Inks Lake State Park | Two Night Event | Texas Outdoor Family

All camping gear and equipment required for an overnight stay at the park are included with each reservation!

Click for a list of activities offered and specific information for this workshop.

Join us for a fun-filled weekend designed to help your family discover the joys of camping and Texas State Parks. All camping gear and equipment required for an overnight stay at the park are included with each reservation! Click for a list of activities offered and specific information for this workshop.

Facilities

• Individual car camping sites for each family
• Potable water at or near each campsite
• Restrooms with hot showers
• Overnight ranger presence for comfort and confidence

Equipment

• The basic camping equipment needed for the weekend will be provided. Families are expected to provide sheets, blankets, food and personal items. 
• Download the TOF Welcome Packet for a detailed list of what is provided and what should be brought from home. 
• Typical TOF equipment includes what is pictured below.

• Activities Specific to this Workshop

  The Texas Outdoor Family program will provide you with an opportunity to enjoy all of the following activities at your upcoming event. You are also encouraged to explore the park on your own, creating your own adventure along the way. All activities are subject to weather conditions.

  • Credible Campers & Campsites:

    • Adults: Learn Leave no Trace principles, how to pitch your tent and use stoves safely.

    • Junior Rangers:  A kid specific hike, including a conversation about Leave No Trace. 

  • Building Base Camp: Families come together, gather equipment, and build base camp for the weekend.

  • Fishing: Enjoy this sport no matter what experience you have. Use Texas Outdoor Family’s equipment and guidance to create a great memory and maybe catch a “lunker”.

  • Water Recreation:  Swim, splash, play, and explore with your friends and family. Safe and unstructured outdoor activities / play is important for children and adults!

  • Careful Kayaking:  Learn the basics of kayaking with a Park Ranger. Lifejackets are required to be worn and are provided for your use by staff.
  • Caching in on State Park Trails: Trail adventure and exploration through GPS and Geocaching.

  • Fire Building and Outdoor Cooking Tips: How to safely build fires and cook on open flames or grills. Also, learn how to cook using a Dutch Oven! A Dutch Oven is a durable cast iron cooking pot that uses coals to bake meals while camping.

  • Experience the Sounds of the Night: Celebrate nature’s night sounds with a Ranger led presentation.

  • Chat with a Park Ranger: Q&A – Learn more about parks and conservation.

  • Know Before You Go: Breaking Camp and Leaving No Trace of your stay.

  • State Park Junior Ranger Journal: Available upon request. When completed, these journals earn your Jr. Ranger their very own pin badge.

  • And More: The night skies might be right for an impromptu star party or the park may be hosting another great outdoor program that you would like to participate in!

   

  Agenda

  Review a sample Two Night TOF Agenda. All activities and times are subject to weather, staffing, and attendance and can change at the ranger’s discretion.

   

  Conclusion & Departure

  Texas Outdoor Family programming typically concludes with the borrowed gear being turned-in at or before 11am on Sunday. Families are asked to participate in our program’s conclusion on Sunday morning where they are given information and promotional items designed to help them plan their next camping trip. If the family needs to leave early, they must inform their on-site ranger for instructions pertaining to the return of the borrowed equipment.

  Families are invited to stay in the park until the close of business (10pm) on the day that the program concludes, but campsites must be vacated by 2pm.

   

  Meals

  • Families are asked to provide their own meals. Easy camp meal ideas are provided in the TOF Welcome Packet.
  • Instructors will offer great tips on enjoying family camp cooking.  

   

  Fees

  • $85 per family (up to 6 individuals) - includes all entry and camping fees.
    • NOTE: Cost of the workshop will increase to $95 per family as of Feb. 1st. Book today to save!

   

  Weather and Cancellation

  We recognize that the weather will impact your camping experience. Our rangers have experienced at sharing fun with your family even when it rains. Our quality equipment is designed to keep you dry while you sleep. With all of that considered below is the criteria of when events will be cancelled:

  We will utilize www.wunderground.com and the zip code of the park were the event is hosted for our forecasts. The decision to cancel an event will be made at 4pm on the Wednesday prior to events scheduled to start on Friday evening, or 4pm on the Thursday prior to events scheduled to start on Saturday morning:

  • Winds are forecasted to be sustained at 20 mph or greater for 3 or more hours.        
  • Wind Gusts are expected to be 25 mph or greater at any time.
  • Potential exists for flash flood within the park 
  • Temperatures are forecast with a low of 45° or below.
  • Temperatures are forecast with a low of 50° and 50% chance of any measurable precipitation.
  • Rain volumes are forecasted to be greater than 1.5” during the duration of the event.
  • Rain is forecasted with a likelihood of 50% or greater during 3.5+ hours of the event during recreational hours (8am – 8pm) of the workshop.
  • A Severe Weather Watch or Warning is forecasted for any duration of the event.

  You will be notified by TOF staff via email and telephone if the event is cancelled. If cancelled, your reservation will be added to our transfer list to be eligible for a future event, pending availability. Refunds will not be immediately available.

   

  Pets

  • For the preservation of the camping equipment, pets of any sort are not allowed on TOF events.