Hi Everyone,

We hope you’ll join us for the Loomis 3rd Ward Campout at Rucker Lake on Friday, July 31 through Saturday, August 1. You are welcome to arrive anytime Friday afternoon. Dinner will be around 7:00 p.m. Friday evening.

Please use the SignUpGenius link below to sign up for the Friday night potluck dinner:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0945A5A62DA0F58-64761553-ward#/

We will be providing tri-tip for dinner, and we are asking families to sign up to bring sides, fruit, rolls, chips, drinks, or dessert. A pancake breakfast will be provided Saturday morning.

Also, please let me know if your family is planning to come, even if you are not sure yet or are only coming for part of the activity. That will help us get a rough idea of how many people and families to plan for.

Location / Driving Address:
Rucker Lake Camp
37111 Rucker Lake Road
Nevada City, CA 95959

For directions, you should be able to enter the address above into your phone/GPS. The road is mostly paved, with only about one mile of dirt road at the end. It should be in decent condition for most vehicles if taken slowly.

There will be plenty of tent camping spots available, and some cabins will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you need special accommodations, please let me know and I can try to hold a cabin. A couple of cabins have electricity while the main camp generator is running, though the generator does not run overnight.

The lake is great for swimming and fishing, and fishing is allowed. There should also be some canoes and other camp water equipment available to use. Feel free to bring your own paddleboards, kayaks, or other water items as well.

The campground has flush toilets available. Fires are currently allowed in the provided firepits unless that is restricted later in the season.

Even if you cannot stay overnight, please feel free to come up just for Friday evening, or come up Saturday morning for breakfast and lake time. We would love to have everyone there for whatever portion works for your family.

The Rucker Camp rules are attached for your review.

Camp Information

Camp Physical Location:           Tahoe National Forest

GPS Coordinates:                     39.3578 Latitude -120.6560 Longitude

Driving Address:                        37111 Rucker Lake Road, Nevada City, CA 95959.

Mobile Cell Service:                   Verizon  T-Mobile – OK coverage

ATT  – very limited, but can drive within 5 miles for service

Church recreation camp facilities are only available for reservation by Church members though the church website.

Reserving Facilities

• Campsites and facility reservations are made prior to arriving at camp via the ChurchofJesusChrist.org using the Recreation Camps drop down menu under Tools & Support and Church member login.
• Families and individuals are encouraged to use the camp when not used by youth groups. See Church Recreation Property website for open reservation dates on the priority scheduling timeline.
• The camp may be available to families and groups for a fee based on group size and facilities reserved.
• Overnight facilities will not be rented to unmarried couples or to ‘co-ed’ groups.
• Church recreation camp facilities are only available for reservation by Church members.

General Rules

1. Any person coming to camp must observe the standards of personal conduct as set forth in the ‘For the Strength of Youth’ booklet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
2. Dress and grooming should be modest, tasteful and in keeping with the standards of the Church. Modest dress is required, which means no bikinis, short shorts, halter neck or crop tops, or see through clothing.
3. Bathing suits should be one piece or modest tankini for women and girls and loose fitting, boxer-type shorts for men and boys.
4. Alcoholic beverages, tobacco products and pornography are prohibited. Anyone found with any of these items on camp property will immediately be asked to leave.
5. Gambling, loud and/or profane music, profanity or offensive behavior will not be tolerated.
6. Each person attending camp should follow the highest standards of conduct – courtesy and kindness being the hallmarks of your conduct while here.
7. Youth under the age of eighteen shall have adult supervision at all times, especially when swimming or boating.
8. Park only in designated areas with the vehicle backed in. Keep access roads and fire lanes clear.
9. Do not move parking barricades to access cabins or campsites.
10. No pets are permitted at Church recreation camps, even if they stay in your vehicle.
11. No horses.
12. No hunting on camp property.
13. No fireworks, firecrackers and explosive devices are permitted in camps, even for special events or holidays.
14. Fishing requires guests 16 years of age or older to have a valid State of California Fishing License.
15. Report incidents or emergencies to Camp Host immediately.
16. No swimming, boating or hiking without a ‘buddy’.
17. All guests must wear approved life vests when using boats.
18. No lifeguard is on duty, persons using the waterfront do so at their own risk.
19. A noise curfew is in place between 10 pm and 8 am. As a courtesy to other campers and our neighbors please be in your campsite and quiet during this time.
20. Cutting living trees and shrubs, and destruction of ang vegetation is prohibited. No graffiti, carving or painting on the walls or trees.
21. Motorcycles, ATVs, dirt bikes or off-road vehicles are not permitted at camp. All motorized vehicles must remain on designated roads and parking areas. However, pedal bicycles are permitted in camp.
22. Kitchen and refrigeration and freezer units are NOT available during family camp.
23. Church Units may reserve the Kitchen for activities, but must met health department cooking staff guidelines. See group camp guidelines.
24. The pavilion and outside sink area may be used w/o reservation, if not reserved by another group.
25. Bears and wildlife (crows, chipmunks, squirrels) are in the area. Secure food and garbage.
26. Please be good neighbors. DO NOT GO BEYOND THE CAMP BOUNDRY BY THE DAM. It is private property.

