Coachmen Galleria Earns Green Certification
Coachmen Galleria motorhomes have earned the Certified Green designation by TRA Certification, an organization that specializes in green building and energy efficiency programs for the RV industry and others. Four levels of certification are possible; Galleria, a Type B motorhome, reached the second-highest level, gold. Galleria earned points for resource efficiency, including recycling more than 50 percent of manufacturing waste; energy efficiency, such as use of LED lighting and factory-installed solar panels; water efficiency, including use of low-flow fixtures; and indoor air quality, which includes use of materials with low volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
For more information regarding the Coachmen Galleria, visit www.coachmenrv.com/Galleria. For information about other Certified Green RVs, visit www.certifiedgreenrvs.com.
Kids Activity Book Celebrates Parks’ Centennial
In honor of the National Park Service, award-winning author K.S. Brooks has created an activity book for children, Mr. Pish’s National Park Centennial Celebration: A Mr. Pish All Ages Activity Book. Mr. Pish, a Jack Russell terrier, visited 41 U.S. states and seven provinces in Canada before his death in 2013 at age 16. His advocacy for outdoor learning and literacy earned him a spot in Fido Friendly Magazine’s list of the top 50 dogs in the world in 2011. The book is available at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com for $6.99. To see other Mr. Pish books, visit www.mrpish.com.
Winnebago Launches Paseo Type B Motorhome
Winnebago Industries Inc. in September introduced the Paseo, a Type B motorhome built on the Ford Transit van chassis. The Paseo is powered by a 3.5-liter Ecoboost V-6 gasoline engine with a sixx-speed automatic overdrive transmission.
One floor plan is available, the 48P. Features include a rear dinette that can be used as both a dining and a lounging area, as well as a cross-coach sleeping space. One side of the dinette is extra long, so it can be used as a single bed without moving cushions or the table. The area also contains belted seating positions for four people.
Features of the forward bath include a curved sliding bath door track, a lower-threshold shower pan, and a fold-down sink above the toilet. The bath’s full flat floor allows for the possibility of switching to a composting toilet.
A Winnebago news release said off-the-grid camping is a viable option thanks to sizable holding tanks, a compressor-driven refrigerator, an available 100-watt solar charging system, two standard Group 31 AGM house batteries, and a 2.8-kw Onan generator. To allow for extended-season use, the fresh-water tank is mounted inside the heated area of the coach along with all of the supply lines.
Other Paseo features: a passenger cab seat that swivels, allowing access to a pull-up table; an armless, electric-powered patio awning that automatically retracts if conditions get too windy; exterior speakers below the awning; an available bike rack that attaches to the passenger-side rear door; an available ladder that attaches to the driver-side rear door, but can be moved elsewhere to access the roof; a roof rack design that allows for repositioning of crossbars; and rear and side screen doors.
For more information, call (641) 585-3535 or visit www.winnebagoind.com.
German RV Show Sets Attendance Record
Caravan Salon Dusseldorf 2016, billed as the world’s largest trade fair for motorhomes and other RVs, attracted 203,500 visitors to its German venue from August 27 to September 4. The attendance figure was the best in the event’s 55-year history. Some 590 exhibitors were on hand, and 2,100 vehicles were displayed. Strong sales were reported.
The 2017 event is scheduled for August 25 to September 3. For information, visit www.caravan-salon.com.
Naturalization Ceremonies Held In U.S. National Parks
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) celebrated the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service (NPS) on August 25, 2016, by welcoming 450 new U.S. citizens during 16 naturalization ceremonies at national parks across the United States. The ceremonies were a large step toward the USCIS goal of holding at least 100 naturalization ceremonies in national parks throughout this centennial year.
Since 2006, when the park service partnered with USCIS on promoting awareness and understanding of citizenship, the park service has hosted naturalization ceremonies for thousands of new Americans at sites across the country, including on the rim of the Grand Canyon, on the Civil War battlefield at Vicksburg National Military Park, at the base of Mount Rushmore, on Ellis Island, and at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.