The campfire will be crackling, children laughing and meteors visible in the night sky during the Mercer County Park Commission’s Come Out and Play Campout scheduled for Friday, Aug. 11, to Saturday, Aug. 12, weather permitting. For the first time, families will be able to spend the night on Baldpate Mountain and experience the park like never before.
The Come Out and Play Campout is designed to provide a unique summer experience. Those interested can register through www.mercercountyparks.org. Cost for in-county residents is $20 per person; out-of-county residents, $30 per person.
REI will be on site to assist participants with tent setup on Friday evening. Optional activities include a guided night hike, a scavenger hunt by REI, and roasting hot dogs and s’mores over the open campfire. At the summit of Baldpate, campers can enjoy star gazing and the Perseid Meteor Shower, where they may even see some shooting stars.
Light breakfast will be provided by Chez Alice Catering on the Strawberry Hill Mansion Patio, followed by a morning yoga session at the summit with Anew Life Yoga to help campers stretch out any kinks. Spend some time wandering the trails or join in the morning activities before packing up and heading home.
Families interested in participating must register by Friday, June 30, at 3 p.m. Due to the limited space and high interest in this program, participants will be chosen by random lottery drawing. All completed registrations will be entered into the drawing conducted by the Mercer County Park Commission on Monday, July 3. Families will be drawn until a maximum of 25 tent sites or 100 participants is reached. The remaining registrations will be drawn to establish a waitlist.
For more information, please visit: https://mercercountyparks.org/#!/about/come-out-and-play-campout/ or call (609) 888-3218.
