Wild Walker Weekend 2010

Last week, Lisa and I volunteered to take charge of this year’s Wild Walker Weekend and are ready to start getting things planned. At Thanksgiving last year, Lisa and I joined her family at Washington State Park and stayed in a cabin. We immediately thought of using the park as a place to host this event. Since other possibilities for a weekend retreat have not been promoted, this is exactly what we are going to do.

It took Lisa and I under an hour and a half to get to the Cabin from our doorstep, so it is pretty convenient for those of us in the STL area. You can read about the park at the link below.

Washington State Park

There are three types of cabins available to rent at the park. There is a large 3 bedroom cabin that is ideal for hosting the meals and gathering times. It is set apart from all the other cabins and campsites and provides plenty of room to goof off outside undisturbed. This cabin is not marked on the map below, but it is near the swimming pool.

There are both one and two bedroom cabins set in groupings also available. We stayed in a two bedroom cabin, which was very nice and we enjoyed it very much. These cabins are marked on the map below. It would be a 2-3 minute car ride to the larger cabin, or a 10-15 minute walk.

Here is what we are proposing:

Rent the 3 bedroom cabin and 2 of the 2 bedroom cabins. This would give us the meeting space needed for meals and such and would allow each family to have their own bedroom space. We’ve run the numbers and have figured that this would put the cost per person at $20 per night. So that would mean the following cost for each family:
Cole: $240
Golfway: $80
Gant: $120
Green: $240
Kaatman: $80
Livingstons – We are assuming you will not be able to make it, but if any of these weekends work for you, let us know! If you came, we would add another 2 bedroom cabin and the cost would drop to $17 person per night.

Camping Option
If the cost is too much for your family, there is always the option of camping in the park for a much cheaper cost. A campsite would cost something like $34 for the entire weekend. There is a set of campsites between the two sets of cabins, so it would be quite close. You’d be able to shower and use the restroom at any of the cabins, so basically you would be using the tents for sleeping in only. If anyone would like to use this option, Lisa and I have a tent you can borrow. If a family camps, they would pay their campsite cost and the others would split the cabin costs. The difference in price for the cabin dwellers would be less than $2 per night per person.

Here’s what we need you to do:
Check the following weekends on your calendars and let us know which weekends you are not available and any preference you may have:
July 16-18
August 20-22 ; 27-29
September 3-5 ; 10-12

Let us know your availability and preference by Friday, 26MAR10. We need to book the cabins as soon as possible.

WWW 2010

Yesterday, my crew had lunch with Matt and Sarah at Chevys (my stomach is still reeling). Part of our discussion was on possibilities for WWW 2010. I thought I would share a few of our thoughts.

First, we recognized the need to move WWW earlier in the year. Presently, 4 Greens and 1 Livingston have school so extended weekends are out of the question for them. Furthermore, even if we simply have a weekend WWW, we face potential conflicts with school activities held on Friday pm or Saturday. So, I think we must look at June, July, and early August dates. That, of course, means more money when it comes to accomodations.

Second, I would prefer to get away from St. Louis. While we saved money by staying in town this year, there really wasn't that much time spent sitting around a table, playing games, and just having fun together. Jake had to work one evening and Mandie had a band commitment on another. If we stay in the area, these types of things we always happen.

Third, my preference concerning the beach is to wait at least 1 more year. That would put 5 years between beach visits. I'm open to changing that thought but a summer beach trip is going to take some good lead time and extra money. My vote is no beach trip in 2010 but consider (and begin planning) 2011.

Fourth, I would like to find some place out West which would be a nice week long WWW and, perhaps, enable Jessi's family to participate. Colorado is an option though I have nothing specific in mind.

Fifth, most of our discussion turned to Yellowstone National Park as a potential WWW site. Yes, folks would have to plan for at least a 2 day trek there and back. Yellowstone has a lot to see and, if we chose to, there are sites in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana within a couple of hours drive we could visit. Matt has been there somewhat recently and I was there as a kid and both of us liked the park.

That's basically where we left the discussion. I'm planning on doing some investigation of potential places to stay at the park and estimating costs. However, nothing is locked in yet. If folks are not interested in Yellowstone then I might just take my crew out there and see Mt. Rushmore on the way for an extended 2010 vacation.

The purpose of this post is to make you aware of some early planning and to solicit your feedback. If you have other places in mind, let me know. If someone is expecting a grandchild next Summer, time to confess (or announce)! Seriously, any WWW 2010 input and feedback would be very appreciated.