The camping season is over....now what do campground owners do? Well, in the old days they used to go to Florida or some other warm climate and spend the cold winter months in the sunshine and glory of the sourthern states. Well, now, the camping business is more of a year round business, and while there certainly are no campers in the park (at least not ours - some do stay open for snow mobile fans) and the winterization has already been done what do we work on...
State Conferences - we attend state conferences. These are opportunities for fellow campground owners in New York State to get together and attend some educational classes, gather together and discuss the interesting things that happen during the season and yes, we might even complain about a camper or two! It is a great time to renew friendships, learn from one another and begin planning for next season. We also elect the Board of Directors and learn what the organization has been working on and what new benefits we will receive as members.
National Conferences - we also attend national conferences. These are further opportunities to get together with campground owners all across the country and get more ideas and complain a little more about the crazy campers. We have more opportunities to attend educational classes, dinners to celebrate the outstanding parks, elections to place new people on the Board of Directors and opportunities to learn about new member benefits.
At both conferences we also get a chance to visit with vendors that are selling everything from new cabins to chemicals for the septic system and everything in between. We are making plans.....always making plans.
Sandy and I spend November working on the activity schedule for the following year, finishing up inventory for year end, attending the conferences and finding some time to spend with the boys. In December we like to review the website and make sure that everything is good, get the rates up for the following year and finalize any major repairs/upgrades we are going to make for the following year.
The balance of the winter is spend taking reservations, working on the items that can be done while the park is closed and the snow is on the ground and getting ready for the upcoming season.
March is the beginning of the show season, and we often attend the RV shows that are in our market to help get the word out.
April comes, and we begin working outdoors, as the weather allows, getting the park ready for the many campers that will begin coming in at the end of the month....the next thing you know....you are busy and it is summer time.
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