Born Free Leap'n Lions RV Club Rendezvous Recap
May 19 - 22, 2024
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Dates: | May 19 - 22, 2024 |
| Location: | Crystal Fountain Park 445 E Vine St Sherwood, OH 43556 |
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| Hosts: | Levi and Kelsey Kuhn Luke and Samantha Kuhn |
We want to start off this Rendezvous Recap by giving our sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who helped with and attended the first ever Born Free Leap'n Lions Club Rendezvous at Crystal Fountain Park!
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Sunday, May 19
The Rendezvous began with a warm and sunny welcome at Crystal Fountain Park in small town Sherwood, Ohio. Twenty-one Born Frees, carrying thirty-five attendees from thirteen states, rolled in and our attendees settled in, eager for the fun to begin. The opening Meet and Greet was a delightful gathering, complete with heavy appetizers that had everyone chatting and laughing, along with first-time rally Rendezvous attendees.
At 5:00 pm, we officially kicked off with a welcome, introductions, and a fascinating talk on the history of the Sherwood, Ohio area, Crystal Fountain Park, and the history of the Kuhn family business since 1976 presented by one of our hosts, Luke. The evening wrapped up perfectly with a cozy campfire, where stories were shared, and new friendships were forged under the stars.
Monday, May 20
Optional, pre-scheduled motorcoach service performed by the Kuhn RV team started bright and early today and ran throughout the rendezvous.
To begin the day, attendees embarked on tours of Sherwood and the Kuhn facilities, providing a glimpse into the local charm, history, and depth of offerings Kuhn Truck and RV and Kuhn Brothers Service Center have for current and future Born Free owners. The tours were so much fun and so well-received that we ran a bit over on scheduling!
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After the tours concluded, a Q&A session was held with the Kuhn Brothers, Luke and Levi, and Craig "Bert" Bowers, along with many other Leap'n Lions who had great input. A great discussion was had about all things Born Free-related. Bert manages Kuhn Brothers Service Center, which is the NAPA Auto Care side of the Kuhn Brothers' organization in Sherwood, and is their go-to man for all things chassis-related on their RVs. Bert's experience, along with boundless charm and wit, was present in full force, and we were deeply reminded of why we're so thankful to have people like him (and others) on our team here in Sherwood.
After a potluck dinner, folks enjoyed watching Mama Mia! together inside the air-conditioned Wentworth Auditorium at Crystal Fountain Park.
Tuesday, May 21
A scrumptious breakfast of omelets and sausages expertly cooked by Mr. Bert Bowers kicked off the day. What a great eggs-perience the Rendezvous had been so far, and there was still more to come!
Another Q&A panel with input from the Kuhn Brothers, Bert, and experienced Born Free Leap'n Lions owners was informative and engaging. The charity auction was held and went very well, with special thanks to Mr. Bert Bowers again for his boundless charm and wit - he had everyone laughing and bidding, including me, Luke, his co-auctioneer! The money from the auction was donated to Central Shares, a Sherwood-area organization that delivers necessities and more to deserving families in Sherwood who need it most. The charity's representative was very thankful for the generous donation of $1,200 and was so amazed at how something like this was happening in our small town of Sherwood with attendees coming from around the country for a multi-day event.
A lunch of hamburgers and hotdogs was enjoyed, followed by free time where many attendees took off on e-bikes to explore Sherwood and Crystal Fountain Park's 28 acres. We had to laugh as people around town talked about "the biker gang" (they meant it kindly 😂) for the next few weeks!
After free time, a Motorcoach Open House was held, where attendees had the option to sign-up beforehand to open their Born Free for a tour. It was great fun and an informative time to see other floorplan options that Born Free has, and to see how others utilize different features and aspects of their particular coach.
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Attendees then had the pleasure of enjoying Bingo hosted by a familiar character around Kuhn RV, Mary Brown. Mary does pickups and deliveries of RVs for the Kuhn family all around the country, and keeps track of everywhere she goes and everyone she meets doing so! She has a true spirit of adventure and is the person we call when we find a Born Free on the other side of America!
We enjoyed pizza together for our final dinner and received updates on upcoming rallies and Born Free Leap'n Lion happenings.
Wednesday, May 22
After a final breakfast together, attendees said their parting words and goodbyes and loaded up to head for home or parts unknown. Some guests had so much fun, they stayed another night for "Rendezvous Part 2"!
As we reflect on the success of this first-ever Born Free Leap'n Lions Club Rendezvous, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible memories made, laughter shared, and friendships formed. From the warm welcome on Sunday to the lingering farewells on Wednesday (and Thursday), each moment brought us closer as a community and reminded us of the unique spirit of the Born Free family.
A heartfelt thank you to every attendee and organizer who made this event possible, especially Nick and Dee Dee McClain. We couldn't have done it without each one of you, and everyone was so willing to jump in to help when needed.
Here's to more adventures, stories by the campfire, and the unwavering joy of being part of something truly special. Until we meet again, safe travels, and remember: the road ahead is best traveled together!
As you go along on your travels, remember "The Born Free Prayer":
Heavenly Father, as we roam, guide us in our motorhome.
On open roads where we are free, let our spirits joyful be.
Bless this journey, near and far, underneath Your watchful star.
Keep us safe, our path foresee, in this life where we're Born Free!
See you at the next Rendezvous on May 17-20, 2026 at Crystal Fountain Park in small-town Sherwood, Ohio.
Submitted by Levi and Luke Kuhn
Here's a link to a video created by Kuhn RV.