Owyhee Family Camp: Silver City

Trip description

Spending time in the great outdoors is an incredible experience at any age, especially when you have the chance to share that experience with loved ones. Owyhee Family Camp is designed for parents or guardians (including grandparents!) to enjoy the Owyhee with their favorite young campers. We will offer fun, family-friendly activities, like campfire storytelling, scavenger hunts, and more!

This camp will take place in Silver City, an old Idaho mining town that seems to take you back in time with its historical structures and nostalgic feel. Though its historic Catholic church and three cemeteries may make it feel like a ghost town, Silver City is home to plenty of permanent residents and is a perfect place for kids to explore. With a scavenger hunt and booklet as our guide, together we will learn about Silver City. 

The town is built on granite, a type of stone very different from the rest of the Owyhee, and presents a good opportunity for finding quartz crystals and learning about geologic history. 

The Mormon cricket, a plentiful and large native insect, is an important ecological staple to the high Owyhees. After having fun catching some, we will use dissection tools to learn more about their anatomy. 

On Sunday morning, we will take a group hike down an abandoned road to a pioneer-age cemetery (a must in old mining towns of the west!) before departing for home. 

All activities are group activities, so parent/guardian participation is expected alongside your student.

Challenges

• Even in June, higher elevations may get cold at night
• Being in a group camping situation with children may seem overwhelming at times, but we are all in this together and understand there are many parenting philosophies
• The Morman Crickets are very big bugs, do not bite or sting, and are plentiful on the outskirts of town, however in town they are much lower in number but can still be alarming
• Parents/guardians are responsible for their student(s) lodging, food, and transportation, as well as any discipline

Highlights

• Unique opportunity to camp with other families also interested in teaching their children the virtues of the outdoors
• Instruction and general structure provided by Friends of the Owyhee
• The Silver City area is beautiful and enjoyable

Suggested gear

• Daypack
• Shelter (tarp or tent, stakes, ground cloth)
• Sleeping bag, sleeping pad
• Headlamp
• Water bottles, plenty of water (2-3 gallons per day)
• Stove, fuel
• Cooking pot, utensils, knife
• Camp chairs
• Food: 2 breakfasts, 2-3 lunches, 2 dinners, snacks/treats
• Hygiene kit
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste
  • Sunscreen, chapstick
  • Baby wipes
  • Prescription medications
• Toothbrush, toothpaste
• Sunscreen, chapstick
• Baby wipes
• Prescription medications
• Hiking boots or trail shoes, camp shoes
• Hiking clothes, camp clothes
• Sun hat, sunglasses
• Rain jacket, insulated jacket
• Warm hat, gloves
• Hiking poles (optional)
• Camera, phone

Provided by FOTO

• Informational and educational packet
• Guided activities
• Navigational lead while hiking
• Wilderness First Aid training and supplies
• Equipment for dissection, rock collection, and headstone rubbing

FAQ

• Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
  • Participants must be 4 years or older
• How much does camping cost? 
  • Camping is free.
• Can I bring my dog?
  • For this trip, yes.
• Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
  • No, we will have a roster of the folks signed up.
• Can I bring my camper for this trip?
  • Due to the size of the campground, we recommend that you camp in a tent.