Summary of our interaction with the rangers and the park. When I refer to different areas, I'm using this park map:
Here's a pointer to our camp clock.
Friday, setting up camp:
Saturday Morning:
Closing flag ceremony: 6:30
Daytimer troop checkout: ..... Turn in evaluations at Camp Central, camp site 41, pick up badges.
Campfire: (prepping at 6:00) 7:00 amphitheater. We will have a campfire at the amphitheater near our camping area. Rangers can turn on the lights. Rebecca Monroy is managing the campfire for singing and skits.
Star gazing in the meadow with the San Diego Astronomical Society: 8:00/8:30 (slide show at the amphitheater?)
Lights out: 10:00
Sunday
Emergency procedure:
In case of fire, we would evacuate the camp. Rangers will provide directions away from the fire.
GS Carlsbad will have a Camp Central/first aid station, which will be the first stopping point if anyone in our SU needs medical help. This will be staffed at various times by Linda Sheldone, Kim O'Connell, and Deborah Chandran. If we need to call an ambulance, we can find a ranger at the main office, and they can radio out, response time is very quick. Rangers are at the main office until 9pm. At night, we can call 911 (Verizon has connectivity, we'll test ATT). Or, if necessary, go to the ranger's residence by the main house and knock on the door.
1. Entrance booth: campers coming in on Friday and Saturday (6 cars max) say they are with "Carlsbad Girl Scouts". Rangers can direct them to the campground, we'll manage which campsite they get.
2. Campsite area 2: We have reserved all of campsite area 2, we can designate the bathrooms and the campsite as a Girl Scout area.
3. Flag pole: Saturday flag ceremony: we can use the park's flag pole, either getting the flag from the rangers, or lowering it if it's up. We'll have someone at the office early to arrange this, before 8:00. Ceremony at 8:30. We'll lower the flag at 6:30.
4. Picnic area 1: Kitchen managers are coming in the morning, we will eat lunch and dinner as a group, reserving the picnic area 1 for the day.
5. Service project: Rangers collect some acorns in advance. 1:00pm we meet at the Picnic Area 1. A ranger will talk to the girls about what they love about being a ranger, why the park wants us to plant acorns, why acorns need to be planted away from oak trees, so seeds need to travel, and the unique role squirrels play.
6. Amphitheater during the evening: reserve the amphitheater for the evening after dinner, maybe by 6:00 so we can prep.
7. Meadow: Astronomer: The San Diego Astronomical Society is coming out. According to Doug McFarland, they have obtained permission to set up in the Meadow, as they usually do.
2. Campsite area 2: We have reserved all of campsite area 2, we can designate the bathrooms and the campsite as a Girl Scout area.
3. Flag pole: Saturday flag ceremony: we can use the park's flag pole, either getting the flag from the rangers, or lowering it if it's up. We'll have someone at the office early to arrange this, before 8:00. Ceremony at 8:30. We'll lower the flag at 6:30.
4. Picnic area 1: Kitchen managers are coming in the morning, we will eat lunch and dinner as a group, reserving the picnic area 1 for the day.
5. Service project: Rangers collect some acorns in advance. 1:00pm we meet at the Picnic Area 1. A ranger will talk to the girls about what they love about being a ranger, why the park wants us to plant acorns, why acorns need to be planted away from oak trees, so seeds need to travel, and the unique role squirrels play.
6. Amphitheater during the evening: reserve the amphitheater for the evening after dinner, maybe by 6:00 so we can prep.
7. Meadow: Astronomer: The San Diego Astronomical Society is coming out. According to Doug McFarland, they have obtained permission to set up in the Meadow, as they usually do.
Here's a pointer to our camp clock.
Friday, setting up camp:
Cars and entrance: I have about 10 troops, with potentially 25 cars coming in. Since we are a group reservation, there won't be a fee for the cars. Most people will arrive on Friday, but we have a few coming in on Saturday. I just need the leaders to let the person at the entrance booth that they are with the Carlsbad Girl Scouts. I'll have Girl Scout signs out, and people will know the camping area before hand. We'll manage the campsite assignment when they check in with us. Two cars can park at each site, which should be enough. Where can the day campers park: near the cabin area?
Campgrounds: we have rented the entire Campsite Area 2, we can reserve those bathrooms for Girl Scouts only.
Check in/first aid: There will be a GS Carlsbad check-in tent at campsite 41. Packets of info, evaluation form: park map, path map, emergency procedure, camp clock.
Tents: the park recommends 4 person tents, with no more than two tents in each area. The goal is to avoid overcrowding and camping on the vegetation. Given the number of campers we have coming, we can fit within those guidelines easily. Some troops have a larger tent, and that's ok. I'll make sure to put those troops in areas better suited for larger tents. I'll work that out on Friday.
Campgrounds: we have rented the entire Campsite Area 2, we can reserve those bathrooms for Girl Scouts only.
