All seasonal campers must read the complete rules & regulations document, be comfortable with the understandings and what is expected from each and every visitor to Big Water Campgrounds.
Park Administration:
Big Water Campgrounds Inc. (the Park) is a privately owned facility managed by the owner. The owner may authorize the establishment of committees comprised of seasonal campers to organize various camper functions/activities and to provide security and fire protection. The owner must be notified of all such committee meetings and he, or his representative, may attend at his discretion. Park staff have the authority to enforce all park regulations. Committee members may be asked to assist staff where issues of safety and security arise. These rules and regulations form part of the License of Occupation which is the legal contract between the camper and the park and which seasonal campers must read and sign at the start of each season. Office/store hours of operation are posted at the office and vary with demand, etc.
Camper Behavior:
Campers are expected to follow campground rules and regulations for reasons of safety, health, respect for the campers and respect for campground property. Registered campers are responsible for the behavior of the people on their site and to insure visitors follow these rules and regulations. Registered campers can be evicted by park staff at any time for violations of campground rules and regulations by themselves or their guests. Unless otherwise agreed to by affected parties and management, quiet hours are from 12:00AM to 9:00AM. Music must be turned down and voices held to normal conversation level; no yelling, loud laughing, etc. Normally generators should also be shut off. Campers under the age of 18 years of age should be under adult supervision at their respective campsites after 12:00 midnight. No campers under 18 years of age should move from one site to another after 12:00 midnight without adult supervision. Campers walking from one site to another after dark should show respect for other campers by being quiet. Any problems should be brought to the staff’s attention immediately. See “Useful Contact Information” sheet attached. Sheet is posted at all park bulletin boards. If a camper feels a neighboring campsite is excessively loud or obnoxious in any way, they are within their rights to request politely that the noisy camper quiet down. If this fails to achieve desired results or if they are too shy to confront noisy neighbors, a phone call to the office will get an immediate response. Any camper phoning for a legitimate reason should have no fear of retribution from other campers. The campground is not being managed to protect noisy campers, quite the opposite. Campers who must be warned by park staff three times for breaking any park rules can be evicted immediately.
Identification:
Any person failing to provide photo I.D. (ie. driver’s license) upon request can be requested to leave the park and be reported to the Ontario Provincial Police.
Reservations:
Information pertaining to lot rental rates and camping reservations can be obtained on the rates page of the website. The office staff can also be contacted at (705) 360-3100. Our camping season is from May 15th – October 15th each year.
Full Season Camping (Seasonal):
Most sites at Big Water Campgrounds are booked for the entire summer season. Only trailers less than fifteen (15) years old will be considered for seasonal occupancy. Seasonal campers wishing to move to another lot should place their name on a waiting list that is maintained by park staff. Lot assignments will be made for campers using the following order of precedence:
- Campers who had a site last year
- Campers on the “wish to move” list
- General public on a first come first serve basis
Seasonal campers must declare their intention to retain the use of their site by March 1st of each year. Final date for registration and payment in full for the season will be April 30th of each year. Failure to do this will result in forfeiture of their lot. Extensions may be granted for exceptional circumstances by application in writing to park management. Campers may exchange lots with management’s approval. Both campers must submit their intentions in writing to park staff before an exchange can occur.
Short Stay Camping (Overnight, Weekly, Monthly):
A variety of sites are available for shorter stay or overnight campers. As availability of these sites changes daily, current information must be obtained from the website or from office staff. There are no restrictions on trailer type for short stays. All campground facilities and functions are available to overnight campers. No sheds, decks, gazebos, etc. are allowed to be built on overnight sites. The site must be left clean and empty when camper leaves. All other campground rules and regulations apply. Short term campers are not allowed any free guests.
