KartRacer31
Flashlight Enthusiast
FCW-10 Flashlight & Camping GetTogether *DATE CHANGE* November 1st-4th 2013 NJ+states
FCW-10 is the10th Flashaholics Camping Weekend- open to just about anyone who would like to attend.
Let's face it, we all like flashlights! Most of us like anything that lights up or even glows, and many of us like knives and various other types of gear. Camping is a natural for us Flashaholics! What better place to test your lights and gear than a weekend in one of the darkest parts of New Jersey, alongside of your fellow Flashaholics. :thumbsup:
WHO can go: Pretty much anyone - unless you have a really bad reputation on the forums, or you are a complete wacko or something, you are invited. I have never had a problem before, let's keep it that way. If anyone becomes a problem of some sort to the group, they will be asked to leave.
And yes, your significant other, neighbors, and friends are all invited too, but sorry, no pets. Please keep the age of any children you want to bring with you to the age of 13 and above -and limited to 2 minors per each accompanying adult.
IMPORTANT STUFF: Belleplain is a State Forest, and therefore there is no alcohol allowed. The park rangers do check, and if they catch you, they will ticket you and ask you to leave the park immediately, and no refund will be given. I love to kick back and have a drink myself, but this isn't the place to do it. Needless to say no drugs, fireworks or firearms are allowed either.
Please be mindful that this is an outdoor event with sharp things, hot things, things that bite, and various poisonous things, etc. There will be a waiver to sign upon arrival. Everyone must sign the wavier to participate. The waiver is available to you at anytime, just ask, and in addition to being presented upon arrival at the campsite- where and when you will need to sign it, the waiver will be presented to you to read over before you send me your reservation fee. Nothing tricky here, just a simple waiver that says you understand that you can get hurt around things like: campfires; knives; hi-powered flashlights; bugs and snakes that bite; twist an ankle on a loose rock, or trip on a tree root; and remember that bears get hungry too, so don't sleep with beef jerky and candy bars in your tent; etc, etc. and you can't sue me if you get hurt or die. This is camping, be smart, be safe, and no one gets hurt. I assume no liability for your well being or safety in connection with this event.
WHEN is it: NEW DATE: NOVEMBER 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th - Friday arrival/check in after 1:00pm and Monday check out by 12 noon. (still a new moon weekend!)
Is it going to be too cold in November??? No, don't forget this is South Jersey... The average temps there for that weekend are: low 60's during the day and low 40's overnight. It's cool enough to enjoy a campfire, and way less buggy than the summer months, and this particular weekend was also chosen due to its proximity to a new moon, meaning it should be extra dark out! Sunday November 3rd is a new moon (no visible moon). oo:
Check in /arrival - No check in is needed on your part, just go straight to the group camp sites. However, please do not arrive before 1:00pm on Friday November 1st.
As for checkout - technically we are supposed to be out by 12:00 on Monday the 4th, however if no one is scheduled to come in after us, the park rangers are usually pretty easy going about not rushing people out - as long as it looks like they are going to leave a nice clean campsite.
:sleepy:Three nights, or if you can only make it for one or two that's fine, or if you don't want to stay overnight, then you can come and hang out, stay and cook over the fire, and leave whenever your batteries run out of power.
WHERE is it at: FCW-10 will be at Belleplain State Forest, located in Woodbine, NJ. That's South Jersey this time for a change. And this area happens to be one of the very darkest locations in NJ, and I believe it is the darkest public camping area in NJ! Here is a link to the website: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandf...rks/belle.html
COST per person: Only $15 perperson for the whole 4 day /3 night weekend! 3 nights or 2 nights is the same price.Everyone is responsible for their own food & drink. $15 isn't a lot of money for a weekend of anything.
