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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Signalling the start of summer and camping season, Fred Henne Territorial Park was overflowing last weekend with campers and RVs.

Annette and Randy Thompson took their two grandchildren, Lux and WIlliam Thompson camping for the weekend. They were joined by a new friend Lillian McLellan (in the striped shirt). - Danielle Sachs/NNSL photo -

Tanya Gillard said her family had been preparing for about a week for the long weekend.

'We had to get bedding, clothes and food together," she said. "The first trip is always the busiest."

The family: Gillard, her husband Cory and two children, six-year-old Quinn and two-year-old Gabby, usually camp at the park five or six weekends per summer.

"We visit Prelude and Reid Lake too," said Gillard. "But they don't have powered sites and this park is the most convenient."

She said this time of year a powered site is beneficial.

"Its been kind of cool so we've kept the furnace going all night," she said.

According to the Camping NWT website, all 62 powered sites at Fred Henne were booked for the weekend. Overall, the majority of sites were booked, both powered and non-powered. Based on the website, the average occupancy for the weekend was around 78 per cent.

Located right outside the city, Fred Henne offers a convenient escape.

Annette and Randy Thompson camp often on weekends and have a full month booked at Prelude Lake this summer. Often, they bring their grandchildren along. Thompson said they've been camping for four or five years and initially started in a small pop-up tent.

"We booked a site for a long weekend and it rained the entire time," she said. "We were stuck in the tent and that was the end of that."

Now, the Thompsons have an RV, which they say the grandchildren love. "They have their bunk-beds and if it rains there's a dry place to sit," Annette said. Although Annette said the campground was crazy over the weekend, she was impressed with the service.

"When we showed up Thursday night there was a huge hole at the site we booked," she said. "We notified the gatehouse and by Friday when we came back it was filled and ready to go."

Annette said camping in the summer is like a big reunion. "You see everyone you know and spend a lot of time catching up," she said.

"In the winter, people don't go out as much and you go a long time without seeing anyone. This weekend we're really lucky, the family next door has kids the same age so they've all made new friends."

David and Stacy McLellan were staying at the site next to the Thompsons. "It took us about a week to get ready," David said. "We have three kids to set up and a friend visiting," he added.

David said although the first night was a little cold, it was a good weekend. "The bugs aren't out yet and even though it's a really busy weekend it hasn't been that bad."

Annette said the best part was feeling like a community. "The kids are safe and everyone knows what campsite they're staying at," she said.

"Everyone looks after each other, it really is a summer community."

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