First Week – Lots to Learn!

I realized after posting last time that I didn’t include any pics of the boardwalk or ocean!  How did that happen?  I’ll include a few here!  Sorry about that!





There is so much to learn when starting a new job!  These are our first “traditional” campground type jobs – where the husband works outside doing the “manly” things, like landscaping, maintenance, taking care of the pool, doing hayrides, etc.  and the wife is inside doing reservations, answering the phone, checking people in/out, checking out purchases at the campstore.  I know those roles sound sexist, but they suit us just fine.  

Country Oaks Campground is fairly small, relatively speaking compared to other behemoth 500+ sites Jersey Shore campgrounds, with 140 sites and 2 cabins.  All but 40 of those sites are seasonal, where people park their rigs and come to enjoy during their vacations and weekends throughout the summer.  The other 40 sites are transient, 10 of those are pull-thrus.  I personally love the size, as it’s large enough to have plenty of activities for the family, but small enough that it feels like a place everyone gets to know everyone else and you can make lifelong friends.  

They have a really nice pool, complete with a snack bar and a separate small kiddie pool for little ones.  There is a horse shoe pit, game room with pool table, also volleyball and basketball courts.  They offer themed planned activities on weekends, complete with craft shed where the kids gather to make works of art, and dances for the whole family!  The adults get to win prizes during weekly bingo!  All this and about a half hour to the beach!  Because of that half hour to the beach, their prices are more reasonable, vs the parks that are only 10 minutes to the beach.  Down the Jersey Shore – that matters!  

So – what are we learning?  Good question!

I am inside the office – answering the phones, making reservations – except monthlies and seasonals – Lynn handles those.  Lynn gave me a big pile of guest reservations that were taken over the winter; I’ve been figuring out how much they owe for deposits for their stays (a lot of our guests come multiple weekends), then calling to accept those deposits over the phone.  Those deposits then have to be entered in the computer after running the credit cards.  They have a great little camp store, so I check out people making purchases.  I check people in when they arrive; some people leave a $10 (returnable) deposit for a gate card.  There is a gate to get in and out – the going out side goes up on its own when you pull up to it.  

One of the things I’ve been really enjoying is Lynn has been really awesome about explaining the “why’s” of how things are done.   It’s not complicated, but sometimes the reasons for things are not immediately apparent.  It helps a lot vs just being told “Do it this way” and you have no idea why.  I feel like I am learning a lot about running a CG, not just my specific responsibilities, and I am appreciative of that.  To me, it’s always good to expand your knowledge base.  

This past weekend was Easter and we had a lot of the seasonals here; the new seasonals we’re moving their rigs onto their new summer home site.  The week before there were some people here opening up their rigs for the first time this spring.  There was a lot of leaves being raked, pipes being unwinterized, windows being washed, etc.  

Country Oaks had some special things going on for the holiday.  I filled plastic eggs with quarters and candy for the Easter egg hunt.  The Activity Director, Katelyn, helped the kids make Easter Baskets; the Easter Bunny visited and filled them Saturday night.  

It was fun being an Easter Bunny helper!

Bill has been busy also.  He has been using the giant leaf vacuum to suck up all the leaves (and some rocks and dirt, etc) that guests raked out of their “yards”.  He has been using a splitter to split wood into firewood guests can purchase for $25 a cart load, which he delivers to a site after they pay for at the office.  He has learned how to drive the front loader tractor for the “hay ride” – which the kids seem to really enjoy!  


For dinner one night, we went to Mays Landing Diner.  I was wanting breakfast for dinner!  Scrambled eggs, crispy home fries with onions, pork roll and wheat toast is what I ordered!  It was good – not the best I’ve had but not bad!  This is not a 24 hour diner but I doubt we will need to be out getting food at 2am, so it’s all good!  There are other places we will be trying also.  

Our first week went off without a glitch!  Hope that’s a sign of how the rest of the summer will go!  

18 thoughts on “First Week – Lots to Learn!

  1. Sounds like a well run campground. I’m sure it Will be a great summer. We are on our trek to NH. Spending a few days in Pa then Ny. Enjoy your summer!

    1. The owners have owned this place for 19 years – had no experience when they bought it so all has been learned along the way, but they’ve got it down pat now! If you find yourself in NJ – stop and say hi! Have a great summer!

  2. Good for you at your new gig! We really enjoy working at a campground setting, nice people to meet, time flies!

    1. We are loving it so far! I’m glad we are here before it gets really busy to learn everything! Your gig sounds good also!

    1. He is enjoying all the power tools and huge man toys he hasn’t gotten to use in a long time – others for the first time!

  3. Sounds like a great place.
    Bring back some nice memories of year ago when Sonia and I were at Ocean City ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Sounds like y’all found a great spot for the summer! Cannot wait to hear about it a the summer gets closer and it gets busier.
    That pizza looked delicious and just mentioning pork roll has my taste buds watering!
    Stay safe!

    1. It is a great spot for sure! I’m glad we are getting to learn how to do everything now before the busyness of summer gets here!
      We LOVE Manco pizza – best boardwalk pizza! Pork roll prices are much better here vs AK! I’d send some except cold shipping would prob be $$$$$!

  5. Sounds like all is going well. I am so happy to hear you are doing good. Love the pictures. Have a good week. I am waiting for some warm weather and dry. It has been very cold and very wet for the past four days.

    1. Thanks Chris! We had a few nice days but the last ones have been nasty! Damp and cold! But – that’s spring time in the northeast! Hope we get a nice day for your visit!

  6. Interesting! We will be reversing the rolls, I will be out and about and Rollie is the customer service guy! Our place is much smaller and no activities but we do dog walking for extra money, which I will be doing most of. We aren’t supposed to be doing much maintenance but there is always trash to pick up and I am good at that.

    1. That is interesting! Doesn’t sound like you will be taking a chain saw to trees or digging ditches to find water leaks though – love the dog walking idea for extra cash! I doubt that will be needed here though – people come here and stay. Even if they head to the beach – wouldn’t prob be gone that long like a Denali tour! Can’t wait to hear how you like it!

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