Show Issue 2016 - North American Family Campers Association

SHOW ISSUE/16
Campfire
Chatter
Campfire Chatter/1
“All About Family Camping”
Official Publication of the
North American Family Campers Association
Visit us at www.NAFCA.org
GET MORE OUT OF
CAMPING
WITH
The NORTH AMERICAN
FAMILY CAMPERS
ASSOCIATION
Fun -- Friends -- Fellowship!
Join NAFCA Today
Campfire Chatter / 2
SHOW ISSUE/16
North American
Family Campers
Association, Inc.
Leadership
PRESIDENT
Dennis & Pam Richardson
10 Sigourney Street
Lynn, MA 01905
781-584-6443
[email protected]
FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Paula & Dale Bradley
122 Viking Drive
Portsmouth, RI 02871
401-683-2890
[email protected]
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
ties are planned to keep you busy all week. Campers
gather in the evenings for informative meetings and
entertainment. The NAFCAree is a member’s only
event, so join now so you can attend. NAFCArees
have been held in Williamsburg, Va., Gettysburg,
Niagara Falls, Montreal, Lake George, the Poconos,
Mystic Seaport, Pittsburgh, and Fryeburg, Maine just
to name a few. Apple Island Resort on Grand Isle Vermont on Lake Champlain is our destination for 2016.
SECRETARY
Jim & Marilyn Hurley
112 Old Walpole Rd
Keene NH 03431
603-352-5047
[email protected]
TREASURER
Bill & Rosemarie Neeb
3 Copley Place
Billerica, MA 01821
978-667-3565
[email protected]
PAST PRESIDENT
Ron & Leona Barratt
420 Bahia Track
Ocala, FL 34472
401-580-1428
[email protected]
CONNECTICUT
STATE DIRECTOR
Jeff Bell
305 Redwood Road
Manchester, CT 06040
860-649-4454
[email protected]
MAINE STATE DIRECTOR
MASSACHUSETTS
STATE DIRECTOR
Linda Ostiguy
36 North Brookfield Rd
Brookfield MA 01506
508-867-3294
[email protected]
Hello we are Dennis & Pam Richardson, President of NAFCA,
the North American Family Campers Association. NAFCA is a
nonprofit organization run by its member volunteers. We are all
families and individuals who simply enjoy group camping because
of the long lasting friendships we make and the activities we have
to participate in.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
STATE DIRECTOR
Jeanne Perreault
177 Pako Ave.
Keene, NH 03431
603-352-5369
[email protected]
If you have a simple tent or the largest RV money can buy,
you are invited to join. All are welcome. Our name says it all. We
are a family of campers.
RHODE ISLAND
STATE DIRECTOR
Linda Bouchard
683 Fish Rd
Tiverton, RI 02878
401-624-7886
[email protected]
VERMONT STATE DIRECTOR
Michelle Perry
244 Canyon Rd
Colchester, VT 05446
802-879-0900
[email protected]
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Liz Sheldon
PO Box 444
West Brookfield, MA 01585
508-867-3620
WEBMASTER
Jody Himebaugh
223 Hartland Hill Road
Woodstock, VT 05091
[email protected]
WELCOME TO OUR
CAMPING ASSOCIATION
CAMPFIRE CHATTER EDITOR
Dick Basha
PO Box 1295
Wilton NH 03086
603-566-8470
[email protected]
NAFCA
P.O. Box 345
Billerica, MA 01821
Our camping association began at Otter River State Park in
Baldwinville, Ma, in June of 1957. Our organization is divided into
many different chapters throughout New England and Southern
Canada. Each state has a coordinating committee, which consists
of a State Director, Secretary, Treasurer and Deputy Directors.
These state committees oversee the chapters in their respective
states. The states in turn report to the NAFCA Executive Board.
Each Spring NAFCA holds a camping weekend we call the
Spring Safari. This is when all of our chapters throughout NAFCA
are invited to gather for a fun filled weekend. Many of the chapters
use the Spring Safari as a fundraising opportunity. Funds are raised
by selling ice-cream sundaes, meatball sandwiches, sausages, hot
dogs, chicken dinners, pig roasts, and even breakfast. Some of our
members rent booth space to sell Avon, jewelry, arts and crafts, and
many other novelties and interesting items. NAFCA’s sustaining
members, campgrounds, RV Dealers, and repair shops, are also
invited to set up shop. On Saturday we hold outdoor competitions with games including horseshoes, bocce, ladder golf, washer
toss, bean bag, and volleyball. Inside we’re having cribbage and
dominoes competitions. But the weekend isn’t just about food
and games, we also provide entertainment on Saturday evening,
be it a live band, disc jockey, skits, or folklore to name a few. The
teenagers use this time for their own activity on or off site.
In June the Massachusetts committee holds a big campout
in the safari field at Scusset Beach State Park which is right on the
northeastern edge of the Cape Cod Canal. This weekend is dry
camping at its best. The area offers fishing, swimming, hiking,
bicycling, shopping, fine dining, and fried clam shops. The committee feeds you Saturday breakfast, and you will want to be back
at the campground on Saturday night for the ice cream social, and
community campfire.
In July NAFCA holds a week long camping event we call the
NAFCAree. Each year a volunteer committee works for several
months to plan your vacation for you. Day trips and in camp activi-
The chapters will also come together in the fall
for each state’s Fall Frolic. Like the Spring Safari, they
offer food, games, entertainment and fun. The Fall
Frolic usually wraps up NAFCA’s official camping
season. But we haven’t put the campers away yet,
as we still have our Conservation weekend, council
of chapters, and quarterly Executive Board Meetings
all held as camping weekends. Some chapters will
continue to camp until the water freezes. We’ll also
have several members leaving to spend the winter in
Florida. Our Campfire Chatter will follow them to
their winter homes so they can keep in touch. They
also have two social chapters in Florida to keep each
other company until they can head back North.
NAFCA doesn’t hide in the winter. Usually
in January or February the Massachusetts & Rhode
Island state committees put on weekend Getaways.
