NEW YORK CAMPGROUNDS SUPPORT NATIONAL GREAT OUTDOORS MONTH INITIATIVE WITH 20 PERCENT DISCOUNTS JUNE 1ST TO 25TH New York campgrounds are also offering “buy two get one night free” special through Oct. 10th as well as a geocaching competition on June 11th
Many parents with adolescent or teenage children worry that their kids have become couch potatoes who spend far too much of their free time playing video games or sitting in front of a computer screen.
“As far as physical fitness goes, today’s kids are the sorriest generation in the history of the United States,” said one parent quoted by author Richard Louv in his best-selling book, The Last Child in the Woods.
Louv found several alarming statistics, which document the increasingly sedentary lifestyles of America’s youth and the extent to which they are losing the physical and psychological benefits that come from spending time in nature.
In an effort to encourage parents to spend more time with their children outdoors, President Obama has proclaimed June as national Great Outdoors Month.
Building on Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative, which encourages children to eat healthier foods and increase their physical activity, Great Outdoors Month is intended to encourage parents and their children “to move, run, play and thrive” in our state, national and local parks and other scenic places.
Campgrounds affiliated with Campground Owners of New York (CONY) are doing their part to support Great Outdoors Month by offering fun family activities as well as significant camping discounts during the month of June.
“Camping is not only the most affordable vacation option, but it supports a healthy lifestyle, particularly when you consider the great variety of outdoor activities that are available at campgrounds across our state,” said Don Bennett, president and CEO of Campground Owners of New York.
New York campgrounds will be participating in GoCampingAmerica.com’s Great Outdoors Month promotion, which involves 20 percent discounts on camping between June 1st and 25th at participating parks.
GoCampingAmerica.com will also provide e-coupons that consumers can use to obtain discounts at Camping World stores and RV rentals booked through El Monte RV, which has agreed to provide 500 free miles plus 50 free miles a day to GoCampingAmerica visitors who rent an RV for at least one week during the June 1st to 25th period. The e-coupons will be posted on GoCampingAmerica.com on May 15th.
Twenty-five New York campgrounds are also offering a “buy two, get one night free” promotion through October 10th. Visitwww.ilovenycamping.com for more information.
Additionally, 16 New York campgrounds are offering a geocaching competition on June 11th, in which campers will have the opportunity to search for a hidden coin, which they can redeem for a special prize. More information on geocaching is available at www.gogeocachingny.com.
For more information on New York campgrounds, please contact Suzanne Bixby or Don Bennett at (585) 586-4360 and visit www.nycampgrounds.com.
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If you’re struggling to come up with ways to get your kids engaged in outdoor activities, you may want to consider geocaching.
Geocaching is a like a high-tech scavenger hunt in which the players use GPS devices to search for hidden treasures, using coordinates that are given to them as clues to use in the hunt.
“Geocaching has gotten to be a really popular camping activity in recent years, partly because it’s as appealing to adults as it is to children,” said Don Bennett, president and CEO of Campground Owners of New York, the Pittsfield-based trade association that represents New York’s campground industry.
In fact, 15 New York campgrounds will be participating in a statewide geocaching contest on June 11th in celebration of National Get Outdoors Day. A special coin will be hidden in one of the participating campgrounds, which the finder can redeem for a special prize.
Visit www.gogeocachingny.com for more information. Following is contact information for New York campgrounds that will be offering geocaching activities on June 11th:
Back Bay Campgrounds and Cottages (1000 Islands Seaway Region)
Dave Powelczyk, PO Box 280, Hammond, NY 13646
315-324-5612 www.backbaycamping.com backbay@live.com
Brook n Wood Family Campground (Hudson Valley)
Vanessa Leto, 1947 CR 8, Elizaville, NY 12523
518-537-6896 www.brooknwood.com camp@brooknwood.com
Brookside Campground (Catskills)
Bonnie Schroader, 4952 Route 32, Catskill, NY 12414
518-678-9729 www.brooksidecampgrounds.com bonnie@brooksidecampgrounds.
