Sept. 18-20, 2026
RSVP (DEAD LINE 9/10/26)
You must sign a waiver in order to attend. Link to sign the WAIVER HERE
Troop 964 Deep Creek Tubing / Nantahala Rafting 2026
Who Troop 964 Scouts and Registered Adult Leaders
What Two nights of Car Camping at Deep Creek Campground in GSMNP near Bryson City, NC
Saturday morning: Whitewater rafting on the Nantahala; Saturday afternoon: Tubing on Deep Creek in GSMNP
When Friday, 18 thru Sunday, 20 September
Arrive at New Philadelphia Friday between 5.00/5.15pm for a 5.30/5.45pm departure with a bag dinner
It's about a 3.5 hour drive so bring something to do in the car
Planned return is mid-afternoon on Sunday after a lunch stop at Wendy’s. Please be flexible!
Cost Scouts & Leaders $85/person (does not include Friday’s bag dinner or Sunday lunch)
Being High Adventure, this is defiantly a “more expensive” trip. Please know the rafting is heavily discounted.
Remember that Dr. Mac funds may be available – you just have to ask!
Schedule Saturday morning rafting: Be at Wildwater between 9:15 and 9:30am. About 6 people on each raft with a minimum of 1 leader per raft.
Saturday afternoon tubing: Everyone will walk to the top of the creek with their tube and float all the way back to the campsite. After that the scouts MUST be with a buddy while tubing and can walk up and tube down as they would like.
After tubing on Saturday, dinner will likely happen late. Plan accordingly. Patrols should communicate dinner time.
Meals Bring a bag dinner for Friday night and money for fast food at Wendy’s on Sunday. All other meals except Sat. lunch will be by patrol.
Scouts will organize their meal plans during the Troop meetings on the 3rd and 10th and will shop for groceries shop prior to arrival. A cooler with ice will be provided for the scouts to use.
Scouts should plan to prepare a relatively simple breakfast on Saturday. We will need to get up and going. Lunch on Saturday will be provided by the troop and served immediately after we get back to the outfitter. Dinner will probably happen late. Patrols need to communicate a dinner time so that no one misses it because they were too busy tubing.
There might be an opportunity to go visit a spooky abandoned tunnel and see an amazing view of Lake Fontana Sunday morning. After breaking down camp, patrols will plan breakfast accordingly. We have a 3.5 hour ride home.
Adults will be a separate patrol. Menu TBD.
Packing List
This is car camping. Technical backpacks are not needed / pack in a large duffle. Bring a gym bag/daypack to take a towel and a change of clothes to the rafting outfitter. Check the list on the Troop website HERE
The group campsites are close to Deep Creek but are small – expect 3- or 4-scouts to a tent. No hammocks.
Swimsuits under shorts and a t-shirt and closed toe shoes for both rafting and tubing. Tubing requires walking 1-2 miles up the creek on a loose gravel path and you usually do this 2-3 times. Old lace-up sneakers work best. No flops or crocs.
The Nantahala River is COLD. The outfitter provides a water resistant jacket you wear under your PFD. Some people wear a zero cotton long underwear top or a zero cotton hoodie under the jacket. This is optional.
All participants must wear a PFD (life vest). The tube rental company does provide, but you may want to bring your own. Also, a rash guard to avoid chafing once the PDF is wet. Shorts are a good idea.
Bring two towels, a folding chair to sit by the fire, a jacket for Sunday morning and money for lunch on Sunday.
We will collect signed release forms for rafting (and possibly tubing) before departure.
Oct. 23-25, 2026
RSVP by Oct. 15 RSVP HERE
Grayson Highlands Backpacking Trip
Oct. 23-25, 2026
Who: Scouts and leaders who have registered Cost is $25 per person.
What: Backpacking in Grayson Highlands State Park/Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. We will have a short trek and long trek. The short trek will be roughly 6 miles round trip. The long trek will be roughly 13 miles round trip. Both treks will be challenging, BUT there are views and possibly WILD PONIES!