They look for hotels with pools, fitness centers, and
hospitality suites. Members staying for the weekend
explore the location for tourist attractions, restaurants,
and other location offerings. Back at the hotel you
will find members swimming, exercising, sitting by
the fireplace, or playing games and chatting in the
hospitality suite. Saturday night brings the dinner
and entertainment. Members are invited to stay the
weekend or just come for Saturday nights’ main event.
This is a good opportunity for people to forget about
the winter blues for a weekend and have a great time
with their camping friends.
NAFCA has many events going on during the
camping season and winter, organized by national
or state committees and individual chapters. We let
you know what’s going on by publishing articles and
a calendar of events in our monthly publication “The
Campfire Chatter”, a newspaper included in your annual membership with NAFCA. The majority of our
events are open to chapters, member families, and
guests. In addition to upcoming events the Chatter has
articles members have submitted about events they
attended and places they’ve been. You will also find a
list of sustaining members who support NAFCA. The
list provides contact information for campgrounds,
RV Dealers, repair shops, camper supply stores, and
more. Many sustaining members even offer discounts
to NAFCA members. We strongly encourage members
to patronize our sustaining members. Information is
also provided in the Chatter for chapters so you can
find the right one for you.
One year’s membership with NAFCA is only
$25.00. Two and three year memberships are offered
at a discount. I hope you can see how much value
NAFCA has to offer you for such short money, and
that you will consider joining our great organization.
For more insight, contact any of the officers listed on
the left panel of this page, or visit our website, www.
nafca.org.
We hope to see you on the camping trail.
Sincerely yours,
Dennis & Pam Richardson
NAFCA President
Campfire Chatter/3
SHOW ISSUE/16
Massachusetts
Here in Massachusetts we may be a small state
but we have the largest number of campers/chapters
in the North American Family Campers Association.
With this many avid campers you can bet that we
always have something going on. My name is Linda
Ostiguy and I am the current Massachusetts State
Director, along with my very helpful committee of
three deputies, a secretary, and our treasurer. These
member volunteers are actively involved in caring
for all of our Massachusetts chapters. The size of our
chapters range from the cozy groups of three or four
families to the Pioneer Valley Chapter #8 that boasts
over 150 families. This Chapter’s members are the
people who bring you the Springfield RV Camping
and Outdoor Show every February, one of New England’s largest shows of its kind. It doesn’t matter to
us whether you camp in a tent or a big Class A motor
home, if you are single or have a large family, you are
always welcome. There is no “keeping up with the
Jones” in this group.
The “Board” meets in November, January and
March to plan activities and coordinate the support of
our Chapters. During the winter we have a weekend
get-a-way. This year we are coming down from the
hills for our “Hillbillies” Dinner Dance. Don’t get me
wrong, this is NO stuffy affair. On the weekend of
Jan.29-31 we travel to Enfield, CT to the Holiday Inn
complete with our corn cob pipes and fine fixins. We
will have a hospitality room, indoor pool, the “party”,
and most of all …. FUN! .
In June we travel to Cape Cod. Yep, that is right!
We camp safari style right at the Cape Cod Canal at
Scusset Beach State Campground from June 23-26. Be
sure to “save the date” and join us at the beach. We
fish, swim, bike, bathe in the sun, shop, and of course
eat! All this plus we serve you a French toast breakfast
and treat you to an ice cream social. It is dry camping
for a small fee. A favorite campout for many! A great
time to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
In August we hold a traditional campout we call
our “multi-chapter”. It is a great way to get to know
other campers as the chapters join together as one
happy camping family.
Wrapping up the season, on September 22-25,
we will journey to the Fairgrounds in Spencer, MA
for our Fall Frolic weekend. We offer electric and
water, a large building complete with trade booths
and indoor activities, games, raffles and of course,
more great family camping.
I hope that I have caught your attention and have
given you some idea of who we are and what we do.
We feel that we have something for every camper
that’s looking for fun, friends and fellowship.
Don’t camp alone, join NAFCA!
Linda Ostiguy
MA State Director
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is comprised of two chaptersMonadnock #66 from the Keene area and Mantowa
#40 in the Claremont area. Although they are both
located in the central/western part of the state, they
have members from throughout New Hampshire,
Vermont, and Maine.
Each chapter has its own officers, plans its
Spring through Fall campouts, and social events for
the winter months. Most of their chapter business
meetings are held during those campouts and winter events. The New Hampshire chapters are small
groups which makes them cordial, but big enough
to offer group campouts where participants really
get to know each other and enjoy themselves. There
are no required minimum meetings so we can fit into
your schedule or life style. We won’t make you, but
you are encouraged to participate in the events, programs, games, and meals because NAFCA believes
in people enjoying themselves. Campouts are held
throughout New Hampshire as well as other New
England states. Campers are invited to participate in
the national NAFCA events as well as other NAFCA
chapters’ activities.
NAFCA membership is required to belong to
a New Hampshire chapter, and each chapter does
charge a nominal membership fee. Because we are
members of NAFCA, discounts are offered to you at
many NAFCA sustaining member campgrounds, RV
dealers, and RV repair shops. Sustaining Member
contact information is listed in NAFCAs’ monthly
publication, the Campfire Chatter, that you will receive as a NAFCA member.
New Hampshire invites you to join one of our
chapters. Individuals, couples, and families are always encouraged to come and meet us as a guest at
a NAFCA or chapter event. I am sure you will enjoy
making new friends as well as experiencing the fun of
camping with NAFCA at both the local and national
events.
Jeanne Perreault
New Hampshire State Director
SUSTAINING MEMBERS
A “Sustaining Member” of NAFCA is a campground, dealership, business or individual who generously supports our organization and helps to promote
the ideas and ideals of good campers everywhere. For
an annual fee these campground or dealerships help
NAFCA provide a newspaper to all our members,
printed and published on a monthly basis so that all
of our membership will be aware of the goings-on of
the Association and be able to attend the chapter, state
or national events that are planned each year. In turn,
the Association holds all State and National meetings
only at participating Sustaining Member facilities and
encourages chapters to do the same. All sustaining
members are listed monthly in our newsletter including their web site and a link to that site. They are
given a certificate and metal plaque to advertise their
membership as well as NAFCA brochures that they
may hand out to any person interested in our family
camping association. For information about becoming a Sustaining Member, log on to our website at
NAFCA.org or contact any NAFCA or State Officer.
