We camp host MD state parks and thought we would like trying it in FL during winter. I understand that everyone wants to go to Florida in the winter and we may never get called. I signed up on line but couldn't find any information of the host duties or length of stay. I would appreciate any feedback. Thank You

You might have better luck in the Florida Panhandle. Have you tried contacting the park manager directly? There are also positions in State and National Forests. lizzie

Too Tall wrote:We camp host MD state parks and thought we would like trying it in FL during winter. I understand that everyone wants to go to Florida in the winter and we may never get called. I signed up on line but couldn't find any information of the host duties or length of stay. I would appreciate any feedback. Thank YouPlease understand that there are two basic "forms" of volunteer in Florida State Parks. Campground host, and regular volunteer. Regular volunteers work 40 hours for a free campsite. Campground hosts work 20 hours per week for a free campsite.Regular volunteers can be assigned any general duty in the park, especially if you have special skills.The campground host position is basically janitorial in nature. Cleaning and maintaining bathrooms, and cleaning of fire pits and camp sites. You will probably be asked to advise campers of any rules being broken, such as rope tied to trees. You do not need to be security, or confrontational, and may call a ranger at any time that you feel uncomfortable.Commitment time may vary from one to four months, depending on the needs of the individual park.Be patient, your application went to all parks that have openings, and it may be months before you are contacted. Most parks firm up their winter schedules in April for the upcoming winter season, but you still may get a call if someone cancels. I suggest you accept the first job offered, and do a good job to get your foot in the door, to have references for future jobs.The above information is based upon 5 years of campground hosting in Florida, but I have not been to all parks, and there may be some variation from park to park. PM me if you have any other questions. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Dog Folks wrote:Too Tall wrote:We camp host MD state parks and thought we would like trying it in FL during winter. I understand that everyone wants to go to Florida in the winter and we may never get called. I signed up on line but couldn't find any information of the host duties or length of stay. I would appreciate any feedback. Thank YouPlease understand that there are two basic "forms" of volunteer in Florida State Parks. Campground host, and regular volunteer. Regular volunteers work 40 hours for a free campsite. Campground hosts work 20 hours per week for a free campsite.Regular volunteers can be assigned any general duty in the park, especially if you have special skills.The campground host position is basically janitorial in nature. Cleaning and maintaining bathrooms, and cleaning of fire pits and camp sites. You will probably be asked to advise campers of any rules being broken, such as rope tied to trees. You do not need to be security, or confrontational, and may call a ranger at any time that you feel uncomfortable.Commitment time may vary from one to four months, depending on the needs of the individual park.Be patient, your application went to all parks that have openings, and it may be months before you are contacted. Most parks firm up their winter schedules in April for the upcoming winter season, but you still may get a call if someone cancels. I suggest you accept the first job offered, and do a good job to get your foot in the door, to have references for future jobs.The above information is based upon 5 years of campground hosting in Florida, but I have not been to all parks, and there may be some variation from park to park. PM me if you have any other questions. Hope this helps. Good luck.Very illuminating, especially as compares to some other States. Question about above highlighted portion: I see you give twenty hour requirements as weekly for Hosts...are the forty hours required for regular volunteers per week, too? And- if you know- why the difference between the rates? Seems like the pay's the same regardless (free campsite)-?Thanks!

Fk:Yes, the pay is the same regardless. I mention it so that people that are offered a "position" make sure which type of position is being offered. We made the mistake once on thinking it would be 20 hours a week, and it turned out to be 40 hours a week. Regular volunteers work 40 hours for a free campsite. Yes, a total of 40 hours a week of work for a free campsite. A couple living in the same RV on the free site, can split the total for example: Each person in a couple can work 20 hours.Campground hosts work 20 hours per week for a free campsite. Campground hosts work 20 hours or 1/2 the hours of a non-host volunteers. Why? I haven't the faintest idea. I did not make the policy, just experienced it. Maybe to make up for the times a host has to go out in the middle of the night for some type of disturbance?I do know that the demand for these positions is so great that the volunteer coordinators have all the power. If you don't want to clean bathrooms, no problem, they will go to the next person on the very long list who will. A coordinator once told me she had over 300 applications for the 8 openings she had. Lots of people have the same idea:"Let's go to Florida for the winter and volunteer to get a free campsite." That is why we volunteer out of state in the summer, and return to Florida in the winter and just hang around, enjoying the weather. Hope this helps. Feel fee to PM me if you want any other info.

