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We're a volunteer-run club that organizes camping and cabin trips. Based in New York City, our destinations are usually within a three-hour drive of the Big Apple. We welcome singles, couples and families, experienced campers and newbies, to join us on these outings. Next event: July 30-August 1: We'll be camping at Tolland State Forest in southwestern Massachusetts. Please see the summer schedule of events for the contact information of the trip leaders. Campers' Etiquette: We ask all campers on our trips to follow these common sense guidelines: Obey the rules of the park you're visiting. Campground rules, if more strict, supersede the guidelines listed below. Be quiet during quiet hours of 10 pm to 7 am. Not harm the vegetation. Only use down wood for campfires. Treat wild animals with respect. Do not attempt to touch them and never feed them. Not leave garbage or food scraps out overnight or when you leave the campsite. This includes dirty dishes, and empty food and beverage containers. Don't assume that someone else will throw away shared garbage bags--discuss with your fellow campers and make a plan for its disposal. This is very important as many of the campgrounds we visit have active raccoons, skunks and bears. Use other people's equipment only with permission. Listen to radios with headphones. Leave the campsite and picnic tables clean upon departure. Everyone should have a good time. Recent blog entries: Dates: 5/28-5/31/2010 Author: Janice We arrived around midday on Saturday--Janice, David and Debby, Phil, Oded and Amanda and Micole, who was a first-timer. Ken arrived later that evening. We went on shorter hikes and a bike-ride; afterwards, we lit a spectacular bonfire to keep the wild things at bay. On Sunday, we all got busy hiking: some went to Sawmill Lake and then on the Blue Dot Trail to the Appalachian Trail and to the High Point Monument. Some went to the Cedar Swamp Trail in the Kuser Natural Area: most went to Lake Marcia for swimming and sunbathing afterward. That evening-- thanks to busy bees who harvested mountains of kindling and logs--we enjoyed another memorable bonfire, constructed by bonfire-architect Oded and tended by Phil and his poking stick. We then went as a group to the parking lot across the street, to better view the stars. There, we met Russian amateur astronomers Kate and Pavel (by way of Brooklyn), who invited us to view the sky through their impressive, computer-driven telescope. We saw Saturn and its rings and moons, and M57, with its fabulous nebula. What a treat, for us sky nerds to be instructed by this knowledgeable couple. After another night sleeping peacefully under the stars, we broke camp late Monday morning, content to have been at High Point once more. Janice Dates: 4/25-4/27/2008 Author: Suzanne North Fork of Long Island Bicycle Trip: Athmane and I camped out at Janice’s house late Saturday night. Sunday morning, the three of us hitched up our bikes, and drove to what seemed as the last train station on earth, Mattituck, Long Island. Harry, David G, and Harry’s friend Monty, had arrived and were hailing a table at the Love Lane cafe, where service was horrendously slow, but breakfast was tasty once it arrived. After, kicking tires, admiring nifty bike accessories and zipping up our rain gear amidst the annoying mist, not quite drizzle, we mounted and were off. It was no further than 1/2 mile, when I realized, no matter how much I wanted to have the wind in my hair, three weeks post-op, on both my feet, was not going to allow me to come close to making the 24-mile journey. The group pedaled on at a brisk eight miles an hour, while I headed back to the car, loaded my bike, put on my flip flops, and played chase car. We stopped off at this Light House for snacks and stories. The return route brought us to the Wine Tasting room, a Goat Cheese stand, and once again to the start and end of our day at the Love Lane Cafe. Our dinnertime antics got us talked to, by the owner, because we had smuggled in some of our goat cheese. Some of the group remarked, it was reminiscent of the trip to Martha’s Vineyard, police versus Joan incident. We had great belly laughs, and give big Kudos to Harry, the map maker/trip leader, as we continue the Road Rooster call of the wild "we may be foul, but we ain’t chicken." Dates: 9/21-9/23/2007 Author: Janice Martha’s Vineyard: Ken and Theresa left before dawn on Friday and arrived in MV early, well in time to greet Janice, Harry, Joan and Noreen, who left on the 1:30 Fast Ferry. The 