by Encore and Thousand Trails RV Resorts

Life in the RV can be full of adventure and new experiences. The spring season brings new opportunities for RV travelers to explore the natural world and create lasting memories. Of the many activities available to RV travelers during spring, whale-watching season is a great opportunity to learn and experience something new.

Beginning in mid-February, grey whales leave breeding and calving sites off the coast of Baja, California and travel north to summer feeding grounds in the Chukchi and Bering Seas. Traveling close to shore, grey whales can be spotted along the West Coast of the United States and Canada.

These giant mammals, which can reach 46 feet in length and weigh up to 36 tons, make one of the longest annual migrations in the world, traveling around 10,000 miles round trip. Inquisitive and friendly towards people, grey whales are known to spyhop, lobtail and breach the surface.

The West Coast of the United States has a long history of whale watching. High points along the coastline offer many opportunities for land-based observations. Traveling along the famous Pacific Coast Highway gives RVers a good chance to spot whales while experiencing the beautiful landscapes of one of the most scenic routes in the U.S. This legendary highway hugs most of the coastline from San Diego to northern Washington, providing a continuous avenue for RV travelers who want to stay close to the coast.

Charter companies also offer visitors a unique perspective of the whales from the air or water. With the ability to cover large areas in a limited time, air tours give visitors a good chance of seeing whales. Boat tours offer the chance for an up-close and personal experience. Grey whales are curious and friendly, sometimes approaching boats and poking their heads out of the water.

Novice whale-watching RVers can also take advantage of the weeklong program offered by Whale Watching Spoken Here®. This program provides trained volunteers at 26 proven whale-watching sites from northern California to southern Washington. Volunteers help visitors spot whales and provide educational information. This spring’s session will run March 24-31, 2012.

The annual migration of the grey whales provides an exciting and moving experience for veteran and novice whale watchers. With so many places to see these massive mammals, RVers will find whale watching an interesting and exciting spring activity and a perfect reason to take to the road.

While spotting whales can take practice, finding a great RV campground is easy. Encore and Thousand Trails RV Resorts offer premier RV resorts all along the West Coast. Each location offers unique amenities and activities, such as swimming pools, spas, fitness centers, lounges, sports courts, organized activities, Wi-Fi access and more.

To book a visit to any of these Encore and Thousand Trails RV resorts on the West Coast, call (866) 730-0637 or visit www.RVontheGO.com. Below is a sampling of RV resorts on the West Coast.

• Pacific Dunes Ranch RV Resort – 1205 Silver Spur Place., Oceano, CA 93445
• Santa Cruz Ranch RV Park – 917 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
• San Francisco RV Resort – 700 Palmetto Ave., Pacifica, CA 94044
• Rancho Oso RV Resort– 3750 Paradise Road, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
• Morgan Hill RV Resort– 12895 Uvas Road, Morgan Hill, CA 95037
• South Jetty RV Resort – 05010 S. Jetty Road, Florence, OR 97439
• Whaler’s Rest RV Resort– 50 S.E. 123rd St., South Beach, OR 97366
• Pacific City RV Resort – 30000 Sandlake Road, Cloverdale, OR 97112
• Seaside RV Resort – 1703 12th Ave., Seaside, OR 97138
• Long Beach RV Resort – 2215 Willow Road, Seaview, WA 98644
• Oceana RV Resort – 2733 State Route 109, Ocean City, WA 98569

by RVDA

FAIRFAX, Vir. -- The RV Learning Center scholarship program awards a $2,500 scholarship annually to deserving college sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students majoring in business, finance, economics, accounting, or other RV-related subjects. Dealers and other industry partners are able to offer this opportunity to their team specifically because of their employment in the RV industry. Visit www.rvlearningcenter.com for an application.