Check in/first aid: There will be a GS Carlsbad check-in tent at campsite 41. Packets of info, evaluation form: park map, path map, emergency procedure, camp clock.
Tents: the park recommends 4 person tents, with no more than two tents in each area. The goal is to avoid overcrowding and camping on the vegetation. Given the number of campers we have coming, we can fit within those guidelines easily. Some troops have a larger tent, and that's ok. I'll make sure to put those troops in areas better suited for larger tents. I'll work that out on Friday.
Showers: showers are available in the bathroom between camping area 2 and the RV circle.
Saturday Morning:
Each troop is responsible for their own breakfast.
8:30 Flag raising ceremony: we'll start our activities with a flag raising ceremony using the flag pole near the front office, and flags from the park. We'll send a troop down in advance to either collect the flag/s or lower them in advance. We'd like to lower the flags with a closing ceremony at the end of the day before dinner. (Is there a time that works best for the park?)
Stretching: After the ceremony, we'll move to the meadow for stretching and then the troops on their own to hike.
Lunch and dinner: Our kitchen managers are going to serve lunch and dinner for our troops. We'd like a place where we can all come together, rather than being spread out in our campsite. Picnic Area 1 will be reserved for us. (What was picnic area 2 is now a cabin area.) We should use the BBQs in Picnic Area 1, not the large one in the RV area. Kitchen managers will arrive in the morning.
Service project: 1:00pm - 3:00pm. We're Squirrels for the Day, (making us Squirrel Scouts). We'll meet rangers at the picnic area 1 (we will have just finished lunch there). Melinda will speak about what she loves about being a ranger, and we'll talk briefly about why we are helping to plant the acorns (beetles are attacking the trees, seeds can't sprout under the parent tree, so they need to travel). Then we'll collect some acorns (rangers will collect some in advance too), and plant the acorns along the main road. The acorns only need to be planted 6-7 inches down, so it's easy enough to dig the holes with spade shovels and garden tools.
Workshops: 3:00 we'll regroup at Picnic Area 1 for workshops on Leave No Trace and How Seeds Travel.
Swaps
Dinner: 5:30 Picnic Area 1
8:30 Flag raising ceremony: we'll start our activities with a flag raising ceremony using the flag pole near the front office, and flags from the park. We'll send a troop down in advance to either collect the flag/s or lower them in advance. We'd like to lower the flags with a closing ceremony at the end of the day before dinner. (Is there a time that works best for the park?)
Stretching: After the ceremony, we'll move to the meadow for stretching and then the troops on their own to hike.
Lunch and dinner: Our kitchen managers are going to serve lunch and dinner for our troops. We'd like a place where we can all come together, rather than being spread out in our campsite. Picnic Area 1 will be reserved for us. (What was picnic area 2 is now a cabin area.) We should use the BBQs in Picnic Area 1, not the large one in the RV area. Kitchen managers will arrive in the morning.
Service project: 1:00pm - 3:00pm. We're Squirrels for the Day, (making us Squirrel Scouts). We'll meet rangers at the picnic area 1 (we will have just finished lunch there). Melinda will speak about what she loves about being a ranger, and we'll talk briefly about why we are helping to plant the acorns (beetles are attacking the trees, seeds can't sprout under the parent tree, so they need to travel). Then we'll collect some acorns (rangers will collect some in advance too), and plant the acorns along the main road. The acorns only need to be planted 6-7 inches down, so it's easy enough to dig the holes with spade shovels and garden tools.
Workshops: 3:00 we'll regroup at Picnic Area 1 for workshops on Leave No Trace and How Seeds Travel.
Swaps
Dinner: 5:30 Picnic Area 1
Closing flag ceremony: 6:30
Daytimer troop checkout: ..... Turn in evaluations at Camp Central, camp site 41, pick up badges.
Campfire: (prepping at 6:00) 7:00 amphitheater. We will have a campfire at the amphitheater near our camping area. Rangers can turn on the lights. Rebecca Monroy is managing the campfire for singing and skits.
Star gazing in the meadow with the San Diego Astronomical Society: 8:00/8:30 (slide show at the amphitheater?)
Lights out: 10:00
Breakfast on troops own.
Check out by noon: hand in evaluation form, receive badges.
Check out by noon: hand in evaluation form, receive badges.
Emergency procedure:
In case of fire, we would evacuate the camp. Rangers will provide directions away from the fire.
GS Carlsbad will have a Camp Central/first aid station, which will be the first stopping point if anyone in our SU needs medical help. This will be staffed at various times by Linda Sheldone, Kim O'Connell, and Deborah Chandran. If we need to call an ambulance, we can find a ranger at the main office, and they can radio out, response time is very quick. Rangers are at the main office until 9pm. At night, we can call 911 (Verizon has connectivity, we'll test ATT). Or, if necessary, go to the ranger's residence by the main house and knock on the door.