Vermont
Vermont is a great place to live and enjoy family camping! There are three NAFCA Chapters in
our state. Vermont is the unique state in the North
American Family Campers Association in that we
have a chapter that is located in Canada. This makes
NAFCA an International Organization.
Our first chapter is Chapter #1 from Springfield,
VT, with about 24 families, located in the southern part
of the state. This chapter holds quarterly meetings to
stay connected and discuss upcoming NAFCA events.
Chapter 1 members attend NAFCA events, such as
the Spring Safari, Fall Frolics and the weeklong NAFCAree. They also attend the Father’s Day Weekend
campout along with our other two Vermont chapters.
Cherokee, Chapter #129 is located in the northern part of the state in the Burlington/Chittenden
County area. This chapter camps together 5-6 times
throughout the summer. One annual campout happens on Fourth of July weekend. This campout is
well attended and usually includes a lake view and
fireworks. They enjoy friendships, good food, games
and evenings by the campfire, a very relaxing atmosphere. Members get together socially once a month
for dinner to stay connected as a group.
Our third chapter is Hands Across the Border,
Chapter #156 located in Ogden, Quebec and includes
surrounding towns in the area. This chapter hosts an
annual International Weekend in Ogden, Quebec, just
over the Canadian border. This campout includes an
opportunity to visit a lavender farm and an apiary. It
also includes a steak dinner, brown bag auction and
tough competition with a NAFCA game called potty.
This weekend is attended by NAFCA members from
all the New England states. Hands Across the Border
also holds a joint Father’s Day weekend campout with
Cherokee Chapter 129. This campout is held at Tree
Corners Campground in Irasburg, VT. Swimming,
an antique car show, a potluck dinner and evening
campfires all add to the fun.
Our State also holds an annual joint Fall Frolic
with our New Hampshire neighbors in September and
all NAFCA members are welcome to attend.
We always welcome new members! If you
would like to enjoy the fun and friendship of family camping, please come and join us. You will be
warmly welcomed at any of our campouts. Contact
any chapter president or the Vermont State Director
for more information.
Vermont State Director
Michelle Perry
244 Canyon Rd
Colchester, VT 05446
1-802-879-0900
[email protected]
Campfire Chatter / 4
SHOW ISSUE/16
NAFCA and CONSERVATION
C o n s e r va tion is defined by
Webster’s New
World Dictionary
as: “The official
care and protection of natural
resources, as forests.”
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Hello, my name is Linda Bouchard. I am the
State Director of our two Rhode Island chapters; the
Rhody Rover’s #84 and the Quahaugs #48. Me and
my committee oversee their activities and help answer
any questions they may have.
The Rover’s get together two or three times a
month during the camping season of April through
October. On one of those weekends they put on a
clam boil. This is open to everyone and helps them to
raise funds to help them pay for some of their camping needs. In January they have a winter get-a-way on
Cape Cod at the Cape Point Hotel. Here they book a
hospitality room where they can enjoy the company
of their camping friends by playing card games and
dining on their pot luck supper.
The Quahaug Chapter gets together once a
month. From April through November they hold
outdoor meetings by the campfire, then moving their
meetings indoors from December through March.
They also have a fundraiser. They hold theirs in
September called Camp-O-Rama. Here they set up
a large tent in the parking lot of a Newport beach.
They serve chowder and hot dogs, play bingo, put out
coffee and donuts, and usually provide live entertainment on Saturday night. This is a fun weekend that is
open to both NAFCA members and anyone else who
wants to come.
Both Chapters do what we all love to do….camp.
If you love camping and making new friends like we
do, then NAFCA is the place you want to be. If you’re
not sure which Chapter suits you best, you can always
join NAFCA and sign up with a Chapter later. Some
of us even belong to more than one chapter. Look
in our newspaper, The Campfire Chatter, to find the
calendar of events to see when and where we are having our campouts, then pick one and come and see
for yourself what we are all so excited about. Each
chapter has contact information listed in the Chatter,
so get in touch with them, or feel free to contact me.
soon.
I hope to see you around one of our campfires
Linda Bouchard
RI State Director
401-624-7886
[email protected]
A big Connecticut hello to all the campers and
those considering taking the plunge into the camping
lifestyle. The Nutmeg state has two friendly chapters
that are always seeking new members to join us in
some relaxing outdoor fun. Mattabessett #86 has
families that live in the central and western part of
the state and Wolf Den #103 campers reside in the
eastern section of Connecticut. Both chapters enjoy
traveling to the various campgrounds, eating well
and good conversation. If you are just beginning to
camp, our members are happy to help you with any
camping issues giving you trouble, or with any camping tasks you are trying to learn. Our main NAFCA
organization occasionally offers seminars in camper
and RV maintenance.
If you are looking to go camping on your own,
we can point you in the direction of some of the best
campgrounds we’ve stayed at, many offering NAFCA
discounts. Whether you seek a very active style of
camping or just taking it easy, you’ll find it all in our
two great chapters. Come to one of our chapter meetings and check us out.
Jeff Bell
Connecticut State Director
Maine
The camping families in Maine have been involved with NAFCA since its beginning. In fact, a
Maine member designed the NAFCA patch. This
patch is also the NAFCA logo. There are three active
chapters in the state. They are Pine Tree, Maine Rovers, & Penobscot Valley. The three chapters own their
own campgrounds in different locations in the state.
The Maine chapters keep busy all year. When
the camping concludes in late fall, the chapters still
gather together for social events during the winter.
During the holidays they donate food baskets to the
needy, and mittens for kids.
Pine Tree chapter participates in the Town of
Buckfield’s Labor Day events. They build a float and
have gotten 1st quite often in the past years. They
hold Christmas in July and fry turkeys in oil; They
have a Halloween decorating contest and party. They
hold many suppers in the summer and a traditional
Harvest Supper in the fall. The chapter has gotten
together and gone for cruises on Casco Bay.
