Maxpackers is a group of very special friends who have been camping together in the Pacific Northwest since the mid-1970's. The group evolved from a group of former VISTA volunteers who worked for the Greater Dallas Council of Churches Block Partnership program. Starting in 1970 the VISTA's served as community organizer under the supervision of Director Don Johnson and VISTA supervisor Dennis Wheeler.
After leaving VISTA many of these volunteers landed on the west coast, with a concentration in the Pacific Northwest. They started having an annual camping trip the beginning of September along with various spouses, neighbors and friends. As many as 25 people attend the "car camping" trips, in Washington and Oregon state parks.
We having been doing this so long that we have seen an entire generation born, go off to college and marry. That has left the group a little smaller but still anticipating the next trip together. Just as we lose members we gain others. We were delighted, in 2009, when our former Block Partnership director flew in from Dallas to join our camping group.
