ESCAPE TO THE WOODS - - A  WEEKEND IN THE WILDS OF SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS

Deadline for registration: October 25th

Your Personal Invitation:
The Piasa Palisades Group of the Sierra Club cordially invites its members, prospective members, and families, to an escape weekend in the woods. 

Friday afternoon, Oct. 28 thru Sun. Oct. 30, 2005 (This is Prime Fall Color Time)

Spectacular scenery of Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton

Reservations will be made on a first-come basis. Please click here to get the registration form

The setting is Pere Marquette State Park, which has more than 8,000 acres in one of 

Illinois' largest, and arguably prettiest, state park. The Sierra Club has reserved

Camp Ouatoga for the weekend.  It is remote and isolated from the rest of the park,

overlooking the scenic confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi River valleys.

Weekend Activities:

We have guided group activities, or you can explore on your own. It is also nice to 

just hang around and enjoy nature.

Guided nature hikes will be conducted on the major trails within the park and 

along the backwater lakes of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.

Bicycling on the Pere Marquette Park bike trail, the rural roads of Calhoun Co., 

and along the Great River Road between Alton and Grafton - a  National Scenic Byway.

Canoeing the shallow backwater lakes of Calhoun and Jersey Counties.

Birdwatching in the nearby Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge.

Bonfire-fare on Fri. and Sat. night.

Give-a-Hoot Owl Hikes both Fri. & Sat. nights: savor the eerie sounds of the night.  

Telescopes and Stargazing. 
	
 

Camp Facilities:

The camps were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) back during the 

depression.  They are rustic, befitting the legacy of early Sierra Club outdoor 

experiences.  A large central dining lodge will serve as headquarters for the weekend.

Cabin Camping is limited to 145 persons.  

Single-room enclosed cabins are screened 

and shuttered. Up to six persons can be 

accommodated per cabin.  Steel bunk beds 

and mattresses.  Bring your sleeping bags 

- - or sheets, blankets and pillow.  Hot 

water showers in the bathhouses.

Cost:

$5.00/person per night for the cabins. 

Tent Camping   For those who prefer to tent 

camp, we have reserved space at Pere 

Marquette Park's Duncan Hill Tent Camp Area.  

This is still within the park, but is a 

five-mile drive to Camp Ouatoga for group 

activities.  We are limited to 100 persons.

All facilities at Camp Ouatoga are available 

to tent campers. No tent camping is allowed

in the cabin camp area.

Cost:

Tent campers only $3.00/person per night 

Meals:  You supply and prepare your own breakfasts and lunches.  

Walk-in refrigerators are there for you to store your supplies.  

A fully equipped kitchen with all dishes, silverware, pots and 

pans for your use. A  great old gas cooking range and oven.

Saturday Night Cookout: 
Grilled pork steaks, buttered sweet corn, cauliflower with 

cheese, green beans, garlic and French Breads. 

Coffee, iced tea, Kool-Aid, baked pies and ice cream.  

All vegetarian menu if preferred - includes veggie burgers.
			
Cost: 
$9.00 per person for pork steak.
$7.00 per person for vegetarian.

$6.00 per youth under 10 years of age.