Cedarkirk Family Camp May 3-5

The pack will celebrate the end of the school year with a family campout May 3 thru 5, at Cedarkirk, a Presbyterian Camp and Conference Center.  Cedarkirk is located on the south side of the Alafia River, several miles west of SR 39. You are welcome to come for Saturday only, or camp Friday and/or Saturday nights. Please let us know if you can attend (how many, and when) so we can properly plan. You must provide your own tent or other sleeping arrangements. (For an additional fee, you can camp in a rustic cabin with limited electricity, or in another building. Call Cedarkirk (813-685-4224 option 2) to make arrangements.) The camp site should have adequate electricity if you want to bring a fan.  There is a nice restroom/shower house a short walk from our camping area. The typical activities (weather permitting) include swimming in their pool, hunting for shark’s teeth in the Alafia River, a climbing tower, flying disc golf, water rockets, star-gazing, campfire songs, and s’mores. All family members are welcome to participate. We must provide all activities for the scouts, so please bring a group game or activity. There is a GaGa ball pit, volleyball area, a large open field, and covered pavilion that we can use.  Cost for the event will be $8/camping night for adults, and $5/camping night for youth, or $2 for Saturday only. If cost is a concern, please let a leader know. Special things to bring: swim suit, or something you can wear in a pool and in a river; closed-toe shoes you can wear in the river, colander/strainer and spade for digging for shark’s teeth in the river; game/activity to share; re-usable drinking cup/mug for each person. The pack will provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday.  (Same menu as in previous camps.) Eat before you come on Friday evening.

A Cedarkirk Map is available. The entrance from Streetman Drive is on bottom of map, and we are camping at the RV camper sites (not designated) near Village C.  As you drive in, across from the maintenance area, turn left off the paved road onto the dirt road  (there will be a “Pack 734” banner on the pine tree), and follow it until there is a “T”.  We can camp in any of the sites in that area that you just passed.  (We use the last site on the left for kitchen/dining area, so don’t put your tent up there.)

You can watch the river level at the USGS Web Site. If the river level is above 5 feet, we will not be able to hunt for shark’s teeth in the main river, but will go to a tributary.

Cedarkirk has week-long (or shorter for younger ones) summer camps for all ages of youth, open to anyone. Several boys from our pack have attended, and really enjoyed it.

As in any Scout Camp, please leave pets, weapons, electronic distractions, and alcoholic beverages at home.  If you have any questions about policy, see the BSA “Guide to Safe Scouting“.