Little Wolf open to only seasonal campers; no summer day camp

by Dan McClelland

Little Wolf Campgrounds will be open this summer to only seasonal campers whose rigs are self-contained. -And the town's popular summer day camp program for youngsters here won't be offered. Those were the two big announcements that came out of Thursday's May monthly of the Tupper Lake Town Board, relating to the COVID-19 crisis.

The fate of town summer programs dominated the agenda of the meeting that was again held through teleconferencing of participants or through the ZOOM computer application.

Following nearly an hour long discussion that evening, Supervisor Patti Littlefield sent the following note to all of the town's 28 season-long campers:

“At this time the Town of Tupper Lake Town Board has made the very difficult decision to open the campsite at Little Wolf Beach to current seasonal campers only, dependent on receipt of the state health department permit to operate.

“We feel that to comply with the Governor’s orders, the Department of Health and Franklin County Public Health this is the best option to keep the campsite open while at the same time doing the very best we can to keep the community safe and protected. As the summer progresses and the opening phases as defined by the Governor change, the town may re-visit these decisions.

“If you have made a weekly or daily reservation please contact the town recreation director at 518 359- 8370 to make arrangement for a refund. We will also be reaching out to you.

“Please be advised that issues change regularly and certainly the town board will make every effort to return to some sort of normalcy as the days and weeks progress.”

Beginning the conversation about what the town would do with its facilities this summer at Thursday's meeting the supervisor said the Little Wolf committee “has been going round and round in recent weeks with the state and county public health agencies and with the Governor's office, and with Senator Betty Little” about what can be done at the town campgrounds this summer.

“We are allowed to open the campgrounds to only those campers and trailers, etc. which are self-contained...the type that can pull in, stay for the season and leave.”

Those rigs tap onto the sewer, water and electric utilities at the town campgrounds. All have their own bathrooms.

Not permitted, she explained, are the people with tents and pop-up trailers who rely on the public restrooms at Little Wolf.

“-And if we allow someone to come in from out of the area, the recommendation from the state is they must self-quarantine (in their trailers and on their sites) for 14 days.”

She said there are campgrounds which cater to seasonal campers in this seven-county region which have already opened.

“For many of those people, these are their second homes” and the trailers are permanently situated there.

“Senator Little told me today we can definitely have our seasonal campers this summer.

“But the health department told me we cannot have any public restrooms” and allow in those campers which need them.

That ruling on the closure of all public restrooms will heavily affect any decision in coming week whether Little Wolf Beach can operate this summer as the users of the beach need the restrooms, she told her board members.

She said that's a decision that can wait, as the beach doesn't typically open until the end of June.

Mrs. Littlefield said she believes the health department will permit out- of-town seasonal campers to use Little Wolf this summer if they agree to self-quarantine at their sites.

“My recommendation tonight is to have all our 28 seasonal campers to return this summer.” She also recommended, however, that they be spaced across the campgrounds and not in their usual sites.

“I'm not saying we must do this, but I'm just saying we should consider, if it's possible, to separate them a little bit more than usual.”

“Our own rules, for several years now, have said campsites should never have more than eight people on them and only two vehicles. All our seasonal campers have accepted those rules.

She recommended new rules as to social distancing and the wearing of a mask when closer than six feet from someone would be added to those existing rules.

Mrs. Littlefield noted there would still be a small section of the beach, even though the beach is closed, that would be open to those seasonal campers, who would swim at their own risk.

She also reported that Joanne Sparks, the widow of her brother John who died in recent weeks and who has been there working with her husband for the past four summers, would be willing to stay this summer in the caretaker's cabin. “She knows all the campers well, she knows the procedures and she did all the cleaning of the restrooms.

The supervisor said another condition of the health department this summer will be to have all restrooms routinely cleaned even though they will be shuttered. She said it's an emergency procedure, in the event the plumbing system in a self-contained trailer or motorhome fails.

“So the restrooms will be clean at all times, but they just won't be used.”

The residents of Little Wolf Lake, who don't have their own personal boat launches at their properties, will still be permitted to use the beach area to launch their boats as they always have.

“That can happen even if we keep the main gate locked.” Mrs. Sparks could unlock the gate to let them in to launch their crafts, the supervisor figured.

She said the health department is recommending the gate be locked at all times. “That will also eliminate the problem of random people joy riding around the campsite,” a frequent practice in summers here.

