Will camprgounds ever fit hospitality standards?

I've been all over America and parts of Canada and have yet to have a really bad experience with campground staffs. Everybody has off days and we just have to get over it. Besides, if they're a terrible place I'd never go back anyway so my wallet does my talking.:B

Times have changed. Law and liability require signage, in addition to written notice.
Signage cannot be refuted in court, in the way written notice can be.
All of you recognize signage at a pool for depth, no diving or Lifeguard on duty.
Now the same concept is applied to the entire property.

I HATE the sign that says, "NO DIVING" in the hot tub.....:B:B:B....Dennis

doxiemom11 wrote:
We are campground hosts, and the level of our friendliness also is based on how the incoming camper acts when they arrive. Are they all business, not interested in chatting, stick to themselves and never wave or talk to you. Some people are very friendly, and that is the treatment they get back from us. We try with the other folks, but it can be ackward to try having a conversation and the campers just look at you. Oh well...... as far as signs, you mean you actually read them! You wouldn't think anyone reads them as so many break most rules. If common sense prevailed, those signs wouldn't be necessary. As it is, they have to be posted so they can be referred to. If we do need to speak to someone about a rule being broken, the first thing out of there mouth is "show me where it says that". So -- if there is a sign, we can show them.

Our thoughts exactly!

We are volunteers also and you would not believe what some campers do even if there are rules in place. How often have you been given a campground map with the rules on the back side? How often have you taken it back to your site and gone over the rules with everyone in your party? That includes all the kids who generally don't read signs.

We were at a major national park with no showers available in the campground. There was a sink attached to the bathroom outside with a HUGE SIGN stating that the sink was only for washing dishes. Someone had emptied their porta potty in the sink. A few days later someone was standing in the sink (an adult) down to his underwear, take his bath. Someone went out late at night to chop down a tree for his firewood. Signs were on every picnic table not to leave food stuff or coolers out when not using them because of bears. One guy evidently thought that didn't mean him. He left it and went siteseeing. A ranger confiscated it. We got the knock at 11:00 pm asking for his cooler back. We explained why it was confiscated and he demanded we get it from the ranger. We gave him the ranger's phone #. No, the ranger did not get out of bed. Instead, the camper got a fine the next day and was asked to leave the park.

There are signs by the water spigots not to wash or brush teeth. Naturally, very few abide by this and we volunteers had the job of digging out the hairfilled/toothpaste soil/rocks and adding fresh to the water would drain properly.

Fire pits - some people seem to feel that anything can be thrown in - dirty diapers, cans, cigarette butts, glass. Who do you think cleans out that pit for the next camper?

All of the above happened in a one-month timeframe. Unfortunately, some folks need constant reminding of the rules and common courtesy to others. Even reminders and signs don't seem to help.

It sounds like we don't enjoy volunteering but we absolutely do. The above happens by a minority of campers. The rest are awesome and that's why we keep doing it! Thank you for those who read and obey the rules. You make it a lot easier.

I like a compromise -- when someone stops by the office, they get on their invoice a printed list of rules. This way, there is less of a need for signs, and if someone is violating, they are easily pointed to the receipt with the items in writing they have agreed to, with obvious proof in the exchange of money.

Of course, a sign or two with obvious stuff can't hurt either.

When Lynn and I were in our 20's we looked for campgrounds with no rules. I still remember the night I knew that had come to the end. It was the 4th of July and the fireworks were still flying over our tent at 4 in the morning. Today we like rules. I do not need someone to tell me how to be kind and considerate to my neighbors but there a whole lot of folks out there that do need to be told.

If people were to drive cars pulling 5,000# suitcases into hotels then I think the hotels would tend to have more rules. :h

The question is like comparing oranges to french fries, both are food but not in the same class.

NurseBetty wrote:
I was thinking about this as we traveled on our annual vacation...so many times you pull into a campground and are confronted with a multitude of signs telling you what you Can't Do...as opposed to a warm, welcoming feeling.

A bit off topic here.

I'm not a fan of the: Nope, Stop, Keep out, Wrong, Not allowed, NO signage.

I used to arrive at work and walk down the hallway to an industrial area.
The hall was littered with signs forbidding this, cautioning about that, pointing blame on all who entered.
This used to put me in a really bad mood and the day hadn't begun yet.
I came to find out that it bothered many others and caused a retaliatory attitude.

Perhaps the in your face, even before you do anything display causes people to disrespect the obvious.

been lucky also. I haven't been to miserable cgs. so far I am batting a thousand with nice people and nice grounds and friendly atmosphere.
maybe it is my location area? or something like that but I have never felt unwelcome at any cg I have visited.

doxiemom11 wrote:
We are campground hosts, and the level of our friendliness also is based on how the incoming camper acts when they arrive. Are they all business, not interested in chatting, stick to themselves and never wave or talk to you. Some people are very friendly, and that is the treatment they get back from us. We try with the other folks, but it can be ackward to try having a conversation and the campers just look at you. Oh well...... as far as signs, you mean you actually read them! You wouldn't think anyone reads them as so many break most rules. If common sense prevailed, those signs wouldn't be necessary. As it is, they have to be posted so they can be referred to. If we do need to speak to someone about a rule being broken, the first thing out of there mouth is "show me where it says that". So -- if there is a sign, we can show them.

I think you said it very well in your comments.