RV, OHV, and Camping Public Events

You may find it fun and interesting to attend various organized RV, OHV, and camping events. There are many types of events you can choose from.   Some are industry based events to showcase (and sell) new products.  Some are consumer or club based "camporees" that are just for fun.  There are numerous trade shows throughout the country.  State and federal agencies sometimes sponsor events to promote parks and other attractions.  You may get invited to a "free" weekend at a commercial campground.  These are usually tied to a mandatory presentation about their membership camping organization.  If you're already considering membership camping, it is a good way to get information about the resources and costs for the sponsoring organization and begin comparing offerings. In my experience the presentations are usually well done but too often I've found the sales pitch afterwards to be pretty pushy, usually hitting you with a "buy it now or never get another chance" scenario.  To me that is an immediate turn off and my queue to head for the door!  Other events may be sponsored by local communities, pubic agencies, camping organizations, etc.  Many are free or low cost.   Look for outings sponsored by local Good Sam chapters or other camping or OHV clubs for fun social activities with fellow campers.  Some events may require membership, but others may be open to visitors.   Camping with other folks with the same brand of RV or with the same interests as you adds a measure of fun, sharing, and education and can help you develop a network for assistance if needed.

Trade shows, put on by industry organizations, manufacturers, and dealers usually provide access to a variety of new products and services and are an excellent way to get some close up experience with new equipment.  It can be a lot of fun to wander from vendor to vendor and learn about new options. Many times they will offer special show pricing on products and services.  Sometimes you will see new products being introduced that aren't in the stores yet and it is a good time to snatch them up while you can.  Not all the good ideas you'll see at trade shows will make it into full production and distribution so keep that in mind.  If you see something you really like, you should probably grab it while you can.!  Trade shows usually include some workshops that are often very well attended.   Some are free or included in your admission.   Some premium workshops may charge an extra fee but they are usually well worth it if you are interested in the topic.  Some workshops are designed to demonstrate new products and, of course, they will want to sell you those products before you leave the area.   Cooking classes often have a lot of good ideas for camp menus and preparation but are sometimes a thinly veiled pitch for cookware or specialized camping food.  They may be sponsored by dealers of cook sets, utensils, or food products so expect them to include a sales pitch.  A big turn off for me is when they use the "you only get this one chance" line.  I figure if they have a good product but I'm not ready to buy it right now, there is no legitimate justification for such limitations.  In fact, even if I may have had some interest in making a purchase I may walk out when they start with the arm twisting tactics.  I don't think it is ever a good idea to reward bad behavior.

Forest Service, BLM, and State Parks agencies sometimes have open houses at various places to familiarize potential patrons with the facilities.  Or they may have booths at other RV/Camping/OHV events where you can learn about their offerings.   Camping at government facilities is usually reasonably priced, sometimes even free!

Pubic celebrations, local holidays, and festivals, are all good excuses for an RV/OHV/camping experience.   Even if you only "camp" in your RV for the day in the parking lot or along the street, your RV will make a good base of operations to explore the activities.  Watch for events sponsored by the US Forest Service, National Parks, your local county and state parks, and the Bureau of Land Management.  These events will usually be free and loaded with good information about local destinations for your outdoor exploration.   Sometimes commercial campgrounds will have an "open house" where you have an opportunity to explore their facility.  National parks may require a fee for some destinations and activities.

Camping clubs such as the RVer's Good Sam Club or local outdoor organizations based on specific interests such as hiking, fishing, bird watching, horseback or OHV riding, are an excellent opportunity to socialize with fellow campers with similar interests.   Many RV brands have their own clubs where you can share experiences and tips about your RV and your camping experiences.  Look for local organizations for your favorite activity too and check with rangers at county, state, and federal recreation areas to identify clubs that might be of interest to you and your family.  A good example is Tin Can Tourists, an all make and model vintage trailer and camper club. 

OHV clubs can often be found at the local and state levels and each may offer unique opportunities for group activities.  Events may include rides, service projects, and educational activities.  Sometimes an event may combine multiple functions.  Here in Utah we have the Utah Trail Machine Association (UTMA).  California has the California Off Road Vehicle Association (CORVA).  You can find similar organizations in almost every state.  Our Utah Trail Machine Association sponsors "High Five", a clean-up day at Five Mile Pass every spring.   In addition to being a service project where we pick up trash and clean out and rebuild fire pits throughout the Five Mile Pass Recreation Area, we provide rider education through literature and presentations by relevant organizations, then wrap up the day with a family ride to a local point of interest.  The stated goals of High Five are: public service, rider education, and family fun.  Many OHV or campground service projects follow a similar pattern.  Even without the family ride, doing a service project as a family can be a lot of fun as well as making a nice contribution toward supporting our outdoor resources. 

