Friendly, eco-friendly and family-run: a campsite that is just like us
A question is often poséd during our discussions during the season : how does one arrive-t-on à become gérant of a campsite, in Auvergne ? The'story n'a nothing extraordinary. It begins with our desire to change our living environment and to build a project that corresponds à our idea of family holidays. It was then été guided by the values of sharing, respect for nature and kindness.
Originally from Saint-Etienne and after 12 years in Île-de-France we left Paris in 2020 to take over the Les volcans campsite. As it happened, we moved in March with our children, just a few days before the first lockdown. We will remember it :-)
We were looking for a small green campsite, that we could manage both, on which to live with our two children and especially a campsite where we would have liked to go on holiday! Our type of accommodation in summer has always been the tent, with a stay in a mobile home at the birth of our son. We then wanted to rediscover the atmosphere of small family campsites that had attracted us over the years since our childhood, we think among others at les Lanchettes in Vanoise, Balanea in Corsica or the calm Morning in the Drôme.
Après quelques mois de recherche nous avons eu le coup de cœur pour ne pas dire le coup de foudre pour les volcans ! Nous ne connaissions pas du tout la région mais elle nous a séduit en un clin d'œil : de grands espaces, des paysages incroyables dans la chaine des puys et le massif du Sancy, une grande variété de sites entre volcans, lacs et cascades, des dizaines d'activités natures aux alentours... Bref, nous nous y sommes sentis bien immédiatement.
Despite Covid, which disrupted our first season, we wanted to put our stamp on the campsite to make it our own. After three seasons, our project is taking shape little by little:
- A family spirit. We do everything we can to ensure families with young children feel comfortable in the volcanoes. Baby kit in the rentals, baby area in the restrooms, play equipment for the little ones, a dinette and sandbox in the playground, creative activities during the summer, snack service adapted... We try to offer what we love to experience with our children, which also contribute to this family atmosphere.
- An eco‑responsible approach. It was one of the pillars of our camping project because we want to limit the impact of our activity on the environment around us as much as possible. We are therefore working progressively to reduce the waste produced (reusable bread bag, removal of paper table sets...), develop sorting and composting (400kg of compost in 2020, 800kg in 2021 and 1000kg in 2022 !), watch over water and energy savings, make the campsite a LPO refuge for biodiversity, resort to local products at the snack and at the grocery (St-Nectaire is produced by our neighbours)... The road is still long and to keep progressing we have joined theLa Via Natura association which brings together small eco‑responsible campsites. We still have lots of ideas and projects.
- Trust and friendliness. These are the watchwords at the campsite. We want campers to feel at home during their stay. So they find spaces for sharing and exchange : book box, board game box, sharing box... We also freely lend equipment for fun: balls, pétanque balls, rackets... Services are offered free of charge : freezing ice blocks for coolers, mobile phone recharging... And especially we make sure tobe as available as possible to provide information on walks or activities to do, advise on visits or simply chat about things and other matters at the reception, at the snack bar or in the campsite aisles!
By making this choice to offer a campsite that resembles us we are aware that it is not not a campsite that suits everyone. Those who are looking for go‑go animations and a huge water park will not find themselves here. That's perfectly normal, there is enough for everyone. We favor tranquility and proximity to nature for rejuvenating stays. A considered choice that has brought happiness to most of our campers since 2020. Our greatest reward is their/your satisfaction after a stay in the volcanoes.
Two éexchanges marked us 'été last summer. A camper dad with his children told us that 'he wasn'ét able to explain it but that "the campsite has something extra, a â soul, a particular spirit", which made them come back a second time and surely others à the future. It's this little inexplicable or indefinable thing we try to nurture with small touches. This little thing that's remains far more than memories after having lived a few days in the volcanoes.
The second anecdote is an answer to our satisfaction survey. A family wrote to us that they had the impression of being on vacation at friends' during their stay. We obviously have no intention of becoming friends with all campers but this little note highlights the proximity we want to have with those who come to stay with us, our desire that each person feels as well as possible during their holidays!
We could still write pages to explain what we're trying to build in Auvergne over the years, but the best way will always be to come and experience it for yourself ;-)
We look forward to welcoming you to our camping in the volcanoes of Auvergne !
Stéphanie and Florian, with Ninon and Robin
