Whenever camping, it’s
important to remember that all campers want their own camping space to be “theirs”
for whatever period of time they are occupying it. So there are some common courtesies that we
should all follow to make everyone’s camping experience the very best it can
be! Here are a few examples to consider:
Follow the pet policies. Whatever the
campground’s pet policy is, make sure you know it and follow it (and state apply,
too!) if you’re taking your pet camping.
If you’re a pet owner, this is important because you want your favorite campground
to remain pet-friendly. No one wants to
be next to a dog that barks continuously.
So, make sure your family’s 4-legged member doesn’t become “that dog”
and minimize their barking. Never tether
your pet to trees, picnic tables, fences, or campground buildings. Always (even in dog walk areas) clean up
after your pet 100% of the time, pets should always be leashed (unless in a
doggie park area). If the campground has
a doggie park, follow the posted rules. And last, but certainly not least, if
your pet is not well socialized either with people or other animals, leave them
at home. Take them to a kennel or hire a
dog sitter. A campground is no place for
an aggressive pet, period. Always carry a
copy of the dog’s shot records with you so that if there ever is an incident,
you’ll have them.
Don’t encroach on other people’s campsites. Typically,
an RV or electric and water tenting site, are from electric box to electric
box. But if you’re not sure of your “boundaries”
ask. And teach your kids that these
invisible boundaries should be respected.
Make sure the children don’t “cut through” someone else’s campsite on
the way to the rest rooms and shower house.
Make sure your dog isn’t tethered where it’s on someone else’s campsite,
and/or worse yet, doing its’ business there.
And remember, if you’re in close proximity to others, loud music is also
an encroachment. You may not have the
same taste in music as your neighbor. So
if they are country music lovers, and you’re a heavy metal fan, and you’re both
playing music, no one is going to have a good camping experience. The best policy is that if you can hear it at
your neighbor’s campsite, it’s too loud.
Follow the campground’s visitor, guests, vehicle registration
and parking policies. Many people don’t understand why campgrounds
limit the number of visitors or people per campsite, nor the number of vehicles
per campsite. Too many vehicles per
campsite create a safety hazard for the wagon ride, kids on bicycles, kid’s
running into the campground street from between cars, etc. In addition, they make getting emergency
vehicles through the campground to a campsite where its’ needed, impossible. And third, too many visitors or too many
vehicles encroach on your camping neighbor’s access to his or her site and create
a noise encroachment.
Remember, 12 people on a
campsite, by default, are going to be noisier than 4. Your neighbor may have come to this
campground to get away from his neighbor at home who is constantly throwing
pool parties. And put yourself in his
shoes for minute, because if the roles were reversed, you’d most likely be an
unhappy camper too. If you’re expecting
a lot of guests, make arrangements for that in advance with the
campground. Most will work with you to
create a great party for your family at a pavilion or other community area which
will keep your group from bothering the neighbors. This provides a great camping experience for
your party and your camping neighbors too, so everyone wins.
Follow the Policies that are there for your safety! Believe
it or not, thousands of children are injured each year in accidents. That is why most campgrounds have policies
about playgrounds closing at dusk, bicycle riding ending at dusk, bicycle
riders being required to wear helmets, speed limits, no jumping or diving in
the swimming pool, no fireworks, no leaving campfires unattended, life jackets being
required to paddle boat, and more. Many
are dictated by state or local laws, and some are dictated by our liability insurance
companies because they are statistically a higher risk activity, and are for
your protection. While campground owners
are in the business of providing fun recreation, they have to do so in a way
that keeps their campers safe. So help
them out by being a shining example.
Follow the posted rules, and be the kind of camper who enforces those
rules with your children, too. Don’t
make the campground owner the bad guy for enforcing the rules. He or his employees are just trying to keep
the kids safe and run a fun and clean campground for your family to enjoy. Campgrounds are never trying to discourage fun,
but there is nothing wrong with kids learning to have fun responsibly! It’s a great life lesson they will carry with
them for years to come.
Leave the campsite and the animals the way you found
them, or better. You should never leave garbage behind at your
campsite, or place non-burnable items in the fire ring. Teach your kids not to litter and that
leaving litter behind endangers the animals.
Speaking of animals, no matter where you camp, you should never mess
with wild animals. The mother’s will
sometimes abandon their babies if you’ve touched them, and they carry your
scent. And, you’ll create a problem if
you think it’s cute to start feeding them, or dumping bacon grease in nearby
wood lots versus properly disposing of it in a sealed bottle or can and the
placing it in the dumpster or garbage cans.
Teach your children to never take food into a tent with them, or leave
it sitting out in the campsite over night.
You’re just asking for furry visitors who will endanger your family. Raccoons,
skunks, opossums, and such can carry rabies and other diseases that require
painful treatment. Bears who learn that
they can score an easy meal at a campsite will return and become ever more brazen
until they become a danger to campers.
When animals become a nuisance, they are often disposed of or trapped
and relocated by the game commission, which isn’t fair to that animal. Please remember, it us who is encroaching on
their territory. We should do so
respectfully – by leaving our campsites as clean or cleaner than the way we
found it, and by not enticing the animals with food.
In the end, the very best
policy to follow is the old adage to “do unto others as you’d have done to you”. Place yourself in your neighbor’s shoes, and
ask yourself, “would this bother me?” You may find that you’re encroaching or
ignoring important safety or courtesy policies that you shouldn’t be. If everyone would make that extra little
effort, then everyone would have a much better camping experience!
By Robyn
Chilson
Tim & Robyn Chilson, own
and operate Meadville KOA Campground in Meadville, PA. You can contact Robyn at robyn@meadvillekoa.com
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