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Escapees RV Club Announces Initiative to Protect Public Lands

RVers Boondocking Policy offers simple guidelines for campers to respect lands

Livingston, Texas- January 2020

Camping on public lands is a privilege, not a right. With the help and support of our advocates, Escapees RV Club created a list of best practices to ensure our public lands will remain beautiful treasures we can enjoy throughout our travels. This list is codified in the RVers Boondocking Policy, supported by multiple companies and organizations in the camping industry.

More than 20 years ago, we saw an increase in abuse of overnight parking options which led to proposed legislation that would prohibit overnight parking in places such as Walmart. In the interest of protecting these options for RVers, we took action and created the Good Neighbor Policy, sharing it with RVers nationwide with the help of many respected RV organizations.

As thousands of new RV enthusiasts join us on the road, we see a similar pattern developing with the increased use of public lands. We must do our part to help protect these lands for all. This led us to creating the RVers Boondocking Policy, something similar to the Good Neighbor Policy, that focuses on respecting and caring for public lands. “Overuse can hurt local ecosystems that take years to recover, and abuse can create tighter regulations, raise maintenance fees, and have an overall negative impact on public lands and our ability to use them in the spirit in which they were intended,” states Mark Nemeth, who participated in the formation of this policy.

Key points of the Boondocking Policy include respecting established rules, preserving the terrain, respecting neighbors (both fellow campers and native wildlife), and leaving the area better than you found it. Detailed explanations of these points, recommended resources, and actionable steps can be found on the Escapees RV Club website.

About Escapees RV Club

Since 1978, Escapees has been a leader in supporting those who pursue the RVing lifestyle. The club was founded by full-time RVers, Joe and Kay Peterson, at a time when there was no support group for full-timers. Today, the club continues to grow and transform itself according to the needs of its members, supporting them through benefits and educational and social opportunities. Learn more about what is available to Escapees RV Club members at escapees.com.