For our September campout we will be heading to Point Reyes/Tomales Bay for one night of kayaking and beach camping!

We will put in at Heart's Desire Beach and kayak ~3 miles to Marshall Beach, hugging the west shore of Tomales Bay. This is a little different from our typical campouts, so please take note of the details:

• Kayaks: We will be using tandem, sit-on-top kayaks (i.e. the beginner-friendly type). Kayak pairings will be determined prior to the trip to ensure each kayak has a balanced/capable crew.
• Gear: We will be renting one 110L dry bag per kayak, which typically accommodates gear for two people and will be strapped to the top of each kayak. Please bring addt'l dry bags if you have them in case they are needed, and pack belongings in duffels or daypacks rather than backpacking packs, which will be difficult to fit in the dry bags.
• Food & water: We will be bringing all water for our 24hr trip and eating backpacking-style food. Attendees will need to bring their own bag lunch, snacks and dehydrated dinner for Saturday. The troop will provide backpacking stoves to heat water, instant oatmeal/hot chocolate for Sunday breakfast, ~1 gallon/person of water, and bear cannisters for the racoons.
• Water safety: All attendees will wear life vests, but per Scouting America policy we will also require scouts to have passed a swim test (e.g. Swimming merit badge or swimmer qualification test) within the last 12 months. The troop will host a swim test at a nearby pool prior to the trip to satisfy this requirement.
• Weather: If weather is bad and/or winds are too strong, the rental company will cancel our reservation. However, we'll be kayaking in the morning when winds are usually calmest, and the shoreline (which we'll be close to) provides protection. But cross your fingers for a beautiful weekend...
• Young scouts: For younger scouts (6th/7th), we encourage an adult to accompany them on this outing.