Beginner's Camping At Preserved Park Canada Fort
Fort Rodd Hill Stands From Centuries Ago Thanks To Parks Canada, Who Added Structures That Are A Cross Between A Tent & Cabin called oTENTiks
In the 1890s after the Anglo-Russian crisis, Canada negotiated with Great Britain to provide for the defense of the Victoria-Esquimalt area. The negotiations resulted in the construction of Fort Rodd Hill in 1895 which was to be manned by British troops in defense of the Empire. “The fort is a part of a series of fortresses protecting the city of Victoria, but also the Esquimalt Naval Base. Of these forts, only Fort Rodd Hill is left intact”, explains Sophie Lauro, promotion officer for the Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites.
“The fort was built in the late 1890’s and was in operation until the mid-1950’s. The fort itself evolved over time. In the late 1800’s the threats came by water, that lasted up until the first world war. By the second world war, the threats were coming by air, so the defenses had to evolve over the years”, said Sophie. Currently, the fort is operated as a national historic site through Parks Canada. The site still has many of the old structures including gun batteries, guard houses, command posts, and barracks. The structures are preserved and visitors can explore the buildings and learn about them through interpretive signage.
Parks Canada, have developed the fort and added structures that are a cross between a tent and a cabin called oTENTiks. “In peace time, families of soldiers were allowed to camp at the fort in the summer. Family quarters were in the same locations as the oTENTiks are located today”, stated Sophie. “oTENTiks is a play on words with authentic meaning; it has the word tent and it works in English and French. oTENTiks are a mix of a cabin and tent, they can sleep up to six people and are very comfortable inside. They are bunk-bed style, but have mattresses. They do have dividers inside so they are quite roomy and you can still have some privacy if you are going with a group or family. There is no eating in the tents as we don’t want to entice wildlife into the tent. However, outside there are camping tables, chairs, and fire pits.”
In addition to providing a historic experience, the staff host programs to teach new campers the ropes. “Once a year, we do a "learn to camp" program where folks get to stay overnight. We provide the tents, a couple of meals, and several workshops. We teach and help people learn if they want to go camping, what they should be looking for”, stated Sophie.
Next to the fort, but constructed nearly 30 years earlier stands the first lighthouse constructed on the western coast of Canada. “Fisgard lighthouse is built on Fisgard Island, however, it’s not referred to as an island anymore because in the 1950’s a causeway was built so you could walk to the island”, explained Sophie. “The lighthouse is still in operation and is maintained by the Coast Guard. It is a tool for navigation and flashes one second on and one second off. Each lighthouse has a different flash pattern as well as painting on the exterior. When you are a boat operator, you have all of the information so you know what light house you are at based off of the flash rhythm”.
While the lighthouse is currently operated with modern lights and the functions are controlled automatically, that wasn’t always the case. “Attached to the tower is a dwelling where the lighthouse keeper lived. It is a two-story home with an office, study, kitchen and bedrooms. The lighthouse keeper lived there and every four hours he would have to go up to the top of the lighthouse to trim the wick and everything was done manually. At the time, the lighthouse worked from a candle and as the candle burned, you would have to trim the wick to keep it burning properly”, stated Sophie.
The lighthouse sits on the Strait of Juan de Fuca which is frequented by many large ships. “It is a big channel with a lot of ships. We have a lot of cruise ships going through to Alaska or the American coast. We do have freight boats entering the area to go to the Vancouver dock to load and off load, as well as several sail boats, pleasure boats, and whale watching boats”, said Sophie. “Because the naval base is so close, we have a lot of naval family that live close by. So, when mom, or dad, or brother, or son get detached for several months, Fisgard Lighthouse is a spot where a lot of the family go to say goodbye. Also, when they return after several months of being gone, it’s always one of the locations where the family will go and wait for them to come back. When the soldiers are leaving or coming back, everyone has to be on deck so it’s a nice gesture and everyone from a distance can wave goodbye or hello, it’s very emotional”, Sophie explained.
“The site is a national historic site; however, it is really in a park like setting. So, if you’re not into history and don’t want to spend hours reading all of the panels, there are plenty of things to do outside”, said Sophie. Both sites provide ample opportunity for not only history buffs, but nature lovers as well. “We also have the Garry Oak learning meadow. We put aside an acre of land and rehabilitated it to the way a Garry oak ecosystem would look like. In the spring, it’s all in bloom and it’s just beautiful, it’s a sea of color. It doesn’t matter if you are into history or just want to enjoy nature there’s so much for people to experience here.”
Jared Langenegger
A graduate of New Mexico State University with B.S. in wildlife and fisheries science, Jared spent 15 years working in fisheries and parks management. He enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, painting, and wood working.
Make Sure To Check Out:
Fisgard Lighthouse Historic Site, the first lighthouse on Canada's west coast that is still in operation! There hasn't been a keeper here since the light was automated in 1929, but every year many thousands of visitors step inside a real 19th century lighthouse.