If you are not planning on staying overnight- please come and join us and hang out day or night, as much as you want. Use the campsites and cook over the fire, etc. but please be prepared to chip-in and help pay for the use of the sites. In the past I had set an amount for the non-overnight attendees, but this time I'm going to leave this "donation" up to the individual - keeping in mind that the rest of us are paying $15 each. :wave:
More on the cost: The total cost to reserve the sights is about $200. This is money which I have already laid out of my own pocket to secure the sights are reserved for us and only us. This is a very large and private area of the state park. Yes this is a risk for me, if no one comes, I'm having a very expensive camping weekend myself.LOL So please share in some of the risk with me, and commit to coming by signing up and reserving your spot with your $15 payment. This is the 10th FCW I'm organizing, and I count on my fellow Flashaholics to step up and share this risk with me by reserving their spot. If we have a huge turnout, and I collect more money than needed to cover the sites - I usually put the extra money towards things we can all use like fire wood, fire starters, bug spray, marshmallows, etc. And to cover any return shipping costs of lights that may be sent to us for a weekend review.
What if it looks like it will be a total rain blowout of a weekend - The date change and cancelation fees associated are huge. Early November tends to be a decent time of year, not as rainy as other months, but anything can happen. We will monitor it closely and make a decision in the final hours.
EQUIPEMENT: If you don't have a tent you can get one on sale at Wal-Mart for $39.99. Or ask in this thread if anyone has a used one for sale.
Of course you'll need to bring a flashlight! Bring your own food and drink, and everything you will need to spend a few nights out in the woods. Nothing will be provided. The $15 secures the reservation and payment of the camp sites, use of the camp grounds and parking.
WHAT IF I FORGET SOMETHING: There is a small "general store" located a few miles outside of the campground. They sell everything from ice cream totoilet paper there.
SPEAKING OF TOILET PAPER: Don't worry they do have clean modern flush toilet bathrooms with running water within the state park. We have out-house style toilets and potable water within our campsite.
CEL PHONES: Yes, cell phones work fine from the state park grounds.
WHAT TO DO: Well along with the usual camping agenda of relaxing by a campfire, roasting marshmallows, etc. This location has a beautiful lake, fishing, some fantastic trails for hiking, and pretty much everything you would expect a state forest to have. Please follow the link I place earlier-above to their website for more info.
Along with the dense woods, they also have large open fields with distant tree lines, and plenty of darkness to test throw of lights. And in the past we have always enjoyed a night hike into the woods.
We will likely have a raffle for giveaways.
Bring your bike if you want to ride it there.
Games like ladder golf, horse shoes, and corn hole are fun, bring them if you want.
Of course bring all the lights you want to test / play with and show off to others.
And bring all the lights you want to sell or trade!
At several past FCW events I arranged for various flashlight and camping equipment manufacturers and distributors to provide some giveaways, raffle items, and pass around items. I'll see what I can come up with for FCW-10. Also a few attendees brought giveaways (new and old that they didn't need, want, etc), which everyone appreciated.
For a whole bunch more information and some pictures from past FCW events I organized, check out these links below. Have fun reading all of it if you want, or you can just skip to the pictures, which you will find closer to the end of each thread. Please note this is the first time for a FCW at Belleplain, so you will not find a post specific to Belleplain State Forest.
FCW-9 http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...eekend-NJ-NY-PA-CT-area-event!-Sept-14th-17th
FCW-8 Flashaholics Camping Weekend!NJ, PA, NY + AREA on6/2/11 - 6/5/11
FCW-7 Flashaholics Camping Weekend!NJ, PA, NY + AREA on9/30/10 - 10/3/10
FCW-6 Flashaholics Camping Weekend!NJ, PA, NY + AREA on6/10/10 - 6/13/10
FCW-5 Flashaholics Camping Weekend!NJ, PA, NY -AREA on9-17-09 / 9-20-09
FCW-4 Flashaholics Camping Weekend! -PART 2 -
FCW-4 Flashaholics Camping Weekend!
FCW-3 Flashaholics Camping Weekend!
FCW-2 / Camping Get Together (NJ, PA,NY, CT + area)
(FCW-1) Camping Get Together (NJ, PA, NY, CTarea)
Please note that space is some what limited, and to assure your reservation you need to send me the $15 per person ASAP. (or other amount if you are not planning on staying overnight) Please do so by sending me a PM here on CPF, and let me know if you want to send me the $ to my paypal or home address and I will provide you with it. Once I get your $ you will be assured your spot for what will surely be an awesome weekend!
