May calendar—3/4 page, *Attached by USOSTU

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

1 Don’t forget to register for October’s Steppin’ Out Tour beginning 9/1 at 10am Limited to E7 & below singles & unaccompanied

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Bernkastel Wine Fest

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Pumpkin & Venetian Fests

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12

6

New Volunteer Orientation

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7

National Beer Lovers Day… Prost!

14 USO Cake-Off

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20

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IdarOberstein Gem Mining Tour

25

Nurnberg

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27

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USO Chili Cook-off & FREE Monthly Lunch

Local Treasure Jamii Room @ Kelley

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Fri

2

Sat

3 IR Paris

IR Prague

Slovenian Rothenburg Highlight Medieval Weekend Fest

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Insel Mainau Wine Fest

Chef Timo Class

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Jamii Room @ Kelley

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National AKC Great Dog Owner Day

29 Jamii Room @ Kelley

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Bad Dürkheim Sausage Fest IR Italy

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USO Color Run Karlovy Vary Overnight

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National days noted are not events, just fun food for thought

USO STUTTGART DISCOUNT POLICY The USO offers a 10% discount for service members E6 and below (with ID) and family members or groups of 4 or more who sign up at the same time with the exception of Interra Reisen, USO overnight tours or those with indicated restrictions. Discounts cannot be combined and may not be used with vouchers or certificates.

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Check us out onlineat www.eu.uso.org/stuttgart

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~ STUTTGART USO TOURS POLICY ~ RESERVATIONS/BOOKINGS: Must be made in person; telephone reservations are NOT accepted. Persons

under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Tours are priced in US Dollar, unless otherwise noted in the description and must be paid in full when signing up. Types of payment accepted include Master Card, Visa, cash dollar (sorry, no euro) and personal check. There will be a $25.00 service charge on returned checks. PICKUP POINT: Unless otherwise stated on your receipt, all USO Tours depart from the Panzer Main Exchange Parking Lot, in front of Building 2915, Panzer Kaserne. If the USO transportation is late, passengers should remain at the pickup point for 30 minutes past the scheduled pickup time or be counted as a no-show. Some tours may require an early departure, late return or overnight in the parking lot requiring a permit which will be provided by the Tour Escort. All guests are required to return this permit to the escort before departing, per USAG Stuttgart officials. Vehicles parked overnight without the pass are subject to ticketing or being towed at the owner’s expense. USO Stuttgart will not be liable for any violations or expense associated with parking associated with our tours. REGULATIONS: Bus/van seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Escort may adjust seating as required. Car seats are recommended for children, especially those who are unable to it up on their own or have difficulty sitting up by themselves (e.g. babies, toddlers). Car seats are not provided by the USO or the bus company. CANCELLATION/TOUR REFUND POLICY: The USO reserves the right to change tour details for any reason, without notice or reduction in tour cost. Our tours are designed far in advance to allow as much notice of travel opportunity as possible. Some tours, especially those with tickets or equipment rental, require advance booking and can be cancelled due to lack of participation early enough to meet the required confirmation date. The USO reserves the right to cancel any tour until 1800 on the last workday prior to the tour departure. USO Stuttgart will make every effort to contact all customers however we will not be responsible for any cost incurred if customer is not reached and reports to the bus. Full refunds will not be granted for any tours unless cancelled by the USO. Any cancellation made 5 or more working days (not including holidays or USO closures) will be charged a penalty of 10% unless a special cancellation policy is in place for a particular tour. If the cancellation involves non-refundable tour expenses prepaid by the USO this amount will also be deducted from the refund. Any cancellations made four working days or less will not be granted a refund and will incur a 100% penalty. All refunds will be issued by check or credit card based on the original method of payment. Customers who paid by cash or check should allow 7-10 working days for processing, followed by time for mail delivery. Customers who paid by credit card are required to return to the USO with the same credit card used for payment to process the refund. All refunds must be completed within 6 months of cancellation date or the last business day of the calendar year, whichever comes first. No shows are not entitled to a refund. EXCEPTIONS: Military personnel with TDY orders may submit cancellations up to the day before the tour departure without penalty. To qualify for this relief, TDY orders must be presented to [email protected] or in person at USO Stuttgart BEFORE the tour date. If the military personnel is unable to provide official orders prior to the tour departure, a command letter with verifiable command POC information is acceptable. This policy exception only applies to military personnel. Family registered for the tour will follow the above-stated policy. Special circumstances such as medical or other family emergencies must be communicated to the USO BEFORE the tour date and official documentation such as an airline ticket receipt, Red Cross message, emergency room documents, etc. is required. General illness, including fever, flu, etc. will not be granted a refund. Interra-Reisen and My Paris Tours cancellation policies vary according to the tour and accrue an additional 10% processing fee from the USO office. INTERNATIONAL BORDERS: Customers are responsible for having a valid passport and/or border documentations. Tourist passports are now required for all travel outside Germany’s borders and it is highly encouraged that travelers carry SOFA documentation to satisfy re-entry into Germany. Consult Passport Office for any further questions. The USO cannot be held liable for any inconveniences incurred if customers do not have proper documentation. For specific country visa/passport requirements, visit www.travel.state.gov. MISCELLANOUS: The USO is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen items. The tours will follow the marketed tour itinerary as closely as possible. However, the USO is not responsible for strikes, mechanical problems, inclement weather or circumstances associated with a vendor. The tours, times, and prices are subject to change WITHOUT prior notice or refund. Pets are prohibited on all USO tours.

