WTF IS VLC?
WE’RE MORE THAN JUST CAMPGROUNDS
At VLC our goal is to never have someone burn out of vanlife again! We’re obsessed with this concept of a “Van Lifetime”, the steps that someone goes through on their vanlife journey. We’re building on those steps in a way that allow nomads to progress their life without having to give up the freedom that got us all into this lifestyle in the first place.
The stages of a van lifetime (and how to utilize VLC within them)…
New To Vanlife
When you’re new to vanlife you want to move around and see as much as you can. VLC offerings for new vanlifers.
1. Camphost Program - For free stays while traveling
2. Campground Network - Weekend stops to recharge and meet new friends
3. Events & Meetups - Plan a cool event as a stop in your travel route
Seasoned Nomad
Usually takes about a year but a seasoned nomad realizes they don’t have to move around as much.
1. Camphost Program - Ready to slow down and spend a month going deeper
2. Campground Network - Booking weekly/monthly stays to regain some “normalcy” and make deeper connections
3. Events & Meetups - Events as an excuse to have a reunion with your VLC squad from a previous stay
Slow-mad
The stage when most folks burn out of vanlife. When you yearn for a more stable home-base and community.
1. Investor Program - Buy 3 mini-plots at VLC’s around the country to use as a seasonal home bases
2. Campground Network - Use the campground network as stopovers on trips and moving between your mini-plots or to see what’s going on with other location mini-plot owners.
Homesteader
This is the stage when you’re ready to stop moving to really build something of your own.
1. Land Freedom Accelerator - Work with VLC’s founder to find funding and create a community and income on your own piece of land
2. Partner Program - Once your land / homestead / campground is setup you can partner with VLC to host nomads at earlier stages of their van lifetime on your land
OUR TEAM
Our team consists of some of the raddest nomads this community has to offer. We all work on this project in our spare time because we love the work and believe in the vision. This project is boot strapped from the ground up in the truest sense and we’re all learning as we go!
Aidan Paringer
After over a decade of nomad’ing in different forms Aidan created VLC simply as a way to solve the problems he faced from life on the road. Easier access to amenities, community and dignity were the main draws.
In what he calls “his past life” Aidan worked with early stage startups but VLC is Aidan’s first attempt at starting something from scratch, he often says this is the first time in his life he feels like he’s doing what he’s meant to be doing in the world (claps for that!). His favorite part about VLC has been watching the connections build between people at (and especially continue outside of) VLC locations and being able to curse as much as he wants now.
Jamie Chappell
Jamie showed up in Joshua Tree with nothing but a Honda Fit. Having become obsessed with the Van Life culture and lifestyle (and taking downsizing to a whole other level), Jamie has been semi-nomadic for the past 2 years.
Knowing how difficult it can be to find community on the road Jamie has been traveling up and down the west coast searching out spaces for future Van Life Campgrounds. Exploring some of the most beautiful places, meeting the best people, and helping more people find home on the road.
Michaela Fujita
Michaela is a one of kind wonder hailing from Sisters, OR. She brings the personality of a WWE wrestler with the branding and creative direction expertise of a Gucci executive. Michaela has come onto the team to help us with creative direction, content creation and events!
Carly Slovenec
Carly is a veteran nomad and currently holds the camphost of the year award with her partner Keith and their two van kitties. Carly loves rock climbing, board games and stepping up to the plate when no one wants to shotgun a white claw with Aidan. Carly has come on board to help out with customer service and if you’ve ever updated your reservation you’ve likely chatted with her already!
Caleb Harris
Caleb is a born Alaskan, entrepreneur and lifelong nomad. From spending years abroad to backpacking to living in vans he embodies everything that VLC is about. Caleb is a content fanatic running a tiktok for his adventure cat Kodiak and his card game Cambio Unlimited. Caleb has come on board with VLC to get our content in order and help us build up a rad team of content creators!