Spring Outing 2012 Information

We are excited about the upcoming Spring Outing, please check out the guidelines below to ensure your tribe has the best time possible.

How to Register/Registration Form
Registration for the 2012 Spring Outing is January 31 at 6 a.m. Tribes must sent a representative to register in person in the Y Guides Office (no phone or email). Spring Outing will cost $128 per person, and we accept cash, check (made out to YMCA), and credit cards (MC, Visa, & AMEX). In order to register for the event you must pay in full and turn in a completed registration form for the entire tribe.

Your tribe has the choice between two options on which Spring Outing to attend on a first come first serve basis:

2nd Years: March 30 - April 1 or April 13-15
1st Years: April 20-22 or April 27-29
3rd Years: May 4-6 or May 18-20
Trailblazer: May 25-27

We will do our best to separate Braves & Princesses between Sea Gull and Seafarer when doing cabin assignments.

All tribal dues must be paid in order to register for the Spring Outing. The registration process will end on Friday, March 23, 2011. Any payments that are received after this date will incur a $25 late fee per pair.

We will no longer allow participants to register the week of their Spring Outing trip. Please read the method of registration and helpful reminders below.

Method of Registration/Payment
Select one member of the tribe to collect all of the payments and fill out one registration form for the group. Attach/include all of the payments with the registration form, and hand-deliver it to the Y Guides office. Do not put a tribe member’s name on the registration form, if payment is not included. We no longer accept payments over the phone. If paying with credit card, simply write the number and expiration date on the registration form.

Helpful Reminders

• We DO NOT accept payments over the phone
• Most weekends will sell out, so please do not delay your registration/payment
• Registration = Paid in Full
• Individual payments for the Spring Outing do not reserve the cabin for the tribe, they only reserve bed space per individual participant—we will make every effort to get the each tribe member under the same roof
• All dues must be paid before registering for the Spring Outing, or your tribe’s registration will not be processed.
• Do not put a tribe member’s name on the registration form, if payment is not included
• Do not delay your delivering your registration because some dads cannot pay with the group
• Any payments that are received after March 23 will incur a $25 late fee
• We will no longer allow participants to register the week of their Spring Outing trip

How to Switch Your Weekend

We allow 100 people to switch into any given weekend, EXCEPT for the Traiblazer’s weekend, May 25-27. All of these spots will fill on the first day of registration, which is Tuesday, January 31, 2011 at 6:00 a.m. To request a switch you need to:

• Do so at the Y Guides Office
• Pay in full for all dads and kids that are switching
• Be prepared with a first choice and second choice


Switches will be approved on the spot as long as we have the space and you follow the instructions listed above in the article. Historically, the tribes that want to switch weekends, line up early registration day. Lines will be formed by 4 a.m.

What to Pack

Listed below are the items that you should and should not pack for your Spring Outing Weekend

To Pack:
• Bedding & Pillows • Clothes for all weather • Toiletries • Towels • Shoes • Flashlight • Swim Suit • Snacks • Vest & Name Tag • Tribal Regalia & Meeting Supplies • Sports Equipment • Bikes & Helmets

NOT To Pack • Alcohol • Guns • Pets • Boats • ATV’s • Fireworks

Cabin Assignments
Listed below is some useful information regarding cabin assignments.

• 
  • Cabin assignments are completed the week of each Spring Outing weekend
• • Cabin assignments will be posted at the Neuse Sports Shop in Kinston, NC
• • The Y Guides staff and/or the Neuse Sports Shop do not give out the cabin assignments over the phone or email
• • There is a strong possibility that tribes will have to share cabin space

Spring Outing Activities

Zipline Canoes Archery BB’s (Special Targets) Joy Boy Boat Cruise Swim Lake/Waterslide Basketball Tennis Golf Fishing (Contest) Sharks Tooth Hunting (Contest) Field Space for Tribal Games Scavenger Hunts Creative Arts Campfire Ceremony Raft Race .22 rifles Sailing/Motor Boat Rides Fireball Carnival Karaoke

All Years All Years All Years All Years 1st Years (Weather Dependent) All Years All Years All Years (Bring your own equipment) All Years (Bring your own equipment) All Years (Bring your own equipment) All Years (Bring a shovel/sifter) All Years (Bring your own equipment) All Years All Years All Years 3rd Years - TBA Trailblazers Trailblazers (Weather Dependent) Trailblazers Trailblazers

Third Year - Raft Race

We will have a raft race for all third year tribes at your 2011 Spring Outing. There will be a raft race conducted each third year weekend at both Camp Sea Gull and Camp Seafarer. We will have a race meeting to discuss logistics of the race on the Friday night of your Spring Outing following the Ice Cream Social. Listed below are all of the rules for the race and the boat design.

• Winning is not the only objective—we are looking to have fun!
• Rafts must be brought to the race completed
• The raft needs at least 4 father/child pairs. Try your best to include ALL the kids We will divide the rafts up into racing brackets based upon the design of each craft (hard, medium, & soft)
• Rafts will race in heats to determine the heat winners, and heat winners will compete in semi-final matchups, and the final 2-3 boats will race for the Grand Championship
• Rafts will need to be designed to race down a course, around a buoy, and back to land
• No power motors
• No ropes to pull the raft across the lake
• No projectiles allowed (i.e. water balloons)
• Rafts will begin from a “dead start” Raft race participants are not allowed to be in the water kicking as a means of propulsion
• Lifejackets (mandatory) will be supplied by the YMCA
• You are only allowed to use 8 paddles, which will be provided by the YMCA
• Paddle wheels are allowed and do not count towards your eight paddle allotment
• Lifeguards will be on land and in the water for safety
• You cannot use existing/manufactured water craft to build your platform (i.e. no attaching plywood to canoes/kayaks)
• You may not build a canoe
• You must take home everything that you bring to the race including; people, trash, and your rafts
• Stay tuned to the website and email messages for more logistics

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I arrive?
Big Braves should arrive at camp AFTER 4 p.m. on Friday but before 8 p.m. to facilitate unpacking. We will have an orientation/ice cream social at 8:30 p.m. Friday evening in the dining hall (If you arrive after 10 p.m., please be courteous to the others around you by unpacking your cars in the morning.) Each cabin building will have a grill available for you to use.

