Check-in and registration is at the main entrance to Camp Couchdale. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 – 12. Not more than $30 per family. Free for kids 5 and under. Registration will be open from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. Friday and all day Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. Event insurance provided by the ACA. Waivers to sign will be provided at registration.

We have a large camping area available or you can stay in a cabin (bring your own bed linens and towels). Campfires will be permitted, but practice safety! No fires are allowed on the baseball field. Please, no glass bottles. Pets are welcome – on a leash only. There are three large camp dogs – they rule the grounds. Quiet time begins at 11 p.m. Eva Fletcher is the camp director.

• FFA Camp Couchdale Office: 501-262-1326
• Camp pay phone: 501-262-9937
• Camp manager’s home: 501-262-2796 (Real emergencies only!)
• National Park Medical Center, Hot Springs: 501-321-1000
• Hot Spring County Medical Center, Malvern: 501-337-4911 (Nearest hospital)

Breakfast and lunch ($5 each) will be available Saturday and Sunday in the Dining Hall. Purchase meal tickets in the Dining Hall.

Bring your favorite dish to feed your family plus one. The kitchen is available to warm food. Drinks are provided. Bring your own plate, cup and utensils. Please, no styrofoam or disposable plastic.

This is your opportunity to pick up some real bargains on paddling gear and other neat stuff! Bring lots of money, a check, or send your want list and money with someone who is planning to attend. A list of auction items is in the newsletter – come see all the items up for bid for yourself in the Dining Hall! Raise bids in increments of $1. Bidding closes at 9 p.m. Saturday night, with the winners announced at 9:45 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall. Proceeds go to River Conservation Fund.

Tickets are $1 each or $20 per book. Sell them to your friends, coworkers and yourself! Everyone you know will buy at least one and usually more. Fill out the information on the ticket and tear it in half. The buyer keeps the numbered half – bring the address half (and the cash) to the Rendezvous. The drawing will be Saturday, September 19 at about 9:45 in the Exhibit Hall. You don’t have to be present to win, but you’ll be missing a good time!

If you can’t make it to the Rendezvous, send your money and ticket stubs with a friend, turn them in to your chapter president, or mail them (by September 10) to Walter Felton, 1436 O’Rear Road, El Dorado, AR 71730. Call your chapter president for additional tickets. Proceeds go to the River Conservation Fund.

Bring your old, unused and extra gear and boats. Informal swaps and sales will occur all weekend. Dining Hall Lawn.

Bring yours to show and view some others. Dining Hall.

This one-day introductory clinic will show you the basic techniques for river rescue and swift water swimming. Land-based instruction will take place in the morning under the instruction of an American Canoe Association River Rescue Instructor. This is a prerequisite for the afternoon water clinic. You must have a fulll-length wetsuit to participate – we will be in the water. No cost, but enrollment is limited and you must preregister. Call Walter Felton at 870-863-5704 (days) or 870-862-0934 (evenings before 9 p.m.). Clinic is 9 a.m. until noon and 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., Saturday only. Cowper Chadbourn, Ted Smethers and Walter Felton will assist Dave Reid.

A participation session demonstrating how to set up 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 haul systems for freeing pinned craft or for a variety of other reasons. Appropriate knots and anchors will also be presented. If you have them … bring 2 carabiners, 2 prusik loops, and a length of tubular webbing. Sunday 10 a.m. to noon – Jim Simmons. Bull Ring.

Boaters – help the ACC introduce paddling by bringing your boats, paddles, and other gear down to the lake to share with first time boaters. First timers – come down to the lake to learn important skills like how to get in and out of a boat with out falling out, the difference between tandem and solo boats, and, of course, how to load the boats of generous friends who share theirs! Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Arthur Bowie, Vern Deas and Larry Crane. Lake

Learn about different kinds of boats, how to get in and out of a boat without falling over, how to hold your paddle, and other cool stuff. Saturday, 11 a.m. to noon – Max Wellhouse. Lake.

Touring and recreational kayaks are an excellent way to enjoy the waters of Arkansas all year. Rob Dellinger with Wilderness Systems is bringing a whole trailer full for you to try. Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lake.

Bring your boats to learn and practice making all the right moves – remember solo canoeing takes finesse! Sunday, 9 am. to 10:30 a.m. – Max Wellhouse. Lake.

To get the most from your solo boat’s hull design, come and practice some playboating fundamentals and useful flatwater drills that will increase your efficiency on the river. Beginners are welcome but you’ll need a boat. Limit 12 boats. Saturday, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Jim Simmons and Larry Pearce. Lake.

