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Posted: Thu 5:10 PM, May 24, 2012
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Reporter: Joe Nelson Email
Updated: Thu 5:51 PM, May 24, 2012

Area parks expect full crowds for Mem. Day weekend, more campers this summer

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wisc. (WEAU) - With reports of gas prices on the rise this weekend, campers are set to fill up area parks to signify the beginning of the camping season, Memorial Day weekend.

Lake Wissota State Park of Chippewa Falls Manager Dave Hladilek said the park has been busier than normal.

"People have been booking early and often," Hladilek said.

All 116 campsites are booked at the park this weekend, and county parks are busy too, partly because of more convenient online reservations added this year, staff said.

Hladilek said other than watching out of ticks and mosquitoes the weekend will be a great time for families to enjoy the trails, camping and boating.

"This is always a great family experience,and they all did it as kids, and bring their kids out and show them the things they enjoyed," he said.

At Lake Wissota Thursday, Parkview Elementary third-graders from Chippewa Falls, shared in those outdoor activities as part of their annual outdoor classroom day.

"We are building our own fort so if we're lost in the woods, we know what to do," third-grade student Leah Schindler said.

"Kids don't realize they can have fun, that they can play with something that's not plugged in. Children will say, 'Why should I go outside, there aren't any outlets to plug in,'" school naturalist Karen Wise said.

"I love going camping a lot because, it teaches you how to stay out in the night without bringing a computer, and just learn how to do a bunch of fun stuff when you're with your family," third-grader Alexis Lequia said.

"It encourages children kids to grab their parents and bring them out to the state park, because they have so many incredible experiences out here," Wise said.

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