When and Where to Ask for Help at the Campground!

This week we're sharing some stories of times we needed to ask for help, while camping and who we thought were the best contacts for these situations! 

We'd love to hear your camping stories and any tips on who to contact when unexpected situations arise at the campground!

We'd love to have you join us in our Facebook group or follow us on Instagram and if you tag us on your camping related posts, we may be able to feature you on our page!
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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Welcome to Camp Mindowinia, where we're reviving the vintage camping vibe in the Midwest. There is so much to see and do in the Midwest, and we want to share it with everyone. So on this show, we'll be talking about all things camping as we explore the states of our name. Glad to have you back at camp, everyone. I'm Liv and I'm here today with my longtime camping buddy and sister Ab. Hi everybody! And today our episode is on when and where to ask for help when you're camping. When you have particularly a problem or a need or questions, information questions if you need. And sometimes when you're camping and those questions or needs arise, you may not be fully aware of what resources are available to you. Yeah. And who even to contact maybe with certain questions. Yeah, so we're gonna go over a couple of different options and scenarios of who those people would be and where you are likely to find them when you do have questions, comments, and concerns. Yes, and as usual, with this episode especially, we would love to hear what what scenarios have come up for you in your own camping travels, you know, and when you needed to reach out to someone outside of your obviously your group that you're camping with for information or assistance, and you know, what ended up being the best channel for that. And so that would be fantastic in our Facebook group or on our Instagram. Some of the people slash resources for contacting when you're camping, they can vary, like especially if you're at a state or a regional park. There is very often gonna be like a camp host on site. Yeah. The office is obviously another good place to start with needing information or in in case of a not too emergency emergency, you know. Right. And then there's all the way up to, of course, law enforcement. Yes. And knowing when to contact, you know, what level of assistance can sometimes be a little tricky. Most of the time, it's it's fairly straightforward. But these were some scenarios that have happened in our experience that we will share and how we ended up dealing with them. While I was recently staying in North Dakota at the Turtle River State Park, we decided to go with a cabin because it was gonna be 94 degrees. And I'm sure if you've heard me say it one time, you've heard me say it a dozen, that I just melt in that type of weather. Yeah. And we were gonna tent, and I'm like, I do not think I can do it, but I wanted to go there. It had been on my list for a while. So I was like, let's do the cabin. And they have some really nice ones that have like two bunk beds with queen size beds in the bottom, twin on top. You have to bring all of your own gear. Like it doesn't have a kitchen, you have to bring your bedding and everything. So, you know, I felt like it felt like camping. But they have bathrooms in them, so it's just a little shower, toilet, sink. So I have to say, something is that this brings to mind too is the more amenities or the more utilities, hookups, whatever you have available to you when you stay, the more likely you're gonna need help. Right. Because things can go wrong. Yeah. You know, things wear out, they're being used by way more people than like, you know, your fixtures at home or whatever. Right. And so they're just getting so much use constantly that it does make sense that these things break down. The more you have, the more more opportunity there is for failure. Yes, absolutely. So we got there at like midnight. Obviously, there is no one around if you were to have an issue to contact. I mean, I would feel bad waking up a camp post unless it was like an actual emergency situation. You know what I mean? Yeah. So we go in and we set everything up, and I'm like, okay, I'm just gonna use the bathroom quick and then I'll be ready for bed. And the toilet won't flush.

unknown 4:25

Oh.

