January 12, 2009

Dear Scout Parent,

            Troop 81 will be having our annual family camp at Bonham State Park. This camp is a highlight of the year as family members join the Scouts to observe the skills they have learned and attend our second Court of Honor of the year.  I especially encourage you to be there for your son if he is receiving any advancement at the Court of Honor. Brothers, sisters, grandparents and friends are all welcome to join this family campout.

The camp begins with lunch on Saturday, February 7th and finishes before lunch on Sunday.  No troop activities are planned before Saturday lunch.  The state park offers comfortable indoor, heated, dormitory-style cabins and a large, warm meeting/dining hall.

The fee includes meals (lunch, dinner, breakfast, and Saturday night cracker-barrel), entrance fees to the park and the cabin lodging.

The only drawback to this camp is that there are a limited number of beds…94. Reservations will be accepted based on full payment received for the campout.  Please fill out the form below and turn it in to Laura Jones or Jeanie Lawson with your payment for the camp.

Note in the past we have had to reserve the cabins on Friday night as well.  The prices for cabins have more than doubled at all state parks in the last two years, and we can now decline the Friday night stay.  So in order to maintain a reasonable price for this trip we will not be hosting early arrivers on Friday night.   Those wishing to arrive early will need to make their own arrangements.

--------------------------------- Cut here and turn in bottom half ---------------------------

Scout Name _________________________  

Children 10 and under ……………..   ________   X   $ 22                = ____________

All other people ……………………   ________   X   $ 28                = ____________

Total Cost        = ____________

Any special instructions:                                                Payment method:
______________________________________        __  Check made out to Troop 81
______________________________________        __  Scout account withdrawal
______________________________________

Please indicate, in each appropriate square, the number of people attending each activity.

Just a few items to know:

1.     Directions to Bonham State Park from Dallas:

1. Take Hwy 75 North to Sherman. 
2. Go East on Hwy 82 to Bonham.
3. Take Hwy 78 South to FM 271 and go two miles.
4. Park entrance is on the left at Park Road 24.

OR:

1. Take Hwy 75 North to Hwy 121. 
2. Continue North on Hwy 121 to Hwy 82 to Bonham.
3. Take Hwy 78 South to FM 271 and go two miles.
4. Park entrance is on the left at Park Road 24.

2.     Do NOT pay entrance fees when you arrive.  We will pay these as a group to receive a discount based on our group state pass.

3.     Transportation to the park is by family group. There is no caravan.  If you need to arrange transportation, please contact another family who is going, since Troop 81 will not be responsible for transporting scouts.  If your scout is traveling with another family, make sure that he is carrying a medical release to allow treatment if he is injured while traveling. Copies can be obtained from Laura Jones.

4.     Lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast Sunday morning are provided and will be prepared for you. Volunteers to help in the kitchen are always welcome.

5.     Even though we are staying in cabins, it can get cold in February, so bring warm clothes and a sleeping bag or warm blanket.  We have a large indoor facility for dining and other activities in case of rain, but do bring rain gear and comfortable shoes that can get muddy, just in case.

6.     Dress for Scouts will be class A and class B.  Don’t forget scarves for dress Class A for the Court of Honor.  Dress for the families is always casual, including the Court of Honor.

7.     You may want to bring a lawn chair for the outdoor activities in the afternoon and campfire in the evening.

8.     Enclosed is a map to Bonham State Park and a map of the park.  Other information is available on the park’s Web site at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/bonham/ .

9.   Note that this park is friendly to bike riding.

We are looking forward to a fun weekend.  Please call me at 972-680-8948 or email me at laura_jones2004@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions.  See you there!

Laura Jones

Troop Committee Chairman