Scholarship applicants must:

• Have a 2.8 or better cumulative grade point average, and a 1050 minimum SAT score (1575 minimum on the 2400 point scale). A minimum ACT composite score of 22 is also acceptable.
• Be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior college undergraduate student.
• Complete a 500 word essay on their goals and objectives for attending college.
• Submit a copy of their Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) form which is available from guidance counselors or for download at no charge from the U.S. Department of Education at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
• Demonstrate the ability and willingness to fund a portion of their educational expenses on their own.
• Attend an accredited four-year college or university as a condition of receiving the scholarship.
• All items must be submitted by June 4, 2012. Dealer principals, their family and dependents, are not eligible. A four-color poster describing the RV Learning Center scholarship program suitable for display in employee break or lunch areas is also available to download at www.rvlearningcenter.com.

The scholarship program is possible due to the generosity of the Newt and Joanne Kindlund Family. The Kindlunds are the founders of Holiday RV Superstores—the first publicly-traded RV dealership. The Kindlunds sold the company in 1999. Newt Kindlund remains an active participant in RV industry affairs and currently serves on the RV Learning Center Board of Directors. The Kindlund Family has fully funded the $270,000 Foundation scholarship endowment.

For more information on the RV Learning Center scholarship program, send an e-mail to info@rvda.org or visit www.rvlearningcenter.com. The RV Learning Center is a tax-exempt organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions may be tax deductible as charitable donations.

by Rincon Country RV Resorts

TUCSON, Ariz., -- Tucson RV park owner George O'Leary is putting the finishing touches on $1 million worth of improvements at his two Rincon Country RV Resorts.

"You would not believe the number of people who have complimented us," said O'Leary, who recently resurfaced the roads and completed other cosmetic improvements to his two Rincon Country parks.

While the improvements have yet to translate into increased business for his two parks, O'Leary says it is imperative for RV park and resort operators in Tucson and across the Sunbelt to continually make improvements to their parks if they want to continue to attract today's snowbirds.

"I remember when we opened our first Rincon Country park in 1970," O'Leary said. "Our first renters were World War One retirees and Depression Era campers - a very frugal and easy to please group of people."

Today's snowbirds, however, are increasingly looking for high quality amenities and facilities, which means park operators have to continually upgrade their facilities if they want to retain or expand their marketshare.

"We are continuously improving the appearance and modernization of our resorts," O'Leary said. "Quite often when folks drive into our parks, they say to us, 'This looks like a new park.' They are surprised to learn that Rincon County East opened for business in 1979 and Rincon West in 1984."

In addition to making cosmetic improvements, O'Leary has also hired a new activities director for each resort and expanded his parks' offering of activities, including classes and professional live entertainment, including comedy shows, celebrity impersonators and musical entertainment. Classes include arts and crafts, woodcarving, pottery and ceramics as well as lapidary and silversmithing. The resorts also offer periodic seminars on health related topics as well as potlucks, wine tastings, dances and other social events.

For more information about Rincon Country RV Resorts, please visit the resorts' websites at www.rinconcountry.com. Both resorts are affiliated with the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, the Denver-based trade association that representatives the outdoor hospitality industry that markets campgrounds, RV parks and resorts through its website at www.GoCampingAmerica.com.

by Cummins Onan

MINNEAPOLIS — Cummins Onan recently celebrated the production of its two millionth RV generator at its Fridley, Minnesota, plant. To help mark this historic milestone, the company is inviting RVers to submit their favorite RV trip photos. RVers who submit a photo will have a chance to win an Apple® iPad™ 2.

"We know from RV customers that our generators have made a big difference in their comfort and convenience on the road," said Shon Wright, director of RV and Commercial Markets. "And we are proud of producing two million reliable RV generators over the past 50 years. So it makes sense to invite our customers to join in the celebration by sharing their favorite RVing photos."

The contest will kick off at the Florida RV SuperShow on January 10 and run through March 31, 2012. The photos submitted will be put up on the contest website, and people will be able to vote for their favorite. The person submitting the photo that gets the most votes by the end of the contest will receive the iPad 2, complete with FaceTime, Smart Cover, 10-hour battery, 16 GB of memory and Wi-Fi.

To enter an RV trip photo and learn the details of the contest, go to www.rvphotocontest.com.

RVers Invited to Submit Their RV Trip Photos, Get Chance to Win an Apple® iPad™ 2