Thank you for taking interest in the youth Father/Son (guy) camping trip to Devil’s Den State Park. It will be over the weekend of April 9-11. This will be a laid back weekend with plenty of time to hang out and do-what-you-want-to-do. We will be discussing what it means to be a man. Using Robert Lewis’ Raising a Modern Day Knight as a guide, we will explore the four character qualities that fit God’s definition of manhood. The cost of the weekend is $25 per person and includes all meals and campsite fees. The deadline to sign up is April 7. Reserve your spot early in the church office because the group campsite will only hold 70 people and this is first come – first serve. Please note that this is tent camping, not cabin “camping.”
Because of the laid back nature of the weekend and busy schedules, there is not a required time to be there. This is time for you to hang out with your friends and family. For this reason, there is not a set departure time from FBC. Please note that you will need to secure your own transportation to Devil’s Den state park. How I envision this working is that we would have several pods, flights, caravans leave Bolivar at roughly the same time. This also allows flexibility for when we are done on Sunday. (If some want to leave early to make it back for church they can. Others can spend the entire Sunday in the park) It takes approximately three hours to get there from Bolivar.
The first group (the advance team) will leave FBC at noon on Friday, April 9. They will set up camp, gather wood, make preparations, etc.
The second group would leave FBC at 3:15-ish (or whenever everyone can get to the church from school)
The third group would leave FBC at 5:30.
The fourth will leave at 8:00 or whenever the Willard track meet finishes.
Please signup / pay as soon as possible in the church office and be sure to let me know when you plan on leaving so that I can get you in touch with others traveling at the same time.
Driving Directions:
From FBC Bolivar
1. Start on MO-83 / Springfield Ave – Go South 3.0 mi
2. Turn left on to MO-13 toward Springfield – go 23.5 mi (about 27 minutes)
3. Turn right to merge onto I-44 W toward Joplin – go 65.4 mi (about 1 hour 4 min)
4. Take exit 11A to merge onto US-71 S toward Neosho/Fort Smith – go 57.1 mi (about 55 minutes)
5. Continue onto I-540 S – Go 39.9 mi (about 37 min)
6. Take exit 45 for AR-74 toward Winslow – Go 0.4 mi
7. Turn right at Devils Den Rd – Go 6.1 mi (about 10 minutes)
You should be at Devils Den State Park, Winslow, AR 72959 – we have reserved the group campsite for the weekend. Just follow the signs and/or ask a park ranger where it’s located.
Map of the park:
http://blog.gregdisch.com/2009/02/10/photographic-destinations-devils-den-state-park-arkansas/
Conservation agents require three light sources to explore the caves (the cheap “miner” headlamp that fasten to baseball caps are excellent. They let you keep both hands to brace against rocks. Flashlights work too.)
Park Contact Information
11333 West Arkansas Highway 74
West Fork, AR 72774
Email: devilsden@arkansas.com
To reach the park office 479-761-3325
For more information about the park and activities that are available visit: http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/devilsden/
What you need to bring:
Tent or arrangements to share a tent of someone already going.
Sleeping bag
Pillow
Bible
Pen
Clothes you can get dirty(caves are messy) and warm enough to handle a coldsnap.
Tennis shoes or boots
Raingear (you never know)
Three light sources (if you want to go to the caves)
Bottle for drinking water
Hat / sunglasses (in case of bright sunshine in the caves)
Toiletries
Snacks
If you have specific camping gear that would be useful to all (a JetBoil for coffee, a propane griddle, mantle lantern, etc. for example) and you would like to bring it, it would be welcomed.
The Schedule:
Friday night
6:00-8:00 eat dinner
9:00 Session 1 – Define Manhood - (Reject Passivity)
10:00 Free time / good night
Saturday
7:00 Breakfast
8:00 Session 2 –Define Manhood - (Accept Responsibility)
9:00 Spelunking Time
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Free time (hike, spelunk, swim, relax)
5:00 Dinner
7:00 Session 3 – Define Manhood - (Lead Courageously)
8:00 – Free Time
8:30 - Session 4 – Define Manhood - (Expect a Greater Reward)
9:30 Free time / good night
Sunday
7:00 Breakfast
8:00 Morning Devotion / Worship
9:00 Pack up
10:00 Head to Bolivar at your leisure.