The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) has an incredible 1 of a kind experience at Pleasant Hill Lake called Bigfoot Basecamp Weekend from September 9th-11th, 2022!
Enjoying the Outdoors is brought to you in partnership with Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.
Bigfoot Basecamp Weekend
This event is full of family-friendly activities and selected events featuring Matt Moneymaker, who is the Founder / President of the Bigfoot Field Research Organization (BFRO) and host of “Finding Bigfoot” TV series on Animal Planet. Learn about the history and new techniques of Bigfoot Investigation, as well as local Ohio Bigfoot sighting information. 
Event Information
The Welcome Center is OPEN 8 am-10 pm- Camp/Log Cabin Registration, Public Restrooms, FREE Wi-Fi & phone charging stations, maps, event schedule, and Naturalist / Volunteer staff for assistance.
Visit the Bigfoot Exhibit with life-size bigfoot, fun facts, and information. Nature Room exhibits & animals, Camp Store with Bigfoot souvenirs, snacks, drinks, ice cream & camping supplies
Food Trucks: Tay’s Concessions will have “Bigfoot” themed local food trucks on-site to provide hot food, drinks, and ice cream with a flare
Special Edition Squatch Soda: Bigfoot Root Beer & Squatch Orange soda sales at Camp store & food locations
Witness Cards will be available for those wishing to report a sighting & wish to share at the town hall event Saturday.
Weekend Schedule
Friday, September 9
3pm-7pm Welcome Center Nature Room OPEN – Naturalist & Volunteers on duty- See life-size Bigfoot, animal displays, and history exhibits
9a-7 pm Bigfoot & Me Merchandise vendor will be selling a large assortment of Bigfoot branded items and official BFRO merchandise during the event in the welcome center building. They will be here Friday and Saturday only while supplies last.
3pm-7pm- Pick up your FREE “Squatch Smore Kits” Kits containing chocolate-covered Graham crackers and marshmallows to make two smores. While supply last. Stop by the Welcome Center outdoor campfire ring. We provide roasting sticks to roast marshmallows.
6pm-11pm * VIP RECEPTION & DINNER with Matt Moneymaker ( $ )– Enjoy an exclusive evening with Matt Moneymaker at the Mohican Lodge & Conference Center. Matt Moneymaker is the founder/president of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) & host of the “Finding Bigfoot” series on Animal Planet. Matt will speak about his bigfoot encounter, sightings in Ohio, and the use of new advanced HD thermal imaging technology. NOTICE: This event is SOLD OUT
VIP Ticket includes ($) – VIP Reception 6p-7p, Dinner buffet, 7p-7:45p, Speaker 7:45p-8:30p, Meet & Greet 8:30p-9:30p with Matt with the opportunity for autographs and photos, plus a never-before-seen bigfoot researching technique! From 9:30 pm to 11:00 pm- HD Thermal imagining video will be LIVE streamed from around Pleasant Hill Lake Park by drones. Cost: $75 per person; NOTICE: This event is SOLD OUT
8:30-10:30p MOVIE at the Lake – Watch a family-friendly movie on the BIG screen at Pleasant Hill Park. Due to copyright restrictions, we cannot list movie titles here. See the park flyer or message us on Facebook for the movie title. The nights are cool, so bring your blankets & chairs to stay warm. Refreshments are available for purchase. FREE movie event.
9:00 -10:00 pm Bigfoot Night HIKE– Take a hike with naturalists and volunteers to learn about Bigfoot sightings in the area and use your senses to look for signs of wildlife. Family & kids-oriented recreational hike. You never know what you will see or hear! At Pleasant Hill Lake Park. FREE program. Registration is required to get your reserved day and time sign-up with the link below: Meet at Basecamp tent area 10 minutes before time
https://mwcd.ticketleap.com/bigfoot-night-hike-at-pleasant-hill-lake-park2022/
Saturday, September 10
8am-11am Welcome Center Nature Center Room OPEN– Staff naturalists & Volunteers on duty. Visit Bigfoot exhibits, history, and animals.
9a- 7pm “Bigfoot & Me”Merchandise vendor will be selling a large assortment of Bigfoot branded items and official BFRO merchandise during the event in the welcome center building. They will be here Friday and Saturday only while supplies last.
9am-10am- SQUATCHIN’ 101- Join Charles Kimbrough, Bigfoot Field Researcher Organization Investigator, and author of Squatchin’101 Learn the Bigfoot basics, and what you need for your own research and equipment. FREE program, with an option to pre-order the book online. Meet at Welcome Center. Pre-registration is required online with limited spaces. Author’s book signing after the program.
10am-2pm Mohican RIVER CLEANUP – Volunteer to clean up the Mohican River by boat. Organized by the Friends of the Mohican River. Contact Irv Oslin at irvoslin@gmail.com for more information or to register. FREE program pre-register.
10am-11am Bushcraft Survival SKILLS – Learn a few essential survival skills including fire-starting without matches and orienteering, plus discover some simple tools to carry with you on your outdoor adventures! Meet at the Welcome Center. FREE program while supplies last.
11am-12pm Leave No Trace Activities – Be like Bigfoot and leave no trace! Meet at the Welcome Center deck for some fun activities to learn about low-impact adventures. At the welcome center. FREE program
11am-2pm “Hit The Trail” Mix- We provide all the goodies-peanuts, chocolate, goldfish, pretzels, & raisins to make your own custom Trail Mix. At Welcome Center. FREE program while supplies last.
