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OUTSIDECON 2025 WILL BE HELD SEPTEMBER 5, 6 & 7, 2025

OUTSIDECON is held at Montgomery Bell State Park, where Ernest went to Camp. Arrival is permitted anytime Friday after 12 pm and everyone must be out by 12pm on Sunday.  Since this is held in a State Park, there is also water play available, fishing, hiking, and nature in abundance. 

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WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS:

  • An Archery Competition (begins at 3pm-ish Saturday at the shooting range)
  • A Fishing Competition (begins Friday, usually around 3 or 4 pm and ends Saturday at sundown)
  • Parties 
    • The Frank and Millie Xerps {Alien} Party will be held on Friday night; just follow the green glow! Enjoy reconnecting with old friends, make some new ones, groove to the impromptu jam session and grab a cup of the ever infamous SKIPPY DRINK!
    • Lower Pavilion Festivities: Our friends from Hallowcon will be with us again this year hosting fun at the lower pavilion!
      • Friday evening, they will be showing Movies Under the Stars. If you weren’t aware of our campground’s connection to Hollywood, the film “Ernest Goes to Camp” was filmed right here in Group Camp 1. And you can watch the movie at the lower pavilion on Friday evening. After Ernest, stick around for 2 other movies. The second flick is TBD, but the finale film will be a con classic, Rocky Horror Picture Show.
      • Last year Joe Dog and Co. hosted the first annual Hot Wheels Race Saturday morning after breakfast, and they are planning on doing it again this year, bigger and better, so remember to bring your favorite tiny car to race for the cup.
      • Saturday night Hallowcon will once again host the Open Music Jam under the pavilion, so bring an instrument if you are so inclined, or just come ready to sing along or hurl fruit as the evening dictates
  • Gaming – Feel free to bring your own games and come to the main lodge anytime over the weekend where you are sure to find some friends to join you.
  • (POSTPONED FOR 2025) Coffee & Bird watching – SATURDAY MORNING: Grab your coffee and join our resident ornithophile Don McKenzie for an early morning bird watching stroll through the park. If you’ve got binoculars, feel free to bring them.
  • Our make-it-take-it event this year will be a demonstration of primitive fire-making skills from none other than our favorite wildman Scooter Armstrong (think bow drills, flint and steel, etc.). Join us at the main lodge, after the Hotwheels car race. Just please, please, please, don’t set the woods on fire with your newfound ability.
  • Arts & Crafts – Camp Counselor Libby will have all of the markers, glitter, glue & popsicle sticks to help your imagination come alive & create artful keepsakes to take home and hang on your fridge as a reminder of your fun at Outsidecon! Available in the Main Lodge all weekend.
  • The Annual Picture – Everyone will gather outside the main lodge Saturday evening before the big feast.  Photo time will be posted throughout the campground so all can attend.   
  • NEW FOR 2025! SPACE PARTY! On Saturday evening, we will be joined by nationally recognized and awarded public space educator, Chuck Schlemm. He is bringing his large telescopes to host a space and planet viewing in the big field next to the main lodge.
    • “My space parties are oriented toward fun, the excitement of space exploration, and inspiring youth to think about how they can have a future in our space programs, space exploration and the possibility to live and work in space.” ~ Chuck Schlemm

FOOD!! Our fabulous kitchen is overseen by KC Charland & Dave Johnson as well as all the staff and volunteers who give their time out of the goodness of their hearts. Your registration helps to cover the cost of the food for the weekend.   

**Please note – The park now has a rule of no smoking in any of the buildings. So please take it outside. Also, please properly dispose of your BUTTs. No littering.**

BEFORE YOU LEAVE: ALL Campers are expected to make sure their cabins are put back EXACTLY as when you arrived (mattresses propped, windows closed and re-latched, floors swept and all trash removed). We love this camp and wish to continue the tradition, but can only do so if we ALL contribute to its upkeep. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: 
This convention wouldnt be what it is today if it werent for our friends who offer their time to help keep it running smoothly all weekend. We could certainly use some volunteers in the kitchen and also help checking that all cabins are properly closed up at the end of the convention weekend. See Marc Michael to sign the volunteer sign up sheet.