Fort Fest 2017 will once again be held in Group Camp 3 at Raccoon Creek State Park, 2:00 pm, Friday, June 9th – 12:00 noon, Sunday June 11th. Registration fees are as follows:
Adults and children 13 & up: $25 until May 15th, $35 from May 16th on, and at the door
Children ages 6 – 12: $15 until May 15th, $25 from May 16th on, and at the door
Saturday Only: $20 until May 15th, $25 from May 16th on, and at the door
As ever, children 5 and under attend free.
Checks/money orders should be made out to Fort Weyr, and sent to:
Joan Fisher
809 Sleepy Hollow Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15234
(Please note Fort Fest in the memo line)
Raccoon Creek State Park group camps provide cabins that have electricity, but no heating. The cabins are equipped with either bare metal cots or bare wooden bunk beds; last year, Group Camp 3 still had the metal cots. You will need to bring padding for the beds, as well as a sleeping bag or any extra blankets you may want at night. (Air mattresses can get very cold at night if you don’t have a little extra insulation between them and you!)
The park also provides full bathroom facilities with showers – also rustic. (Translation: we will probably have to evict a spider or two.) Fort will provide hand soap; you’ll need to bring your shampoo, towels, and other toiletries.
The cabins are in the woods, along paths that lead to the main lodge. You will need a flashlight to get around after dark, and extra batteries are always a good idea. We line the main paths with “glows” at night, but you will want the extra light.
Temperatures in early June can vary between the 60s to the 90s; we’ll post a weather forecast closer to the event date. Pack clothing that is versatile. Mornings can be cool and damp; afternoons can get very warm. Layering is your friend! You may also want to bring festive garb for the Hatching Feast, although that is not required. We almost always get rained on at least once per ‘Fest, so bring rain gear/shoes suitable for muddy conditions.
The main lodge has a full kitchen, with refrigerators and freezers. Fort provides breakfast Saturday morning and supper in the form of roasted wherry (turkey), tubers and rolls our Hatching Feast that evening. Members are encouraged to bring a pot luck side dish or dessert to contribute to the Feast. Leftovers from the Feast are heated for breakfast on Sunday. You’ll be responsible for Friday night’s dinner, Saturday’s lunch, and any snacks. (Also, feel free to bring empty containers to take leftovers home!)
State Park rules condense down to the following:
* No alcohol
* No fires except in the fireplace/fire ring (i.e., no candles in your cabins or the lodge)
* No pets (service animals are allowed)
* Be safe and play safe
* Leave the camp as clean as we found it (we usually aim for better than we found it)
Hope to see as many of you there as possible!
~ Weyrwoman Kourin