Camping in Guthrie County

Getting outdoors helps campers focus on what matters.

By Rich Wicks | Guthrie Center Times

Compared to Native Americans and settlers who first lived in the area that became Guthrie County, we now have a long list of conveniences to enhance our comfort and security. Heaters, air conditioners, electricity, running water, laundry facilities, nearby stores, microwave ovens, TV, internet and cell phones all serve an important purpose. So, why do so many of us feel the urge to go camping and leave some (or all) of those amenities behind?

On some weekends, campgrounds seem just as heavily populated as a city. It appears that camping’s appeal has to do with quality time. For some, that means getting away from it all, alone or with just a few family members. For others, it’s about setting up several adjacent campers full of friends and family. In the end, it seems to boil down to getting away from the routine and spending time with the people you cherish the most.

Camping is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Some campers are minimalists with a basic tent. Others have 40-foot RVs costing as much as a small house, offering many of the amenities of home. Some pull up in a rusty camper that has seen better days. Regardless of how many creature comforts are brought along, camping is a popular recreation in the area. 

Guthrie County offers an array of camping venues. Whiterock Conservancy has three campgrounds. Oak Ridge campground is reservable online. Starfield and River campgrounds don’t take reservations but are available on a first-come/first-served basis. 

Two county parks, Nations Bridge and Lenon Mill, also offer nearby camping options. 

Springbrook State Park has a large campground with reservable and non-reservable sites.

Here are a few examples of local residents we found enjoying the great outdoors this summer.

 

Terry and Lisa Kopaska spend time playing outdoor games with their grandkids 

Terry and Lisa Kopaska, who live northwest of Guthrie Center, were spotted recently as they began settling in for a weekend of camping. Although the couple was expecting several family members and friends to arrive soon, they were first on the scene. With their large, modern camper backed into their spot, it was just a matter of getting everything set up. Terry commented on the convenience of the self-leveling feature in their new camper, which eliminates the need to hand-crank and adjust to get the camper sitting level. He recalled their camping wasn’t always so high-tech when they began many years ago.

“We started with a tent, then changed to a fold-down, then to a small camper, then to a bigger camper,” he said.

The couple camps often at a variety of campgrounds in the area, and camping has become a family tradition.

“This is our third time camping this year,” Lisa said. “It’s our first year with the new camper. We have four daughters, and we’ve camped a lot over the years. Now they all have their own campers.” 

Lisa found that prep work before camping frees up her time to relax and enjoy family.

“I prep most of our meals at home and throw them in the freezer or fridge. Then we just throw them on the fire. It makes it a lot easier,” she said. 

With kids and grandkids soon to arrive, the Kopaskas explained what they enjoy about camping in the county.

“We enjoy nature. There are trails, you’ll see lots of wildlife, there’s fishing,” Lisa said. “We like to camp where there’s water. Our grandkids will be playing in the creek this weekend.” 

The Kopaskas have some advice for beginners.

“Look at the weather. We’ve had to evacuate in the middle of the night,” Terry said.

“And the other thing is, be respectful of quiet time at night,” Lisa said. 

The Kopaskas shared that, while camping, they spend a lot of time playing outdoor games with their grandkids. 

“We have every outdoor game there is, I think,” Lisa said. “We play bags, horseshoes, badminton, we have a huge checkerboard, lots of kids stuff. We call our camper the toy hauler.”

 

Angie Laabs and her family appreciate the campgrounds available throughout the county

Another local family that camps frequently is Angie Laabs, her husband, Wade Slater, and their children, Emalee, 13, and Ely, 9. Laabs shared that she is a member of the Guthrie County Conservation Board, so she appreciates the various campgrounds available throughout the county. On this particular day, the family’s camper was set up at Springbrook Park.

“I’ve been camping since I was 3 years old, and this is the place that we come to. We also come to Nation’s Bridge and Lenon Mill,” Laabs said. “I came Thursday, and there were very few people here yet.”

Laabs said the family enjoys the wildlife they see while camping, including deer, foxes, eagles, ducks, geese and the ever-present raccoons.

“We go camping about every other weekend, but not on the holidays,” Laabs said, noting that local campgrounds are sometimes crowded on holidays.

The family usually continues camping well into the fall, sometimes as late as November. When weather allows, they spend nearly every moment outside.