SPEAKER_00 4:26

And there's a plunger in this little utility closet in there, and I'm like, I'm just gonna plunge it. Like maybe the person before us, you know, had an incident and didn't plunge it. So I plunge for 20 minutes, and then it was Yeah, really? Yeah, between well, it was probably 10, and then Mitchell got on it for another 10. And so it was 20 between the two of us. And finally it's plunged. We're just like, we give up. Mitchell had just used it at like the drop toilet on the way in. He's like, I'm good, I can make it to morning, we'll figure it out then. Because by this point in time, it's 1 a.m. Because we got there at midnight. So I'm like, okay, we'll figure it out in the morning, not a big deal. We wake up, I go in, the toilet looks fine, the water is like drained out of it, and I'm like, well, we'll just do a test flush. Nobody use it but see. Yeah, sure enough, it won't flush again. So Mitchell gets that plunger out again and he's like, let's try it again. I'm like, sure. He tries it, will not work. So I'm like, well, you know, we'll go use the bathroom, we'll come back. And we did. And then I'm like, maybe I'll just try to take a quick shower because we didn't the night before. We were too tired. I'm like, and then we'll see. Well, nope, sure enough, I turned the water on and it's not draining. So I'm like, this is maybe a bigger issue than we're thinking. We should go talk to them. So we go up to the office and we tell, well, Mitchell goes in and tells the gal that there's a problem because I'm using the bathroom again. Because now I've had my coffee. And she's like, Oh, yep, we'll send someone out. So they send out like their grounds crew, you know, type people. Yeah. Yeah. And they come out to check it out and they try the plunger for 10 minutes. And sure enough, we're like, you're right. You can't plunge it. And I'm like, Yeah, we kind of think so too. Yeah. So they go back and they're like, Well, we'll go get somebody. So then they come back and they have the ranger.

unknown 6:17

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 6:17

Like, okay, you know, maybe she can figure it out. She goes in and she's like, got a snake and stuff, and she's like, Oh, I'll just give it a quick little thing. You know, sometimes plunging doesn't work, whatever. Yeah. I'm like, okay, I'm like, we haven't even used it yet, you know, but whatever. So she checks it out and she can't get to snake out. And she's like, okay, the problem is not directly in the cabin.

