About the campout

February’s trip to Cumberland Island will be a challenging and memorable experience. Because this is a 4 day weekend, we can accomplish our main objective of volunteering through conservation and service projects (8 hours per person) AND have a good amount of time to explore the island.  

In addition to serving during the weekend, we will have time to hike and explore the island. Depending on weather and what and where the projects are, we will work towards the most efficient way to complete our service hours and hike/enjoy the island. The National Park Service has committed to being being organized and ready for our whole group to serve. 

Our projects will include

• • Painting the exterior of multiple buildings and removal of debris at the Plum Orchard area

  • Vegetation cleanup along trails and beach cleanup

Through the service projects, Scouts will have an opportunity to earn one or more Scouts BSA conservation-based awards. Details are still being sorted, but opportunities may include the following: Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award, National Park Service Scout Ranger Award, BSA Historic Trails Award, and the Messengers of Peace (Environmental Dimension), Stewardship award. Service project work may also count towards other items such as the Outdoor Ethics Action Award, World Conservation Award, and rank advancement.

Itinerary, Detailed

Thursday evening, February 17 at 6:00 pm: T77 will have a mandatory pre-departure assembly for all participants at the OGUMC parking lot to finalize attendance, determine carpool, load gear, and ensure drivers have what they need for the early morning departure. Everyone should bring what they are packing for the weekend with the exception of what they will need for the Friday car ride. We will fully load the trailers and vehicles Thursday night. Grubmasters can determine what they bring Thursday night versus Friday morning. Participants should pack a bagged breakfast for Friday morning. 

Friday morning, February 18: we will meet early (6:00a) at OGUMC to assemble and depart for Cumberland. Drivers should have full tanks of gas and plan for one (20 min) rest stop break. Participants should pack a bagged breakfast to eat during the rest stop. All vehicles  will be expected to arrive at the ferry dock by 12:00 p.m. to unload gear and park vehicles. The ferry will need to be loaded and will depart by 1:30 p.m. Lunch will be pre-ordered and we will eat during the 1.5 hour ferry ride to Plum Orchard. 

Monday morning, February 20: After breakfast, we will take the ferry back to St Marys to drive back to Atlanta.  To make good use of the 1.5 hour ferry ride, we will pre-order sandwiches and eat those on the ferry back to St Mary’s. 

Notes about our campsite

• • There are bathrooms and showers, electricity in the bathrooms, an ice machine, 2 fire pits, potable water, carts to haul gear from the ferry. We can also collect firewood from the island to burn. 

  • For shelter there is a small porch area that could shelter 15 or so people. We should bring tarps that we can attach to trees. There is also a porch on the Plum Orchard Mansion. The Mansion will serve as our emergency shelter. 

  • Trash can be hauled out by the NPS but we should take what we can back to the mainland and work to minimize it overall.

Adults

• If your Youth Protection Training (YPT) and Hazardous Weather Training and medical forms are not completed at least two weeks prior to the campout you will not be eligible to go. 

  • For T77, Sean Borja is the contact for training questions and documentation. 

  • For T177 and Venture Crew contact Marcus Taylor or Mitch Leff respectively.

• All attending adults are expected to complete 8 hours of volunteer service during the Cumberland Island weekend. 

Medication 

If your Scout will take any medication (over-the-counter and/or prescription) during the campout, the parent must complete this dosage form and give just enough medication for the campout in original packaging to the medical officer. Parents should complete this form . . .

Packing list

See the Gear webpage for the printable, standard packing list. 

Remember to be ready for wet and cold weather! All Scouts and families should review this list when packing.  

In addition, write these items on your packing list. 

• bug spray (Deet!)

• work gloves

• long pants 

• extra shoes (all shoes must be closed toed)

• and from the Cold Weather list, ensure you have a

  • hat and gloves

  • layers of non-cotton clothing (fleece is great!)

  • warm jacket

  • long underwear for sleeping

  • a warm sleeping bag

  • an insulated sleeping pad is a must

Pack minimally and efficiently as if we are backpacking. Pack your gear in a backpack or dufflebag. We do not have far to transport gear, but packing bags into vehicles and on the ferry is easier than packing boxes. 

For the 10 essentials, having a small packable bag (e.g. string bag or backpack that compresses to a very small size) inside your larger gear back is ideal and will give you less gear to haul. 

Other Notes

• Hammocks are not allowed unless they are free-standing

• This is February camping. Temps could be in the 30s and windy. (Don’t forget wind chill)    Averages are Daytime: ~60s     Nighttime: ~40s

• The Jacksonville, FL weather forecast is more accurate for Cumberland Island than St Mary's

• Propane tanks larger than 1 gallon are not permitted on ferry

Cancellations and Refunds

A participant can cancel through February 2 and will not owe the campout fee. Cancel from February 3-9 and owe half the fee ($90). After February 9 the full $180 per person is owed whether a participant attends the campout or not. The exception is if there is someone from the waiting list who is able to take a participant's spot or there are circumstances presnted to the Chair, Unit leader, Trip Leader, and Campout Coordinator and they make an exception.  Those with outstanding invoices are not eligible to register for future campouts. 

Adults: We are glad you want to particpate in this campout! Know that for this campout and others where there could be limited space, those who have given the most time and effort to T77, T177 or Venture Crew 77 are prioritized to participate. If you want to learn more ways you can volunteer, please contact the Committee Chair,  Scoutmaster, or Advisor for T77, T177, or Crew. 

When you sign up recognize that you are expressing your interest in attending the campout, but are not guaranteed to participate. When registration ends, the Troop and Crew Leadership will review the signup list to finalize who will participate. In addition, if your Youth Protection Training (YPT) and Hazardous Weather Training and medical forms are not completed at least two weeks prior to the campout you will not be eligible to go. We are a group of volunteers and when these details are pushed to within the two weeks prior to a campout it creates needless work and headaches . . . . and the last thing we are looking for is needless work and headaches. 

All attending adults are expected to complete 8 hours of volunteer service during the Cumberland Island weekend.