FCW-10 is the10th Flashaholics Camping Weekend- open to just about anyone who would like to attend.
Let's face it, we all like flashlights! Most of us like anything that lights up or even glows, and many of us like knives and various other types of gear. Camping is a natural for us Flashaholics! What better place to test your lights and gear than a weekend in one of the darkest parts of New Jersey, alongside of your fellow Flashaholics. :thumbsup:
WHO can go: Pretty much anyone - unless you have a really bad reputation on the forums, or you are a complete wacko or something, you are invited. I have never had a problem before, let's keep it that way. If anyone becomes a problem of some sort to the group, they will be asked to leave.
And yes, your significant other, neighbors, and friends are all invited too, but sorry, no pets. Please keep the age of any children you want to bring with you to the age of 13 and above -and limited to 2 minors per each accompanying adult.
IMPORTANT STUFF: Belleplain is a State Forest, and therefore there is no alcohol allowed. The park rangers do check, and if they catch you, they will ticket you and ask you to leave the park immediately, and no refund will be given. I love to kick back and have a drink myself, but this isn't the place to do it. Needless to say no drugs, fireworks or firearms are allowed either.
Please be mindful that this is an outdoor event with sharp things, hot things, things that bite, and various poisonous things, etc. There will be a waiver to sign upon arrival. Everyone must sign the wavier to participate. The waiver is available to you at anytime, just ask, and in addition to being presented upon arrival at the campsite- where and when you will need to sign it, the waiver will be presented to you to read over before you send me your reservation fee. Nothing tricky here, just a simple waiver that says you understand that you can get hurt around things like: campfires; knives; hi-powered flashlights; bugs and snakes that bite; twist an ankle on a loose rock, or trip on a tree root; and remember that bears get hungry too, so don't sleep with beef jerky and candy bars in your tent; etc, etc. and you can't sue me if you get hurt or die. This is camping, be smart, be safe, and no one gets hurt. I assume no liability for your well being or safety in connection with this event.
WHEN is it: NEW DATE: NOVEMBER 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th - Friday arrival/check in after 1:00pm and Monday check out by 12 noon. (still a new moon weekend!)
Is it going to be too cold in November??? No, don't forget this is South Jersey... The average temps there for that weekend are: low 60's during the day and low 40's overnight. It's cool enough to enjoy a campfire, and way less buggy than the summer months, and this particular weekend was also chosen due to its proximity to a new moon, meaning it should be extra dark out! Sunday November 3rd is a new moon (no visible moon). oo:
Check in /arrival - No check in is needed on your part, just go straight to the group camp sites. However, please do not arrive before 1:00pm on Friday November 1st.
As for checkout - technically we are supposed to be out by 12:00 on Monday the 4th, however if no one is scheduled to come in after us, the park rangers are usually pretty easy going about not rushing people out - as long as it looks like they are going to leave a nice clean campsite.
:sleepy:Three nights, or if you can only make it for one or two that's fine, or if you don't want to stay overnight, then you can come and hang out, stay and cook over the fire, and leave whenever your batteries run out of power.
WHERE is it at: FCW-10 will be at Belleplain State Forest, located in Woodbine, NJ. That's South Jersey this time for a change. And this area happens to be one of the very darkest locations in NJ, and I believe it is the darkest public camping area in NJ! Here is a link to the website: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandf...rks/belle.html
COST per person: Only $15 perperson for the whole 4 day /3 night weekend! 3 nights or 2 nights is the same price.Everyone is responsible for their own food & drink. $15 isn't a lot of money for a weekend of anything.
