Campground Ownership in Massachusetts

Camping in the Commonwealth runs deep, in fact, 60 years of land preservation and recreation.  The Massachusetts Association of Campground Owners is a 501c6 comprised of 55 privately owned campgrounds from the Berkshires to Provincetown.  MACO is an outdoor hospitality industry association dedicated to educating, promoting, and supporting its members and their guests.  We are a respected, collaborative voice in the Northeast, promoting the outdoor hospitality industry in Massachusetts.

The value of camping in today’s society has a become instrumental toward the well-being of individuals perhaps even more given the pace of life today and the addition of electronic devices that consume so much time.  The experience and opportunity you provide to explore the outdoors is therapeutic in many ways. The peace and serenity, personal connections, and disconnect from devices allowing families to reconnect, help to make lasting memories.

Membership in MACO, NCA and ARVC

As park owners and operators, we consistently strive to evolve and improve park amenities. This can be challenging with ever changing demographics of campers, but as a member of the Massachusetts Association of Campground Owners (MACO) you have so many resources at your fingertips!

Being a member of MACO also brings membership with the Northeast Campground Association (NCA) www.campnca.org and www.campnca.com with states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maryland collaborating within our region.  NCA offers member benefits such as a spring annual conference with education, network, and trade show and a Great Escape in the fall.

The National Association of Campground Owners (ARVC) is our parent association based out of Denver www.arvc.org.  ARVC has a strong legislative presence and a brotherhood with RVIA and RVDA.  The Outdoor Hospitality Education Program by ARVC provides in-person and online education to help you grow and succeed in the camping and RV industry.  Take a class such as Time Management, Business Planning, or Guest Experiences and see how beneficial these are to your continued growth and success as a business owner or operator.  They also have a robust educational program and national deals with music licensing, propane discounts, Ford, John Deere, and many more.

Legislative Watch

MACO testified at the State House on behalf of H849/S449 “An Act to Preserve and Protect Camping in Massachusetts”.  This would require the Department of Environmental Protection to meet with representatives of MACO to revise 310 CMR 15.00 related to septic systems and discharge.  On a Federal level, ARVC monitors State Net and will keep MACO abreast of anything related to our industry.  ARVC Public Affairs Dept. reviewed 162 pieces of legislation in MA and sent out 9 of these to MACO in 2019.  There have been 7 regulations that were on our radar as well as 2 hearing notices.

Empower yourself and your employees with information about the NFPA 1194 Standards for Campgrounds. The NFPA 1194 includes direction on electrical, facilities, fire safety, water and sanitation standards and risk management as they relate to campgrounds. Knowing this information will be useful in obtaining approval in your county or town for park upgrades.

Priceless Member Benefits

One of the most beneficial aspects about belonging to MACO is the opportunity to meet and make lifelong friends that have similar experiences and goals. Who else can you talk septic with? Survive a pandemic with? Who can you call when a tornado devastates your park and you desperately need help to rebuild? Our industry is so unique in that we love to engage, educate, and empower each other to continue to grow and support one another as we all share the same passion for the outdoor hospitality industry.

CampMass is our consumer brand.  We print 60,000 guides and they are sent out to individuals through requests, as well as RV dealers, Info Centers, RV & Camping shows, and campgrounds across the country.  We also have a strong online presence with www.campmass.com . Year over year, we have had over 240,000 impressions and over 2300 full guide downloads.  Our banner ads result in over 8500 individual park clicks.

MACO Leadership

We have a strong Board of Directors who help promote camping in Massachusetts and volunteer their time for our association. Should you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, the board is available for you.

Chairman, Brian Saunders, Pinewood Lodge Campground
1st Vice Chair, Barry Johnson, Bourne Scenic Park
2nd Vice Chair, Pete Daley, Circle CG Farm
Secretary, Anna Guess-Kuzia, Coastal Acres Campground
Treasurer, Roger Gingras, Sutton Falls Camping Area
Past Chairman, Jane Doonan, Sandy Pond Campground

Directors:
Denise Dias, Cape Cod RV Resort
Donna Gingras, Sutton Falls Camping Area
Jaclyn Packard DeAcetis, Pine Acres RV Resort
Patricia Hubbard, Mt. Greylock Campsite Park
Dan Weaver, Bonnie Brae Campground

If your campground is interested in learning more about MACO. Call Cyndy Zbierski, MACO President at (860) 684-6389 or email at cynthia@campmass.com.