Visitors:
All seasonal campers are allowed guests. Guests must pay the appropriate camping or day use fees as indicated at the office or on the campground website and follow all campground rules and regulations. Seasonal lot owners are permitted some free visitors described here as registered guests. Seasonal campers are issued 25 free passes per site to be used annually. Please see chart below for guest rates.
|
Free Passes |
Registered Guest |
Additional Guest |
Day Use Only(until midnight) |
1
|
1 Adult
(children under the age of 16 free)
|
$4.00/adult
$2.00/child (under 16 years of age)
|
Overnight in Lot Owner’s Trailer(2 days) |
2
|
1 Adult
(children under the age of 16 free)
|
$8.00/adult
$4.00/child (under 16 years of age)
*one day use fee refunded if guest leaves before noon the next day
|
Overnight in Guest’s Tent/Trailer on Lot Owner’s Lot |
Not applicable
|
1/2 Overnight Fee
|
1/2 Overnight Fee
|
Camper/Visitor/Campground Liability:
For the most part, the camping facility is unsupervised. The owner and its staff accept no legal liability for personal injury to the users of the park, nor property damage, theft of and/or vandalism to the property of the users of the park. All users of the park hereby agree to assume all risks of personal injury, property damage, theft of and/or vandalism to property and hereby release the park owner and its staff from any and all liability associated with the use of the park. Campers assume full responsibility for their visitors. All campers are encouraged to ensure that they have obtained adequate insurance coverage.
Campground Security:
Security is provided by park staff and campground committee security volunteers. Additional security may be hired as required.
A-Frame Use:
The A-Frame is intended for day user activity and for special events at a cost. Reservations for special events must be coordinated through the park attendant. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in this area without special permission.
Beach Facilities:
These facilities do not require a reservation. However, use of the facility is at the user’s risk. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in these areas. All children under the age of twelve (12) years must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
Motorized Vehicles:
Vehicles licensed for highway driving must enter and leave the park only from the main entrance at Highway 655. Camper’s authorized off-highway motorized vehicles may use the trail between Lots 28 and 29 in the Blueberry Hill section as a second means of accessing/leaving the park. The gravel pit adjacent to the south side of the park is private property and trespassing is not allowed. Any camper caught trespassing in the pit area with a motorized vehicle hereby agrees to have his camping privileges revoked and risks being charged with trespassing. The gravel pit owner has graciously allowed ATV users access to the trails on the property as long as no trespassing into the pit areas occur. Campers will be allowed to use their ATV’s within the park grounds. All campers bringing an ATV to the campground must supply a copy of proof of insurance to the office on an annual basis. They will be required to tag their vehicle with their lot number. This will be provided by the office staff. This rule will also apply to any guests bringing an ATV onto the park grounds. Recreational vehicle users must have a driver’s license. Any exceptions must be authorized by park staff. A licensed driver must accompany any driver with a “beginner’s license”. Any type of vehicle including watercraft, must be operated in accordance with ALL regulations and laws enforced by the Ontario Provincial Police or any other authority (examples include vehicle registration, insurance, driver’s license, wearing of helmets, alcohol, etc.). Motorized personal watercraft are not permitted in the park. Children using/riding motorized toys, miniature atv’s, etc. must be accompanied by and under the control of a responsible adult at all times unless on their own lot. Use of any other motorized vehicles in the park must be approved by staff and restrictions may be imposed. Operators of all motorized vehicles must obey all park signs, speed limits and conform to all pertinent regulations. Maximum speed limits as posted in the park will be strictly enforced by park staff. Generally maximum speed allowed is 10km/h in all campsite areas. From the main entrance gate to the start of Lakeside, max. speed limit is posted as 20km/h but extreme caution must be exercised at all times due to presence of children, pedestrians and other traffic. Drivers must be prepared to stop at any time. Drivers should reduce speed out of consideration for fellow campers during dusty conditions. Staff will be using a radar gun to control speeders and the radar reading will be final.
Penalties for speeding:
- First Offence
- Verbal warning – no penalty
- Warning recorded by staff
- Second Offence
- One week loss of vehicle card access to park for all users of that lot and their loss of all driving privileges in park.
- Third Offence
- One month loss of vehicle card access to park for all users of that lot and their loss of all driving privileges in park.
- Fourth Offence
- Loss of vehicle access to park for the remainder of season for all users of that lot and their loss of all driving privileges in park.
Any vehicle which is deemed by park staff to be excessively noisy or otherwise not conforming to the regulations is not allowed to be operated in the park. Use of ATV’s in the park after dark should be kept to a minimum for necessities only and not for recreational purposes. Pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles have the right of way but must yield to motorized traffic as soon as possible to facilitate optimum traffic flow.