If you are not planning on staying overnight- please come and join us and hang out day or night, as much as you want. Use the campsites and cook over the fire, etc. but please be prepared to chip-in and help pay for the use of the sites. In the past I had set an amount for the non-overnight attendees, but this time I'm going to leave this "donation" up to the individual - keeping in mind that the rest of us are paying $15 each. :wave:
More on the cost: The total cost to reserve the sights is about $200. This is money which I have already laid out of my own pocket to secure the sights are reserved for us and only us. This is a very large and private area of the state park. Yes this is a risk for me, if no one comes, I'm having a very expensive camping weekend myself.LOL So please share in some of the risk with me, and commit to coming by signing up and reserving your spot with your $15 payment. This is the 10th FCW I'm organizing, and I count on my fellow Flashaholics to step up and share this risk with me by reserving their spot. If we have a huge turnout, and I collect more money than needed to cover the sites - I usually put the extra money towards things we can all use like fire wood, fire starters, bug spray, marshmallows, etc. And to cover any return shipping costs of lights that may be sent to us for a weekend review.
What if it looks like it will be a total rain blowout of a weekend - The date change and cancelation fees associated are huge. Early November tends to be a decent time of year, not as rainy as other months, but anything can happen. We will monitor it closely and make a decision in the final hours.
EQUIPEMENT: If you don't have a tent you can get one on sale at Wal-Mart for $39.99. Or ask in this thread if anyone has a used one for sale.
Of course you'll need to bring a flashlight! Bring your own food and drink, and everything you will need to spend a few nights out in the woods. Nothing will be provided. The $15 secures the reservation and payment of the camp sites, use of the camp grounds and parking.
WHAT IF I FORGET SOMETHING: There is a small "general store" located a few miles outside of the campground. They sell everything from ice cream totoilet paper there.
SPEAKING OF TOILET PAPER: Don't worry they do have clean modern flush toilet bathrooms with running water within the state park. We have out-house style toilets and potable water within our campsite.
CEL PHONES: Yes, cell phones work fine from the state park grounds.
WHAT TO DO: Well along with the usual camping agenda of relaxing by a campfire, roasting marshmallows, etc. This location has a beautiful lake, fishing, some fantastic trails for hiking, and pretty much everything you would expect a state forest to have. Please follow the link I place earlier-above to their website for more info.
Along with the dense woods, they also have large open fields with distant tree lines, and plenty of darkness to test throw of lights. And in the past we have always enjoyed a night hike into the woods.
We will likely have a raffle for giveaways.
Bring your bike if you want to ride it there.
Games like ladder golf, horse shoes, and corn hole are fun, bring them if you want.
Of course bring all the lights you want to test / play with and show off to others.
And bring all the lights you want to sell or trade!
At several past FCW events I arranged for various flashlight and camping equipment manufacturers and distributors to provide some giveaways, raffle items, and pass around items. I'll see what I can come up with for FCW-10. Also a few attendees brought giveaways (new and old that they didn't need, want, etc), which everyone appreciated.
For a whole bunch more information and some pictures from past FCW events I organized, check out these links below. Have fun reading all of it if you want, or you can just skip to the pictures, which you will find closer to the end of each thread. Please note this is the first time for a FCW at Belleplain, so you will not find a post specific to Belleplain State Forest.
FCW-9 http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...eekend-NJ-NY-PA-CT-area-event!-Sept-14th-17th
FCW-8 Flashaholics Camping Weekend!NJ, PA, NY + AREA on6/2/11 - 6/5/11
FCW-7 Flashaholics Camping Weekend!NJ, PA, NY + AREA on9/30/10 - 10/3/10
FCW-6 Flashaholics Camping Weekend!NJ, PA, NY + AREA on6/10/10 - 6/13/10
FCW-5 Flashaholics Camping Weekend!NJ, PA, NY -AREA on9-17-09 / 9-20-09
FCW-4 Flashaholics Camping Weekend! -PART 2 -
FCW-4 Flashaholics Camping Weekend!
FCW-3 Flashaholics Camping Weekend!
FCW-2 / Camping Get Together (NJ, PA,NY, CT + area)
(FCW-1) Camping Get Together (NJ, PA, NY, CTarea)
Please note that space is some what limited, and to assure your reservation you need to send me the $15 per person ASAP. (or other amount if you are not planning on staying overnight) Please do so by sending me a PM here on CPF, and let me know if you want to send me the $ to my paypal or home address and I will provide you with it. Once I get your $ you will be assured your spot for what will surely be an awesome weekend!
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