DEH CHO - This is the second year that Pauline and Burton Campbell have spent their summer living outside of a community but they wouldn't have it any other way.

The couple from Nahanni Butte has the contract to run Blackstone Territorial Park, located on Highway 7 approximately 115 km north of Fort Liard.

Burton and Pauline Campbell enjoy the quiet life that comes with living in and maintaining Blackstone Territorial Park for four months a year. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"I've always wanted to work here," said Pauline.

After working as a summer student at the Nahanni National Park Reserve office in Fort Simpson, Pauline said she got a taste for working in parks.

"I really liked it, meeting people from all over," she said.

The experience has continued at Blackstone where Pauline can flip through the guest book to point out the far flung locations that the park's visitors have come from. This summer the countries have included Turkey, Germany, Italy, Slovenia and Sweden, just to name a few.

Some of the visitors stop at Blackstone on their way to Fort Simpson, the point from which they fly to the national park. Most of their questions are about the park and Virginia Falls, said Pauline.

"A few think they can drive into the park," she said with a laugh.

Nahanni Butte, Pauline's home community, is also a common topic.

"They ask about how it was to grow up there in a small town," she said.

Some visitors don't realize Nahanni Butte is a community. They think it's just a stopping place as you exit the park, said Pauline.

The Campbells spend their entire summer helping travellers and tourists. The park opens on May 15 and closes on Sept. 15.

The couple is responsible for keeping the 19 campsites, the two kitchen shelters, the washrooms and showers clean as well as keeping the information centre open. There are always ways to keep busy, she said.

The couple had a lot of leaves to rake when they arrived in May. There's also a lot of brush to cut especially after a rain when saplings start leaning into campsites and over the road.

On average, three sites in the park are occupied on any given night. People usually come in between 7 to 11 p.m., Pauline said. The busiest day this year was June 30 when 11 RVs came to the park. Combined with other visitors 15 of the sites were full.

Although some people would find it difficult to live away from a community for the whole summer, the Campbells view it as one of the perks of the job. People bring us newspapers and when the generator is running we have satellite television to watch the news, said Pauline.

"We really enjoy being here," she said.

Burton said he enjoys the quiet of the park and the chance to, "get away from the stress."

Last year it was hard to leave the park, he said. Listening to different people's stories is one of the highlights of the jobs, said Burton.

"It's the people that you meet, that's the best part," he said.