11am-2pm Bigfoot Craft– Customize your Bigfoot crafts, we provide the paint & supplies. FREE craft program while supplies last.
1pm-2pm Squatch Survival Bracelet CRAFT– Pick up your kit to make your own two-color custom Squatch Survival bracelet. Welcome Center, FREE Kit program.
2pm-4pm Bigfoot T-Shirt Tie Dye ( $ )– Custom dye a limited-edition Bigfoot T-shirt! T-shirts will be on sale for $10 for youth sizes and $15 for adult sizes. Cash only, sizes are first come-first served. Meet at Welcome Center. FEE ($) is required for the T-Shirt.
4pm & 5pm * PONTOON BOAT Guided Lake Tours ( $ ) – Take a guided tour of the lake on a pontoon boat and learn about local history and bigfoot sightings in the area. Two times with limited seating. NOTICE: EVENT SOLD OUT.
7pm-10pm * COMMUNITY TOWN HALL with Matt Moneymaker ( $ )– Listen to Matt and other local Bigfoot Ohio encounters. All participants must have a Guaranteed VIP Ticket OR a $15 gate fee required for this event. Guaranteed VIP tickets include a preferred seating area outdoors (you provide seating) and a meet & greet for autographs with Matt Moneymaker. VIP tickets include a guaranteed seating protected area at the Welcome Center in case of bad weather. The limited VIP seating area NOTICE: EVENT SOLD OUT, and General gate admission tickets are available. Meet at Swim Beach outdoor stage area.
11am-11pm FOOD Trucks: Tay’s Concessions will have “Bigfoot” themed local food trucks on-site to provide hot food, drinks, & ice cream with a unique flare located at Marina and Swim Beach area. See menu for items and cost.
10pm-11pm The Back 80 Documentary – Watch the bigfoot documentary, The Back 80, (PG) 60 min. on the Big screen TV at Pleasant Hill Park Welcome Center. The movie is family-friendly. Located at the Welcome Center.
9:00 pm-10:pm Bigfoot Night HIKE – Take a hike with naturalists and BFRO volunteers to learn about Bigfoot sightings in the area and use your senses to look for signs of wildlife. Family & kids-oriented recreational hike. You never know what you will see or hear! At Pleasant Hill Lake Park. FREE Program. Registration is required to get your reserved day and time sign-up at the link below: Meet at the Basecamp tent area 10 minutes before time.
https://mwcd.ticketleap.com/bigfoot-night-hike-at-pleasant-hill-lake-park2022/
Sunday, September 11
8am-10am Welcome Center Nature Room OPEN Naturalist & Volunteers staff on duty. Visit Bigfoot, animal displays, and history exhibits
10am-11am Wildlife Tracking – Learn about Ohio’s wildlife and their tracks. Pick up your footprint casting kit. Make a track to take home! Meet at Welcome Center. FREE Program while supplies last.
11am-12pm Tracking HIKE – Meet at Welcome Center at Pleasant Hill Lake Park for a wildlife tracking hike. Use all your senses and learn about Ohio’s wildlife. Kids-friendly recreational hike. FREE Program!
BUY TICKETS
Bigfoot Night Hike at Pleasant Hill Lake Park
Take a 30-minute guided night hike on September 9th or 10th between 9:00- 10:30 pm with naturalists and BFRO volunteers to learn about Bigfoot sightings in the area and use your senses to look for signs of wildlife. This recreational hike is family-friendly for ages 6 and up. However, children who are 14 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult. You never know what you will see or even hear! This is a FREE program once gate admission fee of $15/car is paid to enter the event. Registration is required to get your desired hike day and time.
Click on this link to visit the online auction to bid on cool and unique bigfoot items and local favorites.
The Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) prioritizes the safety and health of our community: the visitors we serve, our employees, volunteers, and neighbors. We are committed to aligning operations with the orders/ recommendations of national, state, and local public health experts to address the threat of COVID. By visiting MWCD facilities and programs, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID and agree to follow all posted instructions.
Looking Ahead
Yoga at Atwood Lake Beach on Aug. 27
Moonlight Kayak at Atwood: September 9, Pleasant Hill: September 17, Seneca: September 10
Fireworks on Pleasant Hill Lake September 3
Spunfest 2022 at Pleasant Hill September 20-October 2
Atwood Lake Fall Festival September 30- October 2
Movie at Tappan Lake & Golf Cart Poker Run September 10
Fall Colors Pontoon Ride & Tappan Family Day at the Beach September 17
Haunted Trail at Tappan Lake Event October 1 & 8
Football Bash at Charles Mill September 10
Princess in Charles Mill Park September 24
Fall Festival at Charles Mill October 1
Receive program alerts straight to your phone, by texting the appropriate keyword below to 888777
ATWOODEVENTS
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Responsible stewards dedicated to providing the benefits of flood reduction, conservation and recreation in the Muskingum River Watershed. The MWCD is the largest conservancy district in the state and led the effort to construct 14 dams and reservoirs. The MWCD has jurisdiction for its operations in all or portions of an 18-county area. The 18 counties wholly or partially contained in the MWCD jurisdiction are Ashland, Belmont, Carroll, Coshocton, Guernsey, Holmes, Harrison, Knox, Licking, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Richland, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas, Wayne, and Washington.
Mrs TAZ- Reporting MWCD Bigfoot Basecamp Weekend