🍉Summer Paddle & Potluck Bash at Bear Creek Lake🛶

Paddle 🚣 Play 🏐 Eat 🍉 REPEAT 🔁 Bring all of your friends and join us for the ultimate summer bash at Bear Creek Lake Park! Grab some good food and conversation before hitting the volleyball court or taking the easy walk to Big Soda Lake for paddleboarding, kayaking, swimming, and more! Our reservation is from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, so stay for as long as you'd like.

📍LOCATION: 15600 W. Morrison Road, Lakewood, CO 80465
We have reserved the Pelican Point Pavilion in the park that includes 24 covered tables, a sand volleyball court, horseshoe pits, a large gravel parking area, running water (no electricity), and can accommodate up to 300 people. The pavilion borders the Bear Creek Lake Reservoir, which allows paddleboarding, kayaking, and fishing (no swimming). Big Soda Lake is about a 25- to 30-minute walk from the pavilion via the flat Fisherman's Trail to Mount Carbon Loop and allows swimming, dogs, kayaking, paddleboarding, pedal boats, and more. ***If you are not able to make that walk but still want to go to Big Soda Lake, call Kailee at 910-787-1540 at any time during the event and she will figure out beach drop off/pick-up with you.

📍CARPOOLING LOCATION & INFO
Wooly Mammoth Park-N-Ride, Section DD

-Carpooling is strongly encouraged for ease of parking and to avoid paying the full entrance fee
-Based on answers to the event registration question, volunteer carpool drivers are being contacted. Once we have a confirmed list of drivers, we will share the link to a carpool sign-up sheet for catching a ride from Wooly Mammoth Park-N-Ride, Section DD.

🚗**ENTRANCE FEE, PARKING, & ENTRY NOTE**

Bear Creek Lake Park has a $15 per vehicle (not per person) entry fee on summer weekends that can be paid by cash, debit, or credit on site. Carpooling with 3 people total brings this down to $5 per person, while 4 people brings it down to $3.75 per person - less than half the cost of your favorite latte! ☕ There will likely be a car line to enter the park if you arrive later, but the line should move fairly quickly -->

***IF YOU ARRIVE AFTER 11:30-ISH: Due to the large number of visitors on summer weekends, the rangers will close park entry, often by 11:30 or noon, if parking lots reach capacity. BUT because we have a reservation, you as a confirmed guest of our Meetup group can wait to speak to a ranger and say "I'm here for the Denver Fun Young Adults Paddleboard & Potluck Bash at Pelican Point Pavilion," and you will still be allowed entry. Contact our organizer, Kailee at 910-787-1540 if you have any issues.

🚴 OPTIONAL: Want to start the day on two wheels and bypass the vehicle entrance fee? Join Brenda at 9 AM for a fun, relaxed social ride along the scenic Bear Creek Trail into Bear Creek Lake Park. Stay for the Summer Bash as long as you'd like, then ride back at your own pace whenever you're ready! 🎉☀️

🚲 Join the ride: https://www.meetup.com/denverfun/events/315781902/

🩳 WHAT TO BRING:
--your own paddleboard/paddle or kayak if you have it
--canopy if you have
--swimsuit
--camp stove/propane if you're willing to share
--sunscreen and sunglasses
--water shoes helpful
--any outdoor games, volleyball net if you have
--water/beverages (seltzers/beer) - alcohol 6% ABV or less IS ALLOWED! 🍺

🍉 POTLUCK COOKOUT:
--if you would like to partake, please bring enough food to go around
--please do not bring chips as there will likely be plenty
--other things you can bring include: condiments, paper plates, plastic utensils, napkins, cups, and trash bags
--if you all can bring ONE trash bag from your kitchen, that would help us out a lot gathering up all the trash and recycling the beer cans

Feel free to bring whatever you want; here are some suggestions if needed (based on last name):

• A-F - side dish (salad, veggie, bread, hot dog/burger buns)
• G-N - dessert
• O-Z - main dish (meat, casserole, soup, sandwiches, etc.)

🛶 RENTALS:
Anyone wishing to rent a paddleboard, kayak, double kayak or canoe can make the walk to Big Soda Lake area and go to Rocky Mountain Paddleboard. You can reserve equipment in advance, or do so the day of the event. Please note that day-of rentals may be limited, as they are first-come, first-serve.

‼️DISCLAIMERS:
--All aquatic and outdoor rec activities are at your own risk
--STAGE 2 FIRE RESTRICTIONS are in place, so no fires or charcoal grills
--This event will NOT be cancelled due to light rain, ONLY thunder, lightning, and hail!! These afternoon storms usually only last a half hour, and we can still have fun after they pass if one does pop up.
--Again, rangers may close park entry if the parking lots fill up early, so please make sure to specifically state the name of our Meetup group/event and the Pelican Point Pavilion to ensure entry at any time during the day

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DONATIONS ACCEPTED:
To help out on organizing events, meetup fees, and future BBQs with meat/utensils/etc, fuel for the grill, equipment upkeep, etc. We will have a donation tin for cash donations, but you can also use:

• Venmo: CoolZorro (Zhen Liang/9482)
• Paypal: zhenHLiang@yahoo.com
• Cash App: $zhenHLiang