Palm Tree #27
Hello from the NAFCA Snowbirds.
“Palm Tree” chapter #27 of NAFCA is now a
“Social Chapter”, in other words, we don’t have officers or hold meetings…we just get together one time
a year at Lake Parker Recreation Area in Lakeland. We
usually bring a picnic lunch, and maybe some games
or cards to keep us busy when we aren’t “gabbing”
with our NAFCA friends. Feel free to bring friends
and if you have questions call me at 508-868-7152.
Marty Moore
A main principal of our camping club (North
American Family Campers Association) has always
been Conservation. We enjoy camping and the great
outdoors so therefor it is only natural conservation
would be a cornerstone for NAFCA.
From the humble beginnings of NAFCA at Otter
River State Forest in 1957, Conservation just comes
naturally and goes hand in hand with family camping.
NAFCA was formed by likeminded camping families
banding together to improve on family camping. The
group wanted to protect the out-of-doors experience
for all who camp and enjoy the natural wonders of
this land.
NAFCA goes to Otter River State Forest (Beamans Pond) in April and October each year to clean
up and make ready the camping area and other parts
of this forest so others may enjoy more fully this
beautiful state forest.
Some of the tasks performed at Otter River by
NAFCA are: raking around the campsite fireplaces
and painting the fences and buildings. NAFCA has
constructed a pavilion aptly named “Friendship
Lodge” and created a marked nature trail between
Otter River and the Lake Dennison Camping area. We
installed a large granite sided fire pit by the pavilion
where we have held many meals and sat through
many, many campfires. NAFCA also constructed
an arts and crafts building on top of an old concrete
stage once used to put on skits and other entertainment for all campers to enjoy. Our members have also
worked on gates; cut trees; removed clutter and trash,
planted flowers, shrubs and trees, re-shingled several
buildings and installed a large bulletin board by the
Contact Station. Our members have always donated
their labor to this and other State Campgrounds to
further the cause of conservation in the States where
NAFCA is active.
Family camping is true stewardship of the
outdoors. Every camping family should endeavor to
protect all lands, public and private, to ensure future
generations have the ability to experience what all
of us enjoy today. NAFCA members are a shining
example of best practices for conservation that will
ensure that our environment will be healthy for future
generations to come. NAFCA members enjoy camping and we all want only what is best for the lands
we and others use.
Please, conservation is everyone’s duty and
responsibility, not just those of us who love to camp
together, so we ask that you keep the environment in
mind every time you set up camp.
Don Daniel
Penobscot Valley chapter holds an annual
Strawberry Festival in June, a Christmas weekend and
Harvest supper with a Halloween hayride, numerous
breakfasts suppers and evening entertainment.
Even though we are “Mainers” we are all part
of NAFCA’s family and enjoy attending events in
and out of the state. Lasting friendships are formed
at every event and our experiences and memories
are priceless.
Otter River Conservation Weekend
SHOW ISSUE/16
CAMP-O-RAMA
Quahaug Chapter #48,
Rhode Island
NAFCA Spring Safari
Camp with the Team in 2016
The NAFCA Spring Safari is our largest camping event of the year. This year it will be held at the
Spencer Fairgrounds (Spencer Agricultural Association) in Spencer, MA the weekend of May 12-15, 2016.
This is an easy access fairground with a country
setting. Here we can celebrate the coming of Spring
and CAMPING! We will have something for everyone; food and craft vendors, games, entertainment,
raffles, Chapter campfires and a nice building to
gather in. You will get a lot for your camping dollar
for the low rate of $55.00 for the weekend. Campsites
include access to water, electricity, and sewer service.
All areas of the fairgrounds are handicap accessible,
and Tent campers have access to a clean restroom facility including showers. If you are new to NAFCA,
haven’t been to a “Spring Safari” in a long time, want
to regroup with the Snowbirds, or just want to check
us out, we hope you will jump on the bandwagon
and give us a try. So come join us and “Camp with
the Team in 2016”
THE NAFCA AUXILIARY
A cool way to get
“NAFCA” articles!
The NAFCA auxiliary
was formed to raise funds for
special projects and purchases
for our organization. Some
of the items the Auxiliary has
for sale include NAFCA logo
jackets, sweatshirts, hats and
shirts. Also available are name
badges, flags, coffee mugs,
bumper stickers and NAFCA emblems. The Auxiliary
displays it’s items for sale at all major NAFCA events
and they also can be ordered by mail. Like all NAFCA
positions volunteers run it. The funds raised by the
Auxiliary have purchased computer software and
hardware for the Campfire Chatter, helped defray the
cost of mailing the NAFCA handbook and provided
scholarships for the NAFCA officers and State Directors at NAFCA conferences.
You can wear your NAFCA logo clothing with
pride, knowing that you are not only supporting your
organization but you are helping to promote recognition of NAFCA.
THE CAMPFIRE CHATTER (ISSN 0410-4889) is published monthly for $11.00 per year by: North American
Family Campers Association (NAFCA)
c/o Bill Neeb
PO Box 345
Billerica, MA 01821
Periodicals postage paid in Billerica and additional
mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to:
Campfire Chatter (NAFCA)
PO Box 345
Billerica, MA 01821
We are a 51-year-old chapter of NAFCA, and for
all of these 51 years, we have sponsored a campout at
the Beach in the Newport, Middletown area of Rhode
Island. We started at Newport’s 1st Beach in 1963,
the same year our chapter was chartered—with 10
families—at the suggestion of Sears Roebuck. They
wanted to show off some of their camping equipment.
Everyone had so much fun, they decided to do it
again the following year—and the rest is history. We
moved from 1st Beach to Sachuest Beach-( 2nd Beach)
in Middletown; where we grew from 10 families to
upwards of 200. Though the numbers have dropped
over recent years, we still put on 4 days of fun, friends,
and fellowship, always with a few surprises thrown
in. Last September we had an actual wedding on the
beach, uniting 2 young people that had met through
NAFCA. This was especially heartwarming as we
thought of it as a family wedding, the NAFCA family.
