March 2021 Mini-Backpacking Weekend
We will have a mini backpacking trip the weekend of March 19-21, with a non-backpacking option.
Friday night, we will start out at the Marsden Tract Group Campground in Potomac, MD. Saturday, we will backpack to the Swain's Lock Campground about 5 miles along the C&O Canal Towpath, where we will be joined at 1pm by anyone who is not interested in backpacking. We'll then camp at Swain's Lock overnight, with pickup at 1pm on Sunday.
Planned activities include practicing first aid techniques and assembling/replenishing personal first aid kits; this will be done after the backpacking portion of the weekend is over so that it is available to everyone.
The cost for this campout will be $25, which includes all meals Saturday, breakfast Sunday, and a late morning snack on Sunday.
Scouts will arrive from 4pm onward Friday afternoon, and will be picked up at 1pm on Sunday at Swain's Lock.
The location for drop-off is the pull-off on Macarthur Blvd, located at approximately 10427 Macarthur Boulevard, on the side of the road closer to the water. See map below. We are in campsite 2.
The location for pickup is a small parking lot at the end of Swain's Lock Road. Try using the address "10700 Swains Lock Rd, Potomac, MD 20854" in your GPS to find it, but depending on which program you are using, that location may not be exact. See map below.
To participate, Scouts will need
A completed Registration Form
Personal Gear (Packing List) - Please pay special attention to the packing list! We won't be able to share gear that someone forgets to bring. If you don't have it, please ask to borrow it!
Annual Health and Medical Record - Parts A and B are required - most people submitted this in January
A Photo Release, if you have not already provided one
Payment of $25, see email for details about payment
COVID-specific information
Our troop has established COVID-specific policies that are somewhat different from the way we usually camp. Here are the details for this particular campout.
Transportation: Families are responsible for transporting their Scout(s) to and from the campsite.
Sleeping accommodations: Everyone will sleep in individual tents.
Shared equipment: Shared equipment will be sanitized between uses, whenever possible.
Sanitary facilities: There are portable toilets at the campsite.
Hand-washing: A hand washing station and hand sanitizer will be available. Everyone will be expected to make frequent use of these amenities, including before and after touching any shared surfaces.
Social distancing: Everyone will stay at least 6' away from other people, including people they live with, whenever possible.
Masks: Everyone will carry a mask with them at all times, and will wear it whenever it is not possible to maintain 6' of distance from other people.
Food: Everyone will bring their own dinner for Friday night. We will primarily be doing backpacking meals on this campout, but at least one patrol plans patrol cooking on Sunday morning. See the troop's COVID-19 guidelines for information on how we are working to prevent the spread of the virus during cooking/serving of food.
Water: Everyone must bring enough drinking water for their own personal use (see packing list). The troop will bring cooking water. There is no potable water available at the campsite.
Everyone is expected to follow the troop's COVID-19 Guidelines.