Basic Event Info

- Anyone can attend.  25 person limit.  A waiting list will be established once our person limit is reached. 
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- When: Friday, May 23, 2025 @ 3pm - Monday, May 25 @ noon 
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- Where:  Richard Bong State Rec Area
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- Google Map Directions: Click Here 
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- Map of  park and campground : Click Here
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- Cost:     (Early bird price) $25 per person (site registration fee, wood, Saturday night dinner and                       Bacon Bite Night prizes)

                Refund policy:  If someone takes your spot, you will be refunded your complete amount.  If not, then you are only out $5.
 
- We have a group site rented with plenty of trees.  
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Meal Planning
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-  **NEW for 2025.  Group meals will start on Saturday night!  You will be on your own for food until Saturday dinner.

- Each camper needs to bring their own plate, flatware, cups and beverages.
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- Every meal  (starting with Saturday dinner) will be family style, not individual.  This means, you and anyone else who signs up for the same meal must coordinate together who is bringing what items, who is cooking it, and the necessary cooking utensils.  If you have special dietary needs and are concerned about family style meals, it's ok.  Karla will work with you so you can eat and also feel included. 
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- Please sign up for one meal in addition to Sunday night's Bacon Bite Night.  Four to five  people per meal, please fill-in where needed.
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- If cooking isn't your "thing" then work with your team so you can help cover the cost of the ingredients.  
 
- We email each other to work out details of the meal, but free to use the Facebook group page too.
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- Suggestions from previous BACONFESTs:  There was SO much food! Bacon Bite Night is really just one bite per person and there was WAY more than that. No one really complained about too much food though. It would be nice to have more fruit and vegetables.   - Many pre-cooked their bacon and meals turned out to be super fast and simple. No one was fighting over grate space (and there was very little to begin with).
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- We will eat bacon at every meal.  In order to ensure our bacon happiness, the host has given guidelines for each meal:

Friday - Saturday lunch:  On your own

Saturday night - Host's choice.  This year we will have  Bacon meatloaf  and potatoes.  Karla's still deciding on dessert.
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Sunday morning - Eggs, bacon, and other tasty breakfast goodies (fruit, muffins, bagels, etc)

Sunday lunch - BLTs & fixings

Sunday dinner - Bacon Bite Night!  This is a chance to show off your bacon talents. This is a small plate tapas meal - think bite sized appetizers. We'd love for you to provide one bite of your dish for everyone in attendance. Please indicate on the Google Registration Form if you are bringing something savory or sweet. We'd hate to only have sweet desserts to eat or none at all.

Monday breakfast -Pancakes,  Canadian bacon and usually any leftovers from Sunday breakfast or from Bacon Bite night.
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Bacon Contest:  After Bacon Bite Night, you will have a chance to vote on your favorite savory bacon bite and your favorite sweet bacon bite. Winners will be announced at Sunday night. 
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Group Site Information

- Lots of trees for hammocks.  Feel free to bring a stand for extra site spots. (Karla has one for sale!) Plenty of flat areas for tents.

- No pavillion or electricity.  Bring your pop-up canopy or extra tarp for rain!

- Vault toilets and water are available in the group camp area.  Showers are available in the next loop over (you will want to drive over)

- Parking is limited to 15 cars at the sites, and overflow parking area is available a short distance away.  We will squeeze in as many cars in our lot as possible.  Please carpool.  

- The group campsites are primarily for tents and hammocks.  We have very limited room for trailers and pop-ups. No electrical outlets available to plug into.  If you have an RV, you can reserve an individual site and join us for all the meals and activities.  You will not need to pay Karla a reservation fee.  Just sign up for the meal planning.
 
- Quiet Hours are from 11pm - 6 am.  This means our neighbors should not disturb us and we should not disturb our neighbors.
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- Pets: Pets must be on a leash no longer than 8 ft and under control at all times. Pets are not allowed in buildings, picnic areas or on beaches or nature trails. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. Pets may not be left unattended at any time. Consult park office/bulletin boards for further restrictions.
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- Alcohol Policy:  This event has become a family friendly event.  We ask you to drink responsibility and not to the point of intoxication.  If you drink too much and need others to assist you, that is impeding on the fun of others.  That isn't fun for anybody.  If you choose to get drunk, you may be asked to leave and/or potentially be asked to not attend future camping weekends.  A good motto to follow is: drink for taste, not for effects. 
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State Park Information
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- State park sticker or daily pass required.
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- More info on stickers: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/admission
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Agenda/ Activities (everything is optional for you)

Friday
- set up your sleep systems
- tour other's hammock set-ups
- dinner - on your own
- enjoy campfire

Saturday 
- (if arriving on Saturday) set up your sleep systems & tour other's hammock set-ups

- 10:30  leave for bike ride to Burlington's Jamboree.  It's about an hour bike trip on the White River State Trail.  You need to
purchase a state trail pass (daily is
$5 and can purchase here)    While
there you can purchase lunch from 
the food vendors (or pack your 
own).  If you don't want to bike, 
you can drive and meet us there.
(Food vendors here)    The ride is 
weather pending and we could also
switch days and do this on Sunday
instead.  Address of the Jamboree is:  
681 Maryland Ave.  Burlington 53105


- The afternoon is yours to enjoy.  The sign-up sheetindicates others who are also interested in the same activities you are.  You might want to shop around Burlington or enjoy more of the bands at Jamboree.  Head back to camp whenever you want.

6pm - dinner

Dusk - Campfire

Sunday 
- 8:15 (ish) breakfast & clean up and pack our BLT lunch

- 10(ish) leave for the Molinaro Visitor Center and Nature Explore Classroom.  We will tour the building, take a group picture, and walk the Visitor center nature trail (0.7 miles)   Feel free to hike or bike more of the trails.

- Lunch- enjoy your packed lunch anytime

- The afternoon is yours to enjoy.  The sign-up sheet indicates others who are also interested in the same activities you are.  
 
- For those participating in Bacon Bite Night, participants usually prepare their dish to be ready sometime between 5:26 and 6:31pm.  We nibble and bite through all the entries, clean up, vote, announce winners and then enjoy the campfire.  Feel free to make a sign displaying the name of your dish.

Monday
- Breakfast usually starts between 8-8:30 am. You are welcome to stay at the site until noon and can leave anytime you wish to enjoy other activities or head home. 

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Weather
- This event will be canceled if there is a spring storm so horrible that people shouldn't drive to the event or be camping outside.

- The park staff also have the ability to completely close the park if there is inclement weather. So, pray for warm and sunny!
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