Bring your canoe and your partner to learn how to work together to achieve dramatic results! Saturday, 11 a.m. to noon – Instructors to be announced. Lake.

Rolling a canoe is not just a pool trick! Bring your canoe and learn how it’s done. Saturday, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m –Lance Jones and Gordon Kumpuris. Sunday, 10 a.m to noon – Lance Jones and Walter Felton. Pool.

For kids age 8 and older. Bring your boat or just bring yourself. Saturday, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Max Wellhouse and Don Walls. Lake.

Bring your boat for this one! Learn and practice making all the right strokes from an ACA instructor! Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Max Wellhouse. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. – Diane Cox and Dave Robertson. Lake.

The essential technique in kayaking is the roll. At this clinic, you’ll get in the water and receive one-on-one instruction. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11:30 am – David Bibbs. Pool.

This is for first time paddlers and anyone who wants to join in. We’ll meet, load boats, set shuttle and paddle from Remmel Dam to Rockport. Bring your lunch – we’ll eat on the river. Sign up in the Dining Hall. Sunday, 10:30 a.m. – Mike Coogan and Gordon Bartelt. Meet at Canteen.

Doug Ebeling will introduce you to the technique of standing in your canoe and going up and down stream using a pole. Some poles and boats will be available. Saturday, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Lake.

Some of the best paddling in Arkansas happens during the coldest weather. Need to know how to get started? What to buy? Stop by this display and find out. All weekend – Dining Hall.

Join us for a lively discussion and land presentation on promoting safety/rescue as an integral part of paddlesports. Current rescue philosophy and equipment will be considered, and sample first aid kits will be shown and discussed. Saturday, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Jim Simmons and Larry Crane. Exhibit Hall.

Bring your ingredients, Dutch oven, and charcoal to the Canteen Saturday afternoon. There are no rules and no prizes, but it will be fun and delicious. At 3:30, we’ll show the Dian Thomas Dutch Oven Cooking video. Cookoff is Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. – Roger Head. Canteen.

See the special rules in the newsletter article. Entry fee required! Saturday, 11 a.m. until – Jerome Alford. Canteen.

Walter Felton takes on all challengers for the title of Champion of T.A.A.! Must be 21 or older to sample. BYOM. Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Canteen.

Come visit around the camp fire and share tales of your paddling adventures. Orville Wright will build us a small fire. (!?) Snacking, marshmallow toasting and s’more making are encouraged. Friday night, 8 p.m., camping area.

On Saturday night after the Auction, Orville Wright, The Keeper of the Fire, will build us one to remember. Bring your musical instruments and participate in the fun. Camping Area.

Flexibility improves performance and helps prevent injuries. This paddler flexibility assessment will show you where you need to improve and how to get there. Bring a towel or mat to sit on. Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. – Diane Cox and Max Wellhouse. Canteen.

Bring your soul next to the lake to celebrate and give thanks for all we’ve been given to enjoy and nurture. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. – Vern Deas. Lake.

Bring a dark colored T-shirt and join in the fun. We will use leaves, stencils, and other items found in nature to create a shirt. Wear old clothes – we will be using bleach. Sunday, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Brenda Saxx. Exhibit Hall.

Denise Barton, an experienced angler and professional fly fishing guide based in Heber Springs, will demonstrate basic equipment and technique. Saturday, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Dining Hall Lawn.

Bring a swimsuit, towel and a smile to enjoy an introductory SCUBA experience. Rick’s will provide equipment and an expert instructor to take you "into the deep" end of the pool. Saturday, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pool.

Using pressed flowers and leaves, adults and children are invited to make beautiful note cards. All supplies will be provided. Saturday, 11 a.m. to noon -- Gayle Felton. Exhibit Hall.

Need a new hobby for those long waits at the take out? Hand quilting may be the answer. Kay Danielson shares her six years of quilting experience, including her particular interest in acquiring and quilting previously-pieced quilt tops. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. — Kay Danielson. VIP Boardroom.

Join John David McFarland, the Assistant Geologist for the State of Arkansas, for a tour of the fascinating geology of the Ouachita Mountains. Time and location to be announced.

Tim Ernst, Arkansas’ premier nature photographer, again brings us fabulous images of the Buffalo River area. Set to music, this slide show is guaranteed to be a highlight of the 1998 Rendezvous. We’ll announce Silent Auction winners and draw for the Old Town Discovery canoe following the program. Saturday, 9 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. – Exhibit Hall.