Sabbath Observance

According to the Church General Handbook, “No Church Camps, Sports Events, or Recreational Events are to scheduled on Sunday.  Nor should youth groups and others travel to or from camps or youth conferences on Sunday.” [Sabbath-Day Observance, 20.5.8]. Therefore, reservations cannot be made for stays on Saturday or Sunday Nights. Sorry, this means Memorial and Labor Day weekend too.

Fire Safety

1. US Forest Service & CalFire govern fires at Rucker Lake Camp. Please check with the Camp Host regarding the current fire restrictions.
2. Fires may be banded at any time without notice. If cooking over fire, be prepared with a back-up plan.
3. Campfire may only be built in approved metal rings provided by the camp. A minimum of 15 ft from the edge of the ring must be raked clear 365 degree around the fire.
4. Fire and flames sizes must be at a safe level. Recommend flames do not exceed 12” above top of the metal ring.
5. An adult must supervise the fire at all times.
6. Water bucket or water hose and a shovel must be within reach for fire control.
7. Campfires must be extinguished each night. Make sure fires are completely extinguished with water and cold enough to touch before leaving.
8. Hot, dry summer weather can create very hazardous fire conditions. Guests should be especially careful with matches and campfires.
9. Please keep wood piles neatly stacked and free from trash, debris and sharp objects.
10. Cans or other non-burnable foreign objects must not be thrown into the campfires.
11. Fire rings must be clean at checkout.
12. Do not bring firewood from home. The camp has plenty of firewood and it is free.

ELECTRICITY

The camp is off grid and powered by a generator. The generator does not run 24/7 during family camping and the generator is turned off at night. For medical devices, please plan your own power source for when the generator is off.

Waterfront Safety

1. The camp has no lifeguard on duty. Groups, individuals and families must provide their own lifeguards.
2. Group leaders should advise the Camp Host of their boating and swimming activities at the time of registration.
3. All campers will wear lifejackets when boating or working on the waterfront. Children under the age of ten shall wear lifejackets whenever they are near the lake. Small children and people with health problems are advised that swimming in the lake can be hazardous since the water may be cold enough to cause hypothermia.
4. Youth under the age of 18 must be supervised at all times at the waterfront. Youth cannot go swimming or boating without being accompanied by an adult.
5. Return all equipment to its storage area, i.e. Canoes must be racked, paddles must be out in the box, lifejackets hung up and paddle boards returned to the storage area.
6. Fishing is allowed at Rucker Lake within the restrictions prescribed by state and federal law. In California, 16 year of age and older must have a fishing license.
7. No fishing off the dock or in the swimming area.

 Weapons Safety

1. Hunting or trapping is prohibited at Rucker Lake camp.
2. Firearms, handguns, paintball guns or any other weapons are not permitted on the property.
3. Weapons shall not be cleaned, loaded, carried or in any way used in the main camp area and must be stored in locked vehicles.
4. Target shooting can be done in designated area using airsoft and BB guns only along with archery.
5. Youth shall not participate in target shooting without adult supervision.

Sanitation

1. Shirts, pants and shoes must be worn in the main part of the camp.
2. All guests are responsible for cleaning up after themselves. Guests are expected to clean and disinfect the restrooms they use when they leave.
3. Kitchen IS NOT AVAILABLE. Church Groups renting the kitchen must follow kitchen cleaning procedures and check out with the Camp Host and have person w/ Safe Serve Managers Certification.
4. Campers should take proper precautions when preparing and storing food. There are no refrigerators in the cabins or campsites, so guests must provide for their own food storage.
5. Leftovers and other ‘wet’ garbage should be sealed in plastic bags and taken to the dumpsters at the top of the hill daily. Squirrels & blackbirds are bigger issues than bears regarding garbage.
6. Bears and other wildlife are in the area. Do not leave food of garbage where the wildlife will get into it and make a mess. Chipmunks and squirrels will chew into tents and containers.