She proposed that the seasonal campers would be given the combination to the main gate “and that way the place would be a little less busy this summer.”

Mrs. Littlefield said the highway crew has been doing some entrance improvements in past days to seal up holes in the perimeter which have permitted four-wheel vehicle operators to enter the place.

“Yesterday it was a four-wheeler chased by a lawn mower pulling a cart of kids.”

“For the safety of the beach, I would love to see the campers back” as they will help secure the place. “Many of our campers take very good care of the beach.”

She pointed to Jim and Sherry Bradley, who were on that night's conference call as were fellow seasonal campers Amy Boudreau, Michelle Moeller and Pat and Bruce Cook. She complimented them all on keeping the place safe and not permitting it to be “turned into a race track for kids on four-wheelers.”

Councilman John Quinn, who serves on the town board's Little Wolf committee with the supervisor, said “we certainly want that campground open. People love it and we love to have people there!”

He asked the supervisor about self-quarantining procedures that have been recommended. “How would they do that?” he wondered.

Mrs. Littlefield said the seasonal camper who comes the farthest each summer is from Texas and he's been coming each summer for years.

“I will make a personal call to him if we agree to do this and let him know he will be expected to self-quarantine,” she promised the board. “I think it's doable if you are a seasonal camper!”

She said if the seasonal campers don't want to comply with that town order, then that's okay and we'll tell them we'll save their spot for next year.”

She noted too among the seasonal campers there are some who are worried about vacationing there this summer. “They are certainly welcome to say 'I don't feel comfortable coming this year,' and we will hold their spot for them until next year.”

All seasonal campers have been e-mailed that information.

She noted, however, there will be stricter rules in place for campers in accordance to state and local orders.

She also noted if the town opens the campgrounds there will be the annual meeting with all campers to explain any and all new rules, “and even if we all have to stand six feet apart out in the parking lot at the town hall or in the driveway at the beach.”

She offered that the meeting could be done in shifts if that was necessary.

“We've always had a campers' meeting each summer. It'll just be a little later this year, because we're already later!”

“Our lives have been turned upside down by this COVID-19,” continued John Quinn. “We're trying our level best to accommodate what is a nice recreational facility and the people who love it,” he said, noting that just the day before they didn't know if it could be opened at all this summer.

“I think we'll need COVID-related rules that each camper should sign. I'm just hoping we can get good cooperation so we can operate safely.

The supervisor said the various state and county agencies have a number of rules and forms that now apply to campground users.

“So just to wrap up,” Mr. Quinn began again, “if any of the seasonal campers don't feel comfortable there this year, we'll refund any money they have deposited and we'll hold their campsite reservation for next year.”

He asked if the town should draw from the waiting list of people who want to be seasonal campers to fill any vacancies this year.

The supervisor cautioned against that provision, noting that so far there has only been one seasonal camper not coming this summer, but that party will be returning next summer.

She said it will be a tough pick for that one spot from the existing waiting list.

Councilman Mike Dechene said he would go along with the recommendation of the Little Wolf committee.

Councilwoman Tracy Luton said her only concern is about family gatherings this summer on a campsite. “People need to know they all can't get together for a birthday party” there and that those functions will need to be held somewhere else in town.

The supervisor agreed. “People who come need to be aware of all restrictions.”

“Just because you're coming down to camp, doesn't mean all the rules go out the window,” she asserted. “We'll have plenty of masks and sanitizer” for anyone who needs them. She said the county's emergency preparedness office has furnished the town with lots of supplies.

She said if there are people who disobey these rules they will be ejected.

“Angie (Snye) is working very hard on the rules sheet and basing it on what are in place at other campgrounds.”

There can only be eight people per campsite and six feet between everyone and masks available where needed, she emphasized.

“This is not going to be as loosey, goosey as it has been!”

“-And hopefully we won't have to be the bad guys. I have a lot of faith in the good people who are down there!” she told her board.

“Given the fact that Tupper Lake is so safe right now and COVID free, there are people in our community who don't want to comply with these rules, but I don't think they are the people who want to come back to Little Wolf.”

First to speak in the open session was Sherry Bradley who said she has contacted the elderly Texas man and his wife who come up every summer and they are prepared to quarantine on site. “Everyone will check up on them and get supplies for them if they need them!”

