I recently received the press release (shown at the bottom of this page) relating how Washington State Parks is trying to attract more users to their parks by adding wi-fi and other “modern conveniences”.
I have mixed feelings about this proposal.
On one hand I think today’s youth and some adults are already too dependent on the internet, smart phones and social network sites. Part of the joy of camping is getting away from it all and being disconnected from everyday life. If Washington State Parks wires all their parks, then youth and others that are exposed to camping may never experience what it is like to be disconnected and enjoy the natural surroundings presented them in a state park.
On the other hand, I have stayed at some parks where cell phones won’t operate due to a weak or nonexistent signal. In those cases it would be nice to have another communication media available if I needed to contact someone. Plus, accessing the internet for weather reports or a forgotten file could be handy too!
What are your thoughts?
Please share using the comment box below.
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OLYMPIA, Wash. – A wi-fi connection and smart phone bar codes could be coming to a state park near you. Those are just two of the ideas under consideration as Washington State Parks tries to recruit a new generation of visitors.
It’s a new era at Washington State Parks. The legislature last year created a $30 annual Discover Pass to replace state funding. But sales have been sluggish. So now the State Parks system is set to ramp up its marketing effort.
A new promotional video aimed at young professionals that is about to debut online says, “So let’s discover what’s out there. You could set out on a rock climbing adventure….”
Don Hoch directs Washington State Parks. He says as his agency heads into its centennial year, the old model of the legislature funding the parks has ended.
“For 99 years we’ve been getting a check,” Hoch says. “Well now people are going to have to choose us. So we have to be more entrepreneurial. We have to look at how to we attract people to continue to parks.”
Hoch says that means bringing technology to parks –- like Internet connections and perhaps even explanations of park features that you would call up on your smart phone. But he draws the line at billboards, privatization and timber operations at state parks.
Declining state support is a national trend. In Oregon, the parks system has been self-funded since 1999. Next year, Idaho State Parks rolls out its new Passport program to replace vanishing state dollars.
Dave Helgeson’s many roles in the RV industry started before he even had a driver’s license. His grandparents and father owned an RV dealership before the term “RV” had been coined, and Dave played a pivotal role in nearly every position of an RV dealership. He and his wife Cheri launched their own RV dealership in the Pacific Northwest. The duo also spent 29 years overseeing regional RV shows. Dave has also served as President of a local chapter of the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), worked on the board of advisors for the RV Technician Program of a local technical college, and served as a board member of the Manufactured Home and RV Association. Dave’s reputation earned him the title of “The foremost expert on boondocking,” bestowed by RV industry icon, the late Gary Bunzer (The RV Doctor). When he’s not out boondocking, you’ll find Dave in the spotlight at RV shows across the country, giving seminars about all things RVing. He and Cheri currently roam in their fifth travel trailer, with Dave doing all the service, repair and modifications to his own unit.
We just spent 8 days at Cape Disappointment. I would love it if they added WIFI! We did not have phone either. It rained and blew like crazy. It would have been good to see weather reports and possibly make further plans as where and how to go. Not knowing what the weather was put us a very white knuckle ride home with the wind ,windy narrow roads with no shoulders driving a new to us 36ft RV. We had expended two more days not knowing a storm was on its way and got caught in the middle of it. So yes…It would not only be nice but a real softy and convenience feature.
I have the ability to work anywhere within the state, so free wifi would allow me to work during the day from our 5th wheel and then enjoy the outdoors in the morning/evening or on breaks….would be great!
Places say they have wifi, but it is usually really bad or doesn’t reach all the campsites, so I’d like to see it only advertised it if it is usable enough to work with.
Also, how can you tell which state parks have the wifi enabled. I’ve only found Pacific Beach State Park, because we’ve visited it earlier this year and it was great!
WE have to have WIFI, we have a large RV with Smart TVs, we have a 24 year old disabled daughter , we take with , WE HAVE TO HAVE her shows. we were very disappointed when we arrived at Flagler after they said YES they have WIFI, we could not connect to the private server. it was a long 4 days of RAIN> this is not an issue of CAMPING please rush, Susan and her family.