I'll be glad when school is back in session.

[stro1965]

We were at a State Park this weekend. Park was packed. My wife and daughter and I were sitting around the campfire in the dark when the dogs started going berserk. There were kids walking through our campsite and, apparently, hiding from each other behind "our" trees. My wife asked a girl, maybe 12 years old, to please play somewhere else. She was told "you ain't my mama!"

A few minutes later, 3 or 4 of the little hooligans came back, obviously just to prove that they could do whatever they wanted. I got involved this time and a boy told me "you're not the police!" (I am, actually, but not in that county)

My voice raised a little higher than it probably should have at that point but they left, and I later heard an adult male tell them to "get over here" and they were gone for the night.

I can't wait for school to be back in session so I don't have to tolerate other people's rude, inconsiderate, unsupervised children. Rant over.

[Go_Dawgs1]

As a teacher I do put up with some of that. As for camping when that does occur I ask which campsite is theirs and go over and speak personally with the father or mother. Nicely explain what I asked them to do and why I didn't appreciate the response of the child. And then watch the parent lecture the child on proper behavior. If I don't get the response I wanted or the adult is not nice then I go get the ranger and let them handle the issue. Be nice, ask nice and good things happen.

[SKIPCAROL]

First...lets not go to NY if this is the usual...second we'll be heading to Maskenthine (outside Norfolk...our most favorite of parks) mid Sept. and be sure to be there during the week when there are no kids!

[Wrace]

I can't wait for school to be back in session either, as it marks the beginning of camping season for many of us here in WA. September 9th, specifically.

I'll start blowing the dust off the RV the last week of August and then we will be in a CG Friday afternoon Sept 13 for the first night of the season.

[robatthelake]

I can remember how much fun it was to play "hide and Seek" as a youngster! It was the most fun as it was just getting dark.
In Manitoba that was pretty late during the Summer !
There were grouches then and a few Smart A$$ kids as well.
Somehow We all survived.

Ever tipped over an Outhouse?

[koda55]

Two years ago we were camping Stephens Foster and had a adult and two teenagers in a tent next to us. They were very quiet and never caused any ruckus. The only problem was when they left they just threw their charcoal out of their grill into the woods. How did we find that out, my DW looked out the window a little bit later and there was a fire. Guess we have been very lucky to never have had any problems with our neighbors while camping.

[rk911]

crudeman wrote:

rk911 wrote:

Steeljag wrote:

Whidbeydavid wrote:
I had a similar situation recently while stopping for groceries on a trip. Two teenage boys were joyriding in the motorized shopping carts in the store, running into customers and store displays. Store employees refused to approach them, saying "We've called the manager". I chose to approach them and, in a command voice, directed them to stop, get off the carts and leave the store immediately. One of them told me "you don't work here", but then reconsidered when he realized he had a large, hairy pissed-off man to deal with, who wasn't backing off or concerned about being polite. They got off the carts and ran.

Ok, I'll ask, if those kids would have elected to ignore you, or tell you to get lost "pops"', your next step would have been?

for us it would've been a visit to the parents and, if needed, the CG host, owner or manager. and if they refused to take action and the disturbance warranted it a call to 9-1-1would follow.

given the facts presented by the OP I would've sought out the parents and asked them politely to ask their kids to play elsewhere. if it continued i might've been tempted to re-chain the dogs along the perimeter of our campsite. it might not be my campground but it most certainly is my campsite for as long as i'm paying the rent and i'm entitled to enjoy it. this situation is no different from kids running up and down the halls in a motel, banging on doors or playing with the elevators or ice machine. if the parents or manager won't stop it the local gendarmes will. kids need to be taught respect for other people's property and space.

911 whats your emergency? I have two kids out here fifty yards playing behind a tree that belongs to the state and my dogs are barking.. :B

it's called disturbing the peace and police will respond. I did write "and the disturbance warranted".

[popupcamping]

Lantley wrote:
Boy I can't wait to retire when I can take the smallest issue and turn it into a major episode requiring a rant.
Why I certainly don't condone the kids back talk in the end they were just being kids. When the parents were made aware the issue ended.
If kids playing at a state park are your biggest problem you are doing alright.
I hear they have 55 and older no kids places. Maybe you should try them out.

X infinity

[Lantley]

Boy I can't wait to retire when I can take the smallest issue and turn it into a major episode requiring a rant.
Why I certainly don't condone the kids back talk in the end they were just being kids. When the parents were made aware the issue ended.
If kids playing at a state park are your biggest problem you are doing alright.
I hear they have 55 and older no kids places. Maybe you should try them out.

[Sea_Dog]

I hope that I do not live long enough to become
a sour old fart who hates kids!

[HappyKayakers]

gcloss wrote:

I more than 30+ years of camping in RVs, we find the rude campers to be those who are tenters who have no investment in camping other than a $30 tent from Walmart. We try to camp in CGs where tents are either not allowed or tent sites are limited and far away from the RV sites.

