By Greg Keller
If one is looking for a family friendly campground with plenty of aquatic amenities for a range of ages and abilities, look no further than Quinte’s Isle Campark. Located in Prince Edward County, Ont., this family owned campground is a must-see. The grounds are well cared for and the site offers a variety of events and activities throughout the summer; however, this article will focus on the various aquatic features the park offers.
Some may think a pool or splash pad at a campground is not needed—especially since this particular park is located on a property directly beside Lake Ontario; however, a pool is now an essential piece of infrastructure for a campground to have and there are many reasons for this. For instance, some people feel safer swimming in a more controlled environment as opposed to a lake as some swimmers get nervous and/or scared when they cannot see the bottom of the body of water they are in. Further, the water in the pool can be heated and kept at a much more comfortable temperature than most natural bodies of water.
In the beginning
When the campground first started out, it only had a single lap pool, albeit a very large one. At the time, this was sufficient to support the growing campground, but very soon more was needed. To accommodate this growth, a splash pad was soon added beside the existing pool. It has a large dumping bucket that is a big hit with kids and adults alike. This popular feature was one of the first of its kind to be installed in Ontario and, now, similar attractions can be found at many waterparks and campgrounds everywhere.
The splash pad also incorporates spray hoops, a whale tail, and a plethora of ground sprays for users to traverse. For many families who have the opportunity to camp at Quinte’s Isle, their kids will not be disappointed and will definitely not want to go back to another campground that only has a simple pool—especially one that does not have any water attractions at all.
At Quinte’s Isle, parents can bask in the sun while watching their kids playing and having fun on the splash pad and, if they feel adventurous enough, they can join them, too.
At the forefront of new ideas
Quinte’s Isle has always tried to be at the forefront of incorporating innovative, fresh ideas into their campground—be it aquatics or otherwise. At the time the splash pad was installed, there were not too many of them in existence. Nowadays, splash pads can be found almost everywhere with more being built all of the time.
That said, when it came time to expand the aquatic facilities at the park again in 2017 for the new and expanding Pebble Beach portion of the campground, the owners of Quinte’s Isle decided they needed some more fresh ideas to heighten the entertainment factor for their campers. What they built was an impressive two-pool facility that caters to different age groups and interests. The new pools are located right on the shore of Lake Ontario—adjacent to the campground’s boat marina—providing an incredible view for swimmers while they are in the pool. Having two pools broadens the horizons incredibly for visitors to the campground. For instance, a small child may feel intimidated to go in the pool if it is filled with boisterous teenagers, especially when they are just learning about water and how to swim. However, this is not an issue at Quinte’s Isle as the younger kids now have their own pool that was specifically designed with them in mind. It is inviting for them to enter at their own pace with two small steps leading to a gentle sloped, beach-like entry. They can not only see the bottom, but also other kids who are the same age as them enjoying the water. Once they get a few feet into the pool there are floor bubblers, which are a huge hit with young bathers as the bubbles they create gently move them around as they float in the water.
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