Campers' Group Bulletin - Summer 1996

First-time campers are welcome on all our Summer trips, EXCEPT Fire Island National Seashore. Although Fire Island is very beautiful, it's environment is harsher than any of the other parks listed here; the sun, rain and bugs can make you miserable if you're not fully prepared.

To reserve space on a trip, call its leaders Sunday to Wednesday of the previous week, before 10 PM. If you need information earlier than that, call David Levner at 718-897-1448.

To go on a camping trip, you must be a Campers' Group member. You can mail us your dues or pay at the site. One year's membership costs $12 for an individual or $18 for a family. (We accept checks made out to Campers' Group.) Send dues to David Levner, 63-36 98th Place, #5J, Rego Park, NY 11374.

Activities

Maria Sari 212-702-1000 (work) 718-520-8584 (home)

June 14-16, Camping Trip, Mongaup Pond State Park, De Bruce NY
Mongaup Pond is actually a huge lake in which you can swim, fish and boat. Or you can enjoy the scenery as you hike or bicycle. Hot showers and flush toilets. NO CALLS BEFORE JUNE 9.

Israel Sacolick 718-252-7655 & Margo Smiley 718-261-3329

Saturday June 22, Mermaid Parade, Coney Island NY
Welcome summer with this annual rite of passage which draws a colorfully-dressed crowd of sea-floats, mermaids, mermen and marine critters to the famous resort. Dress as your favorite sea-creature for a parade and costume-judging on the boardwalk, or just come to watch, eat cotton candy and Nathan's hot dogs and enjoy the amusement park. NO CALLS BEFORE JUNE 16.

Judith Gross 718-784-4053

July 4-7, Camping Trip, Swartswood State Park, Newton, NJ
Celebrate your country's birthday away from the firecrackers (New Jersey park rangers are tough). Instead, you can hike around, or swim in Lake Swartswood. The park also rents canoes and rowboats, and the lake is stocked with fish. We've reserved a shady group site that holds 20 people. Outhouses at the site, flush toilets and showers at the lake. NO CALLS BEFORE JUNE 29.

Bob & Claire Keilbach 718-358-8568

July 26-30, Camping Trip, Fire Island National Seashore, Watch Hill NY
Camp behind the dunes by the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy miles of secluded, clothing-optional beaches, or hike on a boardwalk nature trail through salt marshes, fresh water marshes, thickets and forests. The birds and vegetation are spectacular, but beware of the ticks. Flush toilets and tepid showers. You must have your own tent and be an experienced camper to go on this trip. NO CALLS BEFORE JULY 21.

Kirsten Andersen 212-942-3645 & Nancy Goldner 718-789-9360

August 2-4, Camping Trip, Promised Land State Park, Canadensis PA
Camp on a peninsula jutting out into Promised Land Lake. Swim at Pickerel Point, a short walk from the site, or rent a canoe and tool around Promised Land Lake. The ambitious can bicycle around the Lake or explore the Bruce Lake Natural Area. The rest of us will follow the self-guided nature trail around Conservation Island. Outhouses by the site, flush toilets and 50-cent hot showers in another part of the park. NO CALLS BEFORE JULY 28.

Dana Kaplan & Jeff Rosen 212-534-1024

August 16-18, Camping Trip, Stokes State Forest, Branchville, NJ
We're returning to shady Group Site H. This park has many hiking trails including six miles of the Appalachian Trail. You can also swim, boat and fish. There are great views from the top of Sunrise Mountain and in Tillman's Ravine Natural Area. Toilets at the site. No showers. NO CALLS BEFORE AUGUST 11.

Carol Shapiro 718-258-8570 & Angel Cardenas 718-601-2551

August 30-September 2 (Labor Day Weekend), Camping Trip, Wharton State Forest, Hammonton NJ
Camp in our group site in New Jersey's largest state park (over 100,000 acres) in the Pine Barrens. Hike on the Batona Trail, swim, fish, rent a boat at Lake Atsion, canoe on the Mullica River, or see the restored village of Batsto. Outhouses at the site, flush toilets at the lake. NO CALLS BEFORE AUGUST 25.

David Levner 718-897-1448 & Judith Gross 718-784-4053

September 20-22, Camping Trip, Fahnestock State Park, Carmel NY
In the rugged Hudson Highlands, Fahnestock is dotted with lakes and criss-crossed by hiking trails, including a section of the Appalachian Trail. Constitution Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, run by National Audubon Society, is nearby. Flush toilets and hot showers. NO CALLS BEFORE SEPTEMBER 15.

Brian Ribner 718-253-3063 & Merle McEldowney 718-859-7726

CONTACTS:
  Benevolent Dictator   David Levner    718-897-1448   levner@panix.com :-)
  Treasurer             Cathie Carmen   718-463-2431
  Mailing               Mike Osattin    718-651-6299
  Newsletter            Judith Gross    718-784-4053  74160.3727@compuserve.com

  World-Wide Web home page: http://www.campersgroup.org