Day 1 — Wednesday, July 1
Arrival & setup. Get there, get camp up, eat easy, sleep well.
At a Glance
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Morning | Final loading, leave Columbia |
| Midday | Drive (~1.5 hr) + last grocery/ice in Troy |
| Early afternoon | Arrive, check in, find our cluster of sites |
| Afternoon | Set up camp; raise the group canopy |
| Evening | Hot dogs & brats cookout; orientation walk |
| Night | Early bed after a travel day |
Morning — Roll Out
- Coolers packed last with frozen meats + fresh ice.
- Bikes and kayaks strapped and double-checked.
- Aim to depart so you arrive early-to-mid afternoon with daylight for setup.
See The Drive from Columbia for the route and stops.
Midday — The Drive
- Quick leg-stretch at Kingdom City or Crane’s Country Store in Williamsburg.
- Last grocery + gas + bagged ice in Troy (~10–15 min from the park).
Afternoon — Arrive & Set Up
- Check in; grab a park map; ask about burn bans, beach hours, river levels, and this week’s naturalist programs.
- Find our clustered sites; pick the group HQ site.
- Set up in order: level/hook up campers → group canopy & tables → safety walk with kids → make beds. (Camp Setup guide.)
Evening — Easy First Night
- Dinner: Hot Dogs & Brats Cookout (Zuelke hosts). Fast, kid-friendly, minimal cleanup.
- Orientation walk: bathrooms, beach, trailheads, camp boundaries.
- First campfire + s’mores if everyone’s up for it; otherwise early to bed.
Tonight’s Checklist
- Campers level & hooked up; tents on high ground
- Food & trash sealed (raccoons!)
- Headlamps staged for night bathroom trips
- Kids know bathroom + boundaries
- Tomorrow’s breakfast proteins moved to the cold cooler to thaw
You made it. The hard part—getting twelve people here—is done. Rest up; the lake’s waiting tomorrow.