ROCKCRAWLER.com: - Camp Jeep Sets Promotion Milestone With First-Ever Induction Into Hall of Fame.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Camp Jeep®, the ultimate three-day, action-packed, family summer camp for Jeep® owners, has become the first inductee into Promo Magazine's PRO Awards Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame recognizes Camp Jeep as a benchmark for measuring the success of customer relationship marketing events around the world.

Promo Magazine, a trade publication serving executives in the $93 billion promotion industry, has honored Camp Jeep over the last three years with more awards than any other campaign. The Chrysler Group event has won twice for "Best Event Generating Brand Loyalty and Best Copywriting," and once for "Best Database Management" and "Best Use of Direct Marketing."

According to Promo Magazine editor Peter Breen, the longevity of Camp Jeep's excellence called for a special award. "Creating the Hall of Fame award and making Camp Jeep its first recipient is an appropriate way to honor this campaign's long-term success," said Breen.

"It has been innovative from the outset and shows a deep understanding of the consumer," said Breen. "The annual owner festival has develop into the hallmark of loyalty campaigns, an affinity-building event that gives owners a forum to live the brand essence."

Camp Jeep creator Lou Bitonti, DaimlerChrysler Corporation Senior Manager Global Corporate Events, said "We are truly honored to be the first inductee in the Promo Magazine's Hall of Fame. The Jeep owners who come to Camp Jeep are our most loyal customers and every year our entire team is focused on creating an event that is even more memberable than the year before. PentaMark Worldwide, our partner in this event, has helped us achieve our goals. It is very gratifying to be honored for an event that represents a real bond between Jeep vehicles and owners."

Since Camp Jeep began, participation has grown spectacularly from 614 registered vehicles in 1995 to 2,300 in 2001. Despite rain for the first time ever at Camp Jeep this year, owners' spirit and enthusiasm could not be dampened. The events, including a concert with LeAnn Rimes and a spectacular fireworks display, went on as planned.

One of the highlights of the three-day family event is the Jeep 101 off-highway driving courses designed to teach owners basic off-highway driving skills, safety and the 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 learn the capabilities of their vehicle they can hit the guided trails in their own vehicles. Jeep owners can also check out Engineering Village and attend roundtable discussions with Jeep engineers, automotive suppliers and other Jeep owners to find out more about what makes Jeep vehicles so unique.

Kids can explore the Camp Kids Village and ride mini-Jeep vehicles on their own off-highway course, make friendship bracelets, memory books and watercolor paintings - while teens can check out various activities such as soccer clinics, a BMX course, and paintball. Adults and kids alike can explore the surrounding landscape by hiking or mountain biking.

For the truly daring, the Adventure Village Multiplex offers rock climbing walls, a 150-foot zip line, an obstacle course, a giant swing, and dual sky bridge with a cargo net climb. Less experienced rock climbers can try out the Treadwall simulator - a self-paced motorless climbing wall with adjustable handholds, ensuring the climber is never more than two feet off the ground.

From 1995 through 1998, Camp Jeep was held in Camp Hale, Colo. From 1999 through 2001, Camp Jeep was held in Nelson County, Va. Plans for the Camp Jeep 2002 will be announced at a later date.

Camp Jeep is one of several owner loyalty programs created by the Jeep brand of DaimlerChrysler. Jeep Jamborees, which began in the 1950s, are the original off-highway vacation. From the mountains of Maine to the famed Rubicon Trail, nearly 7,000 owners participate in the more than 30 Jamborees held each year. These family-oriented, three-day events are designed to allow Jeep owners the opportunity to hone their skills in off-highway situations while learning more respect for the environment. An offshoot of Camp Jeep, Jeep 101 is an event that brings the "canyon to the city," offering current and prospective owners the opportunity to learn the basic skills of off-highway driving and experience the Jeep brand lifestyle.

For more information on Camp Jeep, visit www.jeep.com