Mechanicsville Stake APQ Camp

This year's APQ camp we will be floating the river, camping, hiking, and performing service. Here's the info you need to get your child registered and links to waivers for participation.

Registration Deadline
May 31, 2026

Please have the camp registration form and both permission forms turned in by this date!

Water Safety

The highlight of this trip is a two-day river float in canoes. This is an unguided trip, and we will be on our own for two days.

All participants will be issued a PFD (personal flotation device) and will be REQUIRED to wear it at all times while on the water. It is also a requirement that all participants be capable swimmers in the very likely event that they end up in the water at some point.

We will require a swim test prior to camp to be sure all participants are able to be safe on the water.

2026 APQ Camp Registration Form

Here are links to the required waivers:

LDS Activity Waiver

Twin River Outfitters Activity Waiver

Download / Complete these waivers and email them to your ward/branch camp contact below using the following format:

LDS_FirstnameLastname.pdf or TRO_FirstnameLastname.pdf

(for example, LDS_ChrisWalsh.pdf / TRO_ChrisWalsh.pdf).

Packing List

Use this list to prepare items for camp!

Fee:

$100 per youth. Wards/branches are able to fundraise to offset the cost.

Please do not let this fee prevent a young man from attending the camp! If there are any issues with finances, please speak with your bishopric or branch presidency. We do not want finances to limit participation.

Camp Coordinators

Ward / Branch	Camp Contact	Email	Phone
Chickahominy Ward	Dennis-Michael McKaskey	TBD	704-681-1738
Meadowbrook Ward	Christian Banks	christianbanks93@gmail.com	804-699-0176
Mechanicsville Ward	Brian Groves	bgroves61606@gmail.com	802-310-8686
New Kent Branch	Robert Hummel	nkbranchpresident@gmail.com	406-945-2071
Scotchtown Ward	Nathan Johnson	sirus22000@gmail.com	434-249-3046
Richmond Branch	TBD	TBD	TBD
Tappahannock Ward	Corey Beazley	cbeazley@westmoreland-county.org	804-572-4463

Monday - 29 June 2026

1pm - 3pm:	Arrive at Twin River Outfitters office in Buchanan, VA. 640 Lowe St, Buchanan, VA 24066 There will be two arrival times due to limited shuttle space to transport us to the campsite. Each ward/branch will be assigned an arrival time, and is responsible for getting their young men to TRO at the specified time. Park across the street in the boat launch parking lot. There will be a short safety briefing, and youth will be issued life jackets for the river trip.
Evening:	Complete camp setup and dinner prep.

	Dinner
	Dinner Cleanup Assignment: [TODO: Assign Ward/Branch]

Night:	Devotional [TODO: Assign Ward/Branch]

Tuesday - 30 June 2026

Morning:	Breakfast

	Break camp, pack lunches and get on the water. Leaving from: 80 Thompson Dr, Eagle Rock, VA 24085 We are canoeing 17.3 miles to the next campsite.

Midday:	Lunch on the river

Evening:	Reach destination, set up camp. Arrive at: 6845 Narrow Passage Rd, Eagle Rock, VA 24085

	Dinner
	Dinner Cleanup Assignment: [TODO: Assign Ward/Branch]

Night:	Devotional [TODO: Assign Ward/Branch]

Wednesday - 01 July 2026

Morning:

Breakfast

Breakfast Cleanup Assignment: [TODO: Assign Ward/Branch]

Break camp, pack lunches and get on the water.

Leaving from

6845 Narrow Passage Rd, Eagle Rock, VA 24085

We are canoeing 8 miles to the next campsite.

Midday:

Lunch on the river

Evening:

Reach destination, set up camp.

Arrive at:
640 Lowe St, Buchanan, VA 24066

We will drive to the next campsite where we will stay the rest of the trip.

1019 Gilmores Mill Rd, Natural Bridge Station, VA 24579

Dinner

Dinner Cleanup Assignment: [TODO: Assign Ward/Branch]

Night:

Devotional [TODO: Assign Ward/Branch]

Thursday - 02 July 2026

Morning:	Travel to Sharp Top mountain for a hike

Midday:	Lunch at the summit

Evening:	Dinner

	Dinner Cleanup Assignment: [TODO: Assign Ward/Branch]

	Devotional [TODO: Assign Ward/Branch]

Friday - 03 July 2026

Morning:	Breakfast

	Break camp, pack lunches and head to the Blue Ridge Tunnel trail (western entrance).
	483 Three Notched Mountain Hwy, Waynesboro, VA 22980

Midday:	Lunch at/after hike

Afternoon:	We should arrive back in town around 4pm. You will receive communication from your transportation providers with an updated ETA as the day progresses.

Canoeing

Start off with a couple days on the water! We will be canoeing two days, and camping right on the river. Gear will be transported by truck, so no need to worry about soggy sleeping bags!

Camping

We will move to another camp site after the river trip, and use that spot as a base for the rest of the week. We will have nightly devotionals, teambuilding challenges, and lots of games and good food!

Hiking

Experience the joy of getting some exercise while taking in the wide-open views at the top! There’s something truly special about being immersed in the heart of God's creation; it has a remarkable ability to draw you closer to Him. You can reflect on the wonders around you and feel a deeper connection to the world and your faith. Embrace the opportunity to invigorate your body while nurturing your spirit.

Service

Together, we will support those around us. Serving others is a beautiful expression of love. Christ served many during his time, and as our guiding example, we are thankful for the opportunities to extend service to those we encounter.

Spiritual

The goal of this trip is to have fun, build friendships, and enjoy nature, but it will be impossible not to feel the spirit as we immerse ourselves in the beauty that surrounds us. We will also have moments of downtime for reflection, contemplation, and other spiritually uplifting activities.

Gallery

We will publish photos from the trip here once we are back in town.

Mechanicsville Stake APQ Camp