TOWN OF BLYTH, ONTARIO HOSTS MAJOR CAMPING EVENTS IN HUGE CAMPGROUND

By Harold Merton

Scope photos by Harold Merton

When the organizing committee for the Family Campers and RVers annual campvention began searching for a location for their 2006 event some two years before the actual date of the event, they came across a fabulous group camping facility a short drive north of London, Ontario in the Township of North Huron.

FCRV organizers felt they had found a perfect spot for their Campvention because there are few campgrounds and facilities that can accommodate over 800 RV units and this one had room for that and had a lot of other amenities as well.

In addition to the actual camping sites, the Blyth Campground also had a modern state-of-the-art Community Centre with a new arena dry pad, new lobby, new dressing rooms, a new sound system, new meeting rooms, new kitchen and food booth. What more could one ask for?

Those who know the details of large group camping events know how
important it is to have a building that will house some of the events and
can be used in the event of inclement weather. A modern kitchen there as well was a real bonus!

The Blyth Campground had it all and the Township of North Huron, the
owners and operators of the facility, were willing to work with FCRV to
increase the number of water and electric campsites from 400 to at least 800 and install a second dump station.

The 50 acres of park and campground now has 1,000 sites of which 800 are serviced with water and electric.

As early as 1893 the area was used as a bowling green and in 1962 the first Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association reunion was held on the grounds. It attracted 500 people.

That function has become an annual event with large crowds including
campers and led to further development of the campground with accessory buildings housing washrooms and showers.
Fortunately for campers, the town fathers saw the potential of camping and had the foresight to make improvements to their facility which is now used by townspeople and outside groups as well.A unique feature of this facility is that it is located in the town of Blyth itself and is just a short walk to most of the town's shopping and services. When you are there you are not far from anything you might want to buy or see and campers at the annual FCRV Campvention took to the streets time and time again visiting merchants and town facilities.

The historic village of Blyth is famous for its Blyth Festival. The Blyth
Festival for the Arts was founded in 1975 to produce theatrical productions that reflect the culture and concerns of the people of Southwestern Ontario. Today it is a year-round centre of cultural activity.

In addition to the Blyth Festival the Centre also includes an art gallery
and the Blyth Festival Orchestra. If you ask someone outside the area about the town of Blyth chances are they will mention the festival.

Adjacent to the 50 acre campground that also has 2 baseball diamonds and a soccer field, is the Lion's Park and Wading Pool. This is a popular spot on a hot summer day. It is operated by the local Lions Club.

During the FCRV event the group used the entire campground area, the
community centre and accessory buildings on the site. A large metal building was the commercial area and a huge wooden barn near the rear of the campground was used for get-togethers and also was the site of additional washrooms and showers.

The main community centre building was the location of opening and closing ceremonies, teen queen pageants and talent contests and huge dinners catered by the ladies of the community. The washrooms and change rooms on the main floor were used as well.

Many of the hospitality gatherings were held upstairs in the community
centre and an elevator was available for those who found the stairs a
chore.

The Blyth Campground is a hidden jewel in the Canadian camping world but as more and more clubs learn about it they are becoming busier. One Canadian insurance-company sponsored RV club camping event was also held on the site last year and the thrashers event gets bigger every year.

The campground is available for group camping events or for individual
overnight camping. There are so seasonal RVs or permanent trailers on the site.

If your RV group is looking for a location for a camping event this might
be the place.

Further details can be obtained by contacting the Township of North Huron and details are available in their advertisement in this issue.

Recreation Department

Township of North Huron

P.O. Box 90

Wingham ON N0G 2W0

www.townofnorthhuron.ca
email: recdept@townofnorthhuron.ca
Telephone 519.357.1208