No gear? No problem.
Parks Canada launched a new program this year for campers called the Equipped Campsite Program, which is now available in nine national parks across Canada.
The Banff site is located at the Two Jack Main campground.
“Essentially, we’ll have 10 sites with tents set up. They are four- or six-man tents and campers can book an equipped campsite, they show up and everything is there for them and when I say everything that means they obviously have a tent, sleeping bed, a ground sheet, a tarp, a two burner camp stove and lantern,” said Judy Glowinski, Parks Canada product development specialist.
“Everything’s ready for them, so essentially they unzip the tent and they move in. So when you’re showing up with your family and you’ve got kids, they’re ready to go.”
Last year, Parks Canada launched the oTENTik program (a cross between a tent and a rustic cabin) for campers, and it is now diversifying camping options to offer the public even more choice for personalized experiences.
“We want to make sure that our camping experiences are relevant to Canadians, whether it’s for baby boomers who used to tent, but maybe don’t have the equipment anymore and want to come with the grandchildren perhaps once or twice a year, or maybe it’s new folks who say, ‘Hey, I really like to connect with nature and I would really like to try out camping, but I really don’t know how to do it and want to try it.’
“I think the convenience and hassle-free aspect of this will really appeal to those audiences,” Glowinski said.
“We only opened the reservations four days ago and we had 20 reservations right off the top, so now we know there is a great interest in this and we’re going to test it out this year and if successful we’ll probably make it part of our permanent offer.”
Another part of the program offers equipped campsite ambassadors, who will be on hand to offer camping tips and lessons for visitors during their stay. “They’ll be checking people in and they’ll also be delivering a program,” Glowinski said. “The equipped campsite program runs five days a week and each of those days will have a learn to camp program, so folks that are new to camping can learn to cook over an open fire and can learn how to chop wood.”
People who take advantage of the equipped campsite program are still responsible for bringing their own sleeping bags, pillows and cooking gear.
The cost is $55 per night at one of the sites and visitors are responsible for obtaining fire permits and a national park pass.
To book your campsite, email: [email protected] and visit, www.pc.gc.ca/eng/voyage-travel/hebergement-accommodation/equip.aspx for additional information on the program.