When: Friday, Oct. 23, 2026. Return Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026
Where: 829 Grayson Highland Lane, Mouth of Wilson, VA 24363
Details: Please arrive at the church by 5:30 pm on Friday. (Wheels up at 6:00.) Eat dinner before you come or bring it with you. Dress in Class A. We will camp at Hickory Ridge Campground in Grayson Highlands State Park on Friday night. On Saturday morning we will park in the backpacker’s parking lot at Massie Gap and hike the Appalachian Trail (AT) to the AT/Pine Mountain Trail junction. The short trekkers will hike to their primitive campsite. The long trekkers will continue on Pine Mountain Trail and the AT before reaching our primitive campsite for the night at an area known as The Scales. Everyone will hike back to the backpacker’s parking lot on Sunday morning, and we will return to the church between 3:00 to 4:00 pm.
Important changes:
All scouts have a mandatory shakedown. We must ensure that you have the gear you need and nothing extra. If at all possible, bring your fully loaded backpack to the meeting on Thursday. A leader will inspect your pack. If you are not able to bring your backpack to the meeting, you will have a leader inspection before we leave on Friday.
Make sure you use the Backpacking List.
Food: you are in charge of bringing your own meals on all backpacking trips. You will need the following:
Friday dinner (eat on the way while on the bus)
Saturday breakfast: freeze-dried meals are great! Walmart and Academy have freeze dried food. (If you have a stove, great! If you don’t, we’ll share.)
Saturday lunch: we will eat while hiking on the trail.
Ideas: jerky, chicken/tuna pouches, nuts, crackers, individual peanut butter
Saturday dinner: freeze-dried meals are great!
Sunday breakfast: protein bar, breakfast bar (something fast) We will get up and go Sunday morning so think “trail breakfast”.
Sunday lunch: we will stop at Wendy’s on the way home so bring money.
Backpacking food illustration for inspiration HERE & HERE
Scouts are encouraged to coordinate with each other to share tents/stoves/water filters in order to minimize the weight carried (and to prevent some parents from having to buy gear that their Scouts may not have yet). We will devote some time Thursday night to working on this. Additionally, if your Scout is bringing their own tent, they need to bring it Thursday night so that they can get some practice setting it up prior to the trip. No hammocks for sleeping. If you do not have all the gear needed, talk to us. We have some items available to borrow.
Backpacking information about Grayson Highlands:
We will be backpacking a section of the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in Oct. and thought it would be helpful to give everyone the inside scoop! First, check out this site and educate yourself on all things A.T.
Grayson Highlands is a very popular section of the A.T. and is absolutely breathtaking! We will be leading both a short hike and a long hike. Both hikes will include a lot of uphill hiking and by uphill we mean over rocks. What’s the payoff for so much physical exertion you ask? Wild ponies! Yes, that’s right! Grayson Highlands is home to beautiful ponies. They graze the highlands and live peaceful, happy lives.
It’s a 2-hour drive to Grayson Highlands. When we arrive, we’ll set up camp at Hickory Ridge Campground. On Saturday morning, we’ll pack up and head out on our adventure on the A.T. The short trek and long trek groups will part ways and once they each reach their campsites, they’ll set up camp again. Sunday morning we’ll break down camp and hike back. It’s going to be amazing!
Here are a few suggestions from a brand new backpacker:
1. Trekking poles are a lifesaver. We recommend each scout take at least one pole.
2. Rain gear is a must! You just never know when a shower will pop up.
3. The weather at Grayson Highlands is often colder and windier than the weather apps indicate. Keep this in mind when choosing your clothing. Dressing in layers is key.
4. Water! Water! Water! Water is heavy but it’s necessary. There are water sources so scouts can refill their bottles or camelbacks. By water source, we mean a stream running down the mountain. If you have a water filter, bring it, if not, we can share filters.
5. Hiking shoes! We will be hiking over rocks and boulders. Scouts need good fitting hiking shoes with solid soles.
6. P-Style... Ladies, if you’d rather stand than squat and not have to bare it all, then this item is for you! ;). Check it out on Amazon. The carrying case was a great accessory, too.
7. Scouts are responsible for all of their food on backpacking trips. Freeze-dried food is the way to go. It is light and easy to pack. You can buy it in store at Walmart or order it from Amazon. If you don’t have a camping stove, don’t worry. We can share.
Leading up to the trip we will be having backpack “shakedowns”. For any scout who is new to backpacking, this is mandatory. Scouts need to load up their pack with everything they plan on taking and bring their pack to the scout meeting. During the meeting, their pack will be checked. It will be a good time to find out exactly what items each scout needs to obtain prior to the trip. If something is in need, don’t fret. We will band together and help acquire anything that is needed.
This backpacking list provides the items needed.
Scout meeting backpack shakedowns: Oct. 1, 8, 15