Thanks for the info. Lots of competition for volunteer spots and forty hours a week if you get one, eh? I guess that wouldn't leave much time to take the Grandkids to beaches/theme parks etc, which was part of my Nefarious Plan. Unless....say, if I can "divide" that forty in half between me and Hubby, why not in sixths and make the Grands earn their keep, too? The whole fandamily turns to for seven hours one day a week...that's 42 man-hours, and we'll throw in the extra 2 hours. The rest of the week...let the fun be had! Now all I have to do is figure out a way to convince Florida it's in her best interests... ;)

Camp host FL state parks | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

retispcsi
Explorer
Jun 16, 2014
Hi, I am a Fla. resident and if God keeps smiling on us we will be full timing in about 4 woks. We are not planning on work camping but we do use the state parks in Fla. First the parks are all well maintained and of course some are more desirable then others. In our non. Snow bird season also known as summer it can get warm. The DW and I just spent a week in the Keys first week in June and it was very warm. About 200 miles north where we live it was warm with a lot of rain. Fla. is a large state and the climate is varied from north to south. In the winter there may be as much as a 40 degree difference at times. If you stay here in the summer try to get a site that is shaded or hope you have good ac in your rig. The sun is very hot down here when it shines and it shines a lot. Parks closer to the coasts tend to have more of a breeze and that is a big help. Fla. parks generally start clearing out the week before Easter and depending on the weather up north start filling up in Oct. and are the fullest Jan-Mar. If you are south of Tampa you will get more of the tropics climate and it will increase the further south you go. If you don't mind heat, humidity and rain the summer is a great time in Fla. Seriously the crowds are gone, prices are down and the state if really lovely. If you are into water sports that is just that much better.
bigwheelsturnin
Explorer
Jun 14, 2014
raywen wrote:
Hey Bigwheel we will be at Suwannee also- doing cabins. See ya there. :)
We first did a general application for the northeast area and within two weeks received a offer at Manatee Springs, as this park did not offer full hookups we declined- then sent a direct application to volunteer coord. at Suwanee and followed up with (a few) calls and received a cabin cleaning position. Sometimes persistence pays off.
gd luck

oh...we luvin this...to be coming across someone that's gonna be there too...hubbys signed for maintenance...me ...cabins...he's 62..im 60...we've never done this before.
have you volunteered at this park previously?
feel free to pm us... ;-)
raywen
Explorer
Jun 14, 2014
Hey Bigwheel we will be at Suwannee also- doing cabins. See ya there. :)
We first did a general application for the northeast area and within two weeks received a offer at Manatee Springs, as this park did not offer full hookups we declined- then sent a direct application to volunteer coord. at Suwanee and followed up with (a few) calls and received a cabin cleaning position. Sometimes persistence pays off.
gd luck
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Jun 13, 2014
Francesca Knowles wrote:
Is it fair to presume that stiffest competition for busier Parks is during the winter "Snowbird" season? What's it like in the summer?

I ask because if we do this at all it will have to be during the time school's out, since a main motivator is having the Grandkids along at least part of the time. I realize it'll be hot hot, but what can one do...

Thanks!

From June to September, other than the Keys, there is virtually NO competition.

If you can stand that heat, most parks would be glad to have you.

What to do? Make sure you park the unit in the shade. That will make all the difference.
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Jun 13, 2014
Is it fair to presume that stiffest competition for busier Parks is during the winter "Snowbird" season? What's it like in the summer?

I ask because if we do this at all it will have to be during the time school's out, since a main motivator is having the Grandkids along at least part of the time. I realize it'll be hot hot, but what can one do...

Thanks!
bigwheelsturnin
Explorer
Jun 13, 2014
we have volunteered for 4 winter months 2014/2015...@...Suwannee State park..Live Oak Florida...2 of us..& 20 hrs a week each...
also..this will be our first time... ;-)
Too_Tall
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
Sounds good Lizzie. I'll try it and see what happens.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
Yes, lizzie is right. I spoke in general terms. I should have added that each park may vary as they have some flexibility on their polices, but also there are state wide volunteer policies in effect.

However, I have campground hosted from the Florida Keys to the Florida/Ga, border and found the same rules I talked about. They are NOT unique to south Florida.

Also, if you want to get a position easily, try July, August, September :)
stickdog
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
We secured a volunteer position at a Florida State Park between Gainsville and Jacksonville on our first try. We didn't even try at the southern parks. I did maintenance 20 hrs a week, did general carpentry, power washing, painting, tree trimming, invasive plant removal, sign replacement and more. We stayed 5 months.

Try the northern parks, write or call the parks direct and ask to speak to the VC everyone wants the south, not so many the north but it's still better than snow country. If I recall our lowest daytime temp was 48 and about 10 nights that got below freezing.
lizzie
Explorer
Jun 11, 2014
I think that Dog Folks is assuming that all Florida State Parks have the same policies as those in South Florida, the Keys, and with beach access. Not all parks have a waiting list of volunteers. Last winter there was a host vacancy in a park we stayed in and a couple from MA volunteered on the spot and were accepted. Not all require 40 hours either. Dog Folks mentioned "special skills", these can get you a place very quickly. If you really want to stay in a Florida State Park for free, look over the websites of the various parks. Find one north of Ocala and e-mail the Park Manager directly. If you have special skills (carpentry, electrician, plumber, artist, writer, expertise in some subject, etc.) let him/her know. You may not hear from them, but who knows, you may find an adventure. lizzie