Forfar Recreation Park

GENERAL GUIDELINES 1. The following County campgrounds shall be considered “managed” where a campground manager is assigned to live onsite seasonally: Forfar Recreation Park and Hope Lake. 2. The following County campgrounds shall be considered “unmanaged” where there is no scheduled campground manager assigned: Baptiste Lake, Ghost Lake, Jackfish Lake, Island Lake, Long Lake, Narrow Lake and North Buck Lake Narrows. 3. All fees referenced within this policy shall be charged in accordance with Policy 7630. 4. The Director of Infrastructure Services or designate may authorize bookings and make other decisions outside the scope of this procedure in special circumstances (e.g. bookings requiring multiple sites for the same dates for residents within County boundaries). RESERVATION PROCEDURES 1. Seasonal Reservations: a) Seasonal shall be defined as an authorized booking from approximately mid-May to mid-September for an individual campsite, without additional services, within a managed campground. b) The County may establish up to fifty percent (50%) of the available campsites in a campground for seasonal rental. c) Applications will be accepted at the Athabasca County Administration Office during regular business hours starting the first working day in January until the last working day in January of the camping year. Applications will also be accepted via email to [email protected]. Applications will not be accepted prior to 12:00 a.m. on the first working day in January. d) A non-refundable application fee must accompany each seasonal application. e) Residents within the municipal boundaries of Athabasca County shall have first choice of selecting seasonal campsites on a first come first serve basis. f) If less than fifty percent (50%) of the available campsites in a campground have been allocated to residents for seasonal rental after applications have closed, non-residents will be allocated campsites on a first come first serve basis. If there is a two way timed-tie for the last campsite, an additional campsite will be allocated for the season. If there are multiple timed-ties for the last campsite then a random draw will be conducted. g) No guarantee is given that any applicant will be allocated a specific campsite. The County reserves the right to withhold any campsite from seasonal rental and allocate campsites at the Director of Infrastructure Services discretion. h) The deadline and process of paying the seasonal campsite fee shall be as follows: • Seasonal campsite fees must be paid to the Athabasca County Administration Office. • A non-refundable deposit of fifty percent (50%) of the seasonal campsite fee must be paid by the last working day in February of the camping year. • The balance of the seasonal campsite fee must be paid by the first working day in May of the camping year. i) Upon checking into the campsite for the season, seasonal campers are required to complete a seasonal campsite agreement and will be provided with two (2) seasonal camping passes. j) Failure to meet the above conditions will result in forfeiture of any current or future right to the campsite. k) The seasonal campsite fee permits one (1) camping accommodation unit. Additional units in a seasonal campsite will be an additional fee per unit for the season or per unit per night. All units must be on the campsite. Additional units will only be permitted if the campsite has the capacity. Small tents used as part of an immediate family unit with no additional vehicles are exempt. l) All camping units and belongings of the seasonal camper must be removed from the campsite prior to the fall closure of the campground. Any camping units and belongings remaining after closure will be removed by the County and an invoice will be sent to the seasonal camper allocated to the campsite, in accordance with current County bylaws. 2. Nightly Reservations: a) Individual campsite and group campsite bookings at managed and unmanaged campgrounds must be made online using the Athabasca County website. The online reservation system will be opened at the start of regular business hours on the first working day of March. b) A booking fee is charged for all campsite reservations using the online booking system. This fee is non-refundable when requesting a cancellation. c) A nightly fee will be charged at managed and unmanaged campgrounds per campsite. The nightly fee permits one (1) camping accommodation unit. d) Additional units in a campsite will be an additional fee per unit per night. All units must be on the campsite. Additional units will only be permitted if the campsite has the capacity. Small tents used as part of an immediate family unit with no additional vehicles are exempt. e) Each individual campsite shall be allowed two (2) vehicles. Each additional vehicle will be charged a fee per vehicle per day and shall park within the campsite or in designated public parking areas. f) Group campsites are available at Forfar Recreation Park, Hope Lake Campground and Jackfish Lake Campground for a nightly fee. 3. Day Use & Boat Launch Passes: a) A day use fee per vehicle per day will be charged at all County Day use areas. b) A boat launch fee per launch will be charged at all County boat launches. c) Season day passes can be purchased at the Athabasca County Administration Office, Forfar Recreation Park and Hope Lake Campground. d) Season day passes admit two (2) vehicles throughout the season at any County Day use area or boat launch. The pass must be displayed prominently in the vehicle when in use. GENERAL REGULATIONS 1. Firewood is available for purchase at the managed campgrounds for a fee per 1.5 cubic foot bundle. 2. No accessory structures or site alterations are permitted on any campsite. 3. Check-in time is 4:00 p.m.; checkout time is 2:00 p.m. 4. Quiet time is between the hours of 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. 5. Maximum occupancy shall be fourteen (14) consecutive days in each campsite unless an extension on a day-to-day basis is authorized by the Parks Foreman. 6. A maximum of six (6) adults and their dependent children may occupy a campsite. 7. All property left is at the owner’s risk. The County will not accept responsibility for the loss or damage to any property left within the campgrounds. SUSPENSION GUIDELINES 1. Suspensions shall be at the discretion of the Campground Manager, Parks Foreman or CAO. 2. Suspended parties will be required to remove all their belongings, vacate their site, and leave the campground as soon as reasonably possible. 3. The terms of suspension are for guideline purposes only. Each case varies and will be treated accordingly. 4. Terms of Suspension: a) Week Suspension A week suspension will be defined as suspension from all County campgrounds for the period of seven (7) days. Users may be suspended for this term due to, but not limited to, loud noise during designated quiet times, glass bottles or open alcohol outside of their campsite, disregarding any signage in the campground, and operating an OHV in a non-designated area within the campground. b) Month Suspension A month suspension will be defined as suspension from all County campgrounds for the period of thirty (30) days. Users may be suspended for this term due to, but not limited to, repeat offender of the prior clause, verbal abuse including profanity to any County employee or camper, starting a fire during a fire ban, setting off fireworks without permission, any minor vandalism and actions that cause unsafe areas for any camper. c) Long-Term Suspension A long-term suspension will be defined as suspension from all County campgrounds until a decision is made by the Parks Foreman following review of the incident. Users may be suspended for this term due to, but not limited to, repeat offenders of the prior two clauses, any major vandalism, and any physical abuse to County employees or other campers. 5. The Campground Manager, Parks Foreman, or CAO must complete a County Campground Suspension Notice form, including a detailed report. 6. All long-term suspensions must be recorded by the Campground Manager and reported immediately to the Parks Foreman 7. At the discretion of the CAO, Athabasca County will pursue legal action against any individual(s) that are suspended under this policy. 8. The individual or group registered to the campsite are responsible for the actions of all camping party members and any visitors to their campsite. 9. If the individual or group to whom an order is given under this policy does not comply with the order, the Campground Manager, Parks Foreman, Director of Infrastructure, Operations Manager or CAO may take measures to carry out the order, including assistance of a Peace Officer and/or RCMP.