If this trip is full, you can join the waitlist HERE (we frequently have cancellations!)
Pic from 2023 car camping trip at Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park
Join the Idaho Sierra Club for an LGBTQ+ camping trip and stargazing adventure at Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park! We'll meet at a local park in the mid-afternoon, then caravan to our campsite to set up tents, eat dinner, have a campfire, play games, and build community. As it starts to get dark, we'll head to the observatory, where everyone will have the chance to stargaze through the park's collection of telescopes. To wrap up the trip, we'll tent camp for the night at our campsites and have a group breakfast together the following morning to reflect on our adventure.
What to expect:
Saturday, October 17th
3:00 pm | Meet at local park in Mountain Home to consolidate into fewer cars (specific park will be shared prior to trip)
3:30 pm | Caravan into Bruneau Sand Dunes Campsites (specific sites will be shared prior to trip)
3:45 pm | Group intros, trip overview, set up tents (leaders will available to help), sign up for camp duties
4:45 pm | Dinner crew makes dinner. Fire crew starts a fire. S'mores, games, sports, build community with others, or just hangout and relax :)
7:30 pm | Head to observatory to get stargazing tickets, (if time allows) solar viewing & explore observatory
8:30 pm | Observatory presentation
9:00 pm | Telescope viewing
Approx. 10:00 pm | Head back to campsite
Approx. 10:15 - 11:30 pm | Time to hang out, have another fire/more s'mores, or just head to sleep :)
Sunday, October 18th
8:00 am | Wakeup, camp breakfast, group reflections
9:00 am | Pack up tents and other supplies
9:30 am | Sign-out, wrap-up, & goodbye at campsite
Gear:
The Idaho Sierra Club will provide larger gear items (tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad) to those who do not have this gear. A suggested packing list will also be provided to participants who sign up, and group gear will be provided by the Sierra Club (e.g. cooking gear, an emergency GPS communication device, etc.)
Food:
The Sierra Club will provide dinner and breakfast (dietary restrictions can be accommodated, please note any limitations or concerns in the RSVP), as well as some light snacks, refreshments, and s'mores. Participants are responsible for packing their own lunches on both days, as well as any special snacks you will want. We will have a cooler that folks can use to store their lunches for Sunday.
Further recreation options
Bruneau Sand Dunes offers a variety of fun recreation options: hiking (hiking boots required to climb soft sand), sandboarding, etc. (see the park's website for more details!). While the Idaho Sierra Club OUTing will only include camping and stargazing, you are welcome to recreate on your own after sign-out on Sunday morning. All activities after sign-out are at the sole risk of participants.
Accessibility, difficulty, skill level, and safety
We will be staying at Broken Wheel Campground (more details about this campsite here).
This outing involves short walks around the observatory and at the campsite. It is possible to journey everywhere on paved surfaces and ramps, including at the observatory. One of our available campsites will be ADA-accessible within a short distance of an accessible bathrooms, featuring roll-in showers, grab bars, accessible sinks, and ample space for assistance if needed. More accessibility information about the park can be found here - please reach out to Amanda (amanda.reed@sierraclub.org) if you have any questions about what to expect or would like to request any accommodations.
From our campsite, you will be able to walk to shared bathrooms within a few minutes. You can choose to walk to the observatory (est. 20 min) or drive from the campsite and park in a paved parking lot.
Because we will be tent camping, folks should be comfortable sleeping in a tent with a sleeping pad or in their car.
Our trip leaders will carry a full first aid kit and are certified in Wilderness First Aid. We will carry a satellite communicator, since cell signal is spotty at the site. We will not be far from medical services in Mountain Home in the event of a medical emergency.
Tent assignments
We will encourage folks who attend with friends/family to sleep in a tent/car together, so we can accommodate more participants. All folks who sign up individually will be assigned to a single-person tent. If you are coming with friends/family and would like to share a tent, please indicate the names of these people in your RSVP.
Other considerations
- Kids & families are welcome! All minors must be accompanied by a parent/guardian on this trip.
- No dogs please. We love your furry friends, but please keep them at home.
- Please fill out a separate registration form for each person, so we can have a signed waiver on file for each person.
- After you register, we'll be in touch shortly with a packing list and additional information about food and rental equipment. PLEASE RESPOND TO THESE EMAILS IN A TIMELY MANNER! This will ensure you can participate safely on the trip with us!
- We expect everyone joining this event to act respectfully and help create a safe and inclusive space for folks from marginalized identity groups. All participants must read, sign, and adhere to the standards of conduct in our Volunteer Agreement
Level: Easy
Cost: Free! Contributions are appreciated to support our programming and help offset the costs of food/supplies to keep this program sustainable for years to come. We will ask in your registration if you're able to cover the cost of your food/gear rentals - there is no pressure to do so, but if you have the means, we greatly appreciate it!
Signup Instructions: Please register by Wednesday, October 7th so we have an accurate headcount for tents, sleeping bags, food, and other supplies
Level: Easy
Cost: Dinner and breakfast will be provided by the Sierra Club for free! Gear rental (as needed) will be done on a sliding scale basis; Sierra Club can cover the cost if needed.
Signup Instructions: Please register by Thursday, August 14th so we can have enough time to order food and reserve gear.
Recommended Items: A full packing list will be provided prior to the trip; a form will also be sent allowing participants to mark any gear they will need to rent.
Carpool: Prior to the trip, we will connect anyone who needs a ride with those who are willing to drive/carpool.
Note: Carpool transportation is at the sole risk of the participants.
Cancellation Policy: Leaders will check both wildfire and weather conditions the morning of the event. If the weather or any proximity to a wildfire is considered unsafe, we will cancel the trip and communicate with all participants.
Campground description & map