Docks at Camper’s Boat Launch:
Use by children only when under adult supervision. Follow regulations posted at dock. Docking fees are as per rates listed annually. Only a limited number of shoreline boat parking spots are available for rent at $25.00/month or $100.00/season. Car topper size boats less than 14’ in length will not be allowed on the shoreline. These boats can be stored in the storage boat rack on site at the same rates or stored at no charge on camper’s lots or on trailers at the boat launch, Beaver Creek or Blueberry Hill parking areas. Boats occupying a rented spot must be identified by a numbered tag matching their spot provided by park staff. Non-motorized watercraft are no longer to be parked at the camper’s boat launch area. They must be parked at your lot, on a trailer at the trailer parking areas specified, or along the shoreline west of the camper’s beach. These include: kayaks, canoes, paddleboats. All boat operators require an operator card on board.
Bicycles:
Use of bicycles within the park after dark is discouraged. If bicycles are required after dark, bicycle lights must be in operation. Bicycle operators should exercise caution, due diligence and respect with regard to fellow cyclists, pedestrians, motorized vehicles and right to privacy of campers. Lot owners will be held responsible for the behavior of cyclists from their lot.
Drinking Water:
The water station at the entrance of the park is set up to pump on demand. This water is posted as NOT POTABLE and must not be used for consumption purposes. Nevertheless, do not wash vehicles or equipment of any sort in or around the water station. Campers now have the choice of chlorine treated or non-treated well water.
Noise Regulations:
All campers have the right to enjoy their campsite in relative peace and quiet without interference from excessive noise, yelling or loud music from neighbors. Music, TV, voice or other socializing sounds should be kept to the minimum volume level possible for a camper’s enjoyment so that neighboring campers can do the same. A rule of thumb is, “if at any time, campers’ voices or music can clearly be heard from the road, it is too loud.” During quiet time from midnight to 9:00am, socializing is allowed but music must be kept very low so as not to be heard from neighboring lots and voices kept to quiet conversation tones. No yelling or loud laughing that could keep the neighbors or their kids awake.
Electrical Generators:
Only inverter-type or generators deemed sufficiently quiet may be used in the park. Generators rated at less than 35 decibels (DB) generally meet the requirements. Electrical generators may be used in the park according to the following schedule:
- Opening day of the camping season to the weekend prior to the July 1st weekend
- July 1st weekend to the last day of the Labor Day weekend
- First day after Labor Day weekend
- Campers with new quiet-style generators will be allowed to run their generator twenty-four (24) hours per day. If a complaint is raised, you must turn your generator off by midnight
Note: Generators must have a proper muffler for noise and spark control. Hours outside of the schedule are “quiet hours” and will be strictly enforced. Excessive generator noise at any time will not be tolerated. Please exercise consideration for your neighbors when using generators. Normally generators are used to charge batteries which supply all the trailers needs. This usually involves a generator running less than 4 hours per 24 hour period. Generators should not be run unnecessarily.
Use of Chainsaws or Other Noisy Tools:
Unless otherwise authorized, chainsaws or noisy tools may only be used at campsites from May 15th to the last Friday in June and after the Labor Day weekend in September. During the months of July and August, chainsaw and other noisy tool use at campsites is restricted to Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between the hours of 12:00 (noon) to 4:00pm. Excessive stockpiling of firewood at your campsite is discouraged.
Dogs:
Dogs are not allowed on the beaches, in picnic areas or in playground areas. Dogs must be kept under control and on a leash when walking through the campground. Dogs may be kept loose on camper’s lot providing they can be controlled. If a dog wanders off his lot, the camper will be required to keep the dog tied up on the lot at all times. Dogs are permitted at both boat launch areas. Owners are responsible for picking up and disposing of dog droppings. Proper disposal of pet droppings in garbage bins. Pit bull varieties are not allowed in the park. Instances of dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior while off their lot or biting campers will not be tolerated. Excessive barking will not be tolerated.
