Unwind and Reconnect
Find peace and tranquility at Cha-Wi-Ma - a perfect place to disconnect and recharge.
Cha-Wi-Ma
Seasonal Family Campground
Cha-Wi-Ma Co-op is a private, non-profit, membership owned campground. We have a members-only President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and a Board of Directors responsible for effectively running the campground. Each member has a vote on how the campground is run. Our well-maintained, heavily wooded property is located in Chaplin CT with direct access to the Natchaug River and borders the Natchaug Forest on one side and route 198 on the other. We offer an alternative to typical seasonal camping. After a buy-in fee, and you become a member, the annual cost to run the campground is divided by its 41 members resulting in very low seasonal camping fees. In order to keep our very low seasonal rates, almost all work is done in-house, and each member is expected to pitch in. This member participation promotes socializing, and, in the spirit of a true Co-op, we work together for the betterment of our sites and our campground.
Activities
We have a large open field for games with a large fire pit for bonfires. A large playground for the kids, a basketball court, a horseshoe pit, a bocce ball court, even a shuffleboard pad. We have a large, heated lodge with a full commercial kitchen available to all members for special events, potluck dinners, celebrations, meetings and indoor games as well as bingo. And we even offer ice for sale.
We have lots of access to the Natchaug river for tubing, relaxing and cooling off on hot summer days, terrific fishing as the river is stocked on site and we can enjoy the tranquility of a river and our wildlife neighbors. In recent years we have a band come in and play music everyone can enjoy.
History of Cha-Wi-Ma
In 1963 a local group of families, who shared the love of camping, joined together, organized themselves and became members of the New England Family Camper Association (NEFCA) Chapter 45. The group originally leased a piece of land and labored it into a modest yet functional campground only to lose it when the landlord sold the property to a new owner. Undeterred by this setback, the group decided to purchase a piece of property that no one could ever take away. On 11/15/1970 a decision was made by the group to have each member make a $10 monthly contribution for a down payment on a piece property when found. On this date the first officers and board members were chosen. In 1971 Co-op member Burt Sweet discovered a suitable piece of land, however the original Co-op members voted down that land as they were mistakenly led to believe it was only 6 acres when in fact it was later discovered to be 12.1 acres. At that time the membership voted to buy the land and start building a campground. Now that the land is secured a question arose about what to call their campground. In 1971 Marge Bolduc suggested Cha-Wi-Ma which represents the three local towns where most members lived
Chaplin, Willimantic, Mansfield.
Present Day
Since its inception, throughout the years and to this very day, Co-op members have used thier skills, talents and hard work for one common goal, the betterment of our campground. This was a heavily wooded, raw piece of land and the original members had a huge task ahead of them. They had to clear the land of brush and trees, create and build the roads. They developed and recorded our large sites. They dug ditches to run the electrical power and water tubing underground and to each site. They dug a well first, then had a well drilled providing fresh water to the sites. A central bathhouse with showers was built and the large lodge was built. After all of this work and more, one thing is for sure. By comparison today's campers at Cha-Wi-Ma, have it far easier than our pioneers did developing the campground we enjoy today. We encourage you to find out more about Cha-Wi-Ma and visit us, talk to any member and find out why Cha-Wi-Ma is a better way to camp.