Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: December 09, 2011
Contact:
Va. Beach family wins new camper in Virginia State Parks 75th anniversary contest
Additional Contact: Danielle Dunn at danielledunn@cox.net (757) 233-6161
(EDITORS: Here's a link to a photo of the camper winners: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vadcr/6481594531/in/photostream
PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured, left to right, Cecilia Dunn, parents Danielle and Sid Dunn and Coastal RV owners David and Amy Stoup with their son James Stoup.)
(RICHMOND) - As 2011 comes to a close, so too does the year-long 75th anniversary celebration of Virginia State Parks, which culminated with a grand prize drawing for a brand new, fully-loaded pop-up camper supplied by Coastal RV of Carrollton, Va.
Danielle Dunn, of Virginia Beach, is the camper winner whose name was drawn from 14,629 entries submitted statewide during the state parks 75 Days of Summer contest.
A separate online contest drew another 12,450 entries, with winners from as far away as Canada and Australia.
In addition to the camper, Dunn also won seven nights camping in a Virginia State Park, a prize package worth approximately $10,000. The award-winning Virginia State Parks are managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
"We're at First Landing three times a month, just to go walking and hiking," said Dunn, who lives near the state park in Virginia Beach. "I think with the camper now, it's going to make us get out even more."
While Dunn has years of tent-camping experience, her husband has spent more time camping in RVs, so she sees the pop-up camper as a sort of "middle ground."
"It was easy to drive, so I'm super happy about it," she said. "I've not been to Fairy Stone State Park yet, and that's the first park I'd like to go to with the camper."
Dunn entered the contest during an Aug. 28 visit to Holliday Lake State Park, in Appomattox County, when she and daughter Cecilia went swimming. The pop-up camper was the grand prize in the state parks contest.
"Coastal RV was proud to participate as a Diamond Sponsor," said owner David Stoup. "Congratulations to the Dunn family! May this new camper begin their journey to creating wonderful camping memories for many years to come. Coastal RV believes that camping should be affordable for everyone and through our partnership with the State Parks we continue to encourage campers to experience Virginia's beautiful award-winning parks."
Connecting children and families to nature and the healthful benefits of outdoor recreation is a big part of the mission of Virginia State Parks, said DCR State Parks Director Joe Elton.
"As we celebrate our 75th anniversary this year, we have enjoyed wonderful partnerships with businesses big and small all across the Commonwealth. This kind of collaboration makes Virginia one of the best destinations in the nation for camping, outdoor recreation and tourism," Elton said. "We're grateful to Coastal RV and excited about the Dunn family winning the pop-up camper grand prize. I know they will be making lasting family memories as they use their camper in the years ahead."
For more information about Virginia State Parks, visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.
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