The first Family Camp at Unicoi State Park took place from June 9 – 13, 2008. This event had eleven families with 42 participants, from toddlers to grandmothers. The event was created in honor of the Get Outdoors Georgia initiative, and our goal was to encourage families to recreate together in the outdoors.

Families attended five mornings Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. participating in programs like canoeing, archery, outdoor cooking, and for several, this was their first time doing many of these activities.

Activities varied from day to day and were picked to encourage outdoor recreation. Other activities offered included fire building, shelter building, wilderness survival kits (each person took home a kit), orienteering, leave no trace camping, stream ecology hike, fly fishing, Unicoi Wildlife (including a live opossum and snake), and crafts.

The camp ended with an Eco-Challenge where each family put their skills to the test. Each team/family competed against each other using the skills that were learned throughout the week. This included a canoeing race, building a fire in the quickest time, shooting targets with a bow and arrow, and much more.

Door prizes were given throughout the week and a grand prize for the family/team who won the Eco-Challenge.