That was a pretty special year, but then we feel every
year is special to us.
It is such a unique experience in New England
to camp in the parking lot of an Atlantic Ocean Beach.
The date is always the 2nd weekend after Labor Day,
when the Ocean is still warm enough for swimming
and the area still is full of active attractions. You
can dine at any of the dozens of restaurants nearby,
explore the famous Cliff Walk, Purgatory Chasm,
Sachuest Wildlife Preserve, or the Norman Bird
Sanctuary—all within a mile of the Beach. But, at the
Beach, we provide lots of action, too. There’s Bingo
and donuts on Thursday. Chowder, Hot dogs, plus
something fun on Friday. On Saturday, we have
Breakfast, a Chinese Auction, Bus rides to downtown
Newport, dinner for everyone, and entertainment. We
top this off with our late night bus rides to the Pancake
House. We start Sunday morning by celebrating a
Catholic Mass under the tent, followed by our Sand
Castle Contest that’s open to all. Yes, we keep you
busy and the weekend flies by. We pride ourselves
on keeping everyone happy!
It is a dry camping event, which makes it really
affordable. We include access to fresh water for your
storage tanks. Electricity is provided for handicapped
campers with a valid certificate. We put up a huge
tent where almost all of our activities take place. We
start planning this weekend months in advance, and
keep NAFCA members up to date with what’s to come
through articles we publish in our monthly newspaper, The Campfire Chatter. We welcome all campers
to attend as guests of NAFCA. This is a great opportunity for you to meet us, and spend the weekend
getting to know us. Now that you have heard about
us, get in touch with us. We’d love to see you join in!
Organizing and planning The Camp-O-Rama is
an enormous effort for our small group of members to
undertake. We really appreciate the loyalty and support we receive from our guests. Many of whom roll
up their sleeves to pitch in and help any way they can.
It makes it all worthwhile and rewarding when we see
it all come together and you having so much fun. As
I write this article, our committee is hot on the trail of
getting ready for our next Camp-O-Rama. We Look
forward to seeing you join us---AT THE BEACH!!.
NAFCA is on the
WEB!
Visit us at
NAFCA.org
Fill out an application to join our association.
Check out the NAFCA calendar of events.
Find a campground or RV dealer on our Sustaining
Member Page.
Fill out a Sustaining Member Application.
Contact a chapter near you.
Contact our NAFCA and State officers.
Campfire Chatter/5
Why camp with NAFCA?
Because I’m in NAFCA!!! How’s that for a
pompous, self-absorbed attitude. Got your attention?
Well fortunately, you won’t encounter any campers
like that in our volunteer organization. However, if
you are an independent cuss that hates to join anything (like I used to be) then it behooves you to read
on.
When my wife forced me into camping after she
purchased a used pop-up, my plan was to occasionally
go with her and the kids to some nearby campgrounds
to get her off my back about this camping thing.
However, my wife’s plan differed from mine and after
a few campouts she strongly suggested that we join
the same NAFCA chapter as her parents. Well, I liked
her whole family a lot (how’s that for being a good
politician) and allowed myself to be herded into even
more camping events by joining NAFCA.
Our local chapter was called RAFCA #7 and
its members consisted of people with Portuguese,
French-Canadian and Jewish ethnic backgrounds, as
well as some old-fashioned New England Yankees.
Chapter campfires with this crew were much more
interesting than going off somewhere with just my
wife and kids. They dragged me out of my comfort
zone to do arts and crafts to raise money for our
chapter and forced me to eat some great meals made
with pride. Eventually, they “guilted “my wife and
I into being chapter delegates and traveling outside
of Connecticut to represent our chapter at various
NAFCA meetings.
One of the first meetings we attended was at
a campout in Gunstock, New Hampshire. It was a
warm October weekend, but dark as ink when we
arrived late in the evening. Carefully I made my way
across a long field towards the other campers. As we
came closer, some NAFCA campers I had never met
came out to see to our needs. Quickly, they had a
few of their tow vehicles face our direction with their
headlights on to enable us to set up our pop-up in
that light-absorbing night. That is a typical NAFCA
attitude; they make you feel welcome and they take
care of their own.
At first, delegates from other chapters are workmates, but over time become friends that one seeks
out for their company. Once you have a connection
with someone from another chapter or state you start
to feel comfortable enough to attend their campouts
that you see advertised in the Campfire Chatter. After
several years in NAFCA, I seriously doubt there is a
NAFCA campout in which I wouldn’t know several
people. It is like one big extended family - but full of
relatives you want around. You can do as much or
as little as you want in this club, but as you can see,
taking on some responsibility does have its rewards.
You would probably be pleasantly surprised as to
what you could offer NAFCA.
Our next big rally (NAFCAree) is being held
in Vermont and is selling out fast. Oh yes, you could
go camping by yourself to Vermont, but you save a
lot of valuable time by having a rally committee that
is familiar with the campground, sets up local trips
and advises you on the best places for eating and
recreation.
My better half and I have had so many rich and
varied experiences with NAFCA that we never would
have had on our own. Why invest in an RV or tent if
you are only going to do token camping? Quit just
dipping your toe into the camping waters, take the
plunge and join NAFCA now!!!
