The Albert Lea/Austin KOA campground, located at 84259 County Road 46 in Hayward, is now open for the 2017 summer camping season.

“It’s always exciting to have a new camping season begin,” said KOA President and CEO Pat Hittmeier in a press release. “Owners from across North America are ready to provide outstanding experiences to camping guests from around the world. We anticipate this year will be a tremendous one full of great adventures for campers everywhere.”

And the KOA has teamed with Keystone RV Company to offer a great prize package through the “What’s Behind The Yellow Sign?” Giveaway. The grand prize winner will receive a 2017 Keystone Outback Travel Trailer valued at $28,292, as well as a $500 KOA gift card and $1,000 in cash.

The Giveaway will run through May 31. Campers can enter daily by visiting www.BehindTheSignGiveaway.com or on the Kampgrounds of America Inc. Facebook page.

KOA has just released its 2017 Edition of the KOA Directory, a complete travel atlas of every U.S. state and Canadian province. It includes a descriptive listing of each KOA campground, including the Albert Lea/Austin KOA, as well as detailed maps and directions to each location. It is free at any KOA campground and available online at http://koa.uberflip.com/i/784851-2017-koa-directory.

Kampgrounds of America is celebrating its 55th Anniversary in 2017. KOA, the world’s largest network of family-friendly campgrounds with more than 500 locations in North America, was born on the banks of the Yellowstone River in Billings, Montana in 1962.

14th annual ‘Big Weekend’ to raise money for children

The Albert Lea/Austin KOA campground, located at 84259 County Road 46 in Hayward, Minnesota, is offering campers a special Saturday of camping for just $10 to benefit KOA Care Camps for children with cancer on May 12-13.

Campers who stay as paying guests during the Care Camps Big Weekend on Friday, May 12 will receive another night of camping on Saturday, May 13 for just $10. The entire $10 fee will be given to KOA Care Camps, a network of 112 independent oncology summer camps for children battling cancer.

Care Camps provide a summer camp experience for children with cancer and their siblings. Last year, the Care Camps Trust donated more than $1.4 million to the 112 camps, allowing hundreds of children to attend at no charge.

Campers can to go www.KOA.com to see a list of participating campgrounds and make their reservations.