KAMLOOPS — The minute the weather gets warmer, people start to think of camping.
While summer vacation may still be three weeks away for the kids, campgrounds are already getting busy, with bookings filling up quickly for July and August.
In fact, many campground owners say demand is getting busier every year.
Martina Hobbs spends a lot of time on the phone these days.
“I’ve had a lot of reservations,” said Hobbs. “I’m pretty much booked the whole August long weekend. I’vec still got some room in July but yeah, July and August I have a lot of bookings.”
Hobbs has been running the Pinegrove Campground in McLure for 13 years.
She says so far, this year has been one of their busiest for bookings.
The business owner believes the Canada 150 Discovery Passes that give people free access to Canada’s National Parks this year has led to more people travelling throughout B.C.
“They’re giving out free passes and people are taking advantage of that. There’s also that hype people hear on the news that B.C. is short on campsites, so I think people are making the effor to make sure they have a campsite.”
Along with the free National Park passes, business owners say an increase in long term campers is also contributing to the already busy camping season.
“We get a bunch of pulp mill and pipe line works that come in,” said Elson Sporsley, Owner of the Knutsford Campground. “There’s a lot of workers that come here and stay for a week or a month.”
Sporsley says a good portion of the people occupying his Knutsford Campground’s 100 sites are trade workers and retirees.
Permanently parked wheels may make booking more difficult for campers, but business owners aren’t complaining.
“Right now we’re basically full which is probably 20 to 20 per cent busier than usual,” added Sporsley. “I love it.”
As for Hobbs, she’s expecting her bookings calendar to be even more full once summer officially hits.
Her advice to campers is to plan ahead.
“If you know where you’re going, start booking your trip.”
