{Travel Log} Group Camp | Memorable Jaunts Annual Group Event | Illinois Family Adventure Travel

Finally it's that time of the year again! - Time for the Annual Memorable Jaunts Group Event. Last year, 2011, we organized a group hike to Starved Rock State Park (you can read about our event here). This year, we are ready to take it up a notch! - a group camp event at a local forest preserve - Blackwell Forest Preserve in Wheaton, IL.

The word “Camping” most often conjures images of picturesque backcountry spots accessible only by foot, carrying supplies on your back, and disconnecting from civilization, setting up tents among tall trees & steep cliffs, and storing food supplies hanging from trees off the ground. While this very desirable and true in most situations, it is not always practical. Especially for families with young children. How much do we carry, how long can we walk, what about food, what about wildlife and how to avoid hotspots?

The good news is that you can still experience camping and all the pleasures it has to offer even if you don’t want to do backcountry camping - go local, camp for a night or two, sleeping under the starts in a state park or even in a private campground. If you are local to the Chicagoland area, come join us at Blackwell Forest Preserve. If not, signup for our twitter feed - we will be posting status updates live as we have a blast with our Memorable Jaunts friends!

For those families that have already signed up , THANK YOU for signing up for the Memorable Jaunts Group Camping Event at Blackwell Forest Preserve on Sept 15th - 16th 2012! - We are going to have a BLAST!

Please find attached some details around the trip, camping essentials, meal planning and distribution and  other general information about Blackwell Forest Preserve.

Basic Camping Checklist for the overnight camping trip

Most of these items may be purchased at REI (C), Cabela’s(C), or Dick’s Sporting Goods (C). If you don’t want to invest in a tent, sleeping bag or sleeping pad, REI provides most if not all of these items for rent at very nominal prices.

• Waterproof tent - Make sure the tent you get has a rain cover so that you don’t get soaked in the morning dew or sudden thunderstorms.
• Sleeping bags - Sleeping bags vary in quality and price. Most sleeping bags come with an EN temperature rating standard. Choose a bag rated for the coldest temperature you expect to encounter. Expect ~50-65deg tempreatures at night for the camp.
• Sleeping pads - Sleeping pads provide cushioning and insulation. Cushioning is certainly useful when sleeping on hard surfaces but the sleeping pad also provides insulation to your body from cold ground surfaces.
• Ground tarp or waterproof blanket - This is used between the ground and the tent and just provides an additional layer of insulation.
• Plastic tote to store food items - This helps secure food items from curious critters like raccoons and skunks :)
• Pillow - Some sleeping bags come with a built-in pillow. If you are among the group of people who cannot sleep without a pillow, get one from home :)
• Hammer - Very helpful to drive the tent spikes into the ground. 
• Extra blankets (weather dependent) - Nights are starting to get much cooler here in Chicago so an extra blanket or two will keep you warm and toasty in your tent. 
• Torch/Lanterns
• Socks (feet do get cold even in summer) 
• Bug spray/Sunscreen
• Extra pair of clothes and other personal items needed for an overnight excursion 
• Toys/Board games - especially for families with young kids
• Cooler - depending on the food you are signing up to bring for the group event

If you have never been to Blackwell, you are in for a treat. It is a beautiful preserve with a lake (boating is allowed and boats are available for rent) as well as hiking trails. Please bring a good pair of walking/hiking shoes so we can take a walk around the preserve.

Please bring the reservation materials that you received in the mail to provide at the preserve office.

Current Site Allocation for Memorable Jaunts Camping Event

As of August 25th, we have 20 adults and 14 kids signed up for the event. Each site allows a max 2 tents & 8 people. If you have a camper, then it’s 1 camper & 1 tent. 

Site 2 - Gupta family - 3 adults, 2 kids and 1 dog 

Site 3 - Srini family - 2 adults and 3 kids

Site 4 - Ghosh family - 2 adults and 1 dog 

Site 5 - Anand family - 2 adults and 2 kids 

Site 6 - Rammesh family - 3 adults and 2 kids 

Site 8 - Schaut family - 2 adults and 2 kids 

Site 13 - Krystinak family - 3 adults 

Site ??? - Singh family - 2 adults and 2 kids

Check-in is at 1.00pm on Saturday Sep 15th & checkout is by noon on Sunday Sep 16th.

Just a couple of reminders - alcohol is prohibited at the preserve and campground. Fires are allowed at the campsites but firewood must be purchased at the preserve store for $5. We ask that each family purchase their firewood as they check-in to their site.

Since this is a group event, we ask everyone to pitch in and provide food for the group. Please see the list below and let me know what you can bring so I can keep a running list and can allocate responsibilities. The group includes vegetarians as well so please plan your meal accordingly. Since this is a large group, more than one family can take responsibility for a meal. Please let me know if anyone has food allergies.

Meals (Assuming folks will have lunch on their own prior to check-in)

• September 15th - Dinner - suggested items - sandwiches, soups, pasta, salads 
• September 15th - Desert - suggested items - smores by the fire :) 
• September 16th - Breakfast - suggested items - cereal, milk, break, cheese, jam, biscuits etc
• Drinks - water, juices, tea, coffee, milk 
• Fruits,Snacks 
• Camping grill - we have two grills which we will bring - to reheat food, milk etc. Please let me know if you have additional camping grills as well.
• Cups, plates, spoons, napkins, garbage bags, dish washing liquid and sponge 
• Matchs for camp fire

Please let me know what you can bring by Sept 10th and I will send out a final list a few days before the event.

Last but not the least, we are camping in a forest preserve, please practice “LEAVE NO TRACE BEHIND” as you are packing for this event. Try and think Green (reuse). Instead of plastic utensils and paper napkins, consider using re-usable plates, cups, spoons, and cloth napkins. The food tastes just as good, and you will actually leave lesser of a trace when you leave.