10 Unspoken Rules of Camping

So are there rules to camping? Yes there are! Are these rules posted anywhere? Most of them are AND there are some rules that are unwritten. Some would call it camping etiquette. Some of the rules may be common sense, but hey, when we’re on vacation some rules just go out the window with all the other things we have to remember! So here is a list of things to help you be a more considerate camper and better neighbor:

Don’t walk or cut through other people’s site. It’s kind of rude and you may end up disturbing someone.

Quiet time is for quiet time. Usually at family campgrounds, there are little children and some guests may be early sleepers, so let’s be considerate of them and stay quiet after those quiet hours. Our quiet time at PirateLand is 11pm to 7am.

Leave no trace behind -meaning let’s clean up after ourselves. Leave the campsite clean for the next family to come in on and help preserve our natural environment.

Don’t feed animals at the campground. It may be so cute and the animals may be friendly at first, but when you’re tired of feeding them they will keep coming back, and may become aggressive if not fed.

Playing music at your site is fine. Blaring music so others can hear it too is not!

Campers are some of the friendliest people you will meet, so be nice and make friends!

Treat the campground facilities as you would treat your own. From the bathhouses to the pools to the beachfront; a lot of resources are spent keeping things going. We all want to enjoy the facilities here for years to come so remember to take care and help make everyone’s experience more enjoyable.

Respect other peoples space. Invading others’ sites with your things – cars, bikes, etc. usually ends unpleasantly for someone.

Please drive slowly in the campground. There are lots of children and pedestrians walking around, so no speeding!

Please watch after your pets. Clean up after them and don’t let them use the bathroom on anyone else’s site. It’s just rude and did I mention nasty!!

Following these rules is vital for you and other guests to have the best camping experience. If you guys see anything that I may have missed please let us know and we can add them. Email us here at piratelandmarketing@gmail.com Here’s to Happy Camping!

Submitted by Crew Member Ebony Delong

 

Here are some suggested additions from our guests:

 

If not parked, golf carts should remain on the campground roads! Driving through sites, other grassy areas, the sand dunes, or into the lake is destructive and possibly illegal!

 

Top 5 Bug Tricks - Remedies to Get Rid of Pests

What’s the one thing that we all wish we could eliminate from the camping world that absolutely gets on everyone’s nerves? If you guessed BUGS, then you are absolutely right! It seems that regular bug spray just doesn’t work anymore. Have they somewhat become immune to it? So it’s time we take matters into our own hands. With just a few household products we can make your next camping trip a bug free one, even though this is a buggy bug world. 

Using household products to exterminate makes it so much safer for children and yourself! Did I mention less expensive as well? So what bugs are pestering to you? Is it ants, flies, gnats, spiders just to name a few? No more worries. A bottle of febreeze will kill ants on contact; also Windex will handle those pesky ants too.

Scared of spiders? So am I!! One neat fact I found out is that granddaddy long legs spiders are lethal to other bugs and spiders but harmless to humans, so if you see one don’t go on your first instinct and squash the little fella, just turn the other way. As for any other spider - any type of hair spray will kill them in a matter of seconds.

Even though flies are very harmless, they sure are annoying, how to get rid of them you say? Well just mix you up a little apple cider vinegar and a little soapy water with dish detergent, and spray them suckers, they will fall to their doom and bother you no more.

What’s even more annoying than flies? Gnats, the small, yet very noticeable insect. To eliminate them from you camping experience just get a spray bottle, mix lemon scented dish liquid and water, and spray them. That will kill them on contact.

All of these useful home products may be found in our campstore as well. I hope these fun, harmless bug tricks make your next camping experience a great one. Once you try these out we would love to hear some feedback. So submit some comments or if you have any other trick that you would love to share, we love reading and sharing them with the camping world! Our email here is piratelandmarketing@gmail.com for any submissions.

Submitted by Crew Member Ebony Delong

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

What is the month of October known for? I bet your first guess was Halloween. Well that’s right AND another important thing October is known for is breast cancer awareness month. Pink ribbons everywhere bring awareness to the cause. Activists have reclaimed October and renamed it national breast cancer industry month to bring attention to the important need for preventative care and check-ups and the urgency to find a cure. So where did the pink ribbon come from?

Ribbon symbolism started in 1979 when Penny Laingen, the wife of a soldier taken hostage in Iran, tied yellow ribbons around trees as a signal of her hope for her husband to return. In 1990, AIDS activists debut their looped red ribbons on the Tony Awards.

In early 1992 a story came out about 68 year old Charlotte Haley making peach colored ribbons in her home, to raise money for her daughter, sister, and grandmother who all had breast cancer. 

“Haley was strictly grassroots, handing the cards out at the local supermarket and writing prominent women, everyone from former First Ladies to Dear Abby. Her message spread by word of mouth. By the time Liz Smith printed her phone number, Haley had distributed thousands.” ~ Sandy M. Fernandez of BreastCancer Action 

 

 As the word spread quickly Estée lauder and SelfMagazine contacted Haley and asked to use her ribbon and she refused. She wanted nothing to do with them, so after consulting with lawyers they opted to choose the color pink, which they say was feminine, soothing, comforting and healing.

