Cup Match is one of the biggest holidays on the Bermuda calendar, when locals either watch cricket, travel or camp.

And because summertime is synonymous with camping, it is also the busiest time of the year for Government's Parks Department as Park Rangers work flat out over the holiday, visiting camping sites to insure all is in order.

Normally during the camping season, which runs from the first Saturday in May to the third Sunday in September, camping is restricted to four locations, Chaplin Bay in Warwick, Coney Island, Ferry Reach and Higgs and Horseshoe Islands in St. George's Town Cut.

But during Cup Match the restrictions are relaxed and campers, taking advantage of the long weekend, are allowed to erect campsites at 32 other locations around the Island.

They are allowed to set up on the Tuesday before Cup Match and must have their camps down by the Sunday after Cup Match.

"Cup Match is the busiest time for us, but this year went well and the majority of individuals heeded the advice of the Police, and we ran a few ads to keep people informed of the rules," said Parks Officer Craig Burt.

"We have something called a conditions of camping, which highlights the dos and don'ts. Barbecues have to be on a metal surface, we don't permit the burning of fires on the ground or directly in the sand."

There are 30 camping spots each at Chaplin Bay and Ferry Reach, while Coney Island has 25 spots - all with 'overflow' spots in case of increased demand - and Higgs and Horseshoe Islands eight sites.

"We've had to put in overflow spots for people to use, particularly at Cup Match time," said Mr. Burt.

"The main value we see from it (camping), including Cup Match with the relaxed policy, is the family aspect -a lot of families out there enjoying nature, the outdoors and getting fresh air. Some of the regular people we have, particularly at Chaplin Bay, help people coming into the camping experience and are ready to give some ideas.

"If somebody doesn't have the techniques in setting up the equipment, they are willing to go and help, so that is a benefit as well. One thing I would like to see is a designated camping site in the central parishes."

By and large the regular campers respect the terms of conditions of their camping agreement, though there are some who try to bend the rules. A $50 deposit is put down by the campers and is refunded when they leave, provided they leave their campsite in order. And those who haven't paid the $6 a day fee to camp will find their tent and equipment confiscated.

"This year we haven't had to confiscate a tent," Mr. Burt said.

"Last year we cleaned up some sites that had stuff left over, but in the regular camp grounds we are very strict with the campers this year and so far we haven't had to confiscate any tents for non-payment.

"Last year we made some money. You have to pay $60 to get your stuff back and we made $800 or so. People know we are serious this time."

With Cup Match in Somerset this year, the designated campsites in the East End were not as packed, but it will be different next year when Cup Match switches to St. George's.

"At the regular parks and beaches - Astwood Park, Whale Bay, Spanish Point, Shelly Bay - the numbers were actually down," Mr. Burt revealed.

"At Spanish Point the tent numbers were down in the region of 40 to 50 tents, it wasn't as packed as in previous years, but Clearwater was packed.

"One thing we have to contend with, especially over Cup Match, is the strain on the resources, particularly the toilets. We put additional toilets out but the infrastructure is just not there to adequately service all the people who are there. That will be a never-ending problem."

During the course of the camping season, Mr. Burt's crew - there are three full-time, eight summer students and three members of the maintenance crew who work as Rangers on weekends - have to deal with cases of vandalism and other inconsiderate acts by some campers.

"We still have one or two people who insist on parking their cars in front of gates which prevents access for emergency vehicles or park crews," he said regretfully.

"They (crews) start at six in the morning over the Cup Match period and there were problems for them trying to get into places because somebody was parked in front of a gate.

"We did have a few problems with vandalism, people damaging toilets. There is one adult - we've yet to catch him - who insists on pulling the toilet apart at Chaplin Bay."

At the non-designated camp areas, campers are allowed to string their spots off, but some will spray paint on the grass which is not allowed. Neither are campers allowed to cut down trees.

"The majority of people are okay, but we still have a few fences that are damaged," said Mr. Burt.

"We do have quite a few problems with gates being broken or locks being cut off. We go through a lot of locks here. People will go as far as to carry a torch in their car or truck to cut a lock."

The Department has erected a fence at Clearwater, just past the restaurant, which blocks vehicle access to Turtle Bay. Again, an inconsiderate few spoiled it for everybody.

"The reason that was done is we tried to get people to park on one side of the road so that you can still maintain access for the traffic, but people didn't want to listen to us," said Mr. Burt.

"People weren't able to turn around and had to back out, so this eliminates all that confusion. Now it's going to make it safe because children can ride their bikes without the hassles of somebody racing through on a bike or in a car. It also gets people using the parking lot."

From time to time Rangers encounter hostility, but by and large, the campers respect the rules and restrictions and the fact they have to be enforced.

"You're always going to have one or two in a group who is going to make it hard," said the Parks Officer.

"You tend to find people, even those camping over Cup Match at the non-designated sites, are territorial, they feel they own the site. We do it on a first-come, first-served basis and those individuals who want those sites over Cup Match will come in on May 1 - some at 4 o'clock in the morning to get in line - even if they are not going to be camping until Cup Match.

"We did try a system five years ago when we were booking long term campers, but then there were people complaining that what if there was somebody new who wanted that site? That's why they opened it back up to first-come, first-served."

The $6 fee, plus the $50 deposit which is not refunded if the campsite is left in a mess, covers the cost of maintaining the campsites in good order...cleaning the toilets, cutting the grass and emptying trash every day.

"About four years ago, between the three campgrounds, we took out about 15 or 16 loads of trash - tents, lawn chairs, barbecues, stuff just left behind," explained Mr. Burt.

"We've had situations where people go and leave their whole site. They would lose their deposits right away."

Throughout the season there are as many as 750 to 1,000 campers at the designated sites.

"For youth groups, football teams, church groups, boy scouts, Gombeys, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, we don't charge them."

The job of a Park Ranger certainly has plenty of challenges, with the housing situation finding its way into the parks every summer.

"It's been an adventure, you can see the change in the dynamics of people over the years," Mr. Burt said.

"We do have transient homeless who live up in the trees and we have moved them out and tried to get them help but they keep coming back. Some people say lock them up, but that's not going to solve the problem. They just tend to live that lifestyle.

"One of the major problems we have nowadays is we know that there are some people who do camp who don't have a place to stay. They move out of whatever accommodation they have, or get evicted, and they use the camp ground as long as they pay.

"Come the end of the season it becomes a problem because they don't want to move. This job opens your eyes to some of the issues that most people either don't want to deal with or say don't exist in Bermuda.

"In my time here I've dealt with people who lived in a cave at Admiralty House, a bathroom at Spanish Point, a fort at west Whale Bay.

"Most people who look at parks just see the normal campers, picturesque Horseshoe Bay and the big events going on at Clearwater, but there is also the dark side that can be disheartening or unpleasant."

On Tuesday: The joy of camping.