LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Out and About in Delaware's State Parks |
by Stephen Schilly |
Summer Memories It never ceases to amaze me how quickly time passes. It feels like summer has just begun and yet here we are getting ready to celebrate another Labor Day! Maybe it's just that I'm getting older...they say time flies with age. I hope that's not it...I mean, I don't feel old! Well, whatever the reason, it seems like it is arriving faster than usual this year. Labor Day is always somewhat bittersweet for me. While we all enjoy having another long weekend of sun and fun, it's hard to ignore that the holiday signals the traditional end of the beach season. For summer residents, the next few weeks will be focused on packing up and returning home. It won't be long before tans start to fade and all that's left are fond memories of sun-filled days on the beach and fun-filled nights at the bars and local parties. It's easy to understand why people dread the end of summer. After all, it means leaving a wonderful place like Rehoboth Beach! Where else can you find such a diverse, accepting community with so many amenities to offer? It's for that very reason that many summer residents eventually choose to move here. Of course, many year-round residents view Labor Day a bit differently. For us, the holiday brings a return to the quieter community we love. While we appreciate the importance of tourists to the economy, it is nice to "reclaim" our town! After several months of traffic jams, long lines, and wall-to-wall sunbathers, now comes the time locals can really enjoy the resort. It's no secret that some of the best beach days are in September and October. I am definitely looking forward to the next couple of months and I already have my place on the beach staked out! My partner, Bob, and I have had a very busy summer. It's been a year since we moved into our new home and we continue to do all sorts of projects in a never-ending quest to create the perfect residence. Sandalwood is a wonderfully diverse neighborhood with straight, gay, and lesbian families. From the start, our neighbors welcomed us with open arms and made us feel a part of the community. They have become close friends and a part of our extended family. It is neighborhoods and people like this that make Rehoboth such a special place. The highlight of the summer has been the addition of a second Welsh terrier to our family. Sketches has definitely been a challenge. I don't think Bob and I were entirely prepared for the demands of a pup. When we acquired our first terrier, Scribbles, she was four years old, calm, loving, and, best of all, house-trained. Her new "brother," on the other hand, is a perpetual whirlwind. He is very loving but incredibly demanding. Like most "kids," Sketches wants undivided attention at all times, which wouldn't be too bad if that was all he needed. Unfortunately, as a kennel-raised pup, he didn't arrive house-trained. Since day one, he has attempted to mark every inch of the house as his own. To fight back, we installed a childproof door to limit his attacks to the more easily cleaned kitchen and laundry room. The fenced-in yard was the next recipient of Sketches' assaults. Every plant in the yard became the victim of his systematic mission of "seek and destroy." To make matters worse, he not only "marks" inanimate objects but also took to periodically marking Scribbles. Of course, Sketches is an "equal opportunity" marking machine. His inexperience in lifting his leg means he frequently marks himself! After two months of settling in and frequent baths for both dogs, the problem appears to be subsiding. Sketches has become a much-loved member of the family, and Bob and I have learned a great deal more patience in "child" rearing! Summer 2002 will go down in the books as a great success for Delaware State Parks. Week after week of hot, sunny weather resulted in large crowds at all our facilities. This was especially true at the beach parks. Virtually every weekend saw parking areas filled to capacity as people hunted down the perfect stretch of sandy beach. But despite near-record crowds, there were few significant problems. The new parking lot at Gordons Pond started the season still under construction, which caused some confusion and frustration. Most visitors made the best of the situation, however, and park staff greatly appreciated their cooperation as we worked through the problems. Once the parking lot was striped, things improved and the landscaping that is planned for this autumn will add the finishing touches. This is a good time to acknowledge the hardworking staff who make the parks run so smoothly. The Division of Parks and Recreation hires approximately 500 seasonal employees annually and it is these dedicated individuals who do much of the hands-on work necessary to keep the parks functioning during the summer months. Without their assistance, there is no way the full-time staff could meet the demands of 4,000,000 visitors. I also would like to extend a special "thanks" to the lifeguards. These men and women must go through rigorous training to qualify to become members of the special team that guards our ocean swimming areas, and every day they hone the skills necessary to ensure the safety of our beach visitors. Their efforts have resulted in an excellent safety record for this season. With a successful summer almost behind us, I want to thank Camp Rehoboth for giving me the opportunity to write this column. I hope all Letters readers share my feeling that they have helped open the lines of communication between the gay community and Delaware State Parks. Without question, things operated more smoothly at Gordons Pond. Visitors appeared to have a better understanding of how the Division operates and there didn't seem to be the mistrust of previous years on the part of both park staff and visitors. Part of the credit for breaking down barriers goes to the sensitivity training CAMP Rehoboth offered to park enforcement staff. Hopefully, we will continue to build on this effort. Certainly, all state parks staff must understand the needs of the diverse populations we serve. This type of training is an important tool to help us to do our jobs even better. Beach Update The approaching end of summer means state park beaches will soon be unguarded. Labor Day, September 2, is the last day lifeguards will be on duty. We recognize that good weather and warm waters will lure people into the surf in the weeks to come, but please do not take unnecessary risks. Never swim alone...use the "buddy system." Your health and safety are important to us! Park entrance fees remain in effect on a daily basis until October 31, another good reason to remember to buy an annual pass next year. For more information about park rules and regulations, programs, and activities, check out the state parks website at www.destateparks.com. And if you have any questions or suggestions for future topics, please e-mail me at stephen.schilly@state.de.us. Or look for me at the beach enjoying the last golden moments of summer!Stephen Schilly is Park Operations Administrator Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 12, No. 12, August 23, 2002. |