NAFCAree 2016
Campfire Chatter / 6
Apple Island Resort, South Hero, VT
NAFCAree 2016
Every year the North American Family Campers Association plans a weeklong vacation and this
year is no exception! This summer we are traveling
to Apple Island Resort in South Hero, VT the week
of July 16-23, 2016 for a fun filled vacation. Relax, we
take the worries out of your vacation planning. Our
committee has already traveled to the area to scout
out the campground and seek out lots of fun things to
NAFCAree 2016
Escape to Apple Island
Day Trips
Looking for points of interest outside of Apple
Island Resort? Here are a few ideas. On Grand Isle,
home of Apple Island Resort, just across the island
on West Shore Road wine lovers can enjoy the Snow
Farm Vineyard and Winery. Down the street from
the Vineyard on West Shore Road you’ll pass White’s
Beach. Keep an eye out for the colorful birdhouse
display across the street. Halfway across the island
take in either or both of the island’s apple orchards,
Allenholm Farm and Hackett’s Orchard. After visiting
the orchards, travel southbound on South Street then
west on West Shore Road and you too will find White’s
Beach. If you’re looking to make a day of swimming,
picnicking, and just taking in the scenery, head across
the causeway to Sand Bar State Park.
do. On Monday we travel to Stowe to the Von Trapp
Family Lodge, the Cabot Cheese Annex, Ben & Jerry’s,
and the Magic Hat Brewery. On Tuesday we’re off
to the Shelburne Museum and Vermont Teddy Bear
Factory. Wednesday is our “stay in camp” day. We’ll
be there to cook your breakfast, set up games for you
to play, prepare your lunch, and set you up in our
afternoon “Sip & Paint” classes. Or if you wish, just
spend the day to relax and enjoy this beautiful resort
and all the amenities it has to offer, like swimming,
boating, and golf. Come Thursday evening we set sail
on Lake Champlain aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen
for a three-hour Murder Mystery Dinner Cruise.
Don’t fret if you don’t want to drive around Vermont on your vacation. All of our trips include bus
transportation. If you decide you want to stay put,
you will find that the resort is really beautiful with
lots to do right there. We feel that we have something
for everyone!
You do have to be a NAFCA member to come.
So check us out, join NAFCA now, and “Escape to
Apple Island” with us!
SHOW ISSUE/16
Escape to Apple Island
Island Line Bike Trail
Do you like to bicycle ride, or take walks on
waterfront paths? One of New England’s most visited and spectacular rail-trails, the Island Line Trail
(formerly known as the Burlington Bikeway) skirts
the waterfront in the hip college town of Burlington,
strings together a series of shoreline parks and offers
spectacular views of Lake Champlain and New York’s
Adirondack Mountains. Best of all, the relatively flat
trail features a unique and scenic trip out over the lake
on a marble causeway.
The northern end of this trail starts seven miles
south of Apple Island Resort. This portion of the trail
runs out over Malletts Bay. Just over one mile from
the start you will find “The Cut”, a waterway gap in
the trail allowing boat access from the bay to the main
lake. The Bike Ferry Service is available at a fee to
take you across The Cut. Once across, the trail continues on for another 12 miles ending at Burlington’s
Oakledge Park.
Bicycle Rentals are available on the trail at Local Motion’s Trailside Center, 1 Steele St, Burlington.
Local Motion is a nonprofit that runs the bike rental
shop and ferry. The 2015 rates for rentals was $25
Adult/ $18 child for 1 -4 hours, $32/$24 for 4 to 24
hour rentals. Bikes are available on a first come first
serve basis. Bicycle rentals, ferry operation, and trail
preservation is what they do.
So whether you are a walker or a biker, the trail
is free and close by for you to enjoy.
Looking to leave the island and take in the tourist attractions? Head down to Burlington. What’s in
Burlington? Only the famous Church Street Marketplace, a pedestrian cobble stone walkway stretching
four blocks for your shopping and outdoor entertainment experience. It encompasses about 86 storefronts
and is managed by the Church Street Marketplace
Commission.
Had enough shopping or just looking for more to
do in Burlington? Check out Lake Champlain Chocolates, the Echo Lahey Center, or the Lake Champlain
Maritime Museum. Enjoy free coffee samples and
pleasant surroundings at the Green Mountain Coffee
Café and Visitor’s Center. After your coffee, head
over to the Growler Garage for Vermont craft beers.
There’s just so much available to enjoy in Burlington, we can’t list them all in this column. Look for
more information in next month’s Chatter. We will
also give you a map of the Burlington area attractions
when you arrive at the campground. Please look for
us at the Spring Safari in May at Spencer Fairgrounds
where we can answer your questions and provide you
with more detailed information. As always, call or
write any member of the committee, Sue Libby, Bill
Neeb, Linda Ostiguy, Irene Phelps, Brenda Sullivan,
and Karen Donnelly or email us at Membership@
NAFCA.org
Campfire Chatter/7
SHOW ISSUE/16
$$ Indicates campgrounds
that offer a 10% discount off
their regular daily rate.
$$$ Indicates a 15% discount
(GR) Indicates Group Rates
are available.
$$ Oak Haven Family Campground
22 Main St. PO Box 166
Wales MA 01081
413-245-7148
www.OakHavenCampground.com
$$ Goose Hollow Camp & RV Park
(Discount for groups of 10 or more)
35 Burbank Hill Road
Thornton, NH 03285
603-726-2000
www.nhcampgrounds.com
$$ Peppermint Park Camping Resort Grand View Camping Area
169 Grant St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
413-634-5385
www.peppermintpark.net
51 Four Rod Rd
Rochester NH 03867
603-332-1263
www.grandviewcamping.com
1060 North Road
PO Box 129
East Killingly, CT 06243
860-774-1128
hideawaycovecampground.com
Pout & Trout Campground
Shir-Roy Camping Area
Highland Orchards RV Sales
50 Prospect Lake Road
No. Egremont, MA 01230
877-860-4757 413-528-4158
prospectlakepark.com
Connecticut
$$ Hide-A-Way Cove
120 Pendleton Hill Road
N. Stonington, CT 06359
877-599-8922
www.highlandorchards.com
[email protected]
Mineral Springs Family Campground
135 Leonard Rd.
Stafford Springs, CT 06076
860-684-2993
Fax 1-860-684-2993
www.mineralspringscampground.com
Groups receive 10% discount
Ross Hill Campground
170 Ross Hill Rd
Lisbon, CT 06351-2922
860-376-9606
www.rosshillpark.com
[email protected]
$$ RV Parts & Electric
2385 S Leonard St.
Waterbury, Ct. 06706
203-754-5962
[email protected]
