Editor’s Note: You might have heard that you’re now free to escape Covid-9 self-imprisonment and begin enjoying the great outdoors at New Jersey campsites. Technically, that’s true. Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday did flip the stay-at-home switch to off for the summer camping season. But not, so far, at state parks, which are still gearing up for the season, and maybe not at your favorite private campsite either. It appears that going from stop to go on one-day notice isn’t as easy as signing a proclamation. There is a considerable amount of prep work to be taken care of, like hiring lifeguards for those ponds and pools.  Caroline Fassett of NJ Advance Media gets to deliver the lukewarm news below. — Frank Brill

While Gov. Phil Murphy announced Friday that he’s allowing both public and private recreational campgrounds in New Jersey to reopen immediately, public campgrounds operated by the state remain closed for now, according to park officials.

In alignment with the governor’s executive order issued Friday, the state Department of Environmental Protection will create and publish a plan within the next 15 days for a phased reopening of its campsites at state parks and forests, according to a post shared on the State Parks Service’s Facebook page on Friday evening.

This plan allows for seasonal staffing preparations to be made at all campgrounds in state parks and forests to support their reopening, a spokesperson for the state confirmed.

Campgrounds operated by counties and municipalities are permitted to reopen this weekend, according to the executive order.

The park service says camping at state sites is off limits, and so is swimming. “While we are currently recruiting and training lifeguards, our beaches and lakes are not yet ready for swimmers,” the park service says in its Facebook post.

Campers and other park visitors are advised to check the Facebook page for upcoming announcements on the camp sites’ reopening.

Private campgrounds in New Jersey have widely reopened, but residents should contact the camp sites in advance to verify whether or not they are kicking off their camping season this Memorial Day weekend.

A full list of both private and state-run campgrounds can be found here.

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