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Sierra Expedition - YMCA Adventure Guides
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YMCA Sierra Expedition June Campout –
Manresa Uplands State Park
Friday June 4th – Sunday June 6th, 2010
WAYNOON!
We are currently expecting a large turnout for our second
most popular event of the year: approximately 225 attendees
(approximately 96 Dads and 128 Princesses).
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
From Highway 1, south of Aptos, take San Andreas Road southwest and
continue for four miles. You will be traveling through a residential
area. Turn right on Sand Dollar Road. You will find this
road in three possible ways: the dense forest and
houses on your right suddenly give way to several hundred yards
of hillside of dirt being prepared for planting. Second, you will
see to your right a row of tall and impressive trees on Sand Dollar
Road separating the inbound and outbound lanes. Third, there is a very
small brown sign about 50 yards before Sand Dollar Road indicating that
the Manresa Uplands State Park is ahead.
As you reach the top of Sand Dollar Road, you come
upon the proverbial fork in the road. Veer left to Manresa Uplands
Campground. See the large modern house on your left at 11:00 with the
rounded roof.
As you approach the Ranger Station, be prepared to give
the Ranger the Campsite number your
Circle Navigator gave you. The Rangers want this information to control
access to the Park and to contact you if there is a problem with your
car while parked in the parking lot.
DAY-BY-DAY SUMMARY:
(Circles will serve themselves all meals this year). We have a great program
planned as follows:
Friday: You
may claim your campsites as early as 2:00 p.m. Because of traffic congestion you may expect at the
"fishhook" on Route 1, we recommend you plan to be through there before
3:30 p.m. or after 6:00 p.m. Circle Dinner on your own.
Saturday: Circle Meals (including
dinner, on your own). THERE IS NO CENTRAL NATION DINNER THIS YEAR in
deference to the desire to have local Circle Dinners.
2:00 p.m. The
Mighty Tioga will host Beach Olympics:
-Sandcastle building
(bring your equipment and bulldozers): Judging will occur at 4:00 p.m.
-Tug-O-War on the beach
2:00 p.m. The
Mighty Ponderosa will sponsor a Scavenger
Hunt: You must find Nation Navigator Mike Liddle (Dancing
Buffalo) BEFORE the end of Dessert later Saturday night to
show him your scavenger booty.
Dinner (with your Circle): To start
per your Circle CCO's (Chief Cooking Officer's) directions and to end
by 7:00 p.m.
Suggestion: Use 5:00 p.m. -6:00 p.m. to
practice your skit.
7:15 p.m. SKITS at the Amphitheater
8:15 p.m. Dessert at the Amphitheater
(courtesy of The Mighty Paradise)
-We ask all Dads to help clean-up around themselves
as you exit the Amphitheater
8:45ish p.m. Dancing
Buffalo and his Princess Flying
Opossum will lead the Nation to Campsite 49 (where we held
the ceremony last year). The drum beat will announce to our Nation
Naturalist, Mischievous Moose and his Princesses Prancing Peacock and Dancing Deer, that the Nation approaches at
dusk to begin The Evening Ceremony.
9:00ish p.m. The Evening
Ceremony (You ought to get a big bang out of this year's
ceremony). There will be:
-a hat with horns
-a campfire
-things that fly
-a short story
-the singing of songs
-installation of new Nation Officers
-a coalescence of The Compass
-a Mystic Walk
Sunday:
Circle Breakfast (on your own)
10:00 a.m. (Sharp!) Final
Meeting
-prizes for Sandcastles
-prizes for the Scavenger Hunt
-New Nation Officers' Ceremonial Hat Band
Exchange
-Good-Byes for the summer
10:30 a.m. Adjournment
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ALLOCATION OF CAMPSITES
Shasta:
21, 22, 23
Paradise:
36, 37, 38
Chinook:
39, 40, 41 (Unassigned sites, but use
for parking= 26 + 62)
El
Dorado: 43, 44, 45 (Note: we do not have site 42 this year)
Tioga: 46, 47, 48, 50 (Unassigned sites, but use for
parking= 20 + 24)
Stage:
49
Zephyr:
51, 52, 53
Tahoe: 30, 54, 55, 56 (Unassigned site, but use for parking=63)
Mystic:
57, 58
Ponderosa:
59, 60, 61 (Unassigned site, but use for
parking=64)
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PARKING:
The Twenty
Minute Lot: There is a 20 minute parking lot at the bottom of
the hill below the Ranger Station. Unload your tents and equipment from
there (think abut taking or borrowing a wagon or cart to roll your
equipment in approximately 200-400 yards to your campsite).
