September 2, 1999
(Tourism, Culture and Recreation)

Provincial parks close for camping for season but still available for day use

Charles Furey, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today announced the 1999 closing dates for the province's 14 provincial parks, which offer camping facilities.

Three camping parks scheduled to close on September 7 include:

Blow Me Down
Pinware River
Sir Richard Squires Memorial

Ten camping parks will close on Monday, September 20. These parks include:

The Cape St. Mary's Ecological Reserve will close on Monday, October 4, and Chance Cove Provincial Park, will close on Friday, October 8.

"Although all of the province's provincial parks will close shortly for the season for camping, nonmotorized access will continue to be permitted," says Furey. "Park users are reminded that they may continue to enjoy activities such as hiking, bicycling on park roads, bird watching, nature photography or simply enjoying the changes in the natural environment as the seasons change from the hot, sultry days of summer, through the cool, comfortable days of autumn to winter's cold and snow."

In an effort to ensure a safe and enjoyable camping experience during the Labour Day weekend period (September 2 - 6), special regulations will be enforced. Any violation of these regulations will result in an immediate eviction from the park and charges possibly being laid. (See Backgrounder for a list of the regulations.)

"I encourage everyone to spend summer's last long weekend experiencing, exploring and enjoying a provincial park, possibly one they have not visited before, and to take full advantage of the activities offered within these parks," says Furey. "Taking the initiative to hike up Butter Pot Mountain at Butter Pot or Erin Mountain at Barachois Pond, explore the sand dunes at Sandbanks or the Cape Ray Sands at J. T. Cheeseman, go bird watching at La Manche or Frenchman's Cove, or simply relax and enjoy the natural environment of any park could easily create extraordinarily special memories with which to end summer 1999."

Minister Furey also encourages primary and elementary teachers to participate in the "Parks As Nature's Classrooms' program that brings learning out of the classroom and into the natural environment of one of the province's provincial parks or natural areas. "The curriculum for this excellent learning experience was developed by Parks and Natural Areas Division in close consultation with the Department of Education," says Furey. "It consists of a set of educational activities, the subjects of which include rocks, minerals and erosion; weather; diversity of life; and habitats and others, all of which follow the national science curriculum for grades 1 to 6. Each subject ties in directly with the general topics covered in the regular classroom."

This program will be offered until late September in seven of the province's provincial parks and natural areas. Educators wishing to book a time period for their class(es) to participate must contact the interpreter at the applicable site directly.

The locations involved are:

Additional information may be obtained by contacting Heather Cumming, Information Officer, Environmental Education/Promotion Section, Parks and Natural Areas Division, by telephone at (709) 729-2429 or by e-mail at hcumming@tourism.gov.nf.ca, or by visiting the division's website at www.gov.nl.ca/parks&reserves/

"The 1999 season has been a great success due in no small part to the park staff for providing park users with courteous service and clean facilities during the summer camping season," says Furey. "Congratulations to all the staff on a job well-done."

Media contact: Tara Laing, Communications, (709) 729-0928.

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Special regulations in force for Labour Day weekend

1999 09 02 5:10 p.m.