Description

The trip is an overnight campout at the Parker's Creek campground at Jordan Lake. The troop's theme for the month of September is packing. This trip will focus on personal and patrol readiness for hiking and camping activity. Weather permitting, there will be opportunities to swim and canoe in Jordan Lake.

Water Activity and Equipment

Boys with lifesaving skills will be acting as lifeguards and lookouts. Anybody who has not passed a BSA camp swim test must be cleared by the Scoutmaster before swimming. All swimmers will be buddied up.

Introductory canoeing instruction is offered for those boys without the Canoeing merit badge and who want to go on troop canoe outings. This will consist of elementary stroke instruction, entry and exit of the canoe and canoe rescue. For canoeing instruction, there will be at least two canoes with four Class 2 or 3 PFD's. A third canoe, kayak or rowboat (and PFD's) would be desirable for the instructor and spotter.

Canoes and kayaks will be available for the boys to take out. All boys and adults will wear PFDs while in the canoes and kayaks. Only boys with BSA swimmer will be allowed to take out canoes outside of instruction. One of the boys in the canoe must have earned the Canoeing merit badge. Boys without BSA swimmer may canoe with an adult with canoeing expertise. A kayak may be taken out by a boy who has earned the Canoeing merit badge with an adult in a canoe as a spotter for the kayak

Schedule

Messages and Emergency Contact.

Telephone contact may be tried; call 593-0290. Much of the area has poor cell phone coverage.

Personal Equipment.

Personal and patrol equipment lists will be reviewed at the meeting before the trip. In addition to normal camping equipment, swimsuits and towels are to be taken.

Food and Group Equipment.

Food (except Saturday's personal bag lunch) is a patrol responsibility. Menus and food lists will be reviewed by adult and boy staff at the  meeting before the trip. Patrol equipment will be checked out at the 25 September meeting.

Three patrol prepared meals are scheduled: Saturday supper through Sunday lunch. The last meal should require minimal cleanup. Saturday lunch is a bag lunch brought individually.

Water

Water will be available at the campsite.

Driving Route.

Parker's Creek campground is located off US 64 between the bridges across Jordan lake. There are two routes:
 
1. Leaving  Chapel Hill on US 15-501 south, turn left onto Mount Carmel Church Road at the light just beyond Morgan Creek. Follow Mount Carmel Church Road, which merges into Farrington Road past the Governors Club to US 64. Turn right onto US 64. Watch for Parker's Creek campground on the right after crossing one bridge over the lake.
2. Leaving Chapel Hill on US 15-501 south, turn left on Mt. Gilead Church Road just past Fearrington Village. Continue to US 64 and turn left. Watch for Parker's Creek campground on the left after crossing one bridge over the lake.


The troop has reserved site 253.

Maps.

• The following book and maps were used in the preparation of this material.
• North Carolina County Maps, Ed. C.J. Puetz, c. 1987.
• North Carolina State Transportation Map & Guide to Points of Interest, 1989.