon activities (1300-1630)
  - Make Raingutter Regatta Boats (1300-1400)
  - Team Sports - Ultimate Frisbee (1400-1530)
  - Raingutter Regatta competition (1530-1630)
- Den time (1630-1700)
- Dinner (1700-1830)
  - Dinner with your den
- Travel to Ampitheater
- Pack Meeting (1845-2015)
  - Ampitheater behind the Nature Center
  - Each den performs song and skit plus gets recognition
- Campfire time (2030-2130)
- Lights out (2200)
Sunday (22 Oct 06)
- Breakfast (on your own)
- Church Service (0900-0915)
- Breakdown camp and depart

Pack Meeting

Our October Pack Meeting will be held during our campout
Uniform required for Pack Meeting
- Just scout shirt, neckerchief and slide... no hats
Each den will perform skit and song
Scouts will receive any recognition they have earned
After the pack meeting, dens are on their own to make smores or tell fireside stories or the like. But you'll have to build your own fire back at the campsite fire rings since the Webelos are highly trained to put out the big bonfire once the pack meeting is adjorned.

Activities

"A to Z" Hike

Imagine the fun of hiking through the woods, enjoying nature with your buddy, but at the same time trying to see how many items you can identify on the hike that start with the letters... from A to Z... can you identify 26?

Playground

Get rid of some energy after the hike and play on the playground
Hayride
- Due to staff shortage, there will not be a hayride... instead we'll hike back to campground
Bottle Rockets
- If you were at past campouts and some of our other activities, you'll remember the Bottle Rocket building and launching fun as Cubmaster Dave leads the Scouts in this always exciting activity. Bring empty 1-liter, 2-liter, 20-ounce plastic bottles for building rockets and then see how high they will launch into the air.
Raingutter Regatta
- It's our theme this month... "Cub Scout Shipbuilders." So, let's build some regatta boats and then race them against your den mates! We'll build them first and decorate them, then later we'll race them.
Ultimate Frisbee
- Time for some team sports competion and a chance to throw the Frisbee and run around. You can earn a belt loop, too!

Important Notes

Campout Safety Checklist (PDF)
What to bring checklist (example)
Do NOT bring televisions, radios, walkmen, skateboards, scooters, or bikes. ABSOLUTELY no alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, liquid fuels, large axes, hatchets, chainsaws, sheath knives, fireworks, or weapons. Also, no pets are allowed.

Last updated: October 20, 2006

Friday Night	Saturday Day	Saturday Night	Sunday Day
Clear	Mostly Sunny	Mostly Clear	Partly Cloudy
Overnight Low 40°F	High 63°F	Overnight Low 41°F	High 64°F