The Overnight
Lot: At the top of the hill above our campsites is an
overnight parking lot (it was the left-hand turn-off about 100 yards
past the Ranger Station where you drove into the park). You need to
park there over night and display the numbered ticket the Ranger will
give you reflecting the campsite number you will supply The Ranger. WARNING: Do not leave valuables in your
vehicle or trailer. We had no problems
last year because our Dads heeded this warning, but it was the first
time we escaped unharmed. Two years ago, we had numerous break-ins and
resulting loss and car damage. Three years ago, a few break-ins
occurred.
FIREWOOD:
Bring what you need.
If you run short, you
have two options:
-go to Campsite 57 and ask/beg Jeff Smith for some of his
extra wood. (Jeff is the "Wood Guy" and a nice guy)
-go to the Ranger Station and buy a small netted bag of
wood (for about $6 per bag...VERY expensive)
PATCHES:
Your Circle Navigator is supposed to be giving you patches. However,
Jeff Smith is also "The Patches Guy", so you may "go direct" and ask
him for any patches you may have missed during the year. Jeff is the
big guy at Campsites 57/58.
PLANNING FOR THE EVENT:
- Carpool with another expedition member if
possible. Nearby parking may be limited.
- Circles are encouraged to bring a Circle Banner or other decor to make
your camp distinctive.
- Plan your meals with others in your circle.
- There are no stores or shops at the site
- Plan your snacks with your princess
- NOTE: There
is limited or no cell phone/PDA/laptop connectivity at Manresa. Spotty
and intermittent, at best.
WHAT TO BRING:
Main Gear:
Tent
Sleeping Pads or Mattresses
Sleeping Bags
Pillows
Chairs - for campsite and dinner
Tables - for campsite and dinner
Flashlights and Lanterns - the moon is full, but it will be somewhat
dark at night
Firewood - every campsite has a fire pit. See below for more info
Snacks and drinks - There are no stores close by for ice
Cooking gear and
utensils
Camera(s)
Sandcastle making
tools/equipment
Umbrellas for the beach: See Virgil (Chinook
Navigator) if you want to buy ($20) an umbrella
holder and/or umbrella which works in sand)
Clothes:
Your vests.
A jacket - it could be cold in the evening. If it gets foggy, it
could be cold all day!
Enough changes of clothes to keep your daughters happy, sand
free, and dry for the ceremony.
Shoes - the ground around many of the campsites is pretty rough.
If your daughters are attracted by the ocean, bring swim
suit(s). Note - there are no lifeguards at the beach.
Towels
Toiletries:
Sun block
Lots of quarters - there are coin operated showers
Sun block
Toothbrush and toothpaste.
Sun block
First aid kit
More sun block
WHAT WILL THE WEATHER BE LIKE AT
MANRESA?
- It may be 50 degrees or 90 degrees.
- It may be very calm or very windy.
- It may be very clear and sunny or foggy with
some rain.
- Bring several changes of clothes in case your
princess gets soaked by a wave.
- Bring hats and sunscreen – Your princess can
get sunburn, even when it's foggy.
- Bring a waterproof jacket.
SENSIBLE PRECAUTIONS:
- Manresa is a public camp site and many people
pass through the beach area. As in any public area keep track of
your Princess and don’t
leave valuables unattended.
- Bring sunscreen and apply even when the
weather seems cloudy or foggy.
- Print out a
copy of this Website Notice so you can remember your campsite number,
find your campsite, and remember the timelines for Saturday and
Sunday morning.