3rd Grade Camping Trip

November 14th - 15th, 2024

Dear Parents of Western Academy's Finest (The 3rd Grade!),

Mr. McManus and I are excited to announce the upcoming 3rd Grade Father-Son Class Camping Trip! We'll sleep in tents or under the stars, eat armadillo burgers over the fire, make s'mores, play lots of games like capture the flag and manhunt, explore the wilderness, and generally run around outside having an awesome time! We really hope all dads can come to spend this time with their sons and get to know each other better, however we want to stress that we hope all the boys come even if their dads are unable to make it. Dads are welcome to meet up with the class later during the trip if they are unable to join us from the beginning. We will be camping at 3408 Old Highway 36, Bellville, TX 77418.

Here's the plan:

Thursday, 11/14:
-Starting at 8:00 AM: Load vehicles, depart for Belville
-Pitch camp
-Explore
-Hike, manhunt, explore the woods, sports, games, build forts, climb trees...
-Dinner
-Night games (capture the flag, flashlight tag, etc...)
-Campfire, s'mores, stories, jokes
-Bedtime

Friday, 11/15:
-Cook breakfast, eat
-Break camp
-Hike, manhunt, explore the woods, sports, games, build forts, climb trees...
-More fun
-Head home once you’re exhausted or out of time

This trip is free for all 3rd graders and their dads.

What NOT to bring:

• PLEASE NOTE: All the buildings on the property are off-limits except for the bathrooms.

• Boys should not bring any FIRE-STARTING MATERIALS. We will make only one group campfire. We will NOT make individual/family campfires.

• Boys should not bring ANYTHING THAT HAS AN ON/OFF SWITCH (aside from a flashlight). (And the rest of us, of course, will avoid using such devices except when absolutely necessary.)

• Boys should not bring CANDY or anything else that will generate unnecessary trash. We will be guests at the farm and intend to leave it in better condition than we found it. Ten-year-old boys are simply not capable of keeping track of trash as closely as we need them to if we are to be good guests, and so we need to eliminate the opportunity for them to leave trash on the farm.

Pocket knives can be brought on the trip, but dads or teachers will keep charge of them and the boys will be permitted to use them only when an adult is present.

Click here to view the PACKING LIST.

Thanks so much! We are looking forward to a GREAT trip!
Sincerely,

Departure Day Instructions

1. Please use the Green House entrance.

2. Mr. Melendez will be running check out. PLEASE LET HIM KNOW BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT TO THE FARM AND LET HIM KNOW WHO IS IN YOUR VEHICLE.

3. You may head out as soon as your vehicle is ready and you’re checked out with Mr. McManus. (We’ll make a mess of the afternoon pickup routine if we try to park an extra 30 vehicles on campus.)

4. Don’t forget to bring a WATER BOTTLE.

5. Please SEE THE MAP BELOW for instructions on WHERE TO PITCH YOUR TENT and where to PARK upon arrival.

6. Let’s do our very best to keep our phones put away throughout the course of the campout, except in the case of absolute necessity. This will be some invaluable father-son time!

Getting to the camping site:

The address: 3408 Old Highway 36, Bellville, TX 77418