unknown 6:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 6:40

So then she goes and gets the camp host, who is a retired plumber. Oh, wow. I know. That is convenient. I know, and not a standard thing, but no, you know, nice to have. So he comes over and he's looking at it, you know, with his plumber's hat on and just figuring stuff out. And he's like, Yeah, I think the problem is like somewhere in the septic system further down. Oh, okay. Yes. So now at this point in time, we're like, okay. So we had walked off because we were like, well, we're gonna walk down by the river and stuff, so that we're not just sitting here all day, you know, because that's not the most fun way to spend a trip. And if they're on it and they have your contact information, you can totally feel free to, you know, kind of continue going about your day. Oh, yeah. Because you don't need to let it wreck the trip, you know. We were accessible. I made sure I had signal, they had my number, you know, so when they had a solution or an idea, you know, I knew they could get in touch with me, right? Which is always a good idea. Make sure they have your phone number so that they can contact you when they have ideas on what you can do to make it workable. So then we ended up having this sweet little kid who worked there saying, We're bringing the cavalry. And they had to get a plumber out. Okay. And they're like, It's not you guys. We're so sorry. And if you wanna call it quits, we'll refund you. You can head home, whatever, because we don't know how long it'll take. Okay. But at this point in time, we're like, we're five hours from home. It's four o'clock in the afternoon. We don't really want to like be rolling into home at like 11 o'clock tonight. You know, by the time you make your stops and we get packed up and whatever. So like, well, we'll just see if the plumber can fix it. Uh-huh. Because they're like, Don't worry, you know, the office will be closed, but you know, I'm the ranger and I'll still be here and you know, whatever. Right. So sure enough, they get the plumber out there, they got it fixed. It was an issue, like I said, further along in the septic system. Uh-huh. They got it figured out. They were super lovely. It was completely done and put back together by like 5 30. Oh, nice. So fast as soon as they got the plumber out who had, you know, the special tools and stuff, whatever. Right. So the whole experience just made me go, they are so nice and so willing to help, and you know, so willing to work with you and try to not make it so your trip is wrecked. Yes. You know, and you know, you can still be enjoying your day at the park around it. Just make sure you know you're checking in and they can contact you. Yeah. Yep, absolutely. So in that scenario, the office, it sounds like was the best place to go. Absolutely. Now, in that specific scenario, the office closed at five, you said, and typically the ranger probably wouldn't have been there much later than five. Right. So if this situation had arisen, you know, at like 7:30, for example, in the public parks where they have someone like a camp host, and it's not the middle of the night, although maybe that is not off limits too, you know, going to the camp host with this problem would be your best bet. Yes. Now, I do have to say, if there was like, if you were in a cabin with running water and something happened where like the water came spewing out of the faucet or something, right, and there's no one else there, then this would be the appropriate time to go and find the camp post. And the the biggest reason being they probably have contact information for other park workers. Yes, you know, the people who have the skill set to be able to fix spewing plumbing, plumbing, you know, or something like that. Or um electrical issues. So that brings me to um a situation that I was involved in. This is a few years ago now. So I was camping, we were camping, actually, both of us, we were camping for a wedding up north, and um, we were staying at a a private campground, so no camp post or anything like that. Uh-huh. Um, fortunately, the office was still open, and there was an electrical problem at the post. And the way we found out about it was a little bit sad afterwards. So we we were there, we got set up, we were gonna go for a walk. I we took my my dog out, we went for the walk, and we came back and I opened the door and tried to send her inside the camper, and she stepped one foot on the camper and she pulled it back and she kind of yelped. And I'm like, oh, she must have gotten something in her paw. So, you know, I checked her paws, she she looked fine. There was no cut or anything like that. So I'm like, okay, well, let's let's get in, you know. So um I opened the door and and she just did not want to go in. So I just ended up lifting her up and putting her inside the camper. Instead of going up the metal steps. Yes. Yes, yep, instead of her walking up the metal steps. So then um our other sister went in and we had we're all wearing like rubber flip-flops. Yeah. So, you know, we were perfectly fine. So I was like, I don't know what was wrong with her. And then she came inside and she's really panting and stuff, and so I'm like, you know, maybe maybe the steps are hot or something. So I I go back outside and I touched the step and got shocked. Yes. The entire camper had been electrified. Yes. So and then, you know, I was like, nobody touch anything metal, and you know, it wasn't like the most terrible shock, but it was definitely not pleasant. So you know, I touched a couple of places, I think, just on the door and maybe something inside, and sure enough, everything was hot. Everything metal, everything metal was hot. And so I was like, oh, this is not good at all. So the first thing I did was I went out and turned off the power at the post and then walked up to the office and said, We've there's a problem going on here, you know. So they, you know, they came out and they investigated, and they did end up having to call an electrician in, and he wasn't able to arrive until the next morning. Yeah. So fortunately that night there were there was a spot next to us that was open. So they just had an extension cord and we were able to connect to the power one post down. Yeah. And then they even comped us the night, which was super nice. Yes. But um, and then the next morning the electrician arrived. The power was off for like half an hour. He got everything fixed, and this was like at seven o'clock in the morning. So it's not like we really needed all that much electricity yet, anyway. And um, and they fixed the problem. So, in that scenario, with it being a private campground, we were definitely reliant on the office. Yes. And I know what a lot of times at private campgrounds like this, if you go up to the office, they will put out like a board overnight or they have a sign on the door, something that says, if you have an emergency after hours, contact this number. Yeah. So that, especially in the private campgrounds, is probably gonna be your best bet for campground-related emergencies. Yes. Another time that I have had an issue where the camp post was able to help fix it was when we were camping in South Dakota and we had the most freaky windstorm come out of nowhere. So we'd been tenting, and in the space of two and a half hours before we had set up our tents, but we were sitting there like trying to cook dinner and like trying to shelter it so that it wasn't too windy, we saw three tents get taken away by the wind. Oh my gosh. And they flew along this little stream bed and landed in this little lake that the stream went to at like the other end of this area. And I mean, they probably only flew 300 feet. Okay, you know, on their journey. And they all ended up in the same stream? They did because the wind was coming down this hill along the little stream bed and down to this little lake. Okay. It was absolutely nuts. I mean, the gusts were so bad that my Coleman camp stove fire was getting blown out. Oh, yes, I've had that happen before too. Yeah. So we were sitting out there with all these bins and boxes around the camp stove so that the wind couldn't blow it out. It was a disaster. And I was like, I am not sleeping in the tent here tonight. This is just nope. Because imagine if it's blowing over or the top goes blowing off it, and we're gonna have a chance of rain overnight. I'm like, if it blows off our protective outer layer, rainfly. Yeah, our rainfly, we're gonna be soaked. Like that would just be miserable. And this was night three or four of an 11-night trip. Oh, wow. So I was like, this would be a disaster. Yes. Especially then if all of your gear is wet for the whole rest of the trip. Or if something goes missing, like your rainfly takes off for good. Yes, yeah. You know, we're in rural South Dakota. I'm like, we're gonna have to try to find something. No. So we went to the camp post and I'm like, online, it says the cabins have availability, but I'm past the cutoff time to book them.

