20s/30s Deer Lake Camping Weekend Fall 2026

Activity Type: Hiking, Local Walks, & Trail Running | Hiking
Difficulty: 2 - Relaxed
Trip Leader(s): Conrad Ward, Christopher Vieira, Lee Thao, Lauren Buchholz, Jared Mitchell
Registration Type: Application
Please Click Here to Register: https://activities.outdoors.org/a5UVX000001JzaH
Audience: 20’s & 30’s

Description: Join the Connecticut chapter 20s/30s and our good friends from Narragansett chapter for a weekend camping trip at Deer Lake Outdoor Center in Killingworth, CT . The 253 acre scenic property is composed of streams, woodlands, fields, open rock faces, and two lakes nestled in the valley with opportunities for hiking and rock climbing. The property also is directly connected to the Chatfield Hollow State Park and its large network of trails. These camping weekends are always a fun time to kick back around the fire, hike around a bit, and bond with each other while enjoying the outdoors.

This camping trip is one of several activities taking place in conjunction with Saturday's Connecticut Chapter annual meeting, which is also taking place at Deer Lake. There will likely be an additional 20s/30s hike planned as part of the annual meeting day slate of events. Participation in the annual meeting or additional hike activities is completely optional.

Participants are required to pay $15.00 for attending this trip. You’re welcome to join for the full weekend (Friday–Sunday) or just part of it (Friday–Saturday or Saturday–Sunday) . Participants will be called after they register to determine what day(s) they are able to attend and to handle payment. After this, participants will have their registration confirmed. The first set of leaders will plan to arrive Friday afternoon and stay until Sunday morning. Folks are welcome to join at any time during the weekend (Fri afternoon, Fri night, Sat morning, etc). The official check-in time on Friday is 5 pm for the campsites, so we may be restricted to arriving at this time or later, but there's a chance we can arrive earlier in the day based on Deer Lake's schedule. Participants will be emailed the day before the event with information on the check-in time.

A full packing list of camping essentials will be provided upon confirmation of attendance. Participants should plan to bring their own food, as the campground is remote and local amenities are limited. A preliminary list is below.

Unlike previous trips, we will not be able to park directly at the tent sites and will have to park around 0.2 miles away from the sites. There should be some wheelbarrows on site for us to use for any heavy gear. Please pack accordingly.

What to Bring
“Housing”

• Tent (including rainfly/tarp for the top of the tent)
• This location offers a limited number of tents that can be borrowed for the trip
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping pad
• Headlamp (so you can find your way around the campground and find the toilets in the dark)
• Camp chair (strongly recommended)
• Sleeping bag liner (optional)
• Pillow (optional)
• Portable lamp for inside the tent/around the campfire (optional)
• Blanket (optional)
• Tent footprint/tarp for beneath the tent to protect against rain and moisture (optional)

Clothing & Shoes

• Sturdy hiking shoes
• Weather appropriate clothing (lows in the 20s to 30s historically)
• Extra layers
• Sunglasses and/or hat
• Shower flip-flops
• Rain jacket (recommended)
• Rain pants (recommended)
• Shoes to wear around camp (optional)

Food

• Cooler for food
• One/two days worth of food depending on your schedule
• Snacks as needed
• Energy drinks/tablets (optional)
• Camp stove (optional)
• Plates (optional)
• Utensils
• Water bottle

Electronics

• Battery packs to charge electronic devices

Toiletries (3 season bath/showerhouse may or may not be available)

• Shampoo Conditioner
• Body wash
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Soap Hygiene products
• Towels
• Other Sunscreen Backpack for day hikes
• Insect repellent
• Entertainment (books, card games, etc)
• Any required medication

About
Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club is a non-profit organization that promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of America’s Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The word "club" by no means implies exclusivity: AMC is a welcoming community where people of all backgrounds can come together and enjoy the outdoors. The Connecticut Chapter of AMC is active across the state and volunteers organize hundreds of activities annually. The CT Young Members Committee is geared towards participants in their 20s & 30s. Some goals of the 20s & 30s group is to add more frequent activities and expand into multi-day adventures such as camping trips, hostels, backpacking, and destination trips that build community and lasting friendships. For more information about AMC 20s/30s, please review this document.

20s/30s Calendar
Find our other CT AMC 20s/30s activities and happenings here!

Reminder: Please click the link above to register!