Family events lend themselves very well to RV and camping activities.   Family reunions make excellent camping activities.   An extended family may include people from many walks of life having various camping lifestyles.  An ideal location for a family event in cases like this would be a resort that includes cabins or motel rooms, RV spaces, and tent camping spaces.   That way, everyone can be comfortable and enjoy the family associations and activities rather than have to focus on adapting to an unfamiliar lifestyle.   In some cases you might have an extended family that all are RV/OHV fans.  In that case, you can have your event in a remote, primitive camping area where you can all take advantage of your OHVs.  Some things that will enhance the event and make it more convenient and fun for everyone might include staking out an area large enough to "circle the wagons" in the tradition of the Old West wagon trains, with a central campfire for shared activities.   If you have a large group, having an easily identified event headquarters, such as a labeled EZ-up and a portable PA system can help facilitate coordination of activities.   Schedule various activities to appeal to different age groups and interests.  A fun tradition at our family reunions was a gift exchange.   Each family was requested to bring a home-made craft gift to share with other families. You can be creative on how the gifts are distributed.   Sometimes you might use them for prizes for the winners of certain games or you might just put all the names in a hat and use a raffle format.  I still have in my motorhome the crocheted napkin holder we got at one family reunion and we use it regularly.  Family reunions are particularly good places to share family history and exchange information with people you may not see very often.

Sports events, such as auto racing and football, have become magnets for "tailgate parties".  These are social gatherings in the parking lot or at a nearby park before or after the event itself.   RVs are convenient for these gatherings since you have built in cooking, sanitation, and entertainment facilities, but you can have a fun tailgate party from the back of your pick up or even from the trunk of your car.  You will usually find you'll be more comfortable if you have some form of shade (RV awning or free-standing canopy) and comfortable chairs in addition to a supply of your favorite foods, snacks, and beverages.  Beer and wine are often favored at tailgate parties but be sure to check with local rules and regulations to avoid unpleasant consequences and always drink responsibly. After all, you'll be hitting the road soon after the party is over.

We found our RV was a good base of operations for attending our kids' weekend soccer games.   Not only did it allow us to comfortably transport our family of 8, we had ready access to first aid supplies, snacks, and clean or warmer/cooler clothes as needed.  Many of the recreational soccer venues lacked restrooms so having the RV nearby during a full day of going from game to game was a godsend.

Public shows are often presented by rangers at local parks.  They usually focus on the history, geology, or ecology of the local environment and are usually quite informative, educational, and entertaining.   Its a good way to become familiar with your local resources.

Public service projects can be fun for the whole family as well as productive.  These are good opportunities to teach our children respect for our public lands and demonstrate our appreciation to the land managers.  Service projects help us maintain our camping facilities and prove their value to the government organizations that control them.  Seldom used areas or often abused areas are likely to be eliminated during difficult economic times while frequently used facilities where users take an active interest in preserving and maintaining them have a better chance of survival or even improvement.  Most service projects involve simple tasks, like trash clean up, that the whole family can participate in.  If you have the skills and interest, trail maintenance projects are a lot of fun and often take you into some beautiful and more remote locations than you might ordinarily visit.  Many service projects include some recreational and educational activities where you can have fun and learn more about the local facilities and their history.   Can't find a project to suit you?  Organize your own!  Perhaps your family can volunteer to work with a local park ranger to perform needed maintenance and cleaning.   For larger areas, recruit your camping buddies or extended family to join you.  You'll need to coordinate your plans with the land managers in charge of where you want to work.   You will usually find they are grateful for your assistance and happy to work with you.

Your own camping events can be customized to fit the needs of you and your family.   If you still have kids in school, you'll probably want to plan your outings around holiday weekends or other times the kids are out of school.  Choose locations that are convenient and inexpensive and provide adequate facilities for your chosen activities.   Our family dirt bike outings in southern California eventually grew into a group we called Desert Rats.  We were an unofficial, family-oriented group of recreational riders who shared common riding and camping interests and schedules.   On some occasions only a few families showed up; at other times there were a lot!   One time we counted at least 175 people! The more people you are expecting, the better organized you need to be.   For two or three families we could change our location easily if we wanted to and could choose the trails and times we wanted to ride together.  For larger groups, we needed to ensure we staked out sufficient camping space for our group and usually posted signs along the highway and access roads guiding people to camp.  The signs don't have to be fancy.  A lot of times I see directions scribbled on paper plates with Magic Markers.  I once had some very nice reflective, aluminum signs made for my Desert Rat group.  The first time I used them half of them were stolen!  Since they were unique to our group I kind of think whoever stole them was just being malicious.  You will find it helpful to be consistent.  Whether it is just your own family planning and especially if you are sharing activities with other people, maintaining a recognizable and consistent pattern will usually make things easier. For instance, you might want to use the same camping/staging location for a particular holiday every year so everyone knows where to go.  We also took advantage of electronic communications to send out announcements and maps for events via email and posted activities on our our web site (www.desertrat.org).

Have fun!