Working that Dredge     Camping     Dining out together     Checking for Color   Our Outings Twice a year as a club we try to have a weekend long outing going for the GOLD!  One is pretty much set on the Memorial Day weekend, and the second one will occur in the Sept/Oct timeframe.  Officially, Saturday and Sunday are the outing days, but several members will arrive early or stay longer making the outing a weeklong trip. Whatever Gold we find is usually recombined with the concentrates, and split up among the members that attend.  I hear sometimes these rules can changes depending on the turnout.  Maybe a drawing is in order for that nugget that was dredged up! The closest property is Buchanan Georgia but now with a new GPAA site in Tennessee, I'm sure we'll be planning a trip there soon. We sometimes go to the Carolina's in search of Emerald's and other minerals along with gold prospecting. When ever the Gold Show is in Georgia, South Carolina, or North Carolina we make every effort as a club attend the show, and set up a booth. During other times of the year, we'll go on day trip outings, such as Metal Detecting, and Fossil Hunts.     Beech Creek, Buchanan, GA GPAA Site What Expected None of the costs associated with attending and running an outing are paid for by the club.  Individuals need to make their own arraignments for travel, lodging, and meals. Travel:  The Club will provide instructions via this site on how to get to the location, but transportation is not provided.  Walk, Bike, Drive, Fly, etc. :) just get there...  Attend a meeting prior to the outing, and you might just find someone to carpool with. Lodging:  Camping either on site or nearby will be available.  The Club tries to make sure it will accommodate tent campers to 30ft RV's or trailers.  Usually there is no cost for this, but if there is each individual is expected to pay their own way.  If you prefer a nice room and bed, check the internet for locations of motels, hotels, etc. in the nearby town.  For personal hygiene, pretty much all sites provide a port-a-potty, anything extra is a Bonus. Meals:  Bring everything you'll need for the duration or visit the many restaurants in the area of the outing.  The club usually supplies a bit towards one of the meals which may be a joint BBQ, or a trip to a local restaurant.  If the cost of this exceeds the clubs portion attendees are expected to make up the difference. Equipment:  Bring everything you own!  If you think you will use or want to use it, then bring it.  Usually one or more members of the club will bring a dredge for a common prospecting effort where everyone helping gets a share of the concentrates. OK, with all that out of the way, what usually happens is that everyone has a great time.  From the hellos to the goodbyes these trips are will keep you going.  The change in atmosphere from one's normal life to a rustic event driven weekend of activities cannot be fully appreciated until days after you back home. If you’re a novice or a seasoned old pro, you will be surprised at the knowledge shared from the get go.  We're like an extended family, where everyone is always willing to lend a hand, give advice, or shoot the bull about anything and everything. Typical first day starts right after breakfast, at about 9am or so, everyone gets suited up, and heads out.  In the early afternoon, there may or may not be a break for lunch depending upon your preferences.  Usually by about 6 or 7pm the day is done, there's a cleanup and then back to camp.  Dinner, discussions around a campfire, then off for a well deserved night's sleep. The second day is a rinse and repeat of the first, except it might end up at about 3pm or so incase some of us are heading home. Hope you will join us out there.  Come to our Next Meeting, check Next Outing to see what we're up to next, or Contact Us for more information.