Thousands of children each year spend the night aboard the USS KIDD.

Over five thousand children and adults spend the

night aboard the USS KIDD each year.

Overnight Camping

 

Camping overnight aboard the USS KIDD is a fun and educational way to spend time with your family.  You'll experience the close-quarters living firsthand and learn about the courage under fire displayed by our American heroes.

 

Reservations may be made by calling (225) 342-1942, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  An Overnight information packet is available at no cost.

 

Please note that inquiries for information and available dates do not constitute making a booking.

 

Price & Reservations Information

 

Admission for the Overnight Camping program is $21.00 per person (adults & children).  There is a minimum of 20 people required to make a reservation and all participants must be at least six (6) years of age or older.  All children should be accompanied by an adult.  The USS KIDD requires a minimum ratio of one (1) adult per every eight (8) children.

 

There will almost assuredly be other groups aboard ship with you on the night of your stay.  You should attempt

A Cub Scout pack takes a break from touring in the Mess Deck.

A Cub Scout pack takes a break from touring

in the Mess Deck.

to estimate as closely as possible the number of people attending in your group when calling to make your reservation.  We cannot guarantee available bunk space for last minute additions.

 

One option for large groups is the Exclusive Reservation.  With the Exclusive, you guarantee a minimum number of 75 people for your stay (rather than 20 for the Standard reservation).  The price is still $21.00 per person, but with the Exclusive status, your group has the entire ship to itself that night with no other groups aboard.

 

A $150.00 deposit is due ten (10) working days from the date that you make your reservation ($300.00 for Exclusive reservations).  Full payment of the remaining balance is due upon arrival on the night of your stay.  All deposits are non-refundable, though they may transfer to a new date if your group is forced to reschedule due to icy conditions or the immanent arrival of a hurricane.

 

Overnights are conducted seven days a week, though the most popular nights are understandably Fridays and Saturdays.  Those groups looking for dates in the spring (i.e. January—May) should call ahead several months in advance.  Overnight bookings cannot be made on the following dates:  July 3, July 4, Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.

 

Overnights must be booked a minimum of two weeks (14 days) in advance.

 

All prices are subject to change.

 

 

Please note that our prices have changed effective February 20, 2008.

Old Price:  $18.00 each / $21.00 (breakfast upgrade).

New Price:  $21.00 each / $23.00 (breakfast upgrade).

 

All groups booked PRIOR to February 20, 2008, will remain at the

old price rate.

 

 

 

This young Overnight camper is already a veteran sailor.

This young Overnight camper is already

an experienced veteran sailor.

Bunking Arrangements

 

There are five (5) berthing compartments aboard the USS KIDD with varied numbers of bunks in each space.  Your space will be assigned to you upon your arrival and will depend upon the size of your group.

 

We do not assign different groups to the same sleeping compartment.

 

Groups do not have to be all-male or all-female.  However, some organizations require separate berthing for males and females.  Requests for separate accommodations must be made in advance when making your reservations.  Otherwise, your request cannot be guaranteed.

 

REMEMBER:  pack light!  You are not going away for a week-long cruise.  The more luggage you bring, the more you have to carry.  The ladders aboard ship are nearly 70-degrees in angle and you have to move your gear up and down several ladders.  Also, there are no closets aboard ship to stow your gear.  Large, bulky suitcases should not even be considered.

 

You should bring a sleeping bag and pillow and one (1) change of clothing.  If you plan to make use of the limited shower facilities, you will want to bring a towel, wash cloth, soap, and toiletries.

 

Food

 

All groups should eat a full meal (dinner) prior to arriving at the USS KIDD for their Overnight.

 

Snacks and juices or soft drinks are allowed aboard ship under the following conditions:

 

1.  No food or drinks are allowed in any interior spaces (i.e. if there's a ceiling over your head).

2.  Keep all food and drink items in 1-2 large ice chests for the group; not in individual luggage.

3.  All food and drinks must be consumed in a designated area aboard ship.

 

Group Coordinators, REMEMBER!!!  Do not pack food or drink items in your individual luggage.  You will be required to remove it before going belowdecks.

 

There are several restaurants and fast food venues just off the interstate on the way to the KIDD.  A listing is available upon request.

 

Breakfast is included in the $21.00 price and includes a Sausage Biscuit & Milk from McDonalds.  An upgrade option is available for an extra $2.00 per person and includes a McDonalds Big Breakfast (sausage paddy, biscuit, jellies, hash brown, scrambled eggs, milk).

 

Breakfast orders are due from the group coordinator on the Wednesday prior to your Overnight stay.  You may phone them in to (225) 342-1942 or fax them to (225) 342-2039.

 

NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES of any kind are allowed aboard ship.  There are no exceptions to this and violation of this standard will result in immediate dismissal and removal from the premises.

 

Parking

 

Parking is available curbside in front of the museum.  Space, however, is limited.  Car-pooling is of tremendous value.  Additional parking is available in nearby parking garages at the Baton Rouge River Center and the Belle of Baton Rouge Casino, the All-Right Parking surface lot at the corner of St. Philip Street and South Blvd., and the 3rd Street Parking Garage at the corner of 3rd and Convention Street.  Some of these facilities may require a fee.  Additionally, these facilities may require walking anywhere from two to six (2-6) blocks in distance.  Security of your vehicle overnight cannot be guaranteed in some of these complexes.  For more information on downtown parking, visit the Downtown Development District website.

