Woodlawn Regional Park is excited for the start of another camping season.
Joanne Schulte, who is the park’s business manager, said the park has 68 seasonal and 90 overnight or short-term camping sites available at the campground adjacent to the Souris River, while the Boundary Dam campground has 112 seasonal and 34 overnight sites, for a total of 180 seasonal and 124 nightly campsites.
The park has some seasonal campsites at both campgrounds that are still available. Nine new seasonal sites opened at the Souris River campground, and have been well-received. The overnight sites have been filling up quite quickly.
“Most of the overnight camping is booked online,” said Schulte. “It opened up on March 15 for bookings, and as I’m going through, you can see that people are starting to book well. April was a really busy month for bookings online for the summer. It’s a good indication that we’re going to be busy this year.”
Those who have seasonal campsites have been moving their campers into the park this month, and most were onsite by the middle of May.
No changes have been made for camping rules this year.
“We’re just looking forward to them coming in and having an enjoyable time,” said Schulte. “The long weekend is filling up quite quickly, so that’s good.”
But the park will have some new additions this year. Canoe, kayak and paddleboat rentals will be at both campgrounds. The park has had a lot of positive feedback on those additions, she said.
A lifejacket loaner stations will be at Boundary Dam this year as well, which Schulte said is quite exciting.
“That enables … any person of any age to utilize a lifejacket free of charge,” said Schulte. “It’s an unmanned kiosk at the beach, and … people can go, and there are instructions on how to fit the lifejacket. You can put a lifejacket on your children and yourself if you want, and I think that’s going to be extremely well received this year.”
She hopes it will encourage people who haven’t been around a body of water in the past to become more comfortable.
A large gazebo with a tent, overlooking Boundary Dam, will be added for wedding ceremonies.
“We have had quite a request for outdoor ceremonies, so we’re going to start with Boundary Dam this year, and we will have that going hopefully by the end of June,” said Schulte.
Washrooms will be constructed at Boundary Dam as well.
Special events include the Family Fun Day on July 29 at Boundary Dam, with a showman who will have three performances during the day. Other highlights will be a large flea market, an open microphone, a large children’s area, a rock climbing wall and other attractions.
“It’s going to be a packed Sunday afternoon, and it’s going to be quite exciting,” said Schulte.
The park is still selling tickets for a lottery, with the winner able to choose from one of eight grand prizes. Schulte is urging people to support the lottery, as it will be a key fundraiser this year.
Ticket sales have gone very well in the last few weeks, she said.
The draw will occur during the Estevan Fair on June 19.
