North Kingston Ohio Couple Wins $800 of Free Camping & Prizes in Western Pennsylvania!

(Shown in photo above from front left are: Winners Pam & Jeff Harting, and Grandson Charlie, of North Kingston Ohio, Denny Quigley from Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest, Scott Boyer from Boyer RV Center, Tim Chilson from Meadville KOA Campground, Kathy Quigley, Debbie Cepris from Rocky Springs Campground, Elizabeth & Matt May from Presque Isle Passage RV Park & Cabins, Carrie & Todd Weir from Bear Run Campground, Lisa Shadron from Goddards Park Vacationland Campground, Becky & Mark Wineman from Kalyumet Camping and Cabins, Boo-Boo & Tracy Czambel from Yogi Bear Mill Run, Jim Cepris, and Ed Tanski from Buttercup Campground.) 

ERIE, PA (February 8, 2015) – Jeff & Pam Harting of North Kingston, Ohio enjoy camping with friends they call their “camping family” and already had plans to do lots of camping this year.  They just never dreamed that after receiving $800 of free camping in 2014 with the purchase of a fifth wheel RV from Boyer’s RV Center in Erie that they’d wind up winning another $500 of free camping for 2015!  In addition, Boyer RV Center presented them with a gift certificate worth $200.00 of RV supplies from their store and B & R Camper Sales gave them a $100 gift certificate from their store, bringing their total winnings to $800.00!

    

The Harting family was recently named the winners of the fifth annual Very Special Camper Contest (VSC), sponsored by participating campgrounds and RV Dealers in Western Pennsylvania. 

The Harting family, according to Meadville KOA Campground Owner Tim Chilson, were able to enjoy 14 different weekends of camping at the price of 7 weekends, because of the VSC program.  He went on to add, “This program introduces new campers to some of the finest campgrounds in Western Pennsylvania at a special introductory offer of half price camping because they bought a new RV at these local participating dealers!  It’s a one-of-a-kind deal!”   

When asked about what they liked most about the program, Charlie, the Harting’s four-year-old grandson, said he loved swimming the best!  Pam responded that “Western Pennsylvania is beautiful with all the lakes, but we really enjoy the great people we meet while camping!”

Like the Harting family, any camper purchasing a new RV from any of the participating RV dealers receives one night of free camping for a family of four from each of the 24 participating Western Pennsylvania campgrounds.  This program is valued at over $800 of free camping provided by the participating campgrounds.

In addition, any camper who stays at eight or more of the 24 participating campgrounds and RV parks and submits their completed contest entry form within a year of their RV purchase, is entered into a special drawing to receive an additional $500 in gift certificates, which can be used at any campground in the PACamping.com organization.

Denny Quigley, owner of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest Kampground, said the successful contest will be available again in 2015.  Quigley added that, “Anyone planning to purchase an RV in 2015 can get more information from any participating RV dealer displaying the Very Special Camper 2015 information, or at any of the participating Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association campgrounds which can be which can be found at www.PACamping.com.

Participating Western Pennsylvania RV dealers for 2015 program include Hufnagel & Majors in Harmony; Fame RV Center in Saegertown; Clem’s Trailer Sales in Ellwood City; Starr’s Trailer Sales Brockway; Boyer RV Center in Erie; Brooks Camper Sales Connellsville; and B & R Campers Sales in Butler. 

The participating Western Pennsylvania campgrounds include Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest in Harrisville; Kalyumet Camping & Cabins in Cook Forest; Rose Point Park Cabins & Camping in New Castle; Meadville KOA Campground in Meadville; Goddard Park Vacationland Campground in Sandy Lake; Farma Family Campground in Greenville; Shenango Valley RV Park in Transfer; Pineview Campground in Linesville; Nautical Mile Campground & Marina in Templeton; Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Mill Run; Buttercup Woodlands Campground in Renfrew; Campers Paradise Campground and Cabins in Sigel; Sparrow Pond Family Campground in Waterford; Bear Run Campground in Portersville; Uniontown KOA at River’s Edge; Harts Content Campground in Beaver Falls; Harecreek Campground in Corry; Friendship Village Campground in Bedford; Oil Creek Campground in Titusville; Rocky Springs Campground in Mercer; Presque Isle Passage RV Park & Cabins in Fairview; and Benner’s Meadow Run Camping and Cabins in Farmington, Bear Ridge Campground & RV Resort in Templeton, and Pioneer Park Campground in Somerset.

By Robyn S. Chilson

Robyn owns and operates Meadville KOA Campground with her husband Tim.  She can be reached at 814-789-3251.

