Cantigny Overnight – Last Minute Notes

Big Red One insignia
Big Red One First Infantry Division
Thank you to everyone who signed up to camp with us at Cantigny Park in Wheaton on Saturday 4/17. If you haven’t already signed up but would like to join us, please feel free to just show up on Saturday with a signed form and $10 payment for each camper (scout or Akela.) We have a few campsites still available.

It looks like it’s going to be a couple of cool, clear days this weekend; GREAT weather for camping. And the campfire we’ll have will take the chill out of the air on Saturday night.

  • You can enter Cantigny Park starting at 9AM on Saturday, but you won’t be able to set up in the camp ground until noon. There is no charge for either parking or entrance (the $10 per camper is payable to the pack and will be used to provide food.) You can enter through the main gate, or the private entrance just north of the main gate. Tell the guard you are with Riverside Cub Scout Pack 24. Having a scout in uniform in your vehicle is like having a free pass.
  • The guard will direct you to our camping area (there are two different ones.) You can drive your vehicle to the camping area and unload (please stay on the roadway and off the grass) but then need to park your vehicle in the designated parking area.
  • Because you are there with your scout, you are primarily responsible for the discipline of your scout during the weekend. We can support you in that role, particularly during organized activities, but we need to be able to focus on providing a fun and exciting program for all the scouts, and we will need your help.
  • Please help us enforce the “no sticks” policy. No scout should have a stick in his hand; it just gets out of hand too quickly.
roasting marshmallow on a campfire
Roasting Marshmallows
  • Fire Safety is absolutely critical, and is the responsibility of both parents and scouts. Scouts should not play in the fire, and what goes into the fire stays in the fire. Thanks for your support in this very important part of our outing.
  • Please keep food out of your tent. There are raccoons in the area and we don’t want to give them a reason to try and get into your tent.
  • We practice and enforce the “Leave No Trace” front country guidelines. They are in your scout’s handbook. Please review this section before camping. An abridged version is also available online, but basically: Plan Ahead, Stick to Trails, Leave What You Find, Respect Other Visitors and Trash Your Trash. We will leave the campground in better shape than when we arrived.
  • On Sunday morning everyone is anxious to go home, but we would appreciate it if you stick around a few minutes to help us clean up. It’s amazing how quickly we can reset things for the next group if everyone helps a little bit.

Chris Hajer’s cell phone number is (708) 214-7119 in case you need anything. We’ll see you out there!

p.s. please bring an empty one or two liter bottle (or several of them) so we can be sure to have enough water bottle rockets to go around.

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