GU E S T  I N F O R M A T I O N

 Welcome Square Dancers and Guests!

The Camping Squares wish to "INVITE" you and yours to a fun weekend of camping and square dancing. This Guest Information guide has been put together in an effort to help provide Camping Squares information and to help you fully enjoy your weekend with us.

General Club Information

The Camping Squares were organized on September 7, 1968, to bring together those people interested in  camping and square dancing as a joint activity. The club normally limits membership to square dancing married couples and their children (or grandchildren).  Exceptions are permitted if approved by the Club's Executive Board, or if dancing or non-square dancing guests are specifically invited by any Club member.

The Club campouts and dances are held on the first weekend of each month, within 100 miles of Anaheim, Ca. If the first day of the month falls on a Saturday, we go that weekend. If it falls on a Sunday, we go the next weekend.  We are normally dark the month of July. The Club usually makes reservations at a campground with full hookups for  RVs (i.e., electricity, water, and sewer), and a recreation hall large enough for dancing.  RV types include tent trailers, small and large trailers, small and large fifth wheels, small and large motor homes and even had a bus conversion in the past. The Camping Squares also try to attend square dance festivals once or twice a year, where sometimes only dry camping is available.

Arrival Information

Campers normally start arriving on Friday during the day.  (Recently, some campers have started arriving on Thursday.) Many campgrounds prefer that campers check in at the office.  You can then be directed to the Camping Squares area (watch for signs), where the Wagonmaster will assign you a site.  All efforts will be made to park you next to, or at least near the member that invited you to the outing. Friday evenings are usually spent around the campfire, weather or campground regulations permitting, or in the hall, where games and socializing prevail for the evening.   You are invited to join us, of course, and we ask that you wear a name badge to help us become acquainted faster. A bulletin board is maintained at the Wagonmaster's rig with the activity schedule for the weekend. Please remember, you are always invited to participate in all activities, so don’t wait to be asked. Sometimes people forget to ask!

Friday Evening Dinners

We always like to explore the local area and if there’s a good place to go to for dinner, we can usually find it!  So on Fridays, we might plan to carpool there to chow down!  As always, this is optional, but please remember that you are invited to participate in all Club or group activities.  Word is usually passed when a group is headed out for a meal, but it's best to ask so that no one is inadvertently left out.  There are plenty of vehicles in camp, so don't worry about a ride - or if you have room and are driving - ask if someone wants a ride with you!

Saturday Morning Breakfast

Club members now take turns with assignments each month where 2 or 3 couples provide a continental breakfast on Saturday morning, complete with fruit, pastries, coffee, bagels, etc., etc. This is a great chance to sit around and get to know the group. The folks who provide these breakfasts are not expected to bring food for the Saturday evening potluck dinner.

Pot Luck Dinners

The Club has a potluck dinner on Saturday afternoon, at either 4:00 or 4:30 P.M. depending on the season.  Meat is sometimes cooked centrally, and such tasty treats as barbecued beef, ham, game hens, turkeys, steaks, etc. have been provided in the past. Each couple is asked to bring a potluck dish to serve approximately 12 people. The Club Vice-President or the Wagonmaster will let you know what you should bring. (If you have not been informed, please call the Club Vice-President or the Wagonmaster for information.) Campers furnish their own plates, silverware, and napkins. Condiments such as salt and pepper as well as coffee and water are provided.  Campers are requested to furnish any other beverages they require.

Square Dances

The Club currently has a Club Caller (Gary Fields) and dances in the recreation hall at the campground.  The dance usually starts at 7:00 P.M. and ends at 9:00-9:30 P.M., unless otherwise indicated. Our dances are a fun Plus level, and we occasionally have an advanced star tip at the break if enough dancers are interested. The prime goal is to keep everyone dancing and for the evening to be fun for everyone. Sometimes the caller may cut up a bit (to say nothing of our group in general), and sometimes he may teach western or line dancing between tips.  On occasion, rounds are cued between tips when the caller is able to cue them or has recordings.

Square dance attire is normally requested at all dances. Exceptions (i.e., short pants dances) are announced in advance and normally occur at the August campout.  (Note:  In recent years, the square dance attire has become less formal, but still requested.)

Other Activities

On most outings the Club takes things fairly easy on Friday evening and during the day on Saturday. Although activities are not normally structured, many of our campers enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, touring the local area, fishing when facilities are available, or just relaxing in camp. Many campers pass the time with a variety of games, crafts, reading, or just relaxing. In any event, you are discouraged from working on your rig during the outing, or anything else for that matter (emergencies excepted), as the Sheriff is always watching, and has a penchant for fining members and guests alike at the Saturday evening dance.  If a large roast is being prepared during the day, the cook's area is a natural gathering spot.

After the Saturday evening dance we usually sit around the campfire, and make it our goal to finish off any of the goodies that may be left over from the pot luck, dance, or snacks that everyone brings out, figuring they're going to go bad before the next outing anyway!  This  opportunity is seized by some to try out new snack recipes on the group.  At some outings, where meat is left over from the barbecue, hoagies are prepared for the gathering after the dance.

Campers generally change into more comfortable clothes to sit around the campfire after the dance. Tarps are sometimes available, so we don't always have to retreat to the hall or the rigs if the weather is not agreeable.

Campers are always expected to provide their own lawn chairs.  When campfires are permitted, you may also be asked to bring wood.

There are generally no planned activities on Sunday morning, as many of our members have meetings or other square dance activities in their districts to attend on Sunday afternoon. Most campers leave the campground by about 11:00 A.M., as checkout time is usually noon.  Occasionally we have a Sunday morning breakfast buffet, but just as often we head out to a local restaurant.  Again, you are invited to participate.   Let someone know if you need a ride or can drive.

 Square Dance and Camping Fees

Guest campers are charged a $5.00 fee in addition to the camping fees, caller fees, and any meat fees that are distributed among the group. As of this writing, the caller fees are $5.00 per person.  A meat fee, if any, is based on the cost of the meat and the number of campers attending. Guests requesting space at a campout are required to submit a $40.00 deposit to the Wagonmaster to hold their site. Deposits are non-refundable if the reservation is canceled less than 30 days in advance of the outing, as the campground requires us to make a non-refundable deposit based on the number of sites reserved.

Club Membership Application

Those couples desiring to become Camping Squares members are requested to see the Membership Chairman during the weekend for a membership application and a copy of the Club Bylaws.  Our Bylaws require that guests desiring to become members attend at least three (3) outings during a five (5) month period prior to becoming eligible.  New members are approved by a majority vote by the General Membership, which will occur at the first campout after the Membership Chairman receives the completed membership forms.  Current membership fees are $25.00 per couple per year, plus the current prevailing cost for Club badges. Club jackets and outfits, which are optional, are also available at the prevailing cost at time the order is placed. These items can be ordered any time after becoming a Camping Squares member.

The active roster of the Camping Squares is limited to thirty-five (35) rigs.  Guests wishing to join the Club when the roster is full will be given a spot on the waiting list.  During the waiting period you are invited to join us on all of our outings and participate in all of our activities.

We hope you will consider spending a camping weekend with us, and we all look forward to getting to know you better.

As Membership Chairmen, we are available to answer any questions you may have about our club, its members, and activities. Please don't hesitate to ask!

See you in a square or around the campfire!

Don & Penny Peltz
Membership Chairmen
 
 
 

 
 
  
 
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