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Select Board approves temporary overnight camping at Boscawen Town Park for Conquered High ropes class
Summary
The Boscawen Select Board voted unanimously to allow Conquered High’s ropes/outdoor leadership class to camp overnight on town park grounds for a single trip (proposed Sept. 19–20), subject to town conditions including insurance, no open fires and coordination with parks staff.
Frank Harrison, a science teacher who said he supervises the Conquered High ropes/outdoor leadership class, asked the Boscawen Select Board for permission to allow his students to camp overnight on town park grounds for one annual trip, citing safety and logistics reasons.
Harrison described the course as a semester-long class of about 16 students that practices outdoor skills and makes multi-day trips, including a 25-mile paddle on the Marramac. He said the proposed overnight stop at Boscawen Town Park (the midway point on the paddle) would avoid a difficult portage and let the school stage equipment from a vehicle on site.
The board’s parks-and-recreation representative and other officials flagged logistical constraints — the park pavilion will be under construction during the requested dates — and emphasized that town policy does not normally allow camping. Harrison told the board students would not build open fires and would use contained stoves for boiling water; he also offered to coordinate community-service work tied to the trip.
Board members asked about insurance and operational details. Harrison said the school participates in Primex coverage and could obtain additional insurance naming the town as an additional insured. He said the trip is annual and the school would confirm final plans and seek town approval again close to the date if construction or other conflicts arise.
After discussion about location, timing and oversight, a board member moved to allow the temporary use; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The board said staff and the teacher would maintain contact to finalize details and bring required documentation to the town before the outing.
The board did not adopt a standing policy change; the approval was described as a temporary, case-by-case permission for the dates discussed. The teacher said the trip is set for Sept. 19–20 and that he would follow up with parks staff to confirm logistics and insurance details.
The board’s decision ends with an instruction to the applicant to submit required supporting documentation and to coordinate closely with parks staff before the trip.
