Camp Zarahemla
One night on East Canyon Creek with the Farmington Bay 2nd Ward. Night games on the field, cobbler and s’mores at the fire, a movie under the stars, and pancakes in the lodge at sunrise.
The plan
Kept simple on purpose. One night, one breakfast, a whole lot of dark to play in.
Roll in whenever you can. Bring your own dinner or come having eaten. All ten tent sites are ours — pick one, set up, find the fire. The lodge is for cooking and gathering, not sleeping.
Night games on the field — capture the flag, Spotlight, whatever wins the game board. Little kids get glow sticks and a head start.
Dutch-oven cobbler and s’mores at the fire ring, then a movie on the lawn if it’s mild, in the lodge if it isn’t. Closing thought at the fire — we’re hoping the new bishop can join us.
Breakfast in the lodge kitchen: pancakes, bacon and sausage, eggs, juice and milk. Kitchen crew wanted — sign up on the RSVP.
Clean up, pack up, and take the long way home past East Canyon if you’re not in a hurry.
What to bring
It’s 5,200 feet in late September. Warm at dinner, cold by midnight. Tap to check things off — your list saves on this phone.
The lodge has a real kitchen, so griddles are a bonus rather than a requirement — but a Blackstone outside the back door doubles pancake speed. Own a Dutch oven, a projector, a big cooler or a nine-square frame? Check the box on the RSVP so we know it’s covered.
The lodge
Home base for the weekend — cooking, gathering, the movie if it rains. We sleep at the tent sites.
- Seats 200one large open room
- Commercial kitchenstove, grill, two ovens, big fridge
- Fireplaceclosing thought if it’s cold
- Restrooms and showersinside, heated
- Piano and pulpitmedia screens too
- Picnic tables out backseat about 200
House rules
We sleep at the tent sites, not in the lodge. Chairs and tables stay indoors. No parking on the grass — unload on the road for 15 minutes, then move to the lot. Quiet hours are real. We leave it cleaner than we found it.
Jobs that make it work
Nobody has to do everything. Everybody could do one thing. Tap a patch to claim it on the RSVP.
Kitchen crew
Saturday 7:30. Griddle drivers, egg scramblers, juice pourers.
Night game captain
Pick two games, explain the rules once, keep the little kids alive.
Shopping run
Thursday or Friday. Pancake mix, eggs, bacon, sausage, juice, milk, syrup.
Cobbler crew
Dutch ovens and coals from about 7. Scott’s buying; bring your oven.
Closing thought
Five minutes at the fire, or the lodge fireplace if it’s cold.
Cleanup
Kitchen wiped, floor swept, fire ring cold. Twenty minutes with six people.