This policy is effective September 3, 2015, and supersedes all previous policies.

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Dear Travelers, This year is flying by and it’s already time to start thinking of Fall—fests, cooler weather (well, not much different from summer around here), kids going back to school, new faces, and lots of holidays. Early September marks one year since I moved to Stuttgart, and it’s been a fast and busy year, with making new friends, reconnecting with old ones, getting a great new job, and traveling. I’ve been able to add a few more countries to my count so far, and definitely added a lot more to my wish list. You all are such an inspiration to me both personally and professionally with all your exciting vacations and adventures. I love seeing the pictures and reading the blogs about all the incredible places that are just outside our doors—all we need to do is get up, get out, and explore! Wanderlust—a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world—exists in all of us, which is one thing I love about this community. We all share that desire to travel and learn so much about the world around us. Thank you for allowing me to live out my passion with each of you. We’ve seen a lot of exciting and beautiful places this year, and it’s only going to get even better as we head toward the home stretch of the year. We have many chances for you to enjoy the fabulous fests that Germany is so famous for, with a few wine fests, including the world’s largest in Bad Dürkheim, and of course the world-famous Munich Oktoberfest. We’ll also head up to nearby Ludwigsburg for a couple unique festivals – celebrating Carnaval at the Venetian Festival that is sure to stun with its impressive beauty, and checking out the most interesting way to eat gourds at the famous Pumpkin Festival. For those of you wanting to get out and explore a little farther from home, we’re not lacking with those trips either. Labor Day weekend is full of adventure in Slovenia. We’ll visit three incredible and distinct areas over the weekend, making sure you truly feel the love in S”LOVE”nia. Then in October for Columbus Day weekend, we venture a little further for the history-filled excursion to Krakow and Auschwitz. Although it’s a somber reminder of a darker time, we can learn so much from the past to help improve the future. Plus Krakow is an impressive city and completely worth the visit. We also have a couple trips that are sure to make the kids happy too, with a day of gem hunting in IdarOberstein, watching the cows come home, and a Halloween party at Frankenstein’s Castle. And just to make sure the adults aren’t missing out on any fun, we’ll also celebrate at the Adult only party the following weekend. I mean, how many people can say they spent Halloween in a real, spooky castle. We’re making sure you never lack for opportunities to quell your own wanderlust. Never stop exploring. See you on the bus, Shannon Speights Tours Manager “Not all those who wander are lost.” — J. R. R. Tolkien

Tiffany Emery—Center Manager Kimberly Spangler—Center Operations Manager Shannon Speights—Tours Manager

USO Stuttgart Contact Information Panzer Kaserne, Bldg 2915—3rd Floor (Across from the Main Exchange)

Nora Regan—Programs & Volunteer Coordinator Andrea Wilson—Center Operations Specialist Tracey Fogarty—Center Operations Specialist

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www.eu.uso.org/stuttgart Main Line: 07031-2015-9012 DSN: 431-3505 M-F: 10:00-18:00

Become a USO Volunteer at www.volunteers.uso.org

Sat: 10:00-14:00

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Our Kitchen. Our Ingredients. Our Rules.

Cake Off

Wednesday, September 14th Sign up for your slot to compete at the USO beginning August 15th. Judging will take place at 4:00pm

MWR/ASAP/USO

COLOR RUN 5K FAMILY FUN RUN

September 24th @ 9am

Sign up begins at Patch & Panzer fitness centers on 15 August

Do you have what it takes?

September September

Monthly lunch Monthly lunch

Chili Chili COOK COOK Wednesday, September 28th 11:30am while supplies last.

