October 24-25 : Bastrop State Park

WHERE: Bastrop State Park, 100 Park Road 1A, Bastrop, TX 78602. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the drive from northwest Austin depending on traffic. We will be camping in the Deer Run camping area, sites 27-28, 30-42 (15 sites total). We need to accommodate two to three family tents per campsite, so when setting up your tent, please allow space for other Scout families that will arrive after you. All campsites have potable water but no electric, so if you have devices that need recharging or power (e.g., CPAP), bring a battery power pack. The campground has restrooms with flushing toilets, running-water lavatories, and showers.

WHEN: Opening ceremony begins at 1:00 PM on Saturday, but you may arrive as early as noon to set up your family tent. Most families try to arrive at least an hour before opening ceremony, although there will be time to set up your tent between activities later in the afternoon if necessary. Our program ends on Sunday morning around 10:30 AM, but your day pass to the park is valid all day, so you are welcome to stay in the park as long as you like on Sunday. For the full program and agenda, see below.

FRIDAY CAMPING (optional): If your family would like to arrive and camp on Friday night (October 23), the Pack has reserved campsites that you may use so that you do not have to move your tent for Saturday. See the sign-up instructions at the bottom of this page for how to register for Friday camping. Keep in mind that you will need to bring your own food and gear for cooking on Friday night and for breakfast and lunch on Saturday. The official program for the campout does not start until the opening ceremony on Saturday afternoon, so you will be on your own until then.

PARKING: Please fill out this online form with your vehicle information a few days before the campout so that we can register your car with our group. When you arrive at the state park, tell the gate attendant that you are with Cub Scout Pack 421 and that the Scout leaders already have your entry and parking pass. They should wave you through. Drive to the the Deer Run camping area and then immediately find a Pack leader to get your pass which must be taped to the inside front windshield of your vehicle.

PARKING PERMITS : Every parked car needs a parking permit that should be taped to the inside front windshield. When you arrive at the campground, find a pack leader and we will give you a pre-printed parking permit with your license plate number on it. Please submit this online form with your vehicle details no later than noon on Thursday, October 22.

FOOD: The Pack will provide evening dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday, thanks to the AOL den which is organizing the cooking. Grub fee is $12 per person (age 4 and under is free). If anyone has special food needs, please let the AOL den leader know at least 1 week in advance. You may bring your own snacks and drinks, but be discreet (or generous) if any items could be perceived as special treats by fellow Cub Scouts. Alcohol is strictly forbidden at Scout events.

ACTIVITIES: Activities on this campout will include hiking, stargazing, campfire (if no burn ban), s’mores, and working on adventure requirements with your den. Your access pass to the park is good all day on Sunday if you want to stick around after closing ceremony for more hiking or exploring as a family.

CAMPFIRE: We will have a communal campfire program and a campfire if local restrictions allow. Please talk to the Cubmaster in advance if you, your scout, or your family would like to lead a song or magic trick at the campfire. Don't be shy! It’s lots of fun. As part of the program, each den will be asked to perform 1 skit. Each Scout will also be invited to tell a few jokes, max 2 per scout.

MEDICAL FORMS: Every youth and adult participant must have a Scouting America Medical Form (Parts A, B1, & B2) on file with our camp Medic. Please bring a hard copy of the completed med forms and turn them in to a Pack leader upon arrival at the campout. Remember, we need med forms for every person, adult or child, no matter their age. BSA medical forms are valid for 12 months, so we will keep them on file for the Fall overnight and Spring campout.

YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING : Every adult is required by Scouting America, before going on any overnight Scouting trip, to complete Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT). This training takes about 72 minutes and is available online at my.scouting.org. SYT certification is good for 1 year, so if you are not sure when you last took it, please go online to my.scouting.org and check that your certification is up-to-date. Bring a printout of your SYT completion certificate with you to the campout and turn it in with your medical forms. See the pack’s Training page for more details.

