With the unofficial start of summer kicking off this weekend, conservations officers say state campgrounds are now open across St. Lawrence County and Adirondacks.

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said the recently opened for the summer camping season.

State parks in St. Lawrence County include Coles Creek, Waddington, Robert Moses, Massena, Higley Flow, Colton and and Jacques Cartier in Morristown. Additional state parks can be found at www.dec.ny.gov.

“DEC campgrounds offer a unique opportunity to enjoy some of the most beautiful natural resources in New York State,” said DEC Commissioner Seggos. “In addition to hiking and fishing, DEC campground facilities offer a wide range of outdoor recreational and camping opportunities and activities the whole family can enjoy.”

Each year millions of people visit DEC facilities to enjoy the spectacular landscapes, lush forests, and fish and wildlife species that reside in the constitutionally protected “forever wild” campgrounds. Campers can also enjoy the many events, historical sites, and restaurants of nearby towns and villages.

DEC operates 52 campgrounds and six day-use areas in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves. The summer camping season runs through Labor Day, with some facilities remaining open during fall foliage and hunting season. Sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis and range from $18-$28 a night.

For more information on DEC-operated campgrounds, DEC advises people not to transport firewood to campgrounds or parks in an effort to limit the spread of invasive insect species and improve forest health. People may not be aware they are moving the eggs or larvae of these pests, which may be hidden on or under the bark or buried deep within the logs.

Once transported to new locations, eggs may hatch, or larvae may mature and emerge to attack host trees in and around the area. Campers are urged to leave firewood at home and use only firewood from local sources. If firewood has been transported, burn all of the transported wood before leaving the campsite.

Information on firewood and invasive insect species, contact DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests, Bureau of Private Lands at 518-402-9425 or visit DEC’s website http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/28722.html.