Camp Bell Campground (Finger Lakes)
Ed Marden, 8700 State Route 415, Campbell, NY 14821
800-587-3301 www.campbellcampground.com campbellcampground@yahoo.com
Conesus Lake Campground (Finger Lakes)
Gale Bennett, 5609 East Lake Road, Conesus, NY 14435
585346-2267 www.conesuslakecampground.com info@conesuslakecampground.com
Copake KOA (Hudson Valley)
Cathy Reinard, 2236 County Route 7, Copake, NY 12516
518-329-2811 www.copakekoa.com copake@hotmail.com
Country Charm Campground (Finger Lakes)
Craig Rode, 4697 Grady Road, Middlesex, NY 14507
585-739-1841 www.countrycharmcampground.com countrycharm@frontier.net
Hickory Hill Family Camping Resort (Finger Lakes)
Rosemary Curtis, 7531 County Route 13, Bath, NY 14810
800-760-0947 www.hickoryhillcampresort.com rosemary@hickoryhillcamp.com
Lake Bluff Campground (Finger Lakes)
Gregg or Kelly Nicholls, 7150 Garner Rd., Wolcott, NY 14590
888-588-4517 www.lakebluffcampground.com camp@lakebluffcampground.com
Lake George RV Park (Adirondacks)
David King, 74 State Route 149, Lake George, NY 12845
518-792-3775 www.lakegeorgervpark.com dave@lakegeorgervpark.com
Lebanon Reservoir Campground (Central New York)
Truman Hartshorn, 6277 Reservoir Rd., Hamilton, NY 13346
315-824-2278 www.lebanoncampground.com truman@lebanoncampground.com
Rip Van Winkle Campground (Catskills)
Jennifer Ellsworth, 149 Blue Mtn. Rd., Saugerties, NY 12477
800-842-6316 www.ripvanwinklecampground.com camping@
Saugerties/Woodstock KOA (Catskills)
Wayne Hampel, 882 Rt. 212, Saugerties, NY 12477
800-562-4081 www.saugertieskoa.com saugertieskoa@hotmail.com
Stony Creek Campground (Adirondacks)
Frank & Lori Leemans, 18 Grist Mill Rd., Stony Creek, NY 12778
518-696-5029 www.stonycreekcampground.com stonycreekfamily@aol.com
Susquehanna Trail Campground (Central New York)
Dene Tribe, 4292 State Highway 7, Oneonta, NY 13820
607-432-1122 www.
For more information on New York campgrounds, please contact Suzanne Bixby or Don Bennett at (585) 586-4360 and visitwww.nycampgrounds.com.
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Fifteen New York campgrounds are planning special outdoor activities in celebration of National Get Outdoors Day on June 11th.
“While June is Great Outdoors Month, June 11th is Get Outdoors Day, and campgrounds across New York are offering numerous activities, from nature walks to scavenger hunts and geocaching events,” said Don Bennett, president and CEO of Campground Owners of New York, the trade association that represents New York’s private campground industry.
Get Outdoors Day activities can be found at www.GoCampingNY.com. Here’s a sampling of activities and information for 15 campgrounds that are planning special events on June 11th:
Beaver Spring Lake Campground (Central New York)
Betty Taylor, 263 Beaver Spring Rd., Davenport, NY 13750
607-278-5293 www.beaverspringlake.com bslcg@stny.rr.com
Welcome Campers - Fly a Kite
Kite flying and potluck supper. Bring a kite if you have one and a dish to pass and share
Brook n Wood Family Campground (Hudson Valley)
Vanessa Leto, 1947 CR 8, Elizaville, NY 12523
518-537-6896 www.brooknwood.com camp@brooknwood.com
"Get Outdoors" America
1-3PM. Join us for an open house, and a guided nature walk through the trails and walkways of our 62 gorgeous acres. Non-camping visitors are welcome, must register in office.
Chautauqua Lake KOA (Chautauqua-Allegheny Region)
Anita Perry, 5652 Thumb Rd., Dewittvile, NY 14728
716-386-3804 www.chautauqualakekoa.com camping@chautauqualakekoa.com
Put Your Best Foot Forward
10AM - Soccer Game, 3PM - Walkathon, 8PM - Line Dancing.
Cool Lea Camp (Finger Lakes)
Rose Ann Simpkins, 2540 State Route 228, Odessa, NY 14869
607-594-3500 www.coolleacamp.com coollea2@aol.com
Open House
Visit Cool Lea Camp on June 11th - National Get Outdoors Day - to see all we have to offer for camping and outdoor recreation on beautiful Kayutah Lake.
Hickory Hill Family Camping Resort (Finger Lakes)
Rosemary Curtis, 7531 County Route 13, Bath, NY 14810
800-760-0947 www.hickoryhillcampresort.com rosemary@hickoryhillcamp.com
Activities in the Park
Join Hickory Hill in activities being planned to help attendees embrace the nature around them and take part in healthy outdoor lifestyles, in celebration of National Get Outdoors Day. Details to be announced.
