Mailbox			Back to Mailbox	Back to the Current Issue Back to Features
Campground Etiquette:

I’d like to get some input from your readers on a couple of incidents that have occurred over the last couple of years, and hear what they would have done in these incidents.
First, while traveling with our son who has a camper, we stopped at the Provincial Park at Kentucky-Alleyne Lakes. We took two small lakeside campsites, which were so close as to be a double site. As we set up, my son discovered he was out of propane, so set up a couple of chairs, saying he’d be back a.s.a.p. and to pay for his campsite as soon as the ranger came around., (no self registration). Shortly afterwards, a small trailer arrived, and asked about his campsite. We explained the circumstances, but this person insisted that since saving campsites was not allowed, he wanted that campsite. Even pointing out that there were still lots of spots available, and we would have already paid for the spot if we could have, did not prevent him from demanding that we remove the chairs as he wanted that campsite. Rather than create a scene, we let him have the campsite, intending to move again when our son returned.

We totally agree with the no-saving of campsites, but what do your readers do who own campers or motorhomes in these situations?
We did eventually move to another campsite, but unfortunately, this person, in cahoots with another camper, decided to party hardy, which not only included loud filthy language, but target practice with an air rifle (in the direction of our campsite). After another camper nearby yelled at them to shut up, they eventually quieted down a little. The next morning, the ranger gave them the ultimatum of either leaving or no more parties. They decided to leave, but not until, while in the safety of his truck driving out, he cursed and swore at me as if I had single handedly had him removed from the campsite. Apparently even distant campers had complained to the ranger about the noise, but I became the target for his rage–probably because he knew better than to pick on a man. I have found that these types of people are really bullies who will only prey on those smaller or weaker.

However, the second incident runs along a similar line. While camping stateside with another couple, they unintentionally occupied a reserved campsite. They had marked down the reserved campsites, but had put #22 instead of #23, which they occupied. In the morning, the ranger informed them that they would have to move, since a group of scouts had reserved the site, and had arrived very late the night before to find the site occupied. Although the campsite was less than half full, they awoke the ranger, who suggested they take another site, and since it was 11PM, they would sort it out in the morning. When our friends arrived at the office to arrange other sites (we did not want to share a double campsite with a bunch of teenagers either), the scoutmaster, without waiting for an apology or explanation, reamed out our friends, calling them inconsiderate Canadians, and saying how they are so much more considerate when we visit them. Hello?? Who was it that woke the ranger?? Who did not want to hear an explanation or apology?? Who would have had our friends woken up to move?? Who would have woken up the next door neighbors (us) while several scouts were setting up camp in the middle of the night??

While on the subject of camping etiquette, how do your readers feel about tenters who take the biggest and often the only pull-thru sites when camping? Or what about those who occupy one side of a double campsite when singles are available? Are there other “no-no’s” they think should be added to a list of “what not to do while camping”?
I’d like to hear what others think are the most important “rules” of camping. For me it would have to be consideration for others, and like the golden rule, it covers a lot of territory. I’ll leave the subject of the campsite reservation system for another time, as that is another whole area of annoyance and potential abuse.

Norma Cousineau, Langley BC