How far is it to camp?
It is approximately 150 miles from Raleigh to camp. With one stop at the Neuse Sports Shop, it takes about three hours to drive from downtown Raleigh to camp.

When and where can I get my cabin & camp assignment?
We will have the cabin assignments posted at the Neuse Sports Shop in Kinston on Friday afternoon. This is a great halfway stopping point. No cabin assignments are given out over the phone.

Where should I park?
After Big Braves unload cars, please move your vehicles to the designated parking area at camp. (Camp doesn’t look much like camp with cars all over it!)

What about the Campfire?
The campfire will begin at approximately 8:15pm Saturday evening at Camp Sea Gull. Please bring blankets to sit on for the campfire. Please keep flashlights off during campfire so there will be fewer distractions. There will be glow necklaces available for $1.

Do we need torches?
No.

Should we bring our tribal gear?
Yes. Your tribe should bring Y Guides regalia to wear to dinner and the campfire on Saturday night. You should also bring any standards, tom-toms, or totem poles to display on your cabin porch.

How could my family get in touch with us while we are there?
Cell phone coverage around camp can be hit or miss. In the event of an emergency, your family can call Andrew Crook at 919.418.7306.

Is there medical staff around?
Both camps will have a nurse and a doctor available at their respective health centers.

What about our Friday and Saturday devotions?
We recommend that each tribe have a devotional period at the end of the day. This is a great time of reflection and will help end the day on a great note. We will assist you by providing devotion ideas in the cabins.

What are the cabins like?
Cabins are open air, non-winterized structures. Each cabin has a concrete slab floor, showers, toilets, sinks, and 6-8 bunk beds. There are lockers to store personal items. Each cabin has a clothes line, a water fountain, and ceiling fans. There are grills and picnic tables available.

What should I make sure to bring?
Bedding or sleeping bags (sheets, blankets – cabins are not winterized)*, pillow, toilet articles, flashlight, clothing for all weather, swim suit, sweater or light jacket for campfire, tennis shoe that can get muddy, and a flashlight *Children sleeping on top bunks should use sheets and blankets instead of sleeping bags.

What else can I bring?
You may choose to bring lawn chairs (not for the campfire), fishing equipment, bicycles/helmets, snack foods, Frisbees, tennis equipment, ear plugs, golf clubs, etc.

What happens in the event of inclement weather?
We will run each weekend rain or shine. We recommend bringing board games for the cabin in case the weather is bad.

What if I or my child has food allergies?
If you are concerned about the food at camp, please see the weekend menu. If you have questions, please call the YGP office and they can put you in touch with the camp dining hall staff. Camp can also provide a microwave for cooking, and a refrigerator to store food.

What should I leave at home?
We ask that you not bring firearms, boats, fireworks, recreational vehicles, pets, or alcoholic beverages.

Will there be tribe photos taken again this year?
Yes! Classic Images Photography Studio will once again be shooting tribe group photos at camp. 5x7s sell for $10 and a portion of the proceeds will go to We Build People. Info.

Refund Policies

Cancellations made one week prior to Spring Outing will receive a full refund minus a $25 processing fee.

Cancellations made Monday-Thursday of the event will result in a refund of HALF the Spring Outing fee.

No Refunds will be giving for outings cancelled on the Friday of the assigned weekend or after the event has passed.

Directions to Camp

Camp Seafarer
Take 70 East to New Bern. Take Exit 417 (New Bern/Washington) across the new bridge. Follow signs to Bayboro, 55 East. Follow Hwy 55 East approximately 12 miles to a traffic light, which is in Grantsboro. At this intersection, take a right onto NC 306 South. Follow NC 306 about 8 miles. You will come to an intersection in Arapahoe with a Realty office on the left. Turn right onto Seafarer Road. There are two bends in Seafarer road, bear to the left at each bend. This road ends at the entrance to Seafarer.

Camp Sea Gull
Take 70 East to New Bern. Take Exit 417 (New Bern/Washington) across the new bridge. Follow signs to Bayboro, 55 East. Follow Hwy 55 East approximately 12 miles to a traffic light, which is in Grantsboro. At this intersection, turn right onto NC 306 South. Continue down 306 (about 12 miles from your turn in Grantsboro) until you reach the Minnesott Beach community. The entrance to Sea Gull is on the left marked by a huge white anchor. The entrance will be marked with signs to assist you with arrival.

Financial Aid

If you need help financially with the 2012 Spring Outing please follow the process below. Please note that this process is completely confidential.

• 
  • Fill out the YMCA financial assistance application
• • Set up a 20 minute meeting with Andrew Crook
• • Decide with your family how much you can afford to pay at this time
• • When you come to the Y Guides office for your meeting you will need to bring:
• • The application
• • Copies of 2 consecutive pay stubs or unemployment award letter
• • A brief letter explaining your situation
• • The money that you can afford to pay