Campground Ettiquette

As we get into the new camping season there are always questions that we get about camping etiquette. What is acceptable and what is not acceptable. Our philosophy here at Lethbridge KOA can be summed up in one word "RESPECT". Essentially it means treating others in a manner that is kind and considerate of others around you. This brings up a few thoughts for you to think about. It's stuff we see almost everyday and somedays we have to shake our heads!

• Stay to your site or the roadways. Never cut through someone else's site. How would you like it if your neighbor's kids kept running through your site to get to the pool? You are trying to have a nice quiet relaxing book read with a beer or glass of wine and now three kids keep running back and forth through your site. It can quickly change that relax time into a stress filled time.  So respect your neighbors and their right to privacy and quiet relaxing times. Be the example for your kids - teach them to walk around and to respect others right to their site.
• Quiet time - here in our park we say that this time starts at 10PM. Some people think camping is synonymous with "party". Well we do not want to be the "party poopers" but we do ask that you respect your neighbors. The sites are close together and your neighbors may need to get their rest because they need to be on the road early, or they may actually be ill and are receiving treatments at our local hospital, or they may need to be rested to perform their best at a sporting event, or they maybe here for a funeral in the morning. Whatever the case maybe - remember that not everyone wants to join your party. Party's can happen they just have to be respectful of those that do not wish to join in. 
• SLOW YOUR ROLL - 10KmH!! This is a hard and fast rule in our park. It is why we place speed bumps throughout the park. (Please do not attempt to drive around them! They are there for a reason!) We have had several near misses with kids not being self aware of everything around them. They run out in front of large vehicles that may not be able to see them, or come flying around a corner on their bike not knowing a large vehicle is coming around the corner and may not be able to stop quickly. OR we have had it where people may not be as secured as they thought with their hitching because they were in a hurry and when they are departing they have had trailers slip their hitch. When you go slow you will likely mitigate the damage you can do to your RV, tow vehicle, and or our property.  SLOW YOUR ROLL!
• Fire Permits - to have a wood burning fire in our park you must purchase a fire permit at the office and all firewood burned must be purchased in our store. This is for a couple of reasons. Lethbridge is a very arid prairie desert area and due to the wind that we are so famous for (Chicago is not really the windy city!) we dry out very quickly. Our property is essentially within the city limits. But the very north end our property is the county line and we are also in the river valley. Each of these areas can implement a fire ban or restriction and we follow all three areas. A prairie fire can start extremely fast - it only takes a small spark and we have a big fire really fast. So when you buy the fire permit it does a couple of things. It lets us know who will be burning and that you have been given the proper information regarding open burning and that you acknowledge the bylaws that we have to follow for safety. We MUST follow the bylaws in the city and follow all fire bans or restrictions. As we are privately owned and operated we also reserve the right to do more than what the bans and restrictions allow. We ask that you respect that decision.