“We do creek stomping. The kids run down the creek. Fishing is always fun, too,” Laabs said. “We usually have a big dinner in the Dutch oven, and we do s’mores and a campfire every night, unless it’s raining.”

Laabs shared that sometimes extended family members will set up at an adjacent campsite, so they can relax and socialize together. But, mainly, she enjoys unplugging from the outside world while camping. 

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “I’m down in a valley, so my cell phone doesn’t work.”

 

Deb College enjoys making new friends while camping

When it comes to camping, Deb College likes to keep it simple. 

“I’ve been camping since I was little. My parents used to bring me out here to Springbrook, and we used to swim in here when it had all the cool stuff, the tower to jump off and everything,” College said. “Then when I was married, we camped out in Colorado, up in the mountains. We tent camped all the time and went elk hunting.”

College enjoys having a few friends along but also makes new friends while camping by herself.

“I have a group of girlfriends, and we camp together sometimes, and I camp with my daughter and her husband sometimes,” College said. “But I’m usually a tent camper, and I usually camp alone.”

Solo camping isn’t for everyone, but College enjoys it, and she takes safety seriously.

“I only go to campsites where I know I’m safe because the DNR is there. They come around often if they know you’re camping alone. I always have protection with me, and I don’t worry about people. I worry about raccoons,” she said.

College has learned to store food in her car or tent because, each night, raccoons are drawn to the campground in search of a meal.

“There are always adventures out here because there are always raccoons that run around,” she said. “They tend to try to get into your tent. You’ll hear them scratching on the side every once in a while.”

When asked what advice she would give to anyone new to camping, College’s comments centered on shelter and food.

“I have had tents that have leaked, so get a good quality tent,” College said. “Always make sure you have a flashlight, matches, charcoal, wood. Learn to start a fire and get your cast iron for cooking. You’re going to screw up a few times until you get the hang of it. Experiment, have fun.”

For recreation while camping, College tends to stick with the basics. 

“We’ve got yard Yahtzee, and we play cards and go on hikes and swim,” she said.

One necessity for College is an air mattress, since it’s much more comfortable than a lumpy bedroll and keeps a person off the cold ground in cooler months. 

She camps often, usually through October, and likes to spend a weekend at Ledges State Park near Boone in mid-October for the annual Halloween-themed event. She explained that each campsite usually decorates in accordance with the theme. Traditionally, that is College’s final camping weekend of the year.

“That’s usually the end of the season because that’s when they close the shower houses,” she said.

Although much of College’s camping is done solo, she enjoys making new friends.

“I think the best thing about camping is just the camaraderie. You can have people that you don’t know, and everybody is friendly,” College said. “You can walk around and just visit with people. And I love it with all the kids running around.”

 

Reaghan Oakleaf helps ensure safe and enjoyable camping experiences

With so many people camping, “park rangers” are needed to help ensure safety and an enjoyable experience for all. One such person is Reaghan Oakleaf, who explained that her actual title with the Department of Natural Resources is Natural Resources Technician 1.

“I’ve been doing it a little over a year. I kind of do just about everything. I’m in charge of day-to-day operations, so that’s anything from reservations, helping campers with their campsite, taking phone calls, and facility maintenance,” Oakleaf said.  

Oakleaf added that camping at state parks doesn’t close over the winter.

“Technically, we are open for camping year-round, but our winter months are less utilized,” she said. “We have a peak season rate and an off-season rate.”

The peak season runs from May 1 to mid-October and charges a higher rate because there are more amenities provided, including shower houses.

Oakleaf explained that the DNR’s goal is to make camping an enjoyable experience for everyone, and reservations are not required.

“We strive to have a family-friendly atmosphere,” Oakleaf said. “Typically, we fill up pretty quickly on the holiday weekends. Other than that, it’s pretty ‘chillax.’ We offer reservable and non-reservable sites, so, if someone has a last-minute idea to go camping, we have that available.”

Oakleaf also said the DNR offers occasional events and programs in state parks. These can be viewed by checking the DNR’s website and selecting individual state parks in the area.

“Ann Reardon is our naturalist. She puts on a lot of good programs, whether it’s kayaking or other events,” Oakleaf said. “She’s really good at getting kids involved in the great outdoors.”