Leeds DA's Beginners Guide to DA Camping
Ok, so you've got your caravan, tent or motorhome and are ready to venture out but where should you go?
DA camping offers great weekends (or longer) away and great flexibility and freedom at fantastic value for money.
Sometimes going away for the first time can seem a bit daunting, so we have put together a beginners guide to help you out.
Terminology
You may come across some terminology and wonder what on earth it all means! Here is a quick guide to some of the most common things you might see:DA – District Association. You will be assigned a DA upon registering with the club. You are usually placed with a DA that is near to where you live. Once you are a club member, you can camp with any DA.
Region – The UK is split into geographical Regions covering the local DA’s. We are part of Yorkshire Region.
Rallies – These are usually weekend meets organised by individual DA's around the country. These are also referred to as 'meets'.
THS – This stands for Temporary Holiday Site. These are again organised by individual DA's and Regions, but are available for longer periods of time, usually a week or more. You can camp at any point during the time a THS is open.
Elsan – This is where you will enjoy the lovely task of emptying your chemical toilet. There will be an Elsan point at every meet.
Grey water – Grey water is the waste water that comes from your unit. This will need to be collected in a suitable container and disposed of correctly in accordance with the land owners directions. This can sometimes be in the hedgerows of the field you are camping on. Grey water should not be left to drain straight onto the grass.
Steward – The steward is the person who is in charge of the rally or THS. This is who you will see as you enter the camping area and to whom you will pay your fees. You must report to the Steward before camping. They will also inform you of any events or social get togethers that may be happening. The stewards unit will be clearly marked. This is who you see if you have any questions or problems whilst on site.
Unit – This is the term used for your choice of accomodation, whether it is tent, caravan, motorhome, trailer tent, camper van or folding caravan. (I think I covered them all!)
Site Rules
We are the friendly club and want you to enjoy your stays with us and for the comfort and safety of yourselves and your fellow campers we do have some site rules that you need to adhere to.- All rubbish must be taken home with you at the close of the meet unless stated otherwise.
- Waste water must be collected in a suitable receptacle and must not be allowed to foul the ground.
- Please remember to bring your own toilet. No part of any toilet should be taken to a drinking water tap.
- Open fires are not permitted
- All units must place a bucket of water ouside their unit in case of fire.
- Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times and must not be taken into the marquee (guide dogs excepted).
- Respect must be shown to the landowners property and all 'out of bounds' areas observed.
- Leeds DA permit the use of generators between the hours of 11.00am – 12.00 noon and 5.00pm – 6.00pm. They should be used with care and not left running unnecessarily.(Other DA’s may have different regulations re generators).
- There is a maximum speed limit on site of 5mph. Pleas keep to this limit and keep traffic movement to a minimum.
- No driving on site between 11.00pm and 7.00am
- No smoking and no dogs in the marquee or any other buildings being used.
Leeds DA Reward Scheme
Leeds DA rewards our regular campers by giving cash back at our Annual Dinner Dance. This is subject to review at the start of each camping season. The current reward scheme gives a point for every meet attended including THS’s organised by Leeds DA.
Depending how many points you accrue depends on how much cash back you get. Currently, 10 points results in £10, 15 is £15 or 20 is £20 per unit. Our treasurer keeps a track of how many meets you attend so you don’t have to.
FAQ (Frequently asked questions)
Can I just pitch my caravan anywhere on site?
No. You will be advised as to the best place to pitch your unit by the steward.
Do I have to book in advance?
Most of our rallies and THS' do not require booking, however, please always check either our website or the 'Out n About' section in the club magazine to be certain. We do take bookings for larger meets and rallies where space may be limited.
Do you have a special area for kids?
If your child is aged between 8 and 18, we do have both youth and junior youth sections that they can join. There are designated areas for both the youth and juniors to camp if they wish. If you would like more information about our youth sections, please contact our youth leaders.
Is there entertainment?
We try to get a balance between meets with organised events and nice relaxing weekends, so entertainment is provided at some of our meets but not all. Please see our website for more information on these events.
Are there toilet/ shower facilities on site?
Rarely. Most of our rallies and THS' are held in farmers' fields so you will need your own self contained toilet and washing facilities.
Is there electric hook up available at rallies & THS'?
Rarely. You will normally need your own power. A fully charged battery should easily last you the weekend. Don't forget that for longer meets, if you think your battery will run low, you can top it up with the aid of a generator, although please observe the rules on generator running times.
Finally!
Remember, we have all been first time campers at some point in time and we remember what it is like, so please do not struggle with anything. If you need any help, please speak to us. We are a friendly group and we will help however we can.If you let your site steward know you are new to camping, they will also offer any assistance you need.
Enjoy camping!