$$ Seaport RV Resort & Campground
45 Campground Road
Old Mystic, CT 06372
860-245-6041
sunrvresorts.com
$$ Van’s RV Center
417 John Fitch Blvd.
South Windsor, CT 06074
800-298-7280
vansrv.com
Massachusetts
$$ Bonny Rigg Camping Club, Inc
59 Main St., PO Box 417
Becket, MA 01223
413-623-5366
bonnyriggcampground.com
$$ Circle CG Family Campground
131 N Main St
Bellingham MA 02019
508-966-1136
www.circlecgfarm.com
Country Aire Campground
1753 Mohawk Trail
Charlemont, MA 01339
413-625-2996
www.Country-Aire.com
Discount for groups of 12 or larger
Flagg RV Center
66 W. Boylston St
W. Boylston, MA 01583
800-678-9278
www.flaggrv.com
Lamb City Campground
85 Royalston Road
Phillipston, MA 01331
978-249-2049
800-292-5262
www.lambcity.com
[email protected]
$$$ Mann’s RV
52 Barre Paxton Rd.
Rutland, MA 01543
(800) 677-4476
[email protected]
94 River Road
Rutland, MA 01543
508-886-6677
$$ Prospect Lake Park
Prospect Mountain Campground
1349 Main Rd, /Rt. 57 (PO Box 323)
Granville, MA 01034
413-357-6494
www.prospectmountaincampground.com
Spencer Agricultural Association
PO Box 46
Spencer, MA 01562
508-885-5814
www.spencerfair.org
Village Green Family Campground
228 Sturbridge Rd, Route 20
Brimfield, MA 01010-9641
413-245-3504 Fax 413-245-0115
Villagegreencampground.com
Walker Island Campground
27 Rt. 20
Chester, MA 01011
413-354-2295
www.walkerislandcamping.com
Maine
&$ Lee’s Family Trailer Sales & Service
480 Roosevelt Tr.
Windham, ME 04062
207-892-8308
www.leesfamilytrailersales+service.com
$$ Old Orchard Beach Campground
27 Ocean Park Road
Old Orchard Beach, ME 04064
207-934-4477
gocamping.com
10% discount Spring and Fall rates only
Not valid on weekly rates
Powder Horn Family Camping
48 Cascade Rd
Old Orchard Beach, Me. 04064
207-934-4733
www.mainecampgrounds.com
Saco/Old Orchard Beach KOA
Kampground
814 Portland Road
Saco, ME 04072
207-282-0502
oldorchardbeachkoa.com
[email protected]
New Hampshire
Ashuelot River Campground
152 Pine St
Swanzey, NH 03446
603-357-5777
ashuelotrivercampground.com
$$ Crow’s Nest Campground
529 South Main Street
Newport, NH 03773
603-863-6170
www.crowsnestcampground.com
$$ Field & Stream RV Park
7 Dupaw Gould Road
Brookline, NH 03033
603-673-4677
www.FieldNStreamRVPark.com
100 Athol Road
Richmond, NH 03470
603-239-4768
[email protected]
Pennsylvania
Drummer Boy Camping Resort
1300 Hanover Rd.
Gettysburg, Pa 17325
800-293-2808
www.drummerboycampresort.com
[email protected]
Missouri
$$ America’s Best Campground
499 Buena Vista Road
Branson, MO 65616
800-671-4399
abc-branson.com
Rhode Island
Arlington R.V. Supercenter, Inc
966 Quaker Lane (Rt #2)
East Greenwich, RI 02819
888-787-8737
www.arlingtonrv.com
$$ Ashaway RV Resort
234 Ashaway Road
Bradford, RI 02808
401-377-8100
www.camprhody.com
Long Cove Marina Campsites
325 Point Judith Rd.
Narragansett RI 02882
401-783-4902
$$ Oak Embers Campground
219 Escoheag Hill Road
West Greenwich, RI 02817
401-397-4042
www.oakembers.com
Vermont
Abel Mountain Campground
354 Mobile Acres Road
Braintree, VT 05060
802-728-5548
[email protected]
www.abelmountain.com
$$ Apple Island Resort
P.O. Box 183 71 US Rt. 2
South Hero, VT 05486
802-372-3800
www.appleislandresort.com
Bald Mountain Campground
1760 State Forest Road
Townshend, VT 05353
802-365-7510
baldmountaincampground.com
$$ Horseshoe Acres Campground
1978 Weston-Andover Rd.
Andover VT 05143
802-875-2960
www.horseshoeacrescampground.com
Pete’s RV Center
4016 Williston Rd.
So. Burlington, VT 05403
802-864-9350
[email protected]
$$ Rest n Nest Campground
PO Box 258
300 Latham Road
East Thetford, VT 05043
802-785-2997
[email protected]
www.restnnest.com
New York
$$ KOA 1000 Islands at Association
Is.
PO Box 525
Henderson Harbor, NY 13651
315-955-6522 or 800-393-4189
www.associationislandkoa.com
For more information on becoming a
Sustaining Member please contact:
Dennis Richardson
10 Sigourney St.
Lynn, Ma. 01905
781-581-2045
[email protected]
Campfire Chatter / 8
NAFCA
Sept. 15-18 Camp O Rama (Tentative Date)
Second Beach /Sachuest Beach,
Middletown, RI
2016
Sept. 16-18
NH/Vermont Fall Frolic
River Meadow Campground
Woodville NH
Sept. 22-25
Massachusetts Fall Frolic
Spencer Fairgrounds
Spencer MA
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
February 12-15 Annual Springfield RV
Camping and Outdoor Show
Eastern States Exposition Grounds
West Springfield, MA
March 18-20 Annual NH Camping & RV Show
NH Sportsplex
68 Technology Drive
Bedford, NH
Otter River Conservation
Otter River State Forrest
86 Winchendon Road
Baldwinville MA
May 12-15
NAFCA Spring Safari
Spencer Fairgrounds
Spencer MA
June 23-26
Scusset Beach State Reservation
20 Scusset Beach Road
Sagamore Beach, MA 02562
July 16-23
2016 NAFCAree
Apple Island Resort
South Hero, VT
July 29-31
International Weekend
Bronson’s
125 Davis Road
Ogden, QC.
