Camp host rant

turbojimmy wrote:

That being said, and pardon my ignorance, but what is the duty of a "camp host" (on paper - not what you're actually asked to do). The State Park we camp at every Columbus Day weekend has a camp host site. This year it was empty. I was kind of surprised, but then again I've never talked to a camp host and don't know what they do. I just assumed they were always there.

Each type of park is different and each state is different. There is no general posting of duties for a camp host.

Duties can vary to include just being a presence in the park - answering questions and the first 'go to' if folks have problems. However, most hosts do a lot more: collecting fees, cleaning out fire pits, cleaning bathrooms/outhouses, although many parks have a maintenance dept. that does it, working in the office, picking up litter, walking trails for cleanup and to check if any problems out there, helping with children's activities/programs, doing the night programs, helping the rangers out with special projects, grounds maintenance, checking in latecomers before they skip out in the morning, selling firewood, if out in the boonies they sometimes have a satellite phone in order to reach the ranger off-site or emergency personnel, make sure rules are followed with a 'gentle' reminder. etc., etc., etc.

Hosts do not intervene if there's a major disturbance, fight, etc. They are instructed to call the ranger.

Most host gigs are not a piece of cake, especially in busy parks or national parks. Even though the stated hours would be 3-5 days or 5 hr/day, this rarely happens. Hosts put in a lot more hours.

We did it in various forms off and on during our 16 years of full-timing. Why? To help out in parks that we like to visit. Every public park is short-handed with very low funds. There aren't enough paid personnel to do every needed job in the parks. Volunteers typically enjoy being around people. Getting a free campsite was way down on our list. Helping out and being able to explore the surrounding area was high on our list. We loved it but it helps a lot if management backs you up, and in our cases, they did.

Even though hosts have specific hours, they are basically on-duty 24 hr/day. People knock on the door at all hours - even if the 'off-duty' sign is up. We always answered the door cheerfully. You never know when someone really needed serious help.

To the OP: When the host returned, did you talk to him about your issue? Or did you just speculate that he was out goofing off?

No doubt there are some bad hosts out there but that's not the norm. Some are in it just for the campsite. They are not 'people' persons and always have a grumpy face on. That's unfortunate but everyone is different.