Who rafts the Ocoee and who kayaks the Hiwassee? First-year Scouts kayak the Hiwassee River. Hiwassee kayaks are two-person tandem kayaks, so a parent needs to attend the trip to be your Scout’s kayak partner if they’re a first-year. Older, more experienced Scouts raft the Ocoee River with a professional outfitter. If you’re not sure which applies to your Scout, ask a trip leader.
Do I need to bring my own tent? Yes. Troop 8 no longer provides tents for campouts, so bring your own or buddy up with another Scout who has one.
What does the trip cost, and how do I sign up? Sign-up and payment are handled through TroopWebHost, which will have the current cost and sign-up deadline. Because the troop prepays the outfitters for rafting and kayaking spots, cancelling after the sign-up deadline may still result in a charge — if your plans change, let a trip leader know as soon as possible.
Do we need to sign a waiver? Yes. Everyone rafting or kayaking needs to complete a digital waiver with the outfitter before arrival. A link will be emailed out ahead of the trip.
Are there showers at the campground? Yes — Chilhowee Campground has bathhouses with flush toilets and warm showers.
Wait, what time zone is the campground in? Chilhowee Campground and the rivers are in the Eastern time zone, one hour ahead of Brentwood’s Central time zone. Keep that in mind for Saturday’s river time and Sunday’s return trip — see the Itinerary page for zone-labeled times.
Is there anything else to do besides rafting/kayaking? Yes. Chilhowee Recreation Area has about 25 miles of hiking and biking trails, plus McKamy Lake, which has a swim area with a sand beach.
What if it rains? The trip goes on rain or shine — pack a poncho or rain shell either way. Trip leaders will communicate any weather-related changes as needed.
I’m a first-time Scout parent — what should I expect? This is a camping weekend built around whitewater rafting or kayaking, with patrols cooking their own meals and Scouts largely managing their own gear and schedule (with adult leaders supervising). It’s one of the troop’s most popular trips of the year. If you have specific questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trip leader before the trip.
Where can I find directions and the exact schedule? See the Itinerary page for the weekend schedule and directions to Chilhowee Campground. Turn-by-turn driving directions will also be emailed to registered families closer to the trip.
What should I pack? See the full Packing List page.