Camping season is only 4 months away! Best to start planning now…

Kidding aside, we send you this 2011 / 2012 newsletter to address the pre-season issues. Here you will find the 2012 Calendar of Events, your 2012 season invoice, and a few other tidbits of interest. We decided to forgo the $100. “coming back next year” deposit and simply send out the 2012 invoice with this letter. Payment of your invoice will indicate your intention of returning next season. If you do not intend to return for 2012 please let us know as soon as possible as demand has been brisk and we would like to offer all available sites to the new customers. All camping fees must be paid in full before April 1, 2012 giving us time to clear your cheque and issue you your “VALID CAMPING PERMIT – 2012” before May 1, 2012. No camping is permitted without a “VALID CAMPING PERMIT”.

Before discussing 2012, we recap 2011…
Re-occupying the campgrounds was a slightly complicated chore, luck of the draw was used to determine who got which site. Everything went smoothly and everyone found a spot.

We added a bear proof garbage trailer at McDougal and a garbage dump truck at Blue. We really tried to clean up the garbage situation to control our inevitable spring bear visitors. We still had a few but they didn’t last long and no incidents were reported.

We received many positive comments on our performance this season and we thank you wholeheartedly for this. Positive feedback always helps motivation. We did receive a few repetitive complaints…"dogs off leash", "using the campground road as an ATV/dirt bike track", "generators after 11pm", "excessive noise into the wee hours". Upon each complaint we did our best to discuss the matter with the camper responsible. We can’t help but think: we are a community here and with reasonable respect for one's neighbours i.e.. Dogs on leash, no ‘around and around’ nor speeding on the campground road (danger and dust), no generators after 11pm, no excessive noise anytime, we would all enjoy the camping experience that much more. The McConnell Lake Campground rules are not extraordinary. If you really think that our rules are oppressive then perhaps you should seek out a new community that has no rules. It gets tedious reminding the same people over and over of basic courtesy and common sense. Enough of that, everyone gets the idea, so let’s try harder people.

Now for next year…

We posted on the large white boards at each campground the upcoming events during the 2011 season. We really enjoyed putting them on but attendance could have been better. When polled most campers simply stated they didn't know about the event…to remedy this, here goes:

EVENTS CALENDAR McConnell 2012:

Ok, now no excuses…attend, participate or just come out to watch…community spirit…fun, Wow!

One last issue to address , visitors, tents, additions and outbuildings:

The campground contract permits your RV, a deck 8' by the length of your RV, one shed 8’X10’, no tents, no buildings/additions, no additional structures. Everything must be portable. Everyone knows that when the operator's contract ends, the MNR will insist that everyone vacate the campgrounds, including all your equipment and ‘stuff’…everything.

Tents…and visitors. Several campers have requested tents be allowed for the kids. We have no problem with this. It's when tents are used for adult visitors, this is a problem. The campground sign reads, All visitors must possess a valid camping permit. Your campsite fee pays for the registered camper, his/her partner, and their children under 18. All other visitors, friends/family, must pay the $5 per night per adult, upon arrival. You have the option of paying the $90. Seasonal Visitor Pass whereby you have a blanket permit for all your visitors all season, or you must pay the $5 per night per adult upon arrival. Not paying for your visitors is a serious violation of your contract. Should we approach you about your visitors, the "Oh yeah, right, we were going to pay you later" is no longer acceptable. If you neglect to pay for you visitors we will suggest you camp somewhere else, where visitors camp for free. The Blue Lake office is for certain open - 11am to 1pm, and 5pm to 7pm – 7days a week. Have your visitors check in as soon as they arrive.

Side note: as promised, ALL the privies were pumped out at the end of the season, and will be pumped out at the end of EVERY season (it's the only way to really control odour problems).

It was a pleasure serving you this past year and we look forward to another great season, only 4 months away!

See you in May.

Dan and Annette, McConnellCampgrounds.com