“In fall 1992, Estée Lauder makeup counters handed out 1.5 million ribbons, each accompanied by a laminated card describing a proper breast self-exam. They collected over 200,000 pink ribbon petitions urging the White House to push for increased funding for research.” ~ Sandy M. Fernandez

Now ribbons and the color pink are used everywhere to help bring breast cancer awareness. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer deaths have decreased 34% since 1990. A few years ago we stared raising money here at the campground to donate to the cause because it is close to our hearts. We’ve had survivors work and reside here; and close friends and family battle the disease as well.  On October 5 we had about 25 participants in our annual walk. We are also selling t-shirts in the front office for $18 each. They are super cute and we’ve already sold over 80. We still have limited sizes available. All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

So come on in or come on down and help support this great cause. We’ll be doing it again next October too! And as always if you have any ideas as to how we may improve or come up with ways to raise money, we love to hear your feedback so please feel free to leave comments or email us at piratelandmarketing@gmail.com.

Submitted by Crew Members Ebony Delong and Vickie Carmody

*Information in article obtained from thinkbeforeyoupink.org.

Top Five Grilling Must Tries

Ever get tired of eating the same old things when on a camping trip? And what's the fun in going out to eat or ordering fast food when camping? Its NO FUN at all. Well its time to try something new, exciting, and fun for the whole family!  I’m sure dad won’t mind breaking out the grill.

1. First thing on the list to try is campfire pizza...Yes Campfire Pizza! Using pre-made crust in a tube is a great way to get started and just add all your favorite toppings. In as little as thirty minutes you will have a meal that was fun to make for the whole family. Also you can find many recipes and directions online.  

2. Toasted starburst. Sounds crazy enough to want to try right? Well we get tired of roasting marshmallows all the time. So put a little twist on things and roast a few starbursts and see how the gooey, warm, flavors take over your taste buds and leave you in a happy bliss. And I’m sure the kids will love them as well!

3. Crescent rolls over a campfire. You can't go wrong with crescent rolls. Especially if you fill them with your favorite things and then place over the fire to create that warm yumminess! Try wrapping the crescent roll around a hot dog then place on the fire. Pure heaven I tell you!

 4. Bacon wrapped hotdogs. Not only will this satisfy some taste buds but it’s a fun and fast meal!

 5. Bacon wrapped corn on the cob. Love that corn on a cob - it’s not a camping meal without it. That savory sweet salty mixture of bacon and corn will satisfy you beyond craving.

Now most of these ideas can be found on the web easily through a search engine. Most of the supplies you will need can be found in our camp store. If you’re not sure of where something is just ask Carol, the camp store manager.

We at PirateLand would love your feedback on these simple yet yummy grilling ideas so submit all comments or questions underneath this blog and send us pictures of you trying these out with the family! Also please share some of your own grilling ideas! Send pics of your own grill creations to piratelandmarketing@gmail.com . We can't wait to hear from you!!

Submitted by PirateLand Crew Member Ebony Delong

Bike and Scooter Summer Safety Tips

We’re at the height of the summer and the campground is hopping! If you’ve stayed here in the summer you can visualize the motorists, the bikes, the pedestrians, oh the traffic! Here are some tips for scooter and bicycle riders to help reduce your accident risk and traffic headaches:

Know the rules of the road. Traffic laws apply to bicycles and scooters as well as cars so make sure the kiddos know what to do when they reach these signs: 

      Know the rules of the campground. My mama always said “we have rules in this house for a reason”. Same goes here. All guests, parents, children, and even toto too should be aware of all park rules. A complete copy can be found by clicking here. Only two wheeled electric scooters with a handle bar higher than 36 inches, and no seat or a single seat, are allowed in the campground. Scooters and bikes riding at night must have lights. Quiet hours are from 11pm to 7am during which all guests should be back on their sites. 

     

      Secure you bikes/scooters when not in use. Bring locks and bike chains to lock up your equipment when you have it parked in a common area and on your campsite.

      Wear a helmet. This may greatly reduce the risk of a serious injury. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in “Less than two percent of motor vehicle crash deaths are bicyclists. The most serious injuries among a majority of those killed are to the head, highlighting the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. Eighty-nine percent of bicycle deaths are persons 16 and older, so helmet laws should include adults.”

      Try to stay off the main roads and away from heavy traffic areas. This may be difficult depending on your site’s location. The main roads in the campground are heavily traveled by vehicles, campers, and golf carts in the summer. The highest traffic areas are highlighted in orange on the map below.

There are many local bike trails; one is off Kings Hwy, just across from the campground entrance. This is a great route for a family trip around the area. Here’s a link to more info­­­­­­­­­­­­ for Myrtle Beach bike trails: http://www.mapmyride.com/us/myrtle-beach-sc/

For more campground safety tips click here to check out our “Know Before You Go” Safety video!