GoCamp Leveled Up Van Rentals into a Gamified Outdoor Challenge
GoCamp, a peer-to-peer campervan rental marketplace, launched the VanLife Adventure Trail on Seeker XP to turn every rental into an outdoor experience worth sharing. Renters chose from 21 real-world activities, checked in with photos, earned custom badges, and competed on a leaderboard, all while generating a stream of authentic UGC that GoCamp could carry straight into its marketing channels.
Overview
GoCamp’s VanLife Adventure Trail was a branded challenge built directly into the rental experience. After booking, renters joined by scanning a QR code or clicking a link, then chose from 21 outdoor activities: catching a sunset, photographing their van under the stars, hiking trails, campfire nights, and more. Every check-in required a photo, which populated a shared activity feed and drove social sharing. Seven custom badges rewarded category milestones, and a progress tracker kept participants engaged throughout the trip.
At a Glance
- Activation: VanLife Adventure Trail
- Location: Nationwide, USA
- Timeline: 1-month rolling challenge
- Audience: GoCamp renters and the #vanlife community
- Use Cases: Brand Activation
- Experience Type: Check-in Challenge, Photo Challenge, Digital Passport
- Industry: Brands & Marketers
- Key Features: Digital Badges, Photo Check-ins, Leaderboard, UGC
- Platform: Seeker XP
- Results: 243+ participants joined
About GoCamp
GoCamp is a peer-to-peer campervan rental marketplace that connects outdoor enthusiasts with unique van experiences across the United States. Renters browse a curated selection of owner-listed campervans and book the one that fits their trip, whether that’s a weekend escape into the Cascades or a month-long cross-country run. The fleet spans vintage Volkswagen Vanagons, Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, and everything in between, with every van fully outfitted and ready to go.
GoCamp operates in a competitive outdoor travel market where the brands that win aren’t just facilitating bookings. They’re building communities. For the #vanlife crowd, the van is a statement. GoCamp’s challenge was making its platform feel like part of that lifestyle.
The VanLife Adventure Trail on Seeker XP gave GoCamp an engagement layer that extended the brand relationship across the entire rental period. Instead of ending at pick-up, the GoCamp experience ran through every check-in, every badge earned, and every photo shared along the road.
How It Worked
GoCamp embedded the VanLife Adventure Trail directly into the rental journey. After booking, renters received a QR code or link to join the challenge. A Google login or email was all it took to get in, and participants were immediately welcomed with a “You’re in” confirmation and their full trail map.
From there, renters chose from 21 featured activities organized across seven categories. To log each one, they posted a photo. That photo fed a shared activity feed where the whole community could see everyone’s adventures in real time, and it was shareable directly to social media. Each post built the kind of organic, participant-driven visibility that a paid campaign can’t replicate.
Photo activities included:
- Catch a Sunset
- Your Van Near the Campfire
- Take a Photo of Your Van Under the Stars
- Hiking Trails
- Night Life (van gatherings, stargazing)
Each activity category mapped to a custom badge. Complete two hiking trail check-ins and you earn the Trail Trekker badge. Other badges rewarded water adventures, stargazing, scenic viewpoints, family trips, and dedicated camping. A progress tracker showed where each participant stood on the leaderboard. Renters who unlocked 3 badges received a discount code; those who unlocked 6 badges earned $1,000 off their next GoCamp rental.
Activities
Photo Check-Ins
Participants log each activity by posting a photo, building a shared feed and generating real-time UGC with every check-in.
21 Outdoor Activities
From sunsets to hiking trails and campfire nights, renters picked from activities spanning every type of vanlife experience.
Custom Badges
Each activity category earned a badge, rewarding renters who hiked, stargazed, camped, and explored their way through the trail.
Badges
Trail Trekker
Check in at 2 hiking trail activities
Aqua Boondocker
Check in at 2 water activities
Vanlife Viewer
Check in at 2 night sky activities
Adventure Seeker
Check in at 3 adventure activities
Viewpoint Wanderer
Check in at 2 viewpoint activities
Family Fun Finder
Check in at 2 family activities
Camp Connoisseur
Check in at 2 camping activities
Rewards
Go Camp Van Lifers could win 2 generous rewards for participating in the Adventure Trail:
15% Discount
Collect 3 badges and receive a 15% discount towards your next GoCamp adventure.
Win a $1,000 GoCamp Gift Card
Earn all the badges to be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $1,000 GoCamp gift card.