Any good Camp Host stories?

We start the volunteer route next year and we can't wait. We were fortunate to have been accepted at the Flaming Gorge, Red Canyon center. Not a clue what the job entails but it is some real pretty country. Like I said, can't wait.

DKeppner wrote:
Not a clue what the job entails

THAT was the 1st mistake you've made. There will be many others! ;)

Have any of you gotten to a place to host that was so infested with mosquitoes you left?
I stopped at a FS CG in SE Idaho this summer and I honestly couldn't figure out
how the hosts could put up with the skeeters. They are bad in the summer where I live so if I stumble into a place that is skeeter heaven I tend to leave the next day. It's not something I enjoy on vacation. It rarely happens but when it did it was miserable.

I'm not a work camper, but I do have a story. We were setting up at a KOA off the interstate near Milton, FL when the place was swarmed with police cars. I asked the manager what was going on and he said that a woman had left her purse on her dining room table and left her door open and someone had walked into her RV and took the purse. She was in in the RV at the time, too. Crazy world.

DKeppner wrote:
We start the volunteer route next year and we can't wait. We were fortunate to have been accepted at the Flaming Gorge, Red Canyon center. Not a clue what the job entails but it is some real pretty country. Like I said, can't wait.

If at a visitor center you will get to use your people skills. I'm sure you will get an orientation that will get you going in the right direction. A week or two and you'll be an old pro. Enjoy!

Dkeppner - Have been in the Visitor Center many times at Flaming Gorge, it is one of the most wonderful views you will ever see. You will never tire of it, especially in the overlook section which feels like it overhangs the canyon just a bit. If either of you like to fish there is some fine fishing below the dam and also in some of the small streams in the area, sorry but I can't give you my secret spots though!

caver wrote:
Have any of you gotten to a place to host that was so infested with mosquitoes you left?
I stopped at a FS CG in SE Idaho this summer and I honestly couldn't figure out
how the hosts could put up with the skeeters. They are bad in the summer where I live so if I stumble into a place that is skeeter heaven I tend to leave the next day. It's not something I enjoy on vacation. It rarely happens but when it did it was miserable.

I agree 110% about the skitters.... but not as a host I stayed a nice looking little place in south Florida by the St Johns River. Got all set up and went to eat. Came back opened the camper door and 10,000,000,000,000,000, skitters came in before I could close the door. The funny part they were what the locals called blind skitters, they don't bite, just bug the HECK out of you. Took me hours to kill all of them. Packed up the next morning and did not even ask for a refund just left.

Islandman wrote:
Dkeppner - Have been in the Visitor Center many times at Flaming Gorge, it is one of the most wonderful views you will ever see. You will never tire of it, especially in the overlook section which feels like it overhangs the canyon just a bit. If either of you like to fish there is some fine fishing below the dam and also in some of the small streams in the area, sorry but I can't give you my secret spots though!

Thanks Islandman! Both of us are from southeast Idaho, just never made it down to there. Seriously can't wait to get there even without the secret spots (you take bribes?).

As for the working conditions - spent 20 years in the Coast Guard with nearly 5 years at sea and the in-laws own a dairy farm so just about anything is really gravy in comparison.

I was not involved but wish I had been quick witted enough to have thought of it. Group of friends go camping in a SP in N Georgia. All have arrived except the tail end Charlie. Before he arrives, two of the other guys get together and put a piece of galvanized pipe with a spigot on the end in the middle of his site. He gets there and stops, fuming and swearing about how some stupid park person had put a water faucet in the middle of a campsite. One of the buddies feigning outrage said he would not stand for that an jumped into his truck and threw a chain around the 'faucet'. The poor victim is yelling "NO, NO" as the buddy drags the 'faucet' out of the ground. Most of the people around them were laughing so hard it took the poor guy a few minutes to figure out he had been had.

In a state park around the 4th of July, 1 camper reported seeing a flare on the river. Most likely it was a roman candle firework. That brought out the divers and other rescue personnel. Nothing was ever found but it sure brought out a lot of people late at night.

I had an interesting interaction in a National Forest back in 2013. Camper A claimed that Camper B had 'stolen' 1 of their leveling blocks. A claimed that they had put the block of wood under the hitch to level their trailer.

B claimed that the block was left on the edge between the 2 adjoining campsites.

We've all seen things like bricks and wood blocks left in campsites. A was adamant that they had the block under the trailer. B offered to give it back but didn't want to be seen as a thief.

I think A may have been mistaken seeing how it's a pretty bold move to go in and take 1 block of wood while it's being used.

That same summer I had a couple with a rescue dog in their campsite. They crated the dog when they left to go on their boat. The wife told me the dog would calm down once their truck left since the engine was what had the dog all spun up and yapping. After they pulled away the dog cried all afternoon until they got back later in the evening.

There are always going to be people that make hosting a challenge. Thankfully there are lots of enjoyable people out there that make it worth it.