Save Money on Your Summer Camping Vacations!

Who doesn’t love to save money? Everyone does, right? So we thought some ideas to help you get the biggest bang for your buck on your summer vacation travel plans were in order. We think these proven methods will help you maximize your summer fun and minimize your summer expenses!

Stay Closer to Home! Camping within 100 to 120 miles (that’s 1 – 2 hours to travel time) of where you live reduces your travel time and expenses, and gets your family enjoying your weekend much sooner for less. Staying closer to home gets you the experience without the expense of a longer distance trip, travel time, and more!

Stay Longer!  Instead of making four, 2-day camping trips with the RV this summer, make three, 3-day stays. You get an extra day of camping in, and the travel expense for only 3 trips! It saves you money on the gas, wear and tear, and is more relaxing!  Many campgrounds offer a stay 7 nights for the price of 6! Make it a staycation, and save even more!

Cook on the Campfire or Grill! Cooking over the campfire is a favorite of campers!   Try new recipes and don’t forget to make s’more or mountain pies! The meal doesn’t have to be elaborate to be loads of family fun! The kids or grand-kids will love making their own dinner and eating it!  Eating at the RV instead of eating out saves big dollars! Maybe even enough to slip in another day, or another whole trip depending upon how many times your family eats out, normally.

Become a KOA member! You don’t have to be a KOA Kampground member to camp with KOA, but there can be some big savings for your family if you are a member! KOA Kampgrounds charge you $27 per year to be a member. You save 10% every time you camp at a KOA Kampground and you get points like a hotel card. The points you earn can be redeemed for discounts and free camping. VKR Members can also take advantage of special offers and KOA Hot Deals, which save you even more! 

KOA has Special Offers: In 2015, when you purchase a campsite on May 8, you get Saturday Night, May 9^th for just $10 at any participating KOA Kampground. On Father’s Day Weekend, Kids Camp Free for all VKR members! And of Course, on VKR Appreciation Weekend in September, you get one night free when you buy one night at all participating KOA Kampgrounds for all VKR members. If you don’t have reservations to camp on these weekends, book them today! With these kinds of savings, even paying the $27.00 for the card makes sense, because you’re still money ahead.       

Check for other Discounts, Free Camping, and Special Offers! Always check out the campground’s private website for discounts and special offers. At Meadville KOA, for example, we offer a hero’s discount on select weekends for fire fighters and police officers to honor their service to our communities. Other examples are our buy one night and get night free weekends on May 15 & 16, and Oct. 9 & 10, when you introduce another family to Meadville KOA for the first-time!  We provide your friend a free night for trying us for the first time and you a free night as a thank you for sharing Meadville KOA with others. We’ve met many new campers because our existing campers recommended us. We thought it’s only fitting to say thank you for sharing Meadville KOA with your friends by providing you both a great discount offer. We also offer returning camper discounts for our campers who camp with us 2 or more times a season!  It’s just another way to say thank you and show you our appreciation. Make sure you visit that discount page, and see how we’re working to help stretch your dollar.

Camp During the Shoulder Season! If you camp before Memorial Day Weekend or After Labor Day Weekend, you should find lower rates. Also, because demand is lower, you might be able to find great special offers that are available. One example is our cabin discount for April – June where you rent a cabin 4 nights for the price of 3! Yes, that’s a 25% discount. It’s a great deal for an early summer, affordable cabin vacation for your family. The rates for RV camping or tent camping sites are lower in the shoulder seasons too. If you used some of our money saving tips, you might even be able to fit in an extra autumn campout with your savings!

Seasonal camping is a great value! Seasonal camping reduces your gasoline costs because you can drive the better mileage vehicle back and forth to camp. It reduces wear and tear on your tow vehicle and RV, your time, and your work. It maximizes the use of your RV and time with your family, and minimizes your work. Why vacation just once a summer, when you could vacation on any days off, all summer long? It’s fun and affordable! It makes a lot of sense, and provides your family that time to get away together that all families need! Call us today and get started planning a very special camping vacation for your family - a whole summer of camping fun for the price of just one vacation! You can check out more info at http://www.meadvillekoa.com/seasonal-camping/.

We hope these simple ideas will help you save money, get provide you more time with your family this summer.  

As always, we hope your plans include Meadville KOA Campground!  Until we see you this spring (hang in there, it’s only 7 weeks away!) we want to wish you and your family a very happy camping season and a great family vacation, where ever your travels take you!  

By Robyn Chilson                                                                                                                  

Tim & Robyn Chilson own and operate Meadville KOA Campground.  Robyn can be reached at 814-789-3251.