OFF OFF

Do Do you think your chili is the

best in town? Email [email protected] to register as a participant. Registration begins beginson on9/7 9/7 and andyou youdo donot nothave haveto tobe bepresent presentt Registration to off in in aa 220V 220V crockpot crockpot the the morning morning of! of! o win—drop your chili off

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USO Stuttgart, Celebrating 75 Years

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September Tours

01 September, Thursday --- Hello Stuttgart Explore Stuttgart with us! We’ll meet at the front gate of Patch Barracks and ride the city bus to the Vaihingen train station, where we’ll hop on the S1 to downtown Stuttgart. Not familiar with public transportation here yet? No worries….your USO escort will be along to make sure you learn the ropes—that’s what our Local Treasure tours are all about! Downtown, we will enjoy a 2-hour tour of Stuttgart’s historic city center, and will end at the Stuttgarter Weindorf (Stuttgart’s Annual Wine Festival) for a delicious lunch. This is fitting considering there were times when Stuttgart had more wine than water! The citizens lived off of the wine industry, and the tradition is more than 1000 years old, so the festival is very much a celebration of life in Stuttgart. Lunch is on your own, so be sure to bring some euros for food & beverage. Tour includes public transportation, walking tour, and USO escort. No discounts available. Departs: 08:30 Returns: 17:05

Patch Front Gate Cost: All Seats: $20

Stuttgart Community Spouses’ Club (SCSC)

SCSC ads

Our mission is to provide information and support to Americans living in the Stuttgart area through social events and fundraising activities and to provide grants and scholarships to our military community. The SCSC Patch Thrift Shop is a great place to find a treasure, donate your excess and support your local community. Patch Thrift Shop Building 2332 Mon, Wed & Fri: 1000-1600 Thursday: 1500-1900 1st & 3rd Saturdays: 1000-1400 In addition to our monthly social events, the SCSC has special interest groups that include bunko, book club, shopping, wine tasting, lunch bunch, crafts and travel clubs. The SCSC also partners with MWR to organize the Spring Bazaar that attracts amazing vendors from across Europe for your shopping pleasure. Membership forms can be found on our website, at the Patch Thrift Shop or at one of our events. Join us for our Free Welcome Event on September 20th, at 5:30 at the Swabian Events Center on Patch. Watch for updates on our website or follow us on Facebook at www.stuttgartspousesclub.org www.facebook.com/stuttgartspousesclub/ Membership is open to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their family members, civilians of the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Forces contract employees, retirees, and employees of other organizations granted status under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement and other civilians holding valid U.S. passport and residing in the Stuttgart community.

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Become a USO Volunteer at www.volunteers.uso.org

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Friday - Monday, 02-05 September, 2016 Slovenia lies in the heart of Europe, where the Alps meet the Mediterranean and the Pannonian Plain meets the Karst. The changing landscape is constantly surprising. You can have one eye on the sea, and be surrounded by high mountains. Ljubljana, although it’s one of the smallest capitals of Europe, does not lack for arts, culture or adventure. The city, referred to as Europe’s greenest, is full of museums, galleries, Baroque architecture, an ancient castle, and plenty of green spaces to enjoy. With all its historical and architectural highlights, it’s also a very modern location that invites people to enjoy the open air market, shopping niches, and great places to eat. Hills surround the city that are great for climbing and hiking, perfect for outdoor lovers. Picturesque Lake Bled lies only about an hour away, offering an outdoor paradise, historical attractions, and fantastic food and drink. Postojna Caves dazzle with a wealth of calcite formations, stalactites and stalagmites abounding in a variety of shapes, colors and age. Our tour will give you a chance to explore the many facets of Slovenian society with a tour of Ljubljana, a day excursion to scenic Lake Bled, and a visit to the Postojna Caves and Predjama Castle. It’s the perfect end to summer! Tour price includes transportation, 2 nights lodging in Ljubljana, daily breakfast, guided city tour, one dinner, one lunch, transfer to Postojna Park with 1 night lodging at a 4-star hotel in the park, entrance to caves and castle, and USO escort. Tourist passports and SOFA documents required. Special cancellation policy applies. No discounts available. Child price based on sharing a room with two full-priced adults, regardless of child’s age.

