Betsy Allen-Manning, the keynote speaker at Camp Jellystone’s annual Symposium, challenged Jellystone Park operators on Wednesday (Nov. 13) to take a close look at the work “culture” they create at their parks because it has a direct impact on their ability to attract and retain talented employees.
“Care about everyone and everything. A leader’s character is contagious,” she said, adding that it’s important for the leaders of each park to “invest in yourself to be the best you can be. … Develop yourself so that you can develop others.”
Allen-Manning is an internationally known leadership speaker, best-selling author, and company culture expert. Her specialty is helping leaders attract, engage and retain the best talent in a hyper-competitive marketplace. Her company, Destination Workplace, is one of the top leadership training companies in the Dallas area. Camp Jellystone invited her to be its keynote speaker because of the challenges park operators always face in attracting and retaining talented employees.
Often it is managers themselves who need training, Allen-Manning said, noting that most people could stand to improve their communication skills, their coaching skills, their time management skills and even their ability to delegate tasks effectively or simply manage change.
Allen-Manning cited Jellystone Park’s “core values” of committing to be the best in the industry, employee empowerment and team accountability as being noteworthy. But turning these values into reality requires more than writing them down.
“Ask (your employees), ‘What does it look like to share these core values in your role?’” she said.
In other words, in what specific ways can each employee apply a park’s core values to the work they do each day?
Equally important, Allen-Manning said, is recognizing the efforts employees are making to do good work.
‘Make appreciation part of your culture,” she said.
Allen-Manning even suggested having employees fill out an employee recognition questionnaire, which asks them about their favorite retail store, favorite coffee or tea, party spot and other favorite things because this information can help guide park operators when it comes time to reward their employees with gifts that recognize their efforts in a personal, meaningful way.
It’s not enough and may not even be appropriate, she added, to simply give out Starbucks gifts as small tokens for jobs well done, particularly when another type of gift could be a much more effective way to get the employee’s attention in a positive way.
Such efforts to recognize employees for jobs well done are important, Allen-Manning said, because “people will repeat what they are recognized for.”
Today’s younger employees also have different objectives when it comes to deciding where they want to work.
“People are no longer seeking to work ‘just’ for a paycheck,” she said.”They work to work at a ‘destination workplace.’”
A “destination workplace,” she added, is a place where employees feel valued, engaged and eager to contribute to the company’s long-term success. Jellystone Park locations that do a good job of attracting and retaining employees should market their efforts by sharing their employee reviews online because this is valuable information that can help with recruitment efforts, she said.
Allen-Manning also held a second keynote address later in the day that focused on how to resolve conflicts by understanding different personality types.
Camp Jellystone’s three-day Symposium concluded Wednesday night with the annual awards banquet, music and dancing.
The event took place at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tenn.
Damage from Hurricane Helene has forced the closure of 16 campgrounds – numbers are changing daily as parks reopen – in the mountains of western North Carolina, according to Dee Witting, executive director of the Carolinas Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (CARVC).
But even though two thirds of CARVC’s mountain campgrounds remain open, tourists have been avoiding the area, dealing North Carolina’s entire mountain region a devastating economic blow during the peak of the fall foliage season.
“This is the height of the fall foliage season and people are not traveling anywhere to the western North Carolina mountains,” Witting said, noting that the mountains are famed not only for their striking fall colors, but their popular fall festivals and fun family activities, such as apple picking.
“We were fully booked for October. It was going to be a great October,” said Marla Snead, who co-owns and operates Linville Falls Campground with her husband, Kenny. Situated at an elevation of 3,500 feet, their park is just one quarter mile away from Mile Marker 317 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is famous for its fall foliage.
But Helene toppled somewhere “between 88 and 100 trees” across the campground, including pines, oaks, tulip trees, hickories and maples, Snead said. The fallen trees not only blocked roadways and campsites, but damaged some of the park’s cabins, the park office and bathhouse. The park’s pavilion was also destroyed during the storm.