unknown 15:50

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 15:50

And he's like, Oh, that's okay. He's like, I can just get you in one, I can call in the reservation and then, you know, change your reservation online. There was a fee for it, whatever. I'm like, I don't care because I'm not sleeping in that tent. Yeah. And it worked out. We were able to get into the cabin, but that was very nice because it was something where he was able to work, you know, through it with us. And it was the evening, so there wasn't like the office wasn't open. Right. And they didn't have an emergency number because it was a state park. So that was a time where the camp post was a good option. Yeah, that's great. Something else is as you can imagine, when you're camping in nature, there are sometimes instances where we want to intervene with nature. Yes. Like, for example, injured or sick or maybe even abandoned, deceased, whatever animals that can happen frequently. You can be on a trail and you can see what may look like an abandoned animal, especially if it's a baby. Oftentimes when you see something that looks like an abandoned baby animal, it probably isn't abandoned. The parent is just maybe in hiding because you're there. So it's just better to never, never touch them, never try and pick them up or or move them, especially or anything like that. Um, however, there are some times when you can f see very obviously that an animal is in some kind of distress. Right. Um, for example, when I was working as a campground operator a few years back, um, we had a a bird fly into the office window so hard that it was like unconscious. And we did not know, you know, if it was gonna be if I mean it was obviously still alive. So we we put on plastic gloves and we got just like a little cardboard box and lined it with paper towels and just gently scooped this little bird into this box and put it in the shade so that he'd have someplace to hopefully recover if he was gonna be able to. And then we had to see, well, if he doesn't seem like he's doing better, what are we gonna be able to do about it? And this can be difficult depending upon your location. However, there was a wildlife rehabilitation center, just like maybe a 30-minute drive away. And we're like, if at the end of our shift and we called them and they said, Yeah, there is someone there for emergency drop-offs, pretty much 24-7, or somebody can meet you there. And so, like, if at the end of our workday he's not doing any better, we'll have to take him there. So, fortunately, in the shade, you know, in this little protected box, he was able to recover and we came out later and he was awake, but just seemed a little disoriented. And then a little later on, he was able to hop out of the box and fly off. Oh, good. Yes. So if you encounter a scenario like that and you're like, I don't know how to find the local wildlife rehabilitation center, if there even is one, this is another really great thing to point out to either the camp host or a ranger or somebody who works in the park, or the office if it's a private campground. Yeah. Then for after hours purchases that you might need to make, such as firewood and ice, because I don't know about you, but sometimes I'll get to the campground, get set up, and then be like, I want a bonfire. And this is literally what I do every single time. Yeah, sure enough, there is no one at the office to sell you firewood, and it has been locked up and for hours. Yeah, right. And some places have like the Venmo thing, and then you can do that, but a lot of places don't. So this is a time when you can go find your camp post and they can usually sell you firewood or ice if you need it for like your cooler after hours. Yeah. Yeah, that's especially helpful for people like me who never remembers to buy firewood until it's time to light the fire. Me too. And so it's like 9 30, and I'm like, I'm not gonna be able to get any firewood. Yes. But yeah, find the finding the camp post can definitely be a good way to get firewood after hours, or if they have like the self-serve. A lot of places have like, you know, a like a scanless code and you can pay online or Venmo or whatever, PayPal. And then of course, do not go and try to buy ice or firewood, you know, during quiet hours. So 10 p.m. till whenever in the morning. Because those are the camp post down hours too. Yeah, that makes sense. There are examples too for when you might need to call the police or other emergency services. Um, there was one time again when I was working as a campground operator, but this could happen really to anyone who was camping. Um, there were some snapping turtles that were, they seemed like they were maybe behaving a little out of their usual way. And so one and they were they're kind of going through