Camp Linda
Enjoying nature is what guests at Camp Linda can do to the fullest. With a brand-new play area, beautiful cycling and hiking routes and various water sports, the campsite contains all the ingredients for a memorable holiday!
Owner Emanuel Dekker talks about Camp Linda and the, in February installed, playground.
Who is Linda?
“The first question is often whether Linda set up the campsite. Which makes sense, but strangely enough, there is no Linda at all. The name came from two surnames Lindenbergh and Dagevos. They set up the campsite in 1962, since then it has grown into a natural recreation park. There are guests who used to come to the campsite with their parents. It is nice to see that those children now come back with their own children.”
The design
Together with the leisure operator, we looked for a suitable design for the play area. The village of Wemeldinge is known for its mussel and oyster culture and maritime shipping. That local feel is reflected in the play area, through lake pillars, decorative grasses, rocks and bridges.
“When I drove up to the campsite, I immediately noticed that quite a lot of work had gone into the embellishment of the entrance, it really blended in with the nature. I was keen to incorporate this into the design of the playground. Emanuel was pleasantly surprised to see that the ambience of the entrance seamlessly blended into the ambience of the playground.” says Remco van de Berg, sales consultant at BOERplay.
“For me, it is important that the whole site radiates the same ambience. I did not want a pirate ship in the playground, this would not have blended in. When I saw that there was a barge in the design, I was instantly excited. Since it is very similar to the ship that can be seen on the dike as an information point of National Park Oosterschelde.”
This stunning project was designed by BOERplay landscape designer, Noortje Segeren. She tells about her inspiration:
“The regional landscape of Zeeland served as my inspiration when designing the play area of Camp Linda, which is reflected in various aspects of the campsite. We created a watercourse with blue artificial grass, reflecting the region’s water scene. The border, planted with decorative grasses, in turn symbolises the beautiful dunes of the region.
The story we want to tell with the playground is that the watercourse finds its way along the imaginary beach, through the dunes and finally flows into the harbour. The beach is represented by sand and water play. A fishing boat, loaded with the catch of the day, is followed by a curious seal, while a jet ski guides the way to the harbour crane. This crane is ready to skip the fresh catch, and thereby bring the authentic feeling of the region to life.
It is delightful to see that what you designed is in fact realised. The playground has turned out incredible, this is definitely a project to be proud of.”
The playground’s surface is artificial grass and features images of mussels, oysters and Sem the seal, Linda’s mascot. Artificial grass has excellent qualities to serve as a fall surface and it also has good drainage so that rainwater can be quickly drained and reused for our water play equipment. Apart from being practical, it certainly adds more character to the play area. A seaside should have a beach, which can be found in the play landscape. The water play equipment is placed on the sand, making the overall look complete!
Fun for all ages
“For children, our mascot Sem the seal is available. Children can learn about nature during an educational scavenger hunt with an adventure backpack. While they explore the waterfront, looking for shells, various creatures, and plants; the entertainment worker tells them about the nature reserve. All the children love it, they can have a great time.”
Every guest has an image of the perfect holiday, most guests at Camp Linda like to escape the paved city and actively enjoy nature. “They enjoy the landscape with its variety of sea, polder and orchard. Typical beach guests don’t visit Camp Linda. However, there is a private beach where you can swim and relax.”
That nature is beautiful near the campsite that’s obvious, but let’s not forget the underwater world.
“The Netherlands has more to give than people think. For instance, the underwater world of the Oosterschelde is more beautiful and diverse than you might think now. It is home to seahorses, seals and even a species of dolphin called the porpoise. We are located on the only 5-star diving spot in the Netherlands, which is the reason why diving is very popular at the campsite; this is definitely something we can be proud of.”
“For me, it is important that the whole site radiates the same ambience. I did not want a pirate ship in the playground, this would not have blended in. When I saw that there was a barge in the design, I was instantly excited. Since it is very similar to the ship that can be seen on the dike as an information point of National Park Oosterschelde.”
Let imagination run free!
At the playground, there is plenty of room for imaginative play. Hence, this playground equipment belongs to our imaginative play product line Figura Play. Our ‘scan to play’ is part of Figura Play. Parents are in this way involved in the children’s imaginative play. By scanning the QR code, sounds can be played, making the role play even more realistic and allowing them to get involved.
With these imaginative play designs, backed up by Figura Play products and modules, we offer a total package of opportunities to encourage imaginative play and learning through play.
Role-play, imitation, and reenactment of situations, it is all part of imaginative play. It contributes to development in several areas. By playing with other children, they develop their social and cognitive skills. They learn to indicate their boundaries and respect those of others. Through role-play, they better understand what is real and what is not. They get a taste of adult life through play; this helps them understand difficult situations better and deal with them more easily.
Ship ahoy!
All equipment in the playground together sketches a story. With play equipment like the climb-funnel, children can catch mussels, oysters, and fish. Who’s the captain of the ship? And who escorts the ship to port on the jet ski? In this imaginative play landscape, little sailors and fishermen can play their own role-playing games. Once they arrive, they can dig in the sand and pump water into the water play equipment.
“Working with BOERplay was a smooth process, when I saw the design, I immediately thought this is what was intended. I wanted an area that would fit in perfectly with the surroundings, the overall picture just fits. Not only the playground equipment, but also the greenery fits in. We get nice compliments from the guests, a sign that the goal has been achieved: installing a nice eye-catcher for the campsite.”
Sustainability and service
Along the coast there is often a salty breeze, which can cause some materials to weather more quickly. Not our recycled plastic, which lasts for years! It is a good material to work with if you want to create a sustainable environment. In case of unexpected problems, we are of course also at your service. Our dedicated team guarantees fast and effective service, so that any inconveniences will soon be history.
Interested in Figura Play or Imaginative Play? Read more about it in the brochure, contact an advisor or visit the webpage.