2010 WSGA Summer Campout Event Cache

The South Central Washington Chapter invites you to join us for a weekend of fun at Cascade Peaks Resort on Hwy 12 near Packwood, WA. This is WSGA’s first campout in the beautiful Cascade Mountains. Located south of Mount Rainier, this is a picturesque area with mountain peaks rising above the Cowlitz River valley on both sides.

Cascade Peaks Resort is spread over 120 acres, with the Cowlitz River running behind it. We are staying in The Meadows, a section of individual sites with a large field in the middle where we can hang out. Here's a campground map (the area we've reserved is highlighted in yellow).

All sites have water and electrical hookups, a grill and picnic table, and can be used for tents or RVs (one tent/RV and vehicle per site). Cars and RVs will need to stay in designated sites, but we can pitch tents in the field if desired. We can also group the picnic tables in the field, and there’s at least one firepit. There are two restroom/shower buildings next to us. Campground amenities include a store, laundry, pools, spa, playground, a lodge (kitchen, meeting/eating area), and a 9-hole golf course.

So come join your host, acfunk, and WSGA for a weekend mountain adventure of camping, games, camaraderie, and - of course - geocaching! Activities include a Friday night campfire and marshmallow roast, Saturday potluck dinner, and Sunday morning pancake breakfast. Other activities are in the works, so be sure to check back periodically for updates.

Who can attend? The Campout is open to everyone, members and non-members alike. Come for a day, or spend the weekend.

Saturday dinner: This is the main event, covered by your registration fee. It will feature special activities, the WSGA annual general meeting, and distribution of the Campout Goody Bags. For the dinner, WSGA will provide the hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and beverages. This is also a potluck, so bring your favorite side dish or dessert to share and round out the meal.

Camping: Check-in starts at 1:00 pm Friday; check-out is noon Sunday. We are not assigning sites; just pick one of our reserved spaces when you arrive. Please see the campground map - we are asking that RVers take the outer sites at the top, and allow tent campers to have the inner sites that surround the field and restrooms. Ask the campground manager or acfunk for the available locations when you get there.

Registration fee: Covers the Saturday dinner and Campout Goody Bag (with 2010 Summer Campout pathtag). The fee is waived for children aged 5 and under.

Registration deadline: Campout registration is now closed. You can pay on-site for the Saturday dinner and Goody Bag (supplies limited); if you still need a campsite, please contact Cascade Peaks directly.

Early registration bonus: Early registration for campsites ended May 31, and we have 18 entries (11 tent, 7 RV) in the drawing for 10 geocoins. Three winners will be drawn during the Saturday Campout dinner. 1st prize is five geocoins, 2nd prize is three geocoins, and 3rd prize is two geocoins. The winners will take turns choosing from the 10-coin pot.

Event Schedule: Come join the festivities! Acfunk is your activity host, and we’ll have prizes for all games and contests.

Friday
1:00 pm - Check-in starts
7:00 - 9:00 pm - Marshmallow Roast / S’mores (if you have skewers, please bring them)
After dark - Night Cache

Saturday
9:00 am - 5:00 pm - Poker Run, Geo-Bingo
1:00 – 2:00 pm - Ammo Can Toss (separate adult and kid competitions)
2:00 – 4:00 pm - GPS Accuracy
5:00 pm - Barbecue Dinner
After dinner – Early-Reg Geocoin Drawing, Swag Jar Guess Contest, Annual General Meeting

Sunday
7:30-9:00 am - Pancake Breakfast
9:00 am - 12:00 pm - Cleanup/Checkout

RV campers: These are not full-hookup sites; they have electricity and water but no sewage. Full hookups are available elsewhere in the resort and you’d need to book them directly through Cascade Peaks.

Not camping? If you want to participate but prefer a hotel, there are accommodations in nearby Packwood. Here are a few that we thought looked okay: Mountain View Lodge (887-277-7192), Cowlitz River Lodge (888-305-2185), Packwood Inn (877-496-9666), Hotel Packwood (360-494-5431), Crest Trail Lodge (800-477-5339). Additional info at www.destinationpackwood.com.

Parking for day visitors: Cascade Peaks has waived its $5 day-parking fee for vehicles that we can fit into our reserved campsites, so check for parking there first. If we have more cars than we can fit, late-comers will have to park in the visitors lot near the campground entrance and pay the $5 parking fee to Cascade Peaks. So consider carpooling with other day-trippers to reduce the number of caching vehicles and perhaps save yourself some cash.

Additional nights: We're taking reservations for Friday and Saturday nights only. If you want to stay additional nights, you'll need to contact Cascade Peaks directly.

This event is sponsored by the South Central Washington Chapter of the Washington State Geocaching Association. If you are a geocacher in the state of Washington, please consider joining WSGA. See the WSGA website for details.