“The ground was so soaked that it loosened the roots. In some of the fallen trees, the root ball came up, while others broke with the wind,” Snead said, noting that many trees that are now leaning into other trees will have to be taken down for safety reasons.
When WCM caught up with the Sneads on Monday, their power had just been restored. “We went 17 days without electricity,” Snead said. “We got our Internet back with the (restoration of power). But we still don’t have landline phone service.”
The Sneads survived the preceding 17 days by relying on their 7,500-watt generator, which provided enough power to run their refrigerator and TV. But because the Sneads rely on well water, the loss of power also shut down their well pump. “The worst thing was having to carry water to flush the toilet,” Snead said.
While Linville Falls Campground had planned to remain open until Nov. 11, the Sneads decided to keep their park closed after Helene because they didn’t know how long it would take to find tree trimmers and other crews to help them clean up and reopen. They had tree trimmers working at their campground when WCM caught up with them on Monday.
Despite the damage, the Sneads consider themselves fortunate. “Yes, we’ve had all this damage, but our house isn’t damaged,” Snead said. “We can rebuild from this and we will reopen as usual in April.”
Many other people across the mountains of western North Carolina suffered far greater losses. “One of my good friends lost her house and her car. So many homes are gone,” Snead said, citing the unprecedented floods that submerged entire communities in the mountain areas of western North Carolina.
“This wasn’t a part of the country where you thought about flood insurance,” Snead said, let alone hurricanes.
Witting said campgrounds in mountain communities in South Carolina also suffered damage as a result of Helene, but their damage was generally light compared to what happened in North Carolina.
“They didn’t have damage (in South Carolina) to the extent that they can’t reopen,” Witting said. “They are pretty much fully operational.”
Several campgrounds that are owned and operated by Spacious Skies Campgrounds, LLC were initially affected by Helene, but all but one have since resumed near-normal operations, according to Ali Rasmussen, the company’s CEO. These include:
• Spacious Skies Bear Den in Spruce Pine, N.C.: This park remains closed as a result of Helene, but restoration efforts are underway. “On all fronts, we feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude that no Cosmic Crew or campers were injured, and that most of the property damage that occurred was ours,” Rasmussen said. “Our small but mighty team has already begun the hard work to restore the campground. Everyone in the area is taking it day by day, but the swift response from relief efforts from the federal and local levels has been very encouraging.”
• Spacious Skies Hidden Creek in Marion, N.C.: Operations at this park are almost back to normal. “Our team has been hosting both relief workers, displaced campers, and our usual October guest population in harmony,” Rasmussen said, adding, “On their off time, many team members have been generously donating their time and efforts to aiding the community.”
• Spacious Skies Peach Haven in Gaffney, S.C.: Operations are almost back to normal at this park. “Several campers have assisted with clean up on their own campsites, which was not necessary but much very much appreciated, and it showcases the warmth and caring of the camping community,” Rasmussen said. “Otherwise, we are welcoming our October campers, as well as actively selling our new winter and summer seasonal packages.”
Meanwhile, Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Billings, Mont.-based Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA), the Asheville East KOA Holiday and Jonesborough / Cherokee NF KOA Journey will remain closed for the foreseeable future. “We are working closely with our campground owners, managers, and local emergency service agencies to provide support and resources as they navigate the recovery process during this time,” O’Rourke said.
Witting said CARVC is monitoring relief efforts across the Carolinas and is working with its lobbyists and OHI to identify funding sources that can help private parks that suffered damage as a result of Helene.
Pat O’Neill, left, and his wife, Heather, center, with their children on a recent camping trip. (Courtesy photos)
While the Southeast has been battered by a succession of hurricanes in recent weeks, RV parks across the region have been taking in evacuees and, in some cases, serving them hot meals.
