2010 Brings a NEW Addition to ARVC’s Plan-It Green Program
It has been two years since ARVC first launched its Plan-It Green program. Over the past couple years, over 100 parks have signed up to take the Plan-It Green Pledge, pledging to reduce, reuse, and recycle and to educate guests about the benefits of being more environmentally responsible in their parks. Congratulations to those members that have taken the Plan-It Green Pledge, your efforts are truly commended!
In continuing ARVC’s efforts to preserve our environment and to encourage our members to be more eco-friendly, we would like to announce a higher level of member participation in ARVC’s Plan-It Green program, the ARVC/Woodall’s Plan-It Green ‘Green Friendly Parks’ evaluation program. Included in the criteria is mention of Leave No Trace educational material. ARVC has recently partnered with Leave No Trace, an organization dedicated to leaving the outdoors as you found it. Stay tuned to ARVC’s Plan-It Green section of arvc.org for more information on distributing/teaching this material in your parks. Please keep in mind that the new ‘Green Friendly Parks’ evaluation program will not take the place of our current Plan-It Green Pledge but it will offer ‘green’ parks an opportunity for more recognition. There will now be two ‘green’ opportunities for parks to participate:
~ NEW~ ARVC/Woodalls Plan-It Green Friendly Park ~NEW~
&
ARVC Plan-It Green Pledge
ARVC/Woodalls Plan-It Green Friendly Park
How will it work?
Starting in the first quarter of 2010, Woodall’s reps will begin pounding the pavement to evaluate RV parks and campgrounds across the country for the Woodall’s Directory. This highly referenced consumer guide to RV parks and campgrounds, will now give those ARVC member parks that are currently engaged in ‘green practices’ proper recognition based on a simple evaluation of current ‘green practices’ being conducted in the park. If a park meets those requirements the park will be awarded an ARVC/Woodall’s Plan-It Green Friendly Park designation. Parks will have the opportunity to opt out if they choose upon the rep’s visit to the park. The Woodall’s Rep Team will get verbal approval before judging a park on its eco-friendly practices. Those parks that do choose to be evaluated will be appraised on the following list of criteria. To be considered an ARVC ‘Green Friendly Park’ a park must meet at least 50% of the following criteria:
Green Friendly Park Criteria
Campgrounds needs nine or more criteria of the 18 to qualify for the Plan it Green ‘Green Friendly Park’ (Parks Need a score of 50% or higher)
- Park has converted to a tank-less water heaters
- Park uses motion sensors for lighting in bathroom and club house
- Park has switched to energy efficient light bulbs
- Park uses non-toxic biodegradable cleaning products
- Park uses water saving shower heads and/or auto turn-off taps
- Park provides recycle bins for cans, paper, glass and plastic.
- Park uses energy saving products in their campground like Energy Star products.
- Park offers eco-friendly and ‘Leave No Trace’ tips and education to our RVing & Camping guests
- Parks landscaping consists of wood chip, pebble, paved, or grass paths and is used to decrease soil erosion
- Park has “Reduce Water Usage” signage to guests around the park
- Park has one or more of the following: lighting, heaters and/or coolers with timers
- Park uses Solar Power or Wind Power
- Park uses Low Flush toilets or waterless urinals
- Park use of Grey Water (if allowed in state)
- Park participates in On-Site Organic Composting
- Park sends email confirmations rather than paper confirmations (office/reservations/notices)
- Park uses geo-thermal heating/cooling
- Park plants new trees frequently
Parks that are awarded the ‘Green Friendly Park’ designation
Parks that meet 50% or more of the above criteria and have given a Woodall’s rep the ‘ok’ to evaluate on ‘green’ practices will receive the following:
- A window decal with recognition as a ARVC/Woodall’s Green Friendly Park
- Recognition on the park profile on GCA
- Recognition in the Woodall’s Campground Directory park listing
- For those parks that advertise in the Woodall’s Campground Directory, they will receive a ‘green’ icon in the Quick Reference chart of the directory denoting their accomplishment (Parks that don’t advertise will have the recognition only in their park listing)
Parks that don’t quite meet all the criteria and may not be awarded the Green Friendly Park designation or “choose” not to have the green designation in the Woodall’s Campground Directory
If your park is evaluated and doesn’t fully meet the criteria or you prefer not to have the green designation in the Woodall’s Campground Directory, don’t fret! First off, this information is confidential and will not be disseminated! And second, there’s still a chance to participate in ARVC’s green program, we encourage you to take the Plan-It Green Pledge. By taking the Plan-It Green Pledge you are pledging to do your best to enhance green practices and awareness in your park, and you will receive recognition as a Plan-It Green Pledge park on your GCA park profile.
*Parks are allowed and encouraged to participate in both if applicable
ARVC’s Plan-It Green Pledge
Perhaps your park isn’t quite at the Green Friendly Park level just quite yet? If that’s the case, then the ARVC Plan-It Green Pledge is a good first step for your park to take.
If you are currently committed to giving back to the environment by recycling, conserving energy and water usage in your park, please sign up to become a Plan-It Green Park. Once you do, your listing on GoCampingAmerica.com will include the Plan-It Green logo by your name, evidencing your commitment to preserving our nation's resources.
Signing Up
Without help from others, resolutions often come and go. ARVC wants to make sure that those who are seriously committed to taking decisive action on green initiatives have the support structure in place to easily fulfill their commitment to Plan-It Green.
Take the ARVC Plan-It Green Pledge and you can receive the Plan-It Green logo by your campground name on GCA - you must be able to honestly check off at least 3 of the following. . .
We Proudly Adhere to Eco-Friendly Practices in Our Parks Such as the Following:
- We currently offer recycling to our guests and recycle where possible
- Avoid using products or chemicals that are harmful to the environment
- We have evaluated our energy or water usage and have taken steps to conserve
- We currently use energy saving products in our campground like Compact Fluorescent Lighting or Energy Star products if applicable
- We offer eco-friendly tips to our RVing & camping guests
- We are currently offsetting our carbon-footprint
- We offer 100% green energy to our guests
- We plant trees in our park to offset carbon emissions
- We continue to be mindful that our planet has a limited amount of energy , water and other natural resources
-
We Encourage Our Guests to:
- Respect the natural wildlife, plants and trees
- Use non-toxic biological tank treatment products
- Recycle and properly dispose of litter
- Conserve energy and other resources during their stay
If you meet the above criteria and would like to pledge to Plan-It Green go to the Contact Us page and type Plan-It Green Pledge in the Title field. Or email ktomlin@arvc.org.
If you are currently not participating in any of the above eco-friendly measures and would like to, GET INVOLVED NOW. Please see our Green Toolbox for ideas and tips to become an eco-friendly park and then once you're park is participating please sign up for the ARVC Plan-It Green Pledge.
One award will be given to the park that can demonstrate that they have taken steps and actions to become more eco-friendly. Applications will be evaluated on impact of changes made, commitment to environmentally friendly practices and efforts to educate guests about suport of Plan-It Green practices.
DOWNLOAD the 2010 Plan-It Green Award Application Here
Only available to Member Parks that have taken the "Plan-It Green Pledge".