Run on Rathbun: A 2014 Summer Kick Off will be held June 13, 14 & 15 (Fri, Sat, & Sun) at Honey Creek State Park, South Campgrounds, Lake Rathbun, IA. Thursday arrivals are welcome (encouraged, if you can make it).
There have been enough "snow days" in school this year that many schools will not let out until June 10th - so the later weekend worked in our favor.
Reservations: As in the previous years, reservations can be made through Reserve America (
http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/Honey_Creek_State_Park/r/campsiteSearch.do?site=all&type=9&minimal=no&search=site&criteria=new&contractCode=IA&parkId=610104&topTabIndex=Search ). The State Park system in Iowa does not allow reservations more than three months out, so the first date available to make your reservation would be March 13. When you do make a reservation, please send me a private message with your site and the number of people attending.
Accommodations: We will use the sites located in the south campground (sites 97 - 146). Each site has a utility riser with 30A 110V electric available. There is a men's and women's communal shower and restroom facility nearby - for those interested, the closest individual sites to the showers and restrooms are 99-106 and 137-142. I will work on a larger map to upload that will identify specific site locations on the satellite image. There are only a few small, basic cabins, and I don't believe that any are left available that weekend (the cabins can rent out 6 months in advance). The resort is available, but pricy this weekend - roughly $200/night. The resort restaurant and bar is open - and there are free slips for use while eating. There is an indoor "water park" that charges admission for visitors not staying at the hotel (a room reservation comes with 4 passes to the water park). Both the resort side & campground side have access to concrete boat ramps. The campsite boat ramp is a minimum of 6 lanes wide - last year, with the high water, you could launch 10 simultaneously. There is a fish-cleaning station off to the side which allows for dropping off a driver to retrieve the tow vehicle and trailer without blocking access to the ramp.
Food: Brandon, Amber, Mike & Tim have volunteered to have a "Nebraska Chapter Hosted Breakfast" on Saturday morning. I will work on bringing out my 10 x 20 shelter canopy as a staging place for meals. Barb and I will be organizing a late lunch, also for Saturday. I will provide smoked brisket & bread. (I promise, this year I won't leave the bbq sauce at home!) Barb has offered to help organize some sides - beans, corn, salads, etc. These sides will be volunteer dishes. I will recruit local donations to pay for the brisket, plates, plasticware, etc. I will also be providing the ingredients for breakfast tacos on Sunday - (I learned my lesson from the first try, this time the sausage will be cooked the night before and then warmed in a crock pot, the eggs will go on a non-stick electric griddle. These ingredients will be set out and available … they won't be prepared for a large group meal - I know everyone will begin the processes of breaking camp & hitching up, so come by whenever you're ready or hungry. I'll keep everything out from 8 am - 11 am.
Volunteer Items: We will begin another thread as we get closer to the date for items we'd need (such as a large coffee pot) that we don't have available. If you have the ability to bring one of these items with you - please mark them clearly with your name so that we can ensure that they go home with you.