Minister Inaugurates New Étoile Ready-to-Camp Units in Quebec’s Sépaq Network

The Minister responsible for Sports, Recreation and the Outdoors, Isabelle Charest, was in the region on Thursday, July 20, to proceed with the inauguration of 110 new Étoile ready-to-camp units that have been developed or are under construction in various locations in the network of the Société des Établissements de Plein Air du Québec (Sépaq). The total provincial government investment is $7.8 million.

The press conference took place in the Baie-Sauvage sector of Frontenac National Park in Sainte-Praxède. For the Minister, these units make it possible to make the campground accessible to a larger clientele while giving them the opportunity to learn about the goods made from nature. “I think we’ve seen, especially during the pandemic, how much people have reinvested in outdoor activities. We have a fantastic playground and an exceptional product with Sépaq parks. For us, it is important to support these gems. The network has a conservation mission, but also that of providing access to nature. It’s a great way to make people aware of its protection,” said Isabelle Charest.

It was in 2018 that this ready-to-camp model resembling a chalet appeared in the network. Cubic in shape, it offers more height, storage and capacity (six people) than the traditional one. It has three double beds and offers lots of light as well as a covered gallery where you can take shelter in case of rain. There is also heating and auxiliary lighting, an electric or propane stove outside, a small refrigerator and everything you need for cooking.

Parc national de Frontenac already offered a dozen Étoile ready-to-camp units and was able to add five new ones thanks to this investment. According to its director Éric Lessard, these offer more advantages. “What we call the traditional ready-to-camp consists of a wooden platform with a structure and a canvas. Inside there are beds and a small kitchen. We find the same thing in the Star, but this one has a hardtop. It is warmer in the traditional when it is sunny. For us, it is also more complicated in terms of management since it has to be dismantled in the fall and reassembled in the spring,” he explained.

Parc national de Frontenac still has 18 traditional ready-to-camp units (ten in the Saint-Daniel sector and eight in the South sector), but these will eventually need to be replaced. The new infrastructures have been very popular since the beginning of the season, being constantly busy.

“This formula is particularly appreciated by families,” said Sépaq President and CEO Jacques Caron. We are very proud of the Étoile model, developed entirely by us, which is very successful and which often represents an introduction to camping for young families. We are determined to remain leaders in offering outdoor experiences while continuing to protect exceptional natural environments for the benefit of Quebecers and future generations,” he concluded.