Carolina Beach State Park, Carolina Beach, NC
Friday, March 1 at 4:00 PM – Sunday, March 3 at 10:00 AM
It’s time to register for one of the most popular camping trips on Pack 910’s calendar: Carolina Beach. We’ll visit the USS North Carolina and Pack leaders are working on exciting plans for Saturday afternoon. We always eat well (thanks, Mr Danhauer!), and there are great trails to explore in one of the nicest state parks in North Carolina.
Please note that because of limited space at the State Park, we cannot honor registrations until the cost of the trip has been paid. We have done our best to project the amount of space needed and reserve plenty of spots, but we do have a space limitation.
What happens at Carolina Beach?
Carolina Beach State Park
Our campsites are grouped in a pine forest near a full bathhouse with showers. Park trails lead to Snow’s Cut (part of the intracoastal waterway) and the Cape Fear River.
Each campsite can hold 2-3 tents, so we ask families to plan to tent together, meaning we can fit two families on each campsite. There is limited space for vehicles, so carpooling helps.
The USS North Carolina
On Saturday morning, we’ll visit the USS North Carolina. Our Scouts will have the run of one of the most important ships in US naval history all morning. Not only a decorated warship, she has become one of the top tourist attractions in North Carolina. After fun (and maybe some accidental learning) onboard, we’ll have a picnic lunch on the grounds next to the ship.
USCG Station Wrightsville Beach
After lunch, we’ll return to one of the best-received activities we’ve ever done as a Pack: a visit to Coast Guard Station at Wrightsville Beach. The Guardsmen at Wrightsville Beach perform search-and-rescue and other missions to keep boaters, beachgoers, and others safe and secure.
The Guardsmen are outstanding hosts and make for impressive role models.
Itinerary
Friday, March 1
- 4:00 PM – 8:45 PM: Arrival [directions to park, campsite map, park map] (The park gates close and are locked for the night at 9:00 PM; entry may not be possible after that time). We will have some light food in camp that night, but we expect that most families will eat on the way to Wilmington.
Saturday, March 2
- 9:30 AM: Depart campsites (carpool to the extent possible because parking limited at USCGS)
- 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Tour USS North Carolina
- 12:00 PM: Picnic lunch on grounds of USS North Carolina (the Pack supplies sandwich ingredients)
- 1:15 PM: Depart USS North Carolina area
- 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Visit and tour at USCGS Wrightsville Beach
- approx 4:15 PM: Return to campsites
- Dinner in camp.
Sunday, March 3
- Breakfast in camp.
- Depart during the morning.
Packing Suggestions
- Please bring CLASS A UNIFORMS for visiting the USS North Carolina and the Coast Guard Station (skip the kerchiefs, though – they get lost easily when we travel).
- Basic packing needs:
- Water bottles
- Coffee/Hot Chocolate mugs
- Mess kit (plate and utensils)
- Tent
- Sleeping bags
- Pads or air mattresses
- Comfortable clothing (temperatures can vary widely at the park and our field trips because of ocean breezes)
- Sun and bug protection
- Camp chairs
- Flashlights
- Games/books (no electronics)
- Water bottles
- Do not pack:
- Electronics of any kind.
- Water guns.
- Firearms or weapons of any kind.
- Pocket knives (except Bears or Webeloses with Whittling Chip).
- Alcohol.
- Electronics of any kind.
- As always, if you bring food, keep it in your car. (Parking is close to campsites.)
- The Park requires tents to be set up on established pads with smooth gravel (not on the forest floor), so think about cushioning your sleeping bag.
- Families are expected to sleep in one tent. Space is limited at each campsite.
- There is a path to Snow’s Cut creek, so you may wish to bring fishing gear and old shoes or water shoes.
Cell reception is spotty in camp, so don’t depend on ability to contact via cell phone.
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