Myrtle Beach, S.C. (PRWEB) November 23, 2011
Myrtle Beachs Ocean Lakes Family Campground (http://www.oceanlakes.com), a division of The Jackson Companies, has kicked off its Christmas Challenge. This competition, which runs through Saturday, Nov. 26, has a three-fold focus on recycling, charity and saving money in todays economy. The Christmas Challenge will enable the campground to raise and donate proceeds to Substitutes for Santa, a local charity that provides a Christmas experience to between 50 and 85 underprivileged children from the Loris and Myrtle Beach communities.
The challenge asks the campgrounds teammates to decorate a tree or wreath as best they can without purchasing any decorations and only using items they find in their own offices. The Ocean Lakes Family Campground judges will cast ballots during the week for winners in three categories: Most Festive, Wow! and Most Creative Use of Departmental Supplies. Ocean Lakes guests and teammates will vote for the Peoples Choice. Winners will be announced at The Jackson Companies Teammates Awards Breakfast and on the Ocean Lakes Facebook page on Dec. 12.
Christmas Challenge entries will be sold through a silent auction during Thanksgiving week while the campground is nearly full with more than 20,000 guests. All proceeds from the event will be donated to Substitutes for Santa.
In light of the countrys tough economic times, Ocean Lakes Marketing department came up with the Christmas Challenge idea a few years ago as a fun way to save money and help the staff get in the holiday spirit.
We came up with this challenge in 2008 and the teammates loved it; so in hindsight, we thought we should have auctioned them off for charity, said Barb Krumm, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Ocean Lakes Family Campground. We brought the Christmas Challenge back in 2011, and the teammate response has been overwhelming. They are already plotting next years challenge. This time we planned enough in advance to include our guests votes and an auction for charity.
In the past, theres been no limit to the teammates creativity. The Ocean Lakes Storage and Transport Department previously made a wreath out of a blown camper tire, decorated with flashing tail lights, mangled camper parts and reflectors. Security staff at the 310-acre campground created a wreath with old uniform shirts, handcuffs, reports, confiscated items and a flashing blue light.
The 2011 challenge continues to showcase the teammates creativity with departmental supplies including old fluorescent bulbs, orange caution cones, unused toilet plungers, iCare Program dog biscuits and mutt mitts, tools, toilet paper, and garden hose. This year, Security teammates formed the wreath itself out of caution tape. The Accounting Department crafted beautiful angels with halos out of coin wrappers and garland from dollar bill wrappers.
In all, there are 14 departments participating in the 2011 Christmas Challenge. Teammates are hoping to raise $ 1,000 for Substitutes for Santa, giving 10 underprivileged children a Christmas shopping spree with volunteer Santas.
For more information about Ocean Lakes, visit its website, follow the campground on Twitter or like it on Facebook.
About Ocean Lakes Family Campground
Ocean Lakes Family Campground, a division of The Jackson Companies, is the largest campground on the East Coast and one of the largest in the United States. Located in Myrtle Beach, S.C., it has received numerous awards for excellence. In 2010, it received the Earth Day Award from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control for its iCare Program. It is the 2008-2009 National RV Park of the Year and has received that honor from the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) four times. In 2006, Ocean Lakes received the prestigious South Carolina Governors Cup for making a significant economic impact on South Carolina. Ocean Lakes covers 310 oceanfront acres with nearly one mile of beachfront. It offers 3,447 sites 893 of which are large and pull-through to accommodate larger RVs. It was built by Mary Emily and Nelson Jackson and their five daughters, starting in 1970. It opened with 30 campsites and one bathhouse in 1971. On an average seasonal day, Ocean Lakes has 25,000 - 30,000 guests enjoying the countless amenities that have made it a local favorite and a national vacation destination. It currently holds a 9.5/9/9.5 ranking out of 10/10/10 from the Trailer Life Directory for its overall operation, recreational offerings, services and appearance.
Ocean Lakes Family Campground is a division of The Jackson Companies, a family-owned enterprise that includes Prestwick Golf & Country Club, Ocean Lakes Properties, Crystal Lake Mobile Home Village, Ocean Lakes RV Center, and the master-planned development SayeBrook.
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