NY Governor Kathy Hochul announced that overnight reservations at campgrounds operated by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation had record highs in 2021.

Campsites, cabins, cottages and yurts at State Parks campgrounds were occupied for 782,103 nights, surpassing the previous 2019 record of 684,820 nights by 15%. DEC campgrounds were occupied for 394,401 nights, surpassing the previous 2016 record of 354,521 nights by more than 10%.

Governor Hochul said, “The numbers don’t lie, people have shown how much they appreciate all that our state campgrounds have to offer, especially as the pandemic made outdoor recreation more desirable than ever.”

Over the past 10 years, as improvements were being made statewide under the New York Parks 2020 Capital program, total overnight stays at State Parks campgrounds have risen nearly 45%.

State parks operates 68 campgrounds, featuring 8,179 campsites, 825 cabins, 18 yurts and 136 full service cottages with amenities like power, kitchen, bath, beds, living room, and outdoor living space. They also oversee more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which were visited by a record 78 million people.

DEC operates use areas in the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves that provide a wide variety of experiences including island camping, tent and trailer camping, boat launching facilities, hiking trails, beaches and day use areas with picnic tables and grills.

New York’s camping season runs through the summer, with some facilities remaining open during fall foliage and hunting season.

Camping reservations are available through ReserveAmerica, which provides online and phone reservations for campsites throughout New York. Reservations are accepted for campsites and cabins, from one day to 9 months in advance. Many prime campsites are currently booked for the 2022 season. Visit reserveamerica.com or call toll free 1-800-456-CAMP for reservations.

Gun Dealers Have Ammo Shortages!

Gun dealers continue to struggle with keeping shelves stocked with ammunition. The supply chain disruptions, from the coronavirus pandemic and increased demand for guns and ammunition, have left shelves empty in some cases. And when a shipment does arrive at local gun stores, ammunition is quickly bought up.

This tells us that Americans support the Second Amendment and want to defend themselves and their family.