Outing Guide
Revision "B" 02-29-06
Jan.
 Pack Pinewood
Feb.
 Blue & Gold
Mar.
 District Pinewood must be considered if outing is planned.  Good time for an outing with shelter, such as McNeil, Yorktown, or Umstead.
Apr.
 April 1, St. Timothy's annual 3.1 mi. "Spring Sprint".
Overnight outings should consider shelter.
May
 Main Spring Outing - Typically Falls Lake or Jordan Lake
June
 Usually either no pack outing or a minor "day activity". 
"Rain Gutter Regatta", and other 1/2 day activities are plausible. Council activities such as Camp Durant and "day camp" are generally the focus.
VIR also has a Pinewood, usually in June.
July
 Usually either no pack outing or a minor "day activity".  "Rain Gutter Regatta", and other 1/2 day activities are plausible. Council activities such as Camp Durant and "day camp" are generally the focus.
Aug.
Sep.
 Main Fall Outing - Falls Lake or Jordan Lake - Consider heat factor and meeting BSA requirements for waterfront activities to keep cool
Oct.
 Popcorn
Nov.
 Popcorn - An outing should be scheduled immediately after BSA popcorn sales end.  Having only one fall outing is insufficient.  The outing needs to be immediately after popcorn and as far in advance of Thanksgiving as possible else families will be busy preparing for the holidays and turn
Dec.

Reservations

Making reservations for outings in the same week as a monthly pack meeting can be onerous on all the participants as three to four days of the week must be dedicated to scouting.  Better to have a pack meeting to promote the event, then have it the 2nd weekend after the camp-out. 

Always DOUBLE confirm each booking with emphasis on the Pack number.  We confirmed a reservation at Hanging Rock once only to find our site occupied when we arrived.  The worker confirming the reservation just had "Cub Scouts" marked on the reservation.  Turns out there were two large packs and they had them occupying the same space.  The other pack arrived on Friday, our pack on Sat.  Many of our tents ended up in the septic field.  It was shortly after that we switched back to camping both Friday and Sat. night. 

The Friday/Saturday/Sunday method places a small contingent on-site Friday evening to hold and develop the camp.  If anything is awry it can be corrected prior to the arrival of the main group.  By maintaining cell phone contact Saturday arrivals can bring any unusual or forgotten materials.  This method also allows a bigger participation window and makes it easier for cubs involved in athletics to participate in at least part of the event.

Potential Sites and Activities

  1. Umstead Park - Maple Hill Lodge  is a great overnight location for inclement months, but will not hold a large pack.


  2. Falls Lake - Close to Raleigh with numerous campgrounds.  Group campgrounds fill early; book six months in advance.  Individual sites such as Shinleaf are available longer and work well if some of the pack can arrive on Friday night.


  3. Jordan Lake - Close to Raleigh with numerous campgrounds.  Group campgrounds, such as "Parker's Creek",  fill early (site #356 is best); book six months in advance.  Individual sites such as "New Hope Overlook" are available longer and work well if some of the pack can arrive on Friday night.


  4. Fort McNeill - note distance, best for "cool" months, book six month in advance.


  5. USS Yorktown - note distance, expensive (~$70.00/head), best for "cool" months.  Increasingly used by schools for class trips so going every other year may be too frequent.


  6. VIR Raceway - note distance and calculate how crowded the event will be.


  7. Hanging Rock State Park - note distance


  8. Medoc Mountain State Park - Nice network of creeks - fun to look for "lost BSA camp".

State sites require the pack to observe "lights out" rules.  This may seem like an easy thing, but when arriving late on Friday or after a campfire ceremony on Saturday the pack may be "pressed" to stay within the limits.  It also makes star-gazing and telescope activities difficult. 

Some state parks have facilities reserved for groups with a handicapped scout or Akela.  In addition to facilitating the inclusion of the handicapped, this feature can work to the pack's advantage as other groups will not be allowed to reserve such a campground,  .

Further reference materials available at:
http://www.pack334.org/public/docs/


Site Resources

Umstead Park