Auburn
Hills, MI - Camp Jeep(R), one of the nation's
largest and best-attended ownership gatherings, expands
to two locations and dates next year, and will be open to
not only Jeep owners but to the general public for the first
time in the event's nine-year history. New
dates and locations will be announced to consumers on the
Jeep.com
website and at 1-800-789-JEEP starting December
11.
Camp Jeep 2003 will be held at the Oak Ridge Estate in the
Blue Ridge Mountains of Nelson County, Va., Thursday, June
26 - Saturday, June 28. Camp Jeep California will be held
at Gardner Ranch in the Santa Inez Mountains north of Santa
Barbara, Calif., Thursday, August 14 - Saturday, August
16.
"Camp Jeep is, arguably, one of the world's greatest
owner celebrations. It's something that only Jeep would
do," said Jeff Bell, Vice President-Jeep Division,
DaimlerChrysler Corporation. "Families come from
all over the world to celebrate the Jeep spirit and what
it stands for. It's only natural to make Camp Jeep available
to both coasts and give people more of what they love about
Jeep."
For the first time, Camp Jeep will open its doors to the
public on the Saturday of each event at both locations.
"People really have to see Camp Jeep and experience
it for themselves to believe it," said Bell. "The
pride our owners have for their vehicles and the fun they
have is amazing. It begins with their passion for the outdoors
and continues with the camp environment and music. We want
to show 'non-Jeepers' what the fuss is all about!"
Camp Jeep recently won international recognition for "Best
Program Generating Brand Loyalty" in the Marketing
Agency Association (MAA) Worldwide 2002 GLOBES Awards. The
event also won in the same category for Promo Magazine's
annual PRO Awards earlier this fall.
One of the most popular highlights of the event is the Jeep
101 courses, designed to teach attendees basic off-highway
driving and safety skills, and to demonstrate capabilities
of the Jeep Liberty, Grand Cherokee and Wrangler.Participants
are paired with experienced guides as they negotiate steep
downhill grades and encounter large rocks, log-crossings,
sand and other off- highway obstacles. Once they have mastered
the Jeep vehicle's capabilities, they can navigate various
levels of 4x4 trails in their own Jeep vehicles. Jeep owners
also can visit the Engineering Village and participate in
roundtable discussions with Jeep engineers and other guests
to learn more about what distinguishes a Jeep brand vehicle
from any other four-wheel vehicle in the world.
Camp Jeep 2003 and Camp Jeep California also will feature
numerous lifestyle and family activities, live musical performances
and a fireworks finale. Details will be released in a separate
announcement.
Camp Jeep is one of several owner-loyalty programs created
by the Jeep division of DaimlerChrysler. Jeep Jamborees,
which began in the 1950s, are the original off-highway vacation.
From the Maine Mountains to the famed Rubicon Trail, approximately
7,000 owners participate in the more than 30 Jamborees held
each year. The excellent response to Camp Jeep led to the
spin-off of Jeep 101. Jeep 101 driving courses are offered
in cities across the nation to provide owners and prospective
owners basic skills of safe, yet adventurous off-road driving.
Approximately 3,000 vehicles are expected to be registered
for each Camp Jeep location in 2003. To date, approximately
55,000 people from 48 states have attended Camp Jeep.
From 1995-1998, Camp Jeep was held in Camp Hale, Colo. From
1999-2001, Camp Jeep was located at Oak Ridge Estate in
Nelson County, Va. In 2002, Camp Jeep was held at the White's
Bar W Ranch near Branson, Mo. The event has sold out each
year.
People can visit the Jeep website to find more information
about Camp Jeep on the web at www.jeep.com
(enter keyword campjeep) or call 1-800-789-JEEP starting
December 11. Registration for both events will begin in
January
2003. Registration fees are $325 per Jeep vehicle for participation
in all Camp Jeep activities and $95 per non-Jeep vehicle
for participation in the Saturday (last day), activities.