“Two weeks out of three months isn't too bad if you want to be there,” the supervisor told her of the quarantine period.

Jim Bradley said the couple rarely leave the campsite, other than for basic supplies.

He said he liked the provision that the town will refund deposits to seasonal campers, should those people chose not to come this year.

“-Or they could leave the money with you,” he said, to which the supervisor told him the town will do whatever it has to in order to accommodate the seasonal campers.

Mrs. Littlefield called the people on the call that evening “good stewards of the beach.”

Sherry said some days she babysits in her home and wondered if she could do that at Little Wolf.

The supervisor explained that as long as the total occupants per site didn't exceed eight, the campground's legal limit.

“You're not caring for ten kids, are you?” asked Mrs. Littlefield and Mrs. Bradley told her “several.”

The camper also asked about the playground and Mrs. Littlefield said it will be closed for now this summer, and will be fenced off, as will be the pavilion and the picnic area.

Michelle Moeller, another camper, asked if they can visit fellow campers, as long as they are “masked” and there are not over eight at a site?

Mrs. Littlefield said they could.

Mrs. Moeller said John Sparks, the caretaker, will be dearly missed this year and she said she looked forward to working with Mrs. Sparks.

She asked about a potential opening date and Mrs. Littlefield told her the campgrounds are almost ready and the town is just waiting on its permit from the state health department.

“Ironically we already have our permit to open the beach!”

As for the launching and use of boats at the beach, Mrs. Littlefield said it will be up to their owners to maintain safe distances this summer.

Mrs. Moeller wondered if campers' vehicles would have to be parked outside the locked gate and the supervisor told her all campers will have the combination to the lock on the gate.

“We'd like to keep our site. We've been there for 18 years and it's the site we like!”

She said the fact that their site has internet access is important to her family this summer because their one son is telecommuting between Tupper Lake and Texas in his internship with a major oil company.

The supervisor said they would take her request under consideration, telling Mr. Moeller: “None of this is cast in stone. Like the state, this could all change tomorrow!”

“We can discuss all these details when we meet as a group!”

Michelle asked if a new outbreak materializes this summer and the place is closed, would the campers get rent payments back for the time they have paid for and Mrs. Littlefield thought rental monies would be returned on a pro-rated basis.

Amy Boudreau wondered if the basketball court at Little Wolf would be closed and Mrs. Littlefield said it would be, like all the adjoining facilities. “Once we hit phase 2 and 3- and hopefully that will be before July- that may change!”

Amy said they too hoped they could keep their site.

John Quinn asked that all campers be required to sign the governing rules. Mrs. Littlefield said the campers sign the rules each year. This year, however, there may be as many as three sets of rules to sign, she added.

Bruce Cook thanked the town officials for all “their hard work” of late, as they wrestle with these difficult questions.

He said due to his wife's current state of health they will probably not be camping there this summer. “But I'll let you know!”

Mrs. Littlefield said they didn't have to make the decision that day. She suggested maybe the town could hold their spot there for a time, and even perhaps let them come to camp for a shorter period later this summer.

“As a committee we'll talk about that” in upcoming days, she offered.

She said the information the campers shared with them that evening will be helpful as it makes more decisions in upcoming weeks.

In addition to making the decision to restrict camping at Little Wolf to only seasonal campers the board also cancelled this summer's day camp program which some years attracts 100 local youngsters.

“We will have to cancel day camp,” Mrs. Littlefield told her board.

“I listened to the Governor at length today about day camps and there are a lot of things he's letting counties and local governments decide.”

She said state officials are being “bombarded” these days with questions and concerns about the operations of day camps this summer.

“If you had a day camp, would you send your kid with 90 other kids that all have to sign in at one room and hang out until the day's activities begin? How would we all manage safe distancing there?

“The other thing is that our day camp operates out of the L.P. Quinn Elementary School and we won't be able to use that facility because there is no regular summer school.

She said it was her understanding that summer school will be offered and taught on-line as regular school has been since March.

“I think we have to make that sad call to keep our kids safe, and particularly because of that scary thing happening with children,” referring to the new childhood condition across the nation that is occurring four weeks after exposure to the coronavirus. Symptoms include high fevers, breathing difficulties, redness and sores.

She said no one is more saddened by this decision than day camp director Angie Snye.

Decisions on opening the beach and the town's summer sports program will be coming at the board's June meeting.