Travel
The ride to the park is approximately 11 hours, and the distance covered is about 550 miles. Please be prepared to purchase lunch and dinner on the way to the park and breakfast and lunch on the return ride home. If you choose to bring food rather than spend money at restaurants, make sure the food and beverages you select will remain edible because they will be stored in the vehicle for several days during our trip.
Departure
Each group will meet at the Ward Theatre, at 5:00am on the morning of your departure. Vehicles will not be able to be left at the Ward Theatre unless you have arranged for someone to pick up your vehicle and take it home (any vehicles left in the downtown area will receive a parking ticket). Please be dropped off at 5:00am at the latest. We encourage any parents of participants under the age of 18 to drop off your student, meet the trip leaders, and see them off.
You will need to arrive at the Ward wearing street clothes. All your camping gear will be put in plastic bags and then packed into packs and placed in the vehicle. You may bring one backpack/carry-on bag that you can use to put your towel in, and to hold your street clothes/shoes while you are in the park. You may also bring an extra shirt or something in this bag to change into after you shower at the end of the trip, before we begin the ride home.
Arrival Back Home
Please arrange to be picked up at 5:00pm on the day of your return, or arrange for your vehicle to be dropped off at the parking lot behind the Ward Theatre on that day.
Please note: Arrival times are dependent on many factors, so we can only give our best estimate. In the event that a drastic change in time occurs and a phone call is necessary, one will be made to inform the necessary persons.
