2025 Joe Wheeler Play-Day (Monday, June 30th)

Hello Long Course Swim Fans! Monday, June 30, is the target date for our annual "Joe Wheeler Play-Day"!  On that Monday we'll plan to have our normal morning workout from 5:45-8:00 AM, and plan to depart for the Joe Wheeler State Park directly from the parking lot at the Sunset Pool.  Departure time for our caravan should be around 8:30-8:45 AM.   We’ll stop at Chick-Fil-A in Athens for breakfast on the way.  After a day of fun and exhaustion out at the park, we’ll plan to return to the parking lot at the Sunset Pool no later than 6 pm.   We will spend our day at the Joe Wheeler State Park "Day Use Area".  The charge to enter the "Day Use Area" is $5 per person.  To get to the "Day Use Area", turn left onto McLean Drive at the Joe Wheeler State Park sign about a mile past Rogersville, and stay on McLean Drive for a couple of miles, specifically a quarter of a mile past the turnoff to the Campground.  The "Day Use Area" will be on the left side of McLean Drive.  You'll probably do best by following these instructions, as the various mapping devices haven't been able to provide reliable instructions in the past.   What to bring: Money for breakfast at Chick-Fil-A and for entry to the park Sports drink and/or water (drinking water is also available from a spigot at the park) Fruit and snacks Sunscreen, towel, goggles/cap   Additional options: Frisbee/discs (there is an 18-hole disc-golf-course about 200 yards from the pavilion where we will be set up ... there is no charge to play on the course!) Fishing Pole Football Kayak Life Jacket (needed if you venture out on a canoe/kayak) Whatever attire you'll need for swimming, hiking, kayaking, frisbee-golf, etc. (some swimmers wear Chacos or Tevas in the water) What will be provided: Hot dogs & buns S'mores A few Campfire Chairs 1 Canoe 2 Kayaks 6 Life Jackets Please reply if your swimmer is planning to participate! We will need several drivers. If you are available to drive please send a brief reply and include the number of swimmers you can take.   For example, “Coach Roger is driving and he can take 3 swimmers.” Parents that drive are more than welcome to stay at the site and enjoy the beautiful day. We ask that if you volunteer to bring swimmers to the site, that you are to also bring them back to the Sunset parking lot after the play-day.    We're all looking forward to a fun and safe day out at the park! Go MSA Marlins!