You haven't been next to a family reunion in RVs or cabins. They can be just as noisy and obnoxious.

[Bob_Olallawa]

gcloss wrote:
We just returned from a week in Lake George. Two young kids started to pass through our site trying to catch butterflies. When they were about 5 feet into our site we heard their mom shout to them not to pass through our site. They stopped dead in their tracks apologized and backed out of our site. Now that is respect.

When camping July 4th week in a different CG, we had some kids cut through our site. We politely asked not to cut through in the future. They didn't acknowledge, but were not unkind. About 15 minutes later these same kids Mom started to cut through our site and we politely asked her not to. She went off on us with four letter words.

I more than 30+ years of camping in RVs, we find the rude campers to be those who are tenters who have no investment in camping other than a $30 tent from Walmart. We try to camp in CGs where tents are either not allowed or tent sites are limited and far away from the RV sites.

Darn tenters anyway, they should all be forced into one area with guards on the perimeter. You just never know what those kind of people will do next.

[gcloss]

We just returned from a week in Lake George. Two young kids started to pass through our site trying to catch butterflies. When they were about 5 feet into our site we heard their mom shout to them not to pass through our site. They stopped dead in their tracks apologized and backed out of our site. Now that is respect.

When camping July 4th week in a different CG, we had some kids cut through our site. We politely asked not to cut through in the future. They didn't acknowledge, but were not unkind. About 15 minutes later these same kids Mom started to cut through our site and we politely asked her not to. She went off on us with four letter words.

I more than 30+ years of camping in RVs, we find the rude campers to be those who are tenters who have no investment in camping other than a $30 tent from Walmart. We try to camp in CGs where tents are either not allowed or tent sites are limited and far away from the RV sites.

[popupcamping]

HappyKayakers wrote:
I'm gonna go the other way on this and not blame the kids for their behavior or smart mouths. They're being kids (playing) and apparently weren't raised properly (smart mouths). When I was that age, getting a mouth full of soap was not uncommon for that offense.

Anyway, the campgrounds don't want to lose business ($$) so they allow the behavior to continue. I would suggest a remedial class for both parents and kids before they're allowed to camp there again, sort of like driving school after a ticket. That way the campgrounds can keep the business and (hopefully) the offending parties turn into responsible campers.

I truly wish that all campers were given an etiquette test that literally has to be taken and signed.
There are many things that are far more irritating than a kid running through the woods.

1. At night should you lock your car with the key fob (CHIRP CHIRP) or walk over and use the door lock button?

2. Should you slam your RV door behind you or turn around and push it closed quietly?

3. Should you clean up all your glass bottles at quiet time or wait until the morning?

4. Should you chop all your wood early in the evening at once or all through out?

5. If your dog barks once at something do you immediately put it away or give it another chance?

there are many more and if I had a CG I would seriously implement this as most simply just do not understand how irritating they can be.

last place I was at a woman had to park across the lane from her site and was removing items from her car. Everytime she locked it and unlocked it ,about 6-7times in 10 minutes....chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp....

Send me the innocent but mouthy kid anytime.

Doug

[stro1965]

You could make an argument for trespassing, as you certainly have a contractual rental agreement for the site. The problem, as was already mentioned, is the lack of defined borders.

[Pauljdav]

crudeman wrote:

rk911 wrote:

Steeljag wrote:

Whidbeydavid wrote:
I had a similar situation recently while stopping for groceries on a trip. Two teenage boys were joyriding in the motorized shopping carts in the store, running into customers and store displays. Store employees refused to approach them, saying "We've called the manager". I chose to approach them and, in a command voice, directed them to stop, get off the carts and leave the store immediately. One of them told me "you don't work here", but then reconsidered when he realized he had a large, hairy pissed-off man to deal with, who wasn't backing off or concerned about being polite. They got off the carts and ran.

Ok, I'll ask, if those kids would have elected to ignore you, or tell you to get lost "pops"', your next step would have been?

for us it would've been a visit to the parents and, if needed, the CG host, owner or manager. and if they refused to take action and the disturbance warranted it a call to 9-1-1would follow.

given the facts presented by the OP I would've sought out the parents and asked them politely to ask their kids to play elsewhere. if it continued i might've been tempted to re-chain the dogs along the perimeter of our campsite. it might not be my campground but it most certainly is my campsite for as long as i'm paying the rent and i'm entitled to enjoy it. this situation is no different from kids running up and down the halls in a motel, banging on doors or playing with the elevators or ice machine. if the parents or manager won't stop it the local gendarmes will. kids need to be taught respect for other people's property and space.

911 whats your emergency? I have two kids out here fifty yards playing behind a tree that belongs to the state and my dogs are barking.. :B

Just a question, but could it be considered trespass if the offenders were asked to leave and they refused?