ARVC 20 Group IV Donates National School Scholarship to ARVC Foundation

Generosity is at the core of the outdoor hospitality industry, with many early campgrounds getting their start when owners offered unknown travelers spots to stay on their property. That generosity persists today, with National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds’ (ARVC) members sharing information, business strategies and best practices with each other to prepare the next generation of campground owners and operators for success.  

Continuing that spirit of generosity is a recent donation from ARVC 20 Group IV to the ARVC Foundation to create an annual scholarship that will cover the full cost of attendance ($1,500) for one individual at the National School of RV Park and Campground Management. The donation was announced virtually during ARVC’s annual Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo (OHCE) earlier this month. 

“ARVC 20 Group IV is proud to present its second annual campground management school scholarship to the ARVC Foundation,” says Joe Moore, CPO, OHC, 20 Group IV Administrative Executive and past member. “Because 20 Group IV was founded by graduates of the school, we want to encourage and sponsor a deserving student to attend the school and gain the knowledge base that we were fortunate enough to receive. We trust that the ARVC Foundation will choose a qualified candidate to receive this scholarship and strengthen our campground industry through this education platform.” 

The industry also largely operates as a large family in many respects, as park owners frequently collaborate instead of competing, building up the entire industry by sharing ideas, strategies and best practices, with ARVC education programs serving as a key facilitator of that knowledge. This collaborative spirit is especially true of ARVC’s 20 Groups, which are composed of non-competing member campgrounds that connect to exchange of experiences, problems and ideas at regular meetings. 

“The campground industry is built on passing knowledge on from one generation to the next, especially with so many businesses being family-owned and operated, so this generous gift continues in that tradition,” says Paula Horwitz, ARVC Foundation executive director and the ARVC executive director of education and events. “National School is such a vital part of the outdoor hospitality industry, and for 20 Group IV to provide the opportunity to assist those who need a little bit of help is such an amazing gift.” 

20 Group IV announced the donation to the ARVC Foundations Vice Chair Michael Hobby earlier this month during OHCE, the second year in a row the group has surprised the ARVC Foundation with a donation. These donations have served as a great kickoff to the ARVC Foundation’s fall fundraising push, which also coincides with the annual ARVC Foundation Auction and a Giving Tuesday campaign. These efforts provide the bulk of the money raised by the ARVC Foundation to support scholarships and disaster relief for those in need in the industry. 

“We cannot thank 20 Group IV enough for their efforts to support the ARVC Foundation and everyone in our community,” says Horwitz. “This scholarship is just one of a number of ways that this group, and all ARVC members, join to make our industry such a strong and amazing family!” 

Support the ARVC Foundation Giving Tuesday fundraiser at arvc.org/donate or learn more about the ARVC Foundation’s efforts at ARVCFoundation.org. 

ARVC 20 Groups are composed of non-competing member campgrounds voluntarily and mutually associated to provide a confidential exchange of experiences, problems, and ideas at regular meetings. Learn more and apply to join a 20 Group here: arvc.org/ARVC-20-Groups  

OHCE2021 will take place in Raleigh, N.C. from Nov. 8-11, 2021. OHCE is a four-day event held annually by ARVC. This year’s virtual event has included more than 25 educational seminars, a trade show with more than 80 vendors, Takeaway Tours, ARVC’s Awards of Excellence, a Reservation Management Panel, the ARVC Foundation Silent Auction and more. Visit arvc.org/OHCE for more info or purchase access to recordings of all events here: Purchase OHCE Recordings.