Camp Fires/Garbage:
Campfires must be attended at all times. Fires are allowed in camp-provided or approved fireplaces only. A fireplace cannot be moved to another location. The height of a fire must not exceed twelve (12) inches above the grill. Campers should keep water at hand on their campsite for fire-fighting purposes. Ministry of Natural Resources and Ontario Fire Code rules and regulations will be observed at all times. NO BURNING OF GARBAGE IN CAMP FIRES AT ANY TIME. BRING ALL GARBAGE TO BINS AT PARK ENTRANCE. No outside garbage cans at campsites. Keep in trailer or shed until ready to bring to bins.
Emergency Fire Fighting Equipment:
Campers must not tamper with emergency fire-fighting equipment. All emergency equipment is color- coded red. In case of a fire, campers should immediately notify park staff. If not during regular staff hours, inform a fire crew member and call park owner. “What to do” signs are posted on bulletin boards and at all washroom locations. Water barrels provided throughout the park for camper protection must not be tampered with or used for other purposes.
Fire Safety Plan:
The Big Water Campgrounds fire safety plan attached forms part of these regulations.
Trailer Dumping Station:
Please respect others when flushing tanks or dumping honey wagons. The dumping station water tank is to be used for flushing only – not for washing vehicles. It may also be used for fires if a need should arise. Use a hose connected to your honey wagon to dump directly into the dump station inlet to avoid spillage and associated clean up. Two honey wagons are kept at the dumping station for campers’ use along with a hose to facilitate dumping. Please advise staff if any problems with this equipment is observed.
Firearms:
The use or discharge of any type of gun or firearm is not allowed in the park. This includes rifles, handguns, shotguns, bb guns, pellet guns, paint ball guns, archery or cross bows, etc. Any camper who wishes to store any of the above on their lot must obtain permission from park management and complete the Firearm Declaration.
Respect For Nature:
Management wishes to maintain the Big Water Campgrounds as natural as possible. In order to meet this objective, user cooperation is required. These are some simple guidelines to follow:
- Do not damage the trees; removal of bark, axe cuts or nails shortens their life. Do not tie rope, wire, string or cord of any kind to trees. See park staff if some attachment procedure is desired.
- Dead or dangerous trees may only be cut by or with the approval of park staff.
- Do not feed or attempt to feed wild animals.
- Remove garbage daily from campsites to the container in the main parking lot as wild animals are attracted to garbage.
- When in doubt, speak to park staff.
- Make every effort to maintain a clean campsite.
Bear Policy:
The Big Water Campgrounds bear policy attached forms part of these regulations.
Trailer Sales:
Big Water Campground management must be notified prior to any trailer being advertised for sale.
Trailer to be Sold Off Site:
- Trailer owner may sell their trailer privately off-site at any time with no restrictions.
- Once sold, trailer must be removed immediately to make lot available to rent as soon as possible by Big Water management.
- Site must be left clean and in a rentable condition by trailer owner.
- Campers on the campground waiting list will be offered the opportunity to rent the site for the remainder of the season.
- If site can not be rented then seller forfeits remainder of seasonal lot rental.
Trailer to be Sold Off Site:
Where trailer is to be sold on site and new owner wishes to rent the site as a seasonal, then:
- Trailer must be less than fifteen (15) years old.
- The new owner must be approved by park management to become a seasonal lot holder.
- In consideration of improvements made to the site and moving to the head of the waiting list, the new owner must pay a Lot Transfer Fee of 10% of total trailer sale price (based on fair market value) to Big Water Campgrounds in addition to regular seasonal lot rental fees.
- A Lot Transfer Agreement outlining the specifics of the transaction is signed by all concerned parties.
Lot Improvements:
See Lot Improvement Standards attached.
Any addition, gazebo, deck, shed, etc. must be approved by park staff. Factors taken into consideration will include lot size, appearance and dimensions, location in lot, permanence, ease of removal, etc. Restrictions may vary from lot to lot.
Lot occupier is responsible for any tax assessment implication arising from improvements.
Improvements must be made so as not to prevent removal of the occupant’s property.
Unless agreed otherwise, the occupant must leave the lot in its original clean vacant state upon termination of lot lease.
Temporary privacy fence construction my be allowed under special circumstances with management’s approval. Normally no fence or gate construction by campers is allowed in the park.