9.5-mile bike ride to the hostel put some of us to the test (except for energizer bunny Ken), so we were happy to find rest at the hospitable and well-run hostel. Friday night found most participating in Scrabble, on line at the hostel-provided computers or just kanoodling with the international crowd. On Saturday some of us rode the mile or so to the quaint hamlet of West Tisbury, where we found a farmers’ market that provided produce for the evening meal. After breakfast (the hostel made pancakes), we began our odyssey to Gay Head lighthouse (a 13-plus-mile trip). Theresa, Janice and Joan started out and stopped at roadside stands (honor system for flowers and veggies) and little sailboat studded harbors to take pictures. The ride was hilly, but worthwhile when we finally saw the beautiful lighthouse, beach and cliffs at Aquinnah. The girls attempted to eat at the only restaurant overlooking the cliffs, but were stymied by the almost non-existent service. After refusing to pay the 18% tip added to the bill, Joan was almost ARRESTED by the local police when the restaurant owners called them (total owed: $2)! By now Ken and a newly-arrived David G. had joined us for what we all thought might be our last glimpse of Joan before she was carted off to an island jail! Luckily the police saw it her way, and we all began a multi-mile hike on the beach. Majestic white and red clay cliffs awaited us, as did several nude sunbathers. One man was balancing rocks in the buff (Ken got a picture) and another rather well endowed couple followed us as we walked. We were enchanted by the stacks of pre-historic-looking balanced rocks that studded the beach: this is evidently a popular pastime on this beach. We arrived at the hostel that evening and prepared a feast from the earlier produce and items left by departing hostellers. On Sunday, Ken, David, Joan, Janice and Theresa left for the eight-mile bike ride to Vintage Haven (aka Tisbury). Bike paths have been perfected on this island. The city is quaint, and we enjoyed coffee and snacks at the Beedlebung coffee house and book browsing at the local bookstore. Janice left for Oak Bluffs and left on the early boat, while others remained for the later. Dates: 7/13-15/2007 Author: Sarah I got to the Buttonwood Hill Camp Site (of Wharton State Fores) 3 PM Friday at about the same time as Walter and was fit to be tied: the site was already full of trailers, tents and other people not part of our group! Then Janet arrived and we all set up our tents in out-of-the-way locations. About 6 p.m. the two absentee trailer owners, returning to claim their spots, were unhappy to see us. I explained that the camp office had rented the site to 27 people (it holds 30) as Buttonwood has become much more popular lately. To my relief, the trailer owners moved to the more secluded Bodine site about 5 miles away. Dave, Evelyn, Frank and David arrived later and we had a campfire. Moonlight bathing in the Mullica River was a pleasant diversion. Saturday, Walter launched his new inflatable boat at Crowley’s Landing across the street from our camp. Several of us went kayaking, taking time out for a leisurely lunch/swim on the riverbank. Leo arrived in the interim and later he, Evelyn and Dave went out to dinner and to buy more wood. Frank and I had dinner at the Sweetwater Casino, a local nightspot with a spectacular sunset view and good music, but disappointing food. Janet was delighted with her swim in the Mullica River. David and Walter took a long walk into the piney woods to escape the sand flies. David reported fewer wild blueberries this year. We had a campfire and laughed till late in the night. Sunday, Evelyn and Dave went cycling. Most of us left early to beat the traffic. Contact us: To add your name to the Campers' Group e-mailing list, please fill out the form below. If you prefer to receive snail mail, then omit your e-mail address. (Unfortunately, we don't have trips far from NY City, so if you live far away, tell me why you want to be on our mailing list.) Full name Address City State Zip code E-mail Where did you hear about Campers' Group? Send me an e-mail about every event in addition to the quarterly newsletter. If you have additional comments, please write them below.

More info FAQ Current schedule Old schedules Blog Some NJ parks Some NY parks Some PA parks Jokes Links Contact us

David Levner, the Caretaker of Campers' Group, at the beach in Rhode Island on a camping trip to Burlingame State Park.

Denise Drossos, Campers' Group's Non-Dictator, on a spring 2004 camping trip.