Kellystone Park (Central New York)
Melrose Kelly, 51 Hawkins Rd., Nineveh, NY 13813
607-639-1090 www.kellystonepark.net kellystone_park@yahoo.com
Christmas Outdoors
2PM -4PM. Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves with presents for children. Reservations required.
Lake Bluff Campground (Finger Lakes)
Gregg or Kelly Nicholls, 7150 Garner Rd., Wolcott, NY 14590
888-588-4517 www.lakebluffcampground.com camp@lakebluffcampground.com
Open House & Yard Sale. Hobo Weekend
All Day. Hobos meet in costume at pavilion. We need hobos to panhandle all day at the store. Costume judging at 4:30 PM. Road Kill Stew (beef stew) at 5:00 PM – free for all in costume, ($) for everyone else. Bring a dessert to pass. Come geocaching in our park. Hobos panhandle the park for charity: The Success Center, Sodus, NY, from 6:00 – 7:30 PM. Bingo at 7:30 PM
Lebanon Reservoir Campground (Central New York)
Truman Hartshorn, 6277 Reservoir Rd., Hamilton, NY 13346
315-824-2278 www.lebanoncampground.com truman@lebanoncampground.com
Get Outdoors Day
10am-4pm. Hiking around Lebanon Reservoir. Scavenger Hunt. Bicycle safety education. Kayaking.
Meadow-Vale Campsites (Central New York)
Cecelia Schleder, 505 Gilbert Lake Rd., Mount Vision, NY 13810
800-701-8802 www.meadow-vale.com meadowvale@oecblue.com
Disc Golf Competiton
12PM - 4PM. Learn disc golf. free to campers, 25% off camping fees June 10 - 12
Rip Van Winkle Campground (Catskills)
Jennifer Ellsworth, 149 Blue Mtn. Rd., Saugerties, NY 12477
800-842-6316 www.ripvanwinklecampground.com camping@
St. Jude's Children's Hospital Fundraiser
10AM - 2PM. Come celebrate the great outdoors at Rip Van Winkle Campground and support a very worthy cause! There'll be lots of fun had by all! Meet our newest camper, Dino the Dinosaur, as we dedicate him to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Pedal boating, volleyball, laddergolf, rc track, coloring contest, bounce houses, horseshoes, blood drive, silent auction, crafts, bbq, geocache, hayrides.
Saugerties/Woodstock KOA (Catskills)
Wayne Hampel, 882 Rt. 212, Saugerties, NY 12477
800-562-4081 www.saugertieskoa.com saugertieskoa@hotmail.com
Geocaching in the Park
1PM - 3PM. Locate and search the parks in house - 3 geocaching boxes
Spruce Row Campground & RV Park (Finger Lakes)
Scott Sherwood, 2271 Kraft Road, Ithaca, NY
607-387-9225 www.sprucerow.com arcticwood00@yahoo.com
Mardi Gras Themed Weekend
Join in the fun for mask making, tye dye party (purchase an item to dye in the office for $5 or bring your own and pay $2.), outdoor carnival with games and bounce house. Hayrides at 2pm, 4pm, and 6 pm. Come camping this weekend and automatically receive a voucher to return again within the 2011 season for 50% off your first night on your return visit (some exclusions apply). Plus, you will also receive 5 friends and family 20% off coupons to give out to some of your favorite people!
Stony Creek Campground (Adirondacks)
Frank & Lori Leemans, 18 Grist Mill Rd., Stony Creek, NY 12778
518-696-5029 www.stonycreekcampground.com stonycreekfamily@aol.com
Free Pancake Breakfast
9AM - 11AM. Come get to know our campground! All are welcome to a FREE pancake breakfast, and access to swimming, fishing and more.
Susquehanna Trail Campground (Central New York)
Dene Tribe, 4292 State Highway 7, Oneonta, NY 13820
607-432-1122 www.
Pig Roast Family Fun Day
2PM - 10PM. Featuring pulled pork sandwiches, BBQ, family entertainment, reduced price camping
West Canada Creek Campsites (Central New York)
Mike Papp, 12275 State Rte. 28, Poland, NY 13431
888-461-2267 www.westcanadacreekcampsites.
WCCC Crafter/Garage Sale Weekend
9AM-2PM. Getting rid of stuff that’s been in the house for a while, or selling a craft? Come out and we’ll have an area set up to sell and plenty of people to sell to. Those camping get a FREE booth. Call for details.
For more information on New York campgrounds, please contact Suzanne Bixby or Don Bennett at (585) 586-4360 and visitwww.nycampgrounds.com