Departs: 02:00 (Fri) Returns: 19:00 (Mon) Cost: Single: $695 Double: $540 Triple: $510 Child: $390

Quad: $485

Options available in Lake Bled: Option 1: Rafting $40 Option 2: Kayaking $65 Option 3: Horseback riding $55 Kiosk

USO Stuttgart, Celebrating 75 Years

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03 September, Saturday --- Rothenberg Medieval Festival & Night Watchman Tour Have you ever wondered what life was really like in Medieval times? Rothenburg ob der Tauber, possibly the most famous and best preserved medieval city in Germany, keeps history and old traditions alive. The townspeople take great pride in recreating clothing, tools, and traditions from the past to bring it back to life, along with an artisan market, great medieval fare, and more. Our guide will lead us around the quaint streets of the city, allowing us to imagine daily life in those days. You will have free time after the tour to wander the cobblestoned streets, climb the walls, visit one of the city’s many interesting museums, or take part in the Medieval Festival. As evening approaches, we will learn some of the darker history of Rothenburg as the executioner tells his tale on a short walk through the old town. Tour price includes transportation, guided city tour, Executioner tour, and USO Escort. Departs: 09:00

Returns: 22:00

Cost: Adults: $61

Child: $56

04 September, Sunday Bernkastel Wine Fest The quaint, beautiful town of BernkastelKues lies along the Mosel River in one of the biggest wine-producing valleys of Germany. The old medieval town is full of culture and history, and well-known for its old castle ruin that sits above the steep terraced vineyards gazing out over the town and river. Wander down the picturesque narrow streets between half-timbered houses or enjoy walking along the wide banks of the Mosel River. On our tour, we’ll learn about the incredible history that created this town before spending the rest of the afternoon exploring more of the town on your own and sampling some delicious wines famous to the Mosel Valley at the Middle Mosel Wine Festival. Tour price includes transportation, guided city tour, and USO Escort. Departs: 06:00 8

Returns: 22:59

Cost: Adults: $70

Connecting Family, Home and Country

Child: $60 Kiosk

10 September, Saturday Insel Mainau Viniculture & Meersburg Wine Festival The stunning island of Mainau is not only revered for its gorgeous flowers, but it also has a thriving wine industry. We’ll tour the beautiful vineyards and learn about the history and differences of wines on the island, and the process of cultivation and sustainable ways of growing the varieties. Taste the wine and enjoy the island’s atmosphere over lunch in one of the restaurants, or pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the fresh air in the magnificent gardens. Later, we take a ferry across Lake Constance to the town of Meersburg, whose medieval fortress catches your eye from afar. Built on a steep vineyard by the lake, this fortress has been attracting tourists for centuries and has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited castle in Germany! This weekend, Meersburg celebrates their Annual Wine Fest. Sip a local vintage while enjoying the unbelievably beautiful views of the lake, or explore the city at your leisure. Tour is not recommended for young children. Tour price includes transportation, guided vineyard tour and wine tasting, wine festival entrance, ferry, and USO Escort. Tourist passport and SOFA documents required.

Departs: 07:00

Returns: 20:00

Cost: All: $128

VFW ad

Post Officers 2015 – 2016

Post Meeting Place and Time:

Post Commander: John L. Leffler Post Sr. Vice Commander: Joe Holder Post Jr. Vice Commander: Nick Obradovich Quartermaster: Robert “Hoss” Schwartz Adjutant / Asst Quartermaster: Brian Buechner

ACS Conference room Building 2915 Panzer Kaserne Every month on the 3rd Tuesday 1830 - UTC

NO ONE DOES MORE FOR OUR VETERANS!

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Complete our Tours & Class Survey on our website

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10 September, Saturday – Cooking Class with Chef Timo

Whether or not you consider yourself to be a chef, this is a delightful opportunity to learn from one of Baden-Württemberg’s celebrity chefs. Take a brief tour of the gourmet kitchen in the historic cellar beneath Chef Timo’s restaurant, watch via live TV as the crew upstairs prepares for the dinner crowd and of course, learn how to prepare original German main dishes from the famous master chef, in English. This is an ideal day in our own backyard, all abilities are encouraged to join us. Tour price includes recipes, lunch, table water and a glass of chef-selected wine. Special Cancellation Policy Applies. No Discounts Available. Transportation is not included, guests of the course will meet at Restaurant zum Reussenstein in Böblingen. Ages 12-17 must be with an adult. Class begins: 10:00

Ends: 16:00

Cost: Ages 12+ $145.00

Personal Loans for Fall Fun ICS ad

Service Credit Union offers SCU ad personal loans with great rates and flexible terms. Visit servicecu.org/personal for more details.