“Where we are are located in northwest Florida, we experienced no damages whatsoever. We became a haven like many other parks outside the target areas,” O’Neill said. “We filled up for a few days each time and (my wife), Heather, made pots of homemade soups, including Conecuh sausage and bean and bacon/potato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches, for the evacuees.”
O’Neill said evacuees have been very appreciative of his park’s hospitality. “It was well received and guests were very grateful to have a safe and friendly place to (seek safe) haven and make new friends. We even saw old friends rekindle to meet up here for a respite.”
Camp Delta RV Park in Stockton, Ala. offered free campsites to hurricane evacuees, according to a report by WKRG, a CBS affiliate in Mobile, Ala. “If they don’t have a place we will fill up the cabins and then if we run out then we’ll go get a bunch of tents. We’ll find somewhere for them. We are not going to leave them where they don’t have a place to stay,” said park owner Luke Carruth.
Maynor Creek Water Park in Wayne County, Miss. and seven other parks managed by Pat Harrison Waterway District were also said to be welcoming Hurricane Milton evacuees from Florida. “Any of those campsites will allow anyone evacuating because of Hurricane Milton with an RV or tent to stay free,” WDAM, the Channel 7 television station in Moselle, Miss., stated in an Oct. 9 report.
“Pat Harrison (Waterway District) wants to do what they can do, and this is what they can do,” Maynor Creek manager Michael Tarver said. “Just like everybody would like to be able to do more, but most people can’t. They’re in trouble down there. They’re heading out, getting away from this monster. And they come all, they come this way, too. Everybody needs help.”
Hoover Met RV Park in Hoover, Ala. also hosted Florida evacuees fleeing Hurricane Milton, according to an Oct. 9 report by WBRC Channel 6 in Birmingham, Ala.
Campground operators and industry officials are still trying to assess the full impact of Hurricane Helene on Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas.
Mountain Stream RV Park in Marion, N.C.
What was known as of late Monday was that several campgrounds were destroyed and many others suffered varying levels of damage, including flooding and fallen trees. At least one campground death was reported. Scores of campgrounds in the storm’s path were without power and it was unknown when electricity would be restored or when they could reopen.
“This is the third time in 13 months that the Big Bend of Florida, specifically the Steinhatchee and Cedar Key areas, have received a direct impact, or were on the bad side of the storm,” Bobby Cornwell, executive director and CEO of the Florida RV Park and Campground Association stated in an email to association members on Monday.
“The storm surge and flooding was severe for coastal communities from Sarasota to Panacea. Tampa and Clearwater received bad flooding, and some parks are still under water in certain areas, including Nature’s Resort in Homosassa, which had significant flooding. Power outages are sporadic, but power is being restored quickly in most areas.”
What was particularly unusual about Hurricane Helene was the amount of damage the storm inflicted after it hit the Florida coast and headed northward across Georgia and into the Carolinas.
“It’s devastating,” said Dee Witting, executive director of the Carolinas Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, noting that search and rescue teams were still scouring mountain communities across the region late Monday.
Unlike typical hurricanes, which unleash their most significant damage when they first hit the coast, the remnants of Hurricane Helene brought as much as 30 inches of rain to the mountains of Carolinas after rampaging across northern Florida and Georgia, creating levels of flooding that had never been experienced so far inland before. Witting said many campground operators in mountain areas remain cut off from civilization late Monday, unable to travel roadways that have been blocked by landslides, fallen trees, floodwaters or other damage from the storm.
Mountain Stream RV Park in Marion, N.C. announced on its Facebook page that the park had been totally destroyed. Witting said many parks have been affected by falling trees which blocked roads, damaged cabins and created other property damage.
“Most campgrounds are still without power. Many are without water,” Witting said, adding that she was working with CARVC’s lobbyists to ensure that state officials are aware of the damage suffered by campground and RV park operators and include them in emergency funding requests for recovery efforts.
Witting said she was aware of at least half a dozen campgrounds across the Carolinas that had suffered severe damage and that one person had died as a result of the storm at a campground in South Carolina.
Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Billings, Mont.-based Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA), said its franchisees were still assessing the full extent of damage to their parks across Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia late Monday.
“With more than 50 campgrounds in the storm’s path, the effects have varied,” O’Rourke said, adding, “We expect to have a clearer understanding of the overall damage in the coming days. However, we do know that our Asheville East KOA Holiday and Jonesborough / Cherokee NF KOA Journey were among those severely impacted.”
O’Rourke said KOA’s priority is to support its campground owners, operators, staff, and their guests. “As many of our campgrounds in these states continue to assess the full impact of this devastating storm, our thoughts are with everyone affected,” she said. “We are committed to supporting our community and working closely with our campground owners and managers to aid their recovery during this challenging time.” KOA campgrounds that sustained minimal damage—or were unaffected—will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, O’Rourke continued, noting that campers can visit KOA.com for more updates on specific campgrounds.
While many campgrounds suffered significant damage, others got through the storms with relatively minimal impacts, even in Florida. Cornwell noted that most of the affected parks near the storm’s path in Florida will reopen soon.
“The areas of Perry and Madison, north of where the storm made impact, were hit hard by strong winds, but most of the parks in Madison came out ok. The Madison RV and Golf Resort is open, the Station RV Resort is open, and Ragan’s Family Campground is expected to re-open on October 6,” Cornwell said.
Some companies with campgrounds or RV parks near the storm’s path said their parks were recovering quickly.
Five campgrounds in the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee that belong to Spacious Skies Campgrounds, LLC were affected by the storm, but all of them were expected to reopen soon, according to Ali Rasmussen, the company’s CEO.
Affected campgrounds include:— Spacious Skies Bear Den in Spruce Pine, N.C.: The park is currently closed while area and property clean up continues.— Spacious Skies Hidden Creek in Marion, N.C.: This park is currently without power and water, but expects utilities to be back up within a week to 10 days. However, this park is accepting campers on a boondocking basis who have been displaced by the storm or are working in relief efforts.
— Spacious Skies Peach Haven in Gaffney, S.C.: This park is currently without power and water, but expects those services to be back up within a week to 10 days. This park is also accepting campers on a boondocking basis who have been displaced by the storm or are working in relief efforts.
Spacious Skies Savannah Oaks in Savannah, Ga. and Spacious Skies Belle Ridge in Monterey, Tenn. had minor impacts, but both campgrounds are open and welcoming guests as clean-up continues, Rasmussen said. “Our priority continues to be the safety of our staff and guests. We are also doing whatever we can to support local clean-up efforts. We will likely have more to report in the coming days,” she said.
Parks that were an hour’s drive or more away from the storm’s path still experienced significant storm impacts, but they were much better able to bounce back after the storm.
Ho-Hum RV park in Carabelle, Fla. was about 60 miles west of Hurricane Helene when it made landfall. While the park sustained minor flooding, there was no lasting damage to the infrastructure at the park, which was able to reopen Sunday, Sept. 29, according to Scott Cleveland, marketing and market research manager for USA Camping Company, which owns and operates a dozen parks in 11 states. “The area was hit and lost power and cable, but overall the area is looking good,” Cleveland said, adding, “All beaches, restaurants, and local businesses are all open within a two-hour radius, including Apalachicola and Saint George Island.”
Advanced Outdoor Management (AOM), which manages RV parks across 23 states, also had a park affected by the storm. “Our South Carolina park, Lake Hartwell, got hit. They were out of power and WiFI for seven hours. They have trees down, but no major flooding, thankfully,” said Rachel Godbout, AOM’s chief operating officer.
Woodall’s Campground Magazine reached out to several other companies that have campgrounds and/or RV parks in the Southeast, including Equity LifeStyle Properties, Sun Communications and Camp Jellystone, but none had information they were ready to share as of late Monday.
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