Get out and play!

  • Published
  • By Suzanne Torres
  • 17th Services Division
Outdoor recreation is something that most folks enjoy with plenty of fresh air, beautiful scenery and all that comes with it. That's exactly what Goodfellow recreation camp offers its troops and families.

The Goodfellow Recreation Camp, located at Lake Nasworthy, has become a choice recreational area for folks within a 150-mile radius. The campsite is open to all active duty military and their dependents, reservists on active duty, retirees, DoD civilians and contractors of Goodfellow AFB. Tent sites are available for rent at $3 per day and tents can be rented from equipment rental with prices varying from $4 to $8 per day, depending on tent size.

Summer rentals include ski boats, pontoon boats, windsurfing gear and sailboats. Individuals may also take advantage of the fishing boats year round and rent poles for $5 a day. Playgrounds and covered pavilions, complete with picnic tables and barbecue grills, are also available. All pavilions are reserved through the event center at 654-5327, prices ranging from $5 for a small pavilion up to $45 for the largest that sports a kitchen unit and patio.

For recreational vehicles, the campsite offers 20 full hook-up spaces, 30 amp service, complete with water, sewer and electricity at a cost of $10 per day. There is a shower and coin-operated laundry facility available for renters.

In addition, there is a marina, "Dock-it, Lock-it" program so customers can berth a variety of vessels. For all renters of boats, the boater safety course is required and course may be taken online at www.boatus.org. Boaters under the age of 18 must take the Texas State Boaters Safety Course which has a fee. The recreation camp provides check rides Monday through Friday between 3 and 7 p.m. for a $5 fee.

A 25-meter swimming pool, which is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, complements the facility. Pool passes are available at half price at mid-season with family passes at $25 and $12.50 for individuals. Seasonal passes may be purchased at equipment rental, event center or the recreation camp. One-day passes are offered at $1.50 per person and paid at the pool. The camp office offers a resale store complete with fishing tackle and gear, beverages and snacks for patron convenience.

The popular recreation camp is not just for campers. It hosts a variety of exciting annual events such as the Armed Forces Chili Cook-Off where competitors have an opportunity to receive various points to qualify to enter the largest, most competitive chili cook-off event ever, in Terlingua, Texas.

To entice and get the mouths watering, Goodfellow will also include categories such as the "anything goes" and "showmanship" awards. "Anything goes" category are for Chiliheads-in-Training, where folks have fun while they practice their cooking skills. During the "showmanship" category, cookers have to cook their chili, but also have to look good and put on an entertaining show.

One of the craziest and popular events among the troops is the annual Polar Bear Swim where participants jump into Lake Nasworthy in January! With more than 300 folks taking the plunge, they are soon met with supporters with hot coffee, hot chocolate and warm food to counter the cold.

Year after year, the recreation camp have morphed their car show into a beast all of its own. It became a car, boat and motorcycle show within three years and has boasted more than 100 cars, 20 boats and motorcycles in various class categories to win prizes and recognition. Hosted in October, it is open to the public and is a free event for onlookers.

This year, the recreation camp and their outstanding staff have expanded their offerings. Included are fishing packages for the weekday and weekends and the tour de camp program, where folks can tour Lake Nasworthy on the pontoon boat and have a leisure luncheon.

The recreation camp is definitely not just an ordinary camp. With all that is going on, it's a fantastic place to have get-togethers, camp, and attend special events. Don't miss an opportunity to visit the recreation camp, take a moment and see for yourself that it really is time to get out and play! For further information contact the recreation camp at 944-1012.