Forms: Kayak Waver, Permission slip.
Troop 215 is heading to the NC coast for this month’s camp out September 12-13. We’ll be camping at Hammocks Beach State Park, which is located on Bear Island (http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/habe/main.php). The island is located immediately south of Emerald Isle and is accessible only by passenger ferry operated by the State Park or by private boat. This is one of the few remaining uninhabited and pristine coastal islands of NC which should provide an exciting trip for the Troop this month.
More details on the trip and activities are below. The Trip Permission Slip is attached. IMPORTANT: MAKE SURE TO READ THIS ENTIRE EMAIL. All scouts/adults attending need to respond via email to me as soon as possible, but no later than Monday, September 7 (Labor Day). Because we will not have another Troop meeting before this trip it is very important to respond to this email if you are interested in attending. The following scouts/adults are signed up for the trip so far:
SCOUTS
Ryan E
John C
David F
Tyler M
Daniel C
Derek W
Matt W
Beau C
Louis M
ADULTS
Mr. Eckard
Mr. Wood
Mr. Craig
Mr. Fitzpatrick
Adults: please indicate whether you are driving. If so, indicate how many passengers you can take (including yourself), and provide me your cell phone number.
TRIP DETAILS:
We’ll camp overnight on Bear Island Saturday, September 12 and return Sunday, September 13. The camp sites are primitive/backpack type camp sites located on the beach side of the island and require a short ½ – mile hike from the ferry dock on Bear Island. We’ll have access to potable water and showers.
Once on the island we’ll be doing a number of activities depending on the weather conditions. These include:
- A beach hike to Bear Inlet on the south side of the island (~1.5 -2 hr round trip hike) to explore the beach and estuarine environments. We’ll bring and use a couple of cast nets at the inlet to catch fish and other critters.
- Fishing (requires a fishing license for anyone 16 and older). Scouts are welcome to bring their fishing poles. We’ll also learn how to use a cast net, and possibly do some clamming/crabbing.
- Beach/swimming (TBD prior to trip – more on this later)
ISLAND TRANSPORTION
We will use a combination of the State Park operated ferry and sea kayaks for transportation to and from the island. Transportation to the island is based on the following conditions. All First Year Scouts will be taking the State Park operated ferry from the mainland to Bear Island with one or more of the Troop leaders. In addition, any older scouts that do not have the Swimming Merit Badge or do not wish to participate in sea kayaking will also take the ferry trip to the island. This is a very scenic 15 minute ride by ferry boat through the vast salt water marsh and tidal creeks between the mainland and Bear Island. It’s very common to see bottlenose dolphins and other wildlife on the ferry to the island.
SCOUT PARENTS: Please indicate in your email response whether your scout is a First Year Scout, and if they have the Swimming Merit Badge.
For all other Scouts/adults, we’ll be doing a guided sea kayak paddle trip to the island with professional guides and equipment from Barrier Island Kayaks (http://www.barrierislandkayaks.com/index.php). The kayak trip to Bear Island takes ~1.5 hours and will bring us to the same ferry dock on Bear Island where the ferry unloads. This provides an awesome tour of the smaller islands, tidal creeks, salt marshes and wildlife in the beautiful back barrier island estuary between Bear Island and the mainland. This is a flat water paddle tour with a couple of stops.
IMPORTANT WAIVER: Attached is a waiver form from the guide/outfitter company (Barrier Island Kayaks) that must be completed and signed by the parent of any scout going on the kayak tour. Adults going on the kayak tour must also bring a signed waiver form. This form must be provided to me on Saturday morning, September 12 when we meet at the Clubhouse. Any scout without a signed form will take the ferry to the island.
COSTS:
· $12 for Troop Grub money (to be collected Saturday morning, September 12).
· Scouts should also bring money for two restaurant stops; one stop for Breakfast Saturday morning and one stop for Lunch on Sunday.
· $5 per person ($3 per person if 12yrs and younger) for round trip State Park Ferry transportation to and from Bear Island
· $50 per person (payable to Troop 215) for Kayaking. Troop 215 will make final determinations for eligibility.
More information will follow regarding food and other trip details. Feel free to contact me Mr. Eckard with any questions.
Mr. Eckard
Troop 215
Forms: Kayak Waver, Permission slip.