00800.4728.2000 • servicecu.org federally insured by ncua

No official US Army endorsement is implied

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Become a USO Volunteer at www.volunteers.uso.org

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11 September, Sunday --- Ludwigsburg Fests, Venetian & Pumpkin A touch of Venice in the middle of Germany, along with all things pumpkin – two very different but fascinating festivals in one day. With colorful costumes and masks, a fantastic mix of acrobatics, music, theatre, fire magic, dance and song - the Venetian Fair transforms Ludwigsburg's market square into a magical dream world. Watch the costumes and performances, and peruse the arts and crafts market where you can find traditional wares, including masks, fabrics, Murano glass, and jewelry. After you’ve gotten your fill of Carnaval, head over to the grounds of the gorgeous Schloss Ludwigsburg, to take in the Pumpkin Festival! Each year, the fest captures a different theme and this year is “The Pumpkin Circus is Coming to Town.” Expect to see performances, fun acts, and more showcasing the many sizes, shapes and colors of gourds. Make sure to sample all things pumpkin – soup, popcorn, burgers and more with something for everyone in the family! Tour price includes transportation, guided visit and Venetian Fair package with welcome sparkling wine, entrance fees to both festivals, and USO Escort. Departs: 09:00

Returns: 19:00

Cost: Adults: $75 Youth(4-15): $30 Child (0-3): $25 17 September, Saturday -- Bad Dürkheim Sausage Festival Billed as the biggest wine festival in the world, it is one of the most traditional and entertaining wine festivals in Germany. The fest takes place in the middle of town, outside the largest wine barrel in the world, and is much like a German Christmas market – with fairground rides and food stalls providing all day entertainment and dining. Enjoy over 150 wines from over 50 different regions, while enjoying the on-going entertainment inside and outside the fest tents. There’s even a beer tent for those who prefer beer to wine. Be sure to stop in the wine village to taste wines from many local vineyards, taste delicious food pairings, and listen to fabulous jazz music. Take part in the festivities, try out some of the carnival rides, or explore town on your own, especially the Michaelskappelle which sits high above town overlooking the market square and the festival. Tour price includes transportation, and USO Escort.

Departs: 08:00

Returns: 21:00

Cost: All: $45 Kiosk

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The amazing

CuckooClock World in Triberg in the Black Forest

A3

A62

Ramstein

Stuttgart

Vilseck

Nürnberg A7 A8

A81

Offenburg

Grafenwöhr

Bamberg Würzburg

Mannheim Heidelberg

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Exit 55

Hanau A81

A6

A9

Frankfurt a.M.

Mainz

Kaiserslautern

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A5

Wiesbaden

Bitburg Spangendahlem

B33

50

Triberg

VillingenSchwenningen

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300 miles

Exit 35

Bad Aibling

CH

A

Triberg Downtown right next to the waterfall

House of 1000 Clocks

10%

Get off your purchase!

Weisser GmbH Hauptstraße 79-81

e! ea ...hav good tim

78098 Triberg Phone: + 49 (0 ) 77 22 - 96 30 0

USO Kiosk Sept-Oct 2016

Email: [email protected] Store Hours: Mon - Sun and on Holidays

On all regularly priced items. At all of our stores. This coupon must be presented at the time of purchase. One coupon per purchase only. Valid till 31st Oct 2016



www.hausder1000uhren.de

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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Connecting Family, Home and Country

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18 September, September, Sunday Sunday 18 Gem hunting hunting in in Idar-Oberstein Idar-Oberstein Gem Feel like like aa gem miner for a day and check out the Feel beautiful mines mines in the quaint town of Idar-Oberstein. beautiful We will to begin our day at the Gemstone Museum We will with aa guided guided tour where all of the world’s existing with gemstones can be admired, between rough and cut gemstones stones stones and and artfully crafted sculptures. Enjoy lunch on your your own own and explore the town…be sure to visit the Church in the Rock! In the afternoon afternoon we will stop at the only European gemstone mine open to visitors. Along Along with with the mine shafts that can be explored, the camp is available to treasure hunters hunters who who wish to do a little “prospecting” of their own. Tour price includes transportation, museumvisit, visit,gemstone gemstonemine mine entrance, entrance, prospecting prospecting fee, transportation, guided guided museum and USO Escort. Bring work clothes and solid footwear if you plan to do any and USO Escort. prospecting your dig. dig. prospecting –– you you can can take take home home any any gems gems you you find find in in your Departs: Departs: 06:30 06:30

Returns: Returns: 20:15 20:15

Cost: Cost: Adults: Adults: $82 $82

Child Child (6-14): (6-14): $68 $68

Child (