a tent loop of the campground. And one of the campers was very concerned about the safety of the other tent campers in the area, especially because um they informed me, oh, some of the people have dogs and the dogs might be curious and then get hurt, or the turtle might get hurt, whatever. So I was like, yeah, that's a you know, that's fair. I'll and they said, could you please just notify all the other tenters here that this this turtle is basically headed through the tenting loop? So smart little turtle. Yes, I'm not sure how much of a threat the turtle actually was, but the turtle, I mean, they're pretty good size. The snapping turtle's there. It was probably, I don't know, maybe 18 inches long by That's a good size. Yeah, maybe eight, nine inches wide, you know, pretty good sized. Enough that if you had a little dog, especially it could be dangerous, or small children that were not being like super closely watched. Um, so I just kind of drove down and went from campsite to campsite telling people about this turtle. Well, I get to one campsite and the the camper, the occupant, is like laying on the picnic table. And I'm like, um, are you okay? You know, and tried to make sure that everything was all right. And um, he had just recently been brought back from a hospital visit and Then this reminded me I was awakened in the middle of the night to sirens. And the night before, an ambulance and a like a fire truck had all come into the campground, and I had completely forgotten to ask in the morning if anybody knew what had happened. Well, this man was allegedly um poisoned by someone he had been camping with and had had to call emergency services and they had to take him in for emergency medical treatment. And then he was brought back in the morning and he was apparently like still recuperating. Well, while he was there, he was he just did not look like he was doing well. His speech was getting like more and more slurred, and it was really hard to, you know, understand what he was saying. And I was like, you know what? I think I think he needs needs more medical attention. And of course, we have no idea what the full picture was of what was going on. Right. Um, however, we did end up having to call an ambulance again, and they came back and picked him up, and he was taken back to the emergency room for, you know, either a follow-up visit or maybe it was a separate incident. It's it's unclear, obviously. It was private. Um, however, in situations like that where you see someone who is, you know, doing pretty obviously poorly, yes, you know, being able to have access or having someone else available who can, you know, call emergency services is is really a good thing. Yeah. And it's just true. If you see something happening where you're like, oh my gosh, this person is choking or this person looks like they're in anaphylaxis, especially if you see people around them not knowing what to do. Yes. If you are calm and level-headed and not connected to the situation, sometimes it is helpful to be able to step in and be like, I can call 911. Like I can be calm for you since you're having the intense emergency, you know? Yeah. And if you're a person who does struggle in these situations and feels like, you know, you're in over your depth, then like being able to be a person who finds someone who can make the call and get things moving along, that's helpful as well. And I feel like campers are usually so nice. If you have some sort of emergency and for some reason, like your phone is dead or you can't find it and you need to call emergency services, you can there's going to be someone. You can just walk around and be like, somebody help. And someone usually will step right in. Yes. Yep, 100%. That is something that I really love about the camping community. We are people who want to help take care of nature and we want to help take care of each other, and we want to make it so that everybody has a good time and is being able to enjoy nature and the outdoors and this fantastic pastime of camping. Yeah. So that wraps up our brief episode on some kind of situations that might arise that are not planned for or not expected, or certainly maybe not wanted, and who you might be able to contact for help in those scenarios. And that is our episode for this week. Thanks for listening to the Camp Mindowinia Podcast. If you want to connect with us, head over to our Facebook group, Camp Mindewinia, or follow us on Instagram at Camp Mindowinia. Take us on Instagram in your camping posts for the chance to be featured on our page. And if you're enjoying the show, please follow us on your favorite podcasting platform, and we'd love it if you leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a comment on Spotify. Join us next Monday for another episode. Bye, guys!