Update Oct 19: We are camping in the Baden Powell campsite. There are no swimming or canoeing activities. There will be a costume parade, and trunk-or-treat in the evening.
Original post: The Greater Tampa Bay Area Council will be hosting their annual Spook-O-Ree campout weekends in October. We have selected the October 21 Spook-O-Ree event at the council’s Flaming Arrow Scout Reservation, which is about 8 miles east of Lake Wales. (You can attend the event at one of the other 3 scout camps, but you must register on your own.) Cost will be $37 for each Scout or participating sibling, and $27 for adults. Optional event T-shirts are available for $15 and must be ordered by September 20. We are accepting a $5.00 donation from adults for food costs. If finances are an issue, let a leader know, and do not miss the event. You must pre-register with the pack no later than the October 2 meeting so we can register the pack with council. Please sign up with the pack as early as you can. If your plans change, and after the October 2 meeting you find that you can (or cannot) make it, let us know, as we may have extra spots (or someone waiting). A parent/guardian must accompany the scout to this event. Siblings and other family members are welcome. For all district and council events, the pack is required to have a completed medical form for each scout.
Our pack T-shirt would be appropriate dress for day events. The uniform shirt would be nice, but not necessary, at the Saturday opening ceremony and Sunday’s worship service. Closed toe-ed shoes are required; No flip-flops or open sandals. They should also be ready to get wet in the lake.
You can come for the day only if you like. We hope that you will camp with us, either Friday night or Saturday night, or both. If you’re unsure, or need equipment, let us know. We’ll help you out and do everything we can to make sure this is a great experience for your family and for your Scout. If you are camping, the Pack will also provide Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner on Saturday, and Breakfast on Sunday. If coming for just the day, we will provide lunch for your family. We typically have eggs, french toast, breakfast burritos or cereal Saturday breakfast, hot dogs & mac & cheese for lunch, spaghetti for supper, and cereals and whatever is left on Sunday. If you have a special diet, let us know and we will try to accommodate. If you require snacks during the day, or drink other than water or lemonade, you can bring your own. We will have disposable plates, cups, plasticware. Please bring your own re-useable drink cub/mug. If you are camping Friday night, you should plan to come fed, or bring a dinner with you.
The trading post will be open on Saturday where you can buy scouting items, event T-shirts (if available), extra patches, and water bottles as they are available. The Pack will use the Troop trailer to transport our cooking supplies, tables, food items, shelters, and heavy items, and we can leave this trailer near the campsite. The recent method to transport personal gear to the campsite is to allow one or 2 cars at a time per unit to drive to near the campsite to unload, then return to the parking lot. (This is allowed only Friday evening and Sunday morning, not Saturday.) They do not want any vehicles in the camping area on Saturday. If camping and arriving on Saturday, try to bring a wagon or ?? to transport your gear. We may be able to have someone in staff to drive it down.
We will be able to have a campfire in the campsite’s fire ring. This is a Boy Scout summer camp, and restroom facilities at the campsite are appropriate to that type of use. There is a nice bath house at Flaming Arrow, with individual rooms which have toilets or showers, a short walk away.
Program: There will be stations which we rotate through on a timed basis. There typically will be a BB gun (Lions will not be permitted to participate in this station), Bow & Arrow, and wrist rocket station. Saturday evening, there will be a spooky hay ride and a trick or treat area. Costumes are welcome and encouraged, but No swords, guns, knives, or other weapons as part of the costume.
Drive time from Cork to Flaming Arrow is about 1 hour 30 minutes. The entrance gate will open 4PM on Friday. For those arriving Saturday morning (try to arrive by 8:30am), call Staci or Claude when you are coming in to find out where our group is located. If you would like to attend the Spook-O-Ree event, and need assistance with the costs, supplies, equipment, or transportation, please let Staci or Claude know and we will work with you. We do not want any Scouts to be left out.
As in all Scout camping, please leave pets, weapons, alcoholic beverages, electronic distractions, etc. at home. If it is questionable, don’t do it. See the “Guide to Safe Scouting” for additional information.