Leisure Systems Kicks Off Camping Season with Conference

Two-day CARE program offers franchisees ideas, best practices and team-building

March 18, 2008 – Over 75 recreation directors, campground owners and managers from 43 Jellystone Parks gathered in Cincinnati recently to get tips on creating a fantastic camping experience for families. The annual Campground Association for Recreation Education (CARE) conference is Leisure System, Inc.’s (LSI) signature event in the days leading up to the start of camping season.

“Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Parks take pride in catering to families and truly being vacation destinations and not just stopovers or places to sleep at the end of the day,” said Kelly Jones, Director of Franchisee Development at LSI. “The CARE program makes sure we stay at the top of our game by educating and motivating staff and ensuring guests are entertained with our Yogi Bear brand of fun.”

CARE is organized by Jones and a seven-member committee, nominated and elected by Jellystone Park owners and staff. Topics presented at the conference touch on all aspects of the camping business, including: hiring staff and performance reviews, developing a recreation schedule, learning to effectively use the character costumes (including Yogi Bear, Boo Boo, Cindy Bear and Ranger Smith), and preparing the park for guest activities such as a scavenger hunt.

New to the Jellystone Park family of campgrounds, Tracy Tomasello is excited to implement the activity ideas and team-building exercises at her new Jellystone Park in Pine Grove, California. “The CARE conference was a great way to learn from seasoned professionals while interacting with other campground owners and recreation directors,” Tomasello said. “We’re excited to be part of such a successful franchise, and we think CARE is a big reason for that success.”

CARE began in 2001 as a way for campground personnel to meet, share ideas and best practices and make certain each campground maintains the standards held high by the Jellystone Park network. LSI covers the lodging and conference costs for two people from each Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park. This year’s conference was held March 13 and 14 at The Great Wolf Lodge outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Although CARE is typically held at a Jellystone Park, Great Wolf was chosen as the location this year because of its conference facilities and similarity to Jellystone Parks’ business in terms of consumer demographics, i.e. young families.

About Jellystone Parks™

Launched in 1969 by D.M. Haag, the Jellystone Park system is now the second largest chain of campgrounds in the United States, boasting more than 70 campgrounds and 15,000 campsites in 27 states and Canada. Its Camp-Resorts are among the best campgrounds in the industry with a quality reputation for being fun, friendly, clean and service-oriented parks that on average have a higher revenue per site night and a longer average stay than that experienced by other campgrounds – independent or franchised. Additionally, each Jellystone Park is themed with Yogi Bear elements providing instant recognition and consumer appeal. It is truly a place “Where You Camp With Friends.”®

Yogi Bear Jellystone Parks are franchised through Leisure Systems, Inc. (LSI), a wholly owned subsidiary of The Park River Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio. For more information about Jellystone Parks, visit www.campjellystone.com