September 2024 – Caving Campout
What: Caving Campout
When: September 20th to September 22th, 2024
Where: Camp Overlook – 3014 Camp Overlook Lane, Keezletown, VA 22832
Caving will take place at a local area private cave, roughly 30 minutes away
Departure Details: We will meet at the church at 4:30 PM for a 5:30 PM departure. Please eat dinner beforehand. Patrols will plan a cracker barrel snack when we arrive at the campsite. This is roughly a 2-hour hour drive, possibly longer with traffic.
Return Details: We hope to leave the campground by 9 AM and then arrive back at the church by 11 AM. We will send out a notice with a more accurate time on Sunday morning.
Event Details: We’ll be camping at Camp Overlook both Friday and Saturday night.
On Saturday morning, we’ll be spelunking at a local area cave and guided by Wild Guyde Adventure, a commercial outfitter. We’ll be getting back to the campsite in the early afternoon, at which point Scouts will have open program time until dinner. Options include hiking the trails around camp and field games.
From the outfitter:
Beginner Caving is a great introduction for first-timers and younger cavers. This involves largely horizontal movement such as walking, stooping, and crawling. On all our caving trips, we learn basic caving safety, underground navigation, and some elementary limestone geology.
Uniform: Class B uniform is required for travel to and from the event.
What to bring: This event will be outdoors in September with potentially cooler temperatures in the evenings and mornings. Scouts and parents should monitor the weather leading up to the campout and pack accordingly; the cave temperature is a constant 52 degrees year-round. Pack warm/comfortable/breathable clothing with close toe-shoe (no open-toed shoes or sandals), a backpack with a water source (canteen or camel back), their scout handbook, mess kit with utensils, sunscreen, bug spray, first aid kit, sleeping bag, and ground mat. Additional list of “What to bring” from the caving company, Wild Guyde Adventures, includes:
- Boots (hiking style, work boots, or military) or old sneakers that can get muddy
- An outer clothing layer that can be muddied, and then removed when we exit the cave (blue jeans, work pants, or old sweat pants, and a long sleeve shirt layer or old hoodie). Coveralls are great if you have them, but do not bring a disposable paint suit. It is best then to have other clothes underneath the outer layer (like shorts or tights), so when we exit the cave, the muddy stuff can simply be “peeled off” without any modesty issues. Don’t expect privacy; there is often nowhere to change at the cave.
- 1 large plastic trash bag (kitchen or yard size) for muddy clothing afterward.
- Headlamp with fresh batteries (Walmart has some decent inexpensive headlamps.)
- A small flashlight
- Change of footwear for home travel (sandals, sneakers)
- Whistle on a lanyard
- *Camera with flash, preferably in a Ziploc® (or bring a disposable camera).
- *Some folks like knee pads and gloves (optional).
- Medical Form/Participant Agreement
- WILD GUYde will supply caving helmets, cave packs, and safety equipment
Event Open to: Scouts/adults
Registration Deadline: We are limited to a total of 18 participants for caving.
Registration options:
Option 1 Caving – $81.00
Option 2 Non-Caver – $34.00
Cost Basis: Caving – $47, Camping – $14, and Food – $20 (4 meals at $5) = Total $81
Additional Registration Details: All those planning to cave must complete the outfitter’s medical and agreement to participate form. This can be downloaded below and should be returned to Mr. Steudle prior to departing.
Registration Link: https://events.troop964.org/index.php/events/scouting/campouts/caving/2024-09-caving
Password: See Troop Emails for Password
Cellphone Policy: Cell phones are a prohibited item as per troop policy. Per troop policy, the troop will allow cell phones to be used during the car ride to the event and the car ride home. Troop 964 will not be responsible for lost, stolen, or broken cell phones. Cell phones should be left in vehicles while camping. Scouts will not have access to their cell phones for the duration of the event unless granted permission from the Scoutmaster, or an Assistant Scoutmaster for use in completing a scouting-related activity. Parents and scouts not in agreement with this policy should refrain from attending this troop event.
Scout Behavior: Please discuss with your scout that living up to the Scout Oath and Law is expected at all Troop 964 Events or events attended with Troop 964. Scouts are expected to abide by the Troop Code of Conduct. Unit Leaders will have a (1) strike policy. Parents will be contacted to pick up their scout if any behavior issues are encountered. This is non-negotiable.