Jr High Bike Trip 2008 Information

Registration Letter(pdf)

• General
• What to Bring
• Parent Information
• Schedule
• Bike Tune Up Form

Dear Friedenswald Bike Tripper,

We are very excited that you have chosen to participate in this unique “off-camp” Friedenswald experience. Friedenswald Bike Trips are significant times of both challenge and growth. I hope you will find it to be enjoyable and rewarding.

Since this is a little different camp than we usually host, there are some special items that you should bring along. We will be camping in tents at state parks near the trails and doing our biking on rail trails in Michigan (to see some of the trails go to www.railtrails.org). We will haul all of our gear and food in a van, so you won’t need to have packing equipment on your bicycle (except for what you may want to carry that day). All food and snacks are included in the cost of the registration. Other money you bring would be for souvenirs or extra food items.

Here is a list of what you should bring:

Required:

• Bicycle (a mountain bike is probably the best choice as some of the trails will be light gravel).
• A tune up of your bike (take it to any local bike shop and ask for a tune up) is required before the trip. See the bicycle tune up form enclosed with this letter.
• A small bike bag or daypack to carry sunglasses, lunch, money, etc, while biking.
• Padlock/chain in case we park and walk
• Helmet
• One extra inner tube for your bike
• Water bottle and carrier (or camel back)
• Sleeping bag and pillow
• Personal toiletry items
• Sunscreen
• Comfortable clothes for biking
• Comfortable tennis or biking shoes

 Recommended:

• Padded biking shorts (not required, but recommended)
• Sunglasses, lip balm, and lotion (we will be in the sun quite a bit)
• Swimming suit and towel
• Spending money (we will be stopping in some towns along the way, as well as state parks that have gift shops, as well as the Friedenswald camp store)
• Bible, pen, and notebook/journal
• Flashlight
• Extra pair of shoes or sandals
• Rain jacket or poncho (small enough to store in a bike bag)
• Sweatshirt (in case evenings get cool)

Optional:

• Camera
• Fishing gear

Please leave at home:

• Cell phones
• Electronic devices like walkmans, IPODs, etc
• Fireworks or noisemakers
• Food or pop (we’ll have plenty of food and snacks)

We will be biking an average of 35-40 miles per day. We will take a moderate pace and have breaks during the day. The terrain will be relatively flat, with some rolling hills. The purpose of the trip is not to be physically exhausting, but I would recommend training during the summer. To prepare for the trip, I recommend biking for at least 6 hours per week, with a few longer trips (20-30 miles) on the weeks prior to the week of the bike trip. You will be able to determine if you need to train more, based on these outings. I’ve found with distance riding that the difficulty often is with getting used to being on a bike seat for extended periods of time (and not the actually pedaling).

When we arrive at the campgrounds, we will set up our tents and prepare for outings. Depending on the places that we stay, we will have some outings to local sights, Lake Michigan beaches, or hiking. We’ll cook our meals over a fire and camp stove, have devotions, and relax in the evenings.

We are excited that you have chosen to participate in this camp. Enclosed with this letter is an itinerary of where we will be biking and staying during the trip. If you have any further questions, please feel free to email or call me here at Friedenswald (brad@friedenswald.org).

Sincerely,

Brad Cogdell

Trip Leader

Parent information:

Emergency contact information: (269) 476-9744 Camp office

Please plan on arriving on July 14 by 8:30 am Michigan time. If you would like to stay at Camp on Sunday night with your family, please contact Portia, our guest group coordinator and we’ll make arrangements (portia@friedenswald.org) for lodging. Maps to camp are available on our website (www.friedenswald.org).

Please plan on picking up your camper on July 18 at 5:30 pm Michigan time. If you would like to eat supper at Friedenswald with your camper, the cost is $5 per person (camper cost is included with registration). We will have a short slide show of photos from the trip and a report on the trip over dinner.

Please send a parent consent/medical release form with final payment. No one will be allowed to go on the trip without the form.

Please include any instructions for medications, including over the counter meds. We are required to keep all medications in adult possession (except inhalers, epi-pens). We will have basic first aid items, ibuprofen, Tylenol, and antihistamine meds on hand, if needed.

Please explain any food allergies or other pertinent information for the leader.

Camp Friedenswald Junior High Rails to Trails Bike Trip Itinerary

(based on 2007 itinerary, plans will change)

July 14-18, 2008

Monday

8:30 am Campers Arrive

8:30-9:30 Register, and pack up the van and trailer

9:45 Depart for P. J. Hoffmaster State Park

1-2 pm Arrive and set up camp

2 Bike Lakeside Trail in Muskegon (15-20 miles)

6 pm Supper

7 pm Free time/hit the beach

PJ Hoffmaster State Park phone: (231) 798-3711

Tuesday

8 am wake-up/breakfast

9 am Bike the Musketawa Trail (35-40 miles)

12 noon Lunch on the trail

4 pm Return to campsite/hit the beach

6 pm Supper

7--?? Activities around camp, walk the boardwalk…Stay at PJ Hoffmaster again

Wednesday

8 am wake-up/breakfast

9 am Drive to Montague/Whitehall

10 am-4 pm Bike the Hart-Montague Trail (Round trip: 50 miles)

5 pm Take a walk along the boardwalk

6 pm Supper at a restaurant

7 pm--?? Evening activities…Stay at PJ Hoffmaster again

Thursday

8 am wake-up/breakfast/pack up camp

9 am Depart for Fred Meijer Heartland Trail

10:30-3 Bike the trail (Round trip: 40 miles)

4 pm Arrive at Ionia State Recreation Area ( 2880 West David Highway
Ionia MI 48846)

6 pm Supper at I.S.R.A.

7 pm--?? Evening Activities

Stay at Ionia State Recreation Area (616) 527-3750

Friday

7:30 am wake-up/breakfast/pack up

8:30 am Return to Camp Friedenswald

10:30 am Bike Dr. Lawless State Park (10-15 miles of bike trails)

12:30 Lunch at Camp Friedenswald

1:30-5:30 Swim/boating in Shavehead Lake, table/card games/free time to relax

5:45 pm Eat supper with parents

Brad Cogdell’s Cell Phone: (Please contact the office for this number)

Camp Friedenswald Office Phone: (269) 476-9744

Colin Rusel, Program Director’s phone: (Please contact the office for this number)