LARKSPUR, Colo., June 9, 2009 ‒ If you’re looking for something different to do this Father’s Day, why not take dad camping? The Friendly Beaver RV park and campground in New Boston, N.H. will host a Father’ Day dance with a live band, while Land-O-Pines Family Campground in Covington, La. plans to host father-child horseshoe, volleyball, miniature golf and water slide contests.
Not to be outdone, South Haven Family Campground in South Haven, Mich. is planning a series of Father’s Day events, from a “best legs” contest to an essay contest in which children compete to see who can write the best essay about their dad. The campground is also planning its first annual race with race cars that kids dads build with their fathers.
“Privately owned campgrounds and RV parks are increasingly providing fun family activities and themed weekends, not only for Father’s Day weekend, but throughout the year,” said Linda Profaizer, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. “Many parks are moving more and more into the entertainment business. We see evidence of this all over the country.”
By offering themed weekends and other special events, she said, campgrounds are providing families with a reason to return to their parks again and again. “We do an activity each weekend, including wiener roasts, ice cream socials, pot lucks and bingo competitions, but our most popular is our Octoberfest weekend, which brings campers back every year,” said Charles Gheen of Woodland Campground in Woodland, Pa.
Other parks are using similar strategies, much to the amusement of their guests. For example:
Brookdale Family Campground in Meadville, Pa. offers a Thanksgiving in July celebration on July 18. The park roasts the turkeys and supplies the mashed pototoes, but invites its guests to bring the trimmings. Other activities include a Civil War encampment on June 27, which includes people dressed in period attire, demonstrations and various skirmishes.
Lake Bluff Campground in Wolcott, N.Y. is one of many campgrounds across the country that offer Christmas in July celebrations, complete with sleigh rides, an appearance by Santa Claus, gifts for the children and prizes for the best decorated campsite. Other Lake Bluff Campground activities this summer include water gun wars, frisbee throwing competitions, a children’s sailboat race, a beer can stacking contest, and a watermelon seed spittin’ contest.
Riverside Campground in Montgomery, Pa., provides activities and special events throughout the summer, including a Native American Pow Wow with dancers, crafts and story telling on June 13t and 14 and a daylong Bluegrass by the River festival on Sept. 27.
Strawberry Park Resort Campground in Preston, Conn., offers more 30 activities a day, including a greased pole climb, teen versus adult dodgeball, teen versus adult flag football, “men’s only” pool volleyball, “ladies only” pool volleyball, adult coed pool volleyball, and kareoke sing alongs and hypnosis shows.
Tall Pines Campground in Bainbridge, N.Y. offers a series of special theme weeks throughout the summer, including a “Pirates and Pricesses” week June 26 to July 2, which includes a Pirates and Princesses parade, a treasure hunt and other theme games. The RV park also stages Pioneer Days Aug. 14-20, when campers learn how to cook over the open fire. Other activities include making pioneer baskets and jewelry and candles.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp Resort of Estes Park, Colo., offers themed weekends throughout the summer, including “Dog Days of Summer,” Aug. 21-22, when campers are invited to dress up their pet and join the park’s pet parade. Prizes are awarded for best dressed pets, best trick, longest distance traveled and best Frisbee catch.
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