 

Program Hours and Activities

 

The Overnight program begins at 7:00 p.m. on the night of your stay and ends at 9:00 a.m. on the following morning.

 

The museum closes every day at 5:00 p.m.  On the night of your stay, plan to arrive between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  Your tour guide(s) will meet you at the museum during this time.  Once all groups have arrived in full, you will be shown a short orientation film and your guide(s) will go over the Safety Rules with you.

 

Many different types of groups spend the night aboard ship.

Many different types of groups spend the night

aboard ship, including Boy and Girl Scouts,

YWCAs and YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs,

Campfire Girls & Boys, and JROTC units.

The average nightly itinerary is listed below.  All times are approximate.

 

5:00 p.m.

 

Ship & museum close for touring.

 

6:30 - 7:00 p.m.

 

Overnight groups arrive at museum.

 

7:00 p.m.

 

Orientation film & Safety briefing.

 

7:45 ~ 8:15 p.m.

 

 Move gear to the KIDD, stow food items on Main Deck, get settled into bunks, conduct fire drill.

 

8:15 ~ 9:30 p.m.

 

Guided tour of the USS KIDD.

 

9:30 p.m. ~ 12:00 a.m.

 

Free period -- Groups may eat snacks at this time and explore the ship on their own.  At all times, however,  we require the use of the Buddy System.  All children must be accompanied by adults.

 

Optional activities (Scavenger Hunt & Engineroom Tour) conducted at this time.

 

If you have an activity that you would like to conduct (i.e.

religious devotional or service, or activities for earning merit badges, etc.), these can be done at this time, so long as they have been cleared through the Reservations Department ahead of time for compliance with safety regulations.

 
12:00 midnight

 

Lights Out.  (This time may be moved up if requested)

 
12:00 a.m. ~ 6:30 a.m.

 

Sleep period.  No hands should be above deck except for bathroom purposes (adults or children).

 
6:30 a.m.

 

Reveille.

 
6:30 a.m. ~ 7:00 a.m.

 

All hands pack their gear and get ready to depart the ship.

 
7:00 a.m.

 

All hands depart ship with their gear and return to museum on shore.  Gift Shop opens at this time for purchase of souvenirs.  USS KIDD closed until 9:00 a.m. for cleaning and washdown of decks.

 
7:15 ~ 7:30 a.m.

 

McDonalds delivers breakfast to museum.

 
7:30 a.m. ~ 8:00 a.m.

 

Breakfast outside in P-40 Courtyard (weather dependent).

 
8:00 a.m. ~ 9:00 a.m.

 

Touring museum.  Gift Shop open for purchase of souvenirs.  USS KIDD closed until 9:00 a.m. for cleaning and washdown of decks.

 
9:00 a.m.

 

Memorial reopens to the public.  USS KIDD reopens for touring.

 

Optional activity (Flag Raising) conducted at this time.

 
9:00 a.m. ~ 5:00 p.m.

 

All Overnight activities are concluded.  Overnight admission covers any additional self-guided touring through the close of business at 5:00 p.m.

 

 

A fourth optional activity, a demonstration of ham radio by the USS KIDD Amateur Radio Club (ARC), can be conducted as a part of your tour on the night of your stay.  Ham radio demonstrations should be requested when booking your stay and can be guaranteed only if volunteers from the ARC are available on that particular night.

 

USS KIDD Overnight Camping PatchDog Tags

 

Overnight Camping patches and dog tags are available in the museum gift shop.

Patches & Souvenirs

 

What better way to remember your stay than to purchase a souvenir unique to the USS KIDD?  We have several items to choose from in our Gift Shop.

 

Overnight Camping patches are especially popular with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.  Each patch is $3.00 plus tax.

 

Also available are Dog Tags.  Set up a pair of tags for yourself identical to those that sailors and soldiers would have worn, . . . or custom-design your own.  Dog tags are $5.00 (includes tax) and are comprised of two (2) tags and a chain.  Rubber silencers are also available for $1.00 (includes one for each tag).

 

Conduct

 

As with any such youth program, all participants are asked to follow the shipboard rules of conduct for the safety of all concerned.  The USS KIDD Veterans Memorial reserves the right to refuse entry to and/or remove from the premises, without refund, any group or individuals who violate these safeguards or displays disorderly or unlawful behavior at any time.

 

The Boy and Girl Scouts have a very appropriate saying that we hope all of our guests will adopt:  "Leave it in better condition than you found it."

 

Thanks and we look forward to having you with us aboard the USS KIDD!

 

Email Us to Request Your Overnight Information Packet Today!!!

 

This website listing is NOT the same thing as our Overnight Information Packet.  Just contact us at Reservations@usskidd.com to receive your information packet and dog tag pre-ordering information.  The packets are in Adobe Acrobat format.  Please note that the Reservations Office is closed on weekends and holidays.  We appreciate your patience and look forward to hearing from you.

  

**Copyright 1997-2008 by Louisiana Naval War Memorial Commission**