PACKING: Refer to our standard Packing List on the Pack website for suggestions of what to bring and also what not to bring. Scouts are expected to wear their Class A uniform for opening and closing ceremonies. The pack T-shirt should be worn at all other times with a jacket or long-sleeve shirt over it if needed. In addition, each Cub Scout should bring a fanny pack or small backpack with their six Cub Scout Outdoor Essentials to take on a den hike. Closed-toe shoes must be worn at all times in camp and when hiking (no Crocs or sandals except in the showers).

WEATHER CONTINGENCY: Cub Scout camping is supposed to be fun and easy. A chance of light rain or moderately cold weather is not a problem, but non-trivial chances of thunderstorms or extreme cold temperatures is a concern. If by Wednesday night, October 21 (or at latest Thursday night), the weather forecast for the weekend looks doubtful, the pack leaders will send an email announcement with a decision about whether to go. Our alternate rain dates are November 7-8.

CAMPOUT AGENDA:

Sat. NOON - 1:00 PM / Arrive and set up family campsite
Sat. 1:00 - 1:45 PM / Opening ceremony and announcements
Sat. 2:00 - 5:30 PM / Den hike and advancement activities
Sat. 6:00 - 7:15 PM / Dinner and practice den skits
Sat. 7:30 - 9:00 PM / Campfire and s’mores
Sat. 9:00 - 9:30 PM / Stargazing (if clear skies)
Sat. 10:00 PM / Lights out
Sun. 8:00 - 8:45 AM / Breakfast
Sun. 9:00 - 9:15 AM / Scouts Own service
Sun. 9:15 - 9:30 AM / Closing ceremony
Sun. 9:30 - 10:30 AM / Strike camp, cleanup, load trailer
Sun. 10:30 AM / Depart

Sign-up Instructions:

1. Go to the Campout section of the Pack's online store at https://cub-scout-pack-421-austin.square.site/campout-store
2. Find the “Grub Fee (per person)" item and add it to your cart, increasing the quantity ($12 each) for every person age five or older. Fill out additional questions as required.
3. Find the “Tent Fee (Saturday Night)” store item ($25 per family) and add it to your cart. Fill out additional questions as required.
4. Optionally add the “Tent Fee (Friday Night)” store item ($25 per family) to your cart.
5. Navigate to your shopping cart. Make sure all items are in the cart with the correct quantity. Then complete payment. You should get an email confirmation after you complete your order. If not, then let us know right away because we need to check that your order was processed correctly.

PREP & PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST:

☐ Safeguarding Youth Training (SYT): REQUIRED FOR EVERY ADULT WHO WILL STAY OVERNIGHT. See our Training page for instructions. If any adult staying overnight is not the parent or legal guardian of a Scout (e.g. a grandparent, aunt/uncle, or sibling aged 18+), please contact the pack leaders at info@pack421austin.org for additional requirements. Bring a printed copy of your YPT completion certificate to the campout.

☐ Scouting America Medical Forms: If you did not turn in your annual medical forms for the Fall Overnight or the Fall Campout, bring a physical paper copy of completed Scouting America Medical Forms (Parts A, B1, and B2) for every person in your family who will attend the campout, including all adults, scouts, and siblings. Turn these forms in to our designated camp “medic” upon arrival, together with a printed copy of your SYT completion certificate.

☐ Vehicle Registration: Before noon on Friday, April 24, register your vehicle for a parking permit using this online form. Pick up your parking permit from a pack leader when you arrive at the campground.

☐ Reservation for tent and food: If you have not already reserved your tent and food for the campout, please RSVP on the Pack Campout Storefront.

☐ Food restrictions: If you or any member of your family has food restrictions, email the AOL Den Leader with the pertinent details at least a week in advance. (The AOL den is hosting both meals.)

☐ Packing: Review the Packing List and get everything packed before Saturday morning when you need to leave because packing will probably take longer than you think. Encourage older Scouts to help with packing so that they can learn how to do it. If you have never set up your tent, practice doing it at least once at home before showing up and trying it for the first time at the campout.

Contact your den leader or the pack leaders at info@pack421austin.org if you have any questions.

Bastrop State Park
100 Park Road 1A
Bastrop, TX 78602

Latitude: 30.110149°
Longitude: -97.286864°

(512) 321-2101