Have a May 2-4 hangover? There's a reason people on Bell Island stayed sober
Open the cooler and it's full of juice boxes, water and pop.
"It's intended to be sober … even after hours. You know the kiddies are gone to bed and you want to crack open a cold one? There's none of that happening here tonight," said Susan Boone.
Bell Island, like a lot of places, has substance abuse issues.
Boone has a daughter who struggles with opioids and is a big part of a grassroots movement working to get local, addicted people harm reduction and help.
Saturday's sober May 24th campout was "a smaller part of the bigger picture," she said.
She brought two granddaughters.
"I think the things that they see us doing are the things that they're going to grow up with, so if I was rolling big tires down here to have my fire well, you know, when the time comes for them to go do their own May 2-4 weekend, they're going to be rolling down big tires," she said, adding the same thing goes for alcohol and drugs.
They're sleeping out without substances to try to disassociate them from fun — to show a younger generation that booze doesn't have to be on the must-bring checklist.
"People think that you have to drink to camp on May 2-4," said Lisa Gear, Boone's sister.
"Maybe we can break that culture."
Drinking is an enshrined part of the Victoria Day long weekend in Newfoundland and Labrador.
"It always was," said Gear. "Fifteen years old, we'd go camping and someone would smuggle in alcohol, beer and we'd drink and be loaded — disgustingly drunk — at 15 years old, because that was the cool thing to do."
She brought her 12-year-old son Saturday and some of his friends tagged along.
"Maybe he can learn that we can all have a little bit of fun and, you know, it doesn't have to be all about booze."
Gear made up a scavenger hunt for the children in attendance.
The group pitched tents, started a fire, and made a lean-to with string, sticks and a tarp.
"They're going to sleep like rocks tonight. They've been everywhere in this little spot," said Boone.
Her girls have gone to bonfires, but this was their first overnight camping trip.
"I don't think they're going to notice anything — nothing is amiss — we're out camping and having fun and hopefully that association, just camping and having fun, is just going to carry on.
"It's going to be an annual thing, for sure."