July 29-31
July Full Board Meeting
Oak Haven Campground
Wales MA
October Full Board Meeting
Mineral Springs Campground
135 Leonard Road
Stafford Springs, CT
October
Otter River Conservation
Otter River State Forrest
86 Winchendon Road
Baldwinville MA
CAMP WITH NAFCA
April 29-May 1 NAFCA Annual Meeting
Canoe River Campground
Mansfield MA
April 15-17
SHOW ISSUE/16
Sept. 30-Oct. 2
Yes, we’d like to join NAFCA and enclosed you’ll
find our dues for the membership we’ve selected
below, 1, 2, or 3 years. We understand that our membership covers all the benefits listed, which includes
a subscription to Campfire Chatter. We will receive our
membership material and privilege to NAFCA activities, services and benefits by return mail.
______________________________________________
Last name, First Name
______________________________________________
Last name, First Name
______________________________________________
Address
______________________________________________
City
State
Zip
__________________
Phone
_________________________
Email
______________________________________________
How did you hear about NAFCA
Make checks payable to NAFCA and mail to:
NAFCA OFFICE
P.O. Box 345, Billerica, MA 01821
FAMILY MEMBERSHIP
$25 one year
$40 two years
$50 three years
(From Canada please remit in U.S. dollars)
$8.00 of dues each year goes toward
subscription to Campfire Chatter
JOIN NAFCA TODAY AND GET MORE
OUT OF CAMPING
12 Monthly issues of NAFCA’s own publication
Campfire Chatter
Membership Identification Kit
Campground information service
Year-round fun and fellowship through chapter
state and regional rallies education conferences, and
more.
Participation in NAFCA’s conservation and
legislative alertness programs
Group Camping Discounts and other money saving
benefits.
NAFCA Chapter Presidents
1
Springfield Chapter
Springfield, VT area
Larry Converse
7 Clover Street
Claremont, NH 03743
603-542-2180
[email protected]
5
Mystic Valley
North Boston, MA area
Robert Sunderland
6 Christy Lane
Ashland, MA 01721-2101
508-231-0838
8
Pioneer Valley Chapter
Springfield, MA area
Jim & Carla Ford
86 Main Street
PO Box 259
Russell, MA 01071-0259
(413) 204-9622
[email protected]
10Berkshire Chapter
Berkshire, MA area
Darlene Fagley
1556 Massachusette Ave
North Adams, Ma 01247
431-662-9924
11Worcester Chapter
Worcester, MA area
Ben & Gisele Mattson
35 Ash Street
Webster, MA 01570
508-943-4196
[email protected]
12Welitoca Chapter
North Shore, MA area
c/o Bill Neeb,978-667-3565
27Palm Tree Chapter
Social Chapter - Florida
Marty Moore
44 Carousel Dr.
Milbury MA 01527
508-868-7152
28Mount Hope Chapter
Fall River, MA area
c/o Bill Neeb,978-667-3565
30Squaw-No-Cook Chapter
Fitchburg/Leominster, MA area
Dan & Melissa Hudson
15 Chatham Village Rd
Worcester, MA 01606
(508) 854-3197
31Wampanoag Chapter
New Bedford,MA area
Carlene LeBlanc
808 Coggeshall St.
New Bedford, MA 02746
508 994-3880
33Pine Tree Chapter
Buckfield/Turner, ME area
Roberta White
160 Pattie Mill Brook Rd.
Albany TWP, Me. 04217.
(207) 824-3331
[email protected]
37Penobscot Valley Chapter
Bangor, ME area
Joseph Madigan
606 Dexter Rd.
St Albans,Me. 04971-7114
207-938-2057
[email protected]
40Mantowa Chapter
Claremont, NH area
Larry Converse
7 Clover Street
Claremont,NH 03743-3027
[email protected]
603-542-2180
84Rhody Rovers Chapter
West Bay, RI area
Rita Clarke
10 Ash St
Wrentham, MA 02093
[email protected]
508-384-1276
156 Hands Across the Border
Ayers Cliff, Quebec, Canada
Don Nixon
c/o Ogden Granite
PO Box 115
Beebe Plains VT 05823
48Quahaug Chapter
Newport, RI area
Jon Fischer
35 Dighton Avenue
Portsmoth, RI 02871
401-339-6461
86Mattabessett Chapter
Hartford, CT area
Debbie Bell
305 Redwood Rd.
Manchester, CT 06040
860-649-4454
[email protected]
157 Canvasback Chapter
North Reading, MA area
Donald Daniel
16 Evergreen Terrace
North Reading MA 01864
978-664-4294
49Forty-Niners Chapter
N. Shore to NE/Metro West Mass & Southern NH
Bill Neeb
3 Copley Place
Billerica, MA 01821
978-667-3565
[email protected]
51Site Seekers Chapter
Palmer/Brimfield area
Frank Eaton
11 Sunnydale Circle
Brimfield, MA 01010
413 427 0418
66Monadnock Chapter
Keene, NH area
Marilyn Hurley
112 Old Walpole Rd.
Keene NH 03431
603-352-5047
83Herring Runners Chapter
Taunton, MA area
Antone Costa
45 Ashumet Ave.
Mashpee Ma. 02649
[email protected]
103 Wolf Den Chapter
Danielson, CT area
Bruce Bressette
282 Perrin Road
PO Box 734
Woodstock, CT 06281
860-974-2353
[email protected]
114 Bay Path Chapter
Sue Libby
PO Box 1540
Warren MA 01083
413-436-9747
[email protected]
126 Maine Rovers Chapter
Livermore Falls, ME area
Jeffrey Theriault
6 Wolf Street
Waterville, ME 04901
207-649-7023
129 Cherokee #129
Burlington, VT area
Mike Roberts
500 Oak Knoll Road
Williston, VT 05495
802-879-6970
177 Weekend Wanderers Chapter
Billerica, MA area
George Brown
68 Mallard St.
Billerica MA 01821-4042
978-667-0849
183 Orlando
Florida
Mike DiMauro Jr.
707 Greenwood Street
Orlando, FL 32801
(863) 800-0183
[email protected]