“Boats, Bashes, and a Zero-Tolerance Gas Pedal”

Hi Friends,

How's the week shaking out for you? I'm still coming off of the high of last weekend. The activity schedule this weekend is a bit more low gear. There are 3 reasons for this.

1.) Next week is another big week for activities with the Back to School Bash and International Potluck - This is your notification - YES -there will be Cardboard Boat Races. Gather your supplies and the official rules will be forthcoming. 

2.) I am announcing a spectacular raffle. So SPECTACULAR in fact that it will run for a whole week - not just a weekend. 

3.) I really need the focus of this email to be on some new changes to our campground

rules that are taking place. 

This recent holiday weekend made a few things abundantly clear to me. First - Lylah rocked at calling BINGO! I can't wait to have her back. Second - I always wondered but now I know for sure - I have 2 left feet and can't dance to save my life.

Finally - everyday I have observed what a serious issue speeding within the campground has become. 5MPH is not a suggestion of what time I should pop by for dinner. It is the designated speed limit on ALL roads within the campground. The majority of our rules carry a 2 strikes penalty. If you break the same rule twice we may ask you to leave the campground. Unfortunately it's clear that speaking to some people is not enough. After much thought and consideration we have decided from here forward we will be adopting a Zero-Tolerance policy. Both myself and Dawn have made it a habit to address the speed limit policy with each camper (seasonal and transient) as well as each visitor when they check-in or visit Peppermint Park. Then I watch them take off from the gate like it's the green flag at a NASCAR race going up and not a lift gate. 

Going forward when I receive a complaint about a camper of visitor speeding - ONE SINGLE COMPLAINT - I will revoke the privilege of driving within the campground and the driver will be forced to park in the main parking lot and walk into the campground or up to their site. 

I want to reiterate this - ONE INCIDENT OF SPEEDING will mean they are prohibited from driving on the campground. 

This does not mean that we will discontinue taking steps to address the speeding issue in other ways. We are still looking into solar speeding monitors so drivers can be visually aware when they are driving more than 5 mph and I am looking into a DOT approved 'PLAYGROUND' sign.

I also have a few other mentions I need to put out here. We have had complaints of children riding their bikes through (yes, directly through) campsites and into the woods. This is unacceptable. If you have children who ride their bikes here please remind them that they must use the designated roadways and cannot, under any circumstances ride their bikes on or through the campsites of others. 

I also observed many children riding their bikes without helmets this past weekend. This is a reminder that it is State Law here in Massachusetts that all children under the age of 16 must wear a helmet. We keep a few in the store/office if needed. 

In closing this week I just want to shout out to every single person who has taken a moment to encourage me, give me a pat on the back, spoken openly to tell me they have enjoyed something that I did or reassure me that my actions had a positive affect on them. When you enjoy yourself here, when this campground becomes your peace, when you look around at this beautiful landscape or close your eyes, feel the sun on your face and realize that you can take a breath - it stops being work for me and becomes something so much more. Thank you for that. 

OK now - That awesome raffle I mentioned is attached as well as this weekends activity schedule. Cheers!

Melissa Camilini

Peppermint Park Camping Resort

169 Grant St, Plainfield MA 01070

Sep 5th Weekend Schedule