campground host?

Take a look at the "Workcamping Forum" on this site. It covers both those working for money and volunteers. Not a lot of activity on the forum, but you will find more folks there with advice about hosting.

Great info, thanks to all

An often overlooked park in your area is Greenbelt (National) Park. If you like the DC area and want to spend a couple of months not too far away (and close to metro), they have camp host positions open this spring (March through May). The host spots have full hook ups. The hosts don't clean bathrooms, enforce laws, or collect money. You can find the listing at volunteer.gov.

An added benefit of volunteering in National Parks is the Volunteer Pass (America the Beautiful Pass volunteer equivalent), free to those who volunteer 250 hours in a year.

donn what camp ground are you at now we love the oregon coast

You will be hired to do a job. Know and understand exactly what is expected of you performing your job. Hours, duties, breaks, etc. just like any other job. Ask enough questions so that you know exactly what you will be doing and what you are not supposed to do.

You will be paid for doing that job. The pay will probably be a campsite. What else will you get? Free laundry, free propane, free wifi, etc. Know exactly what you will receive for the hours you work.

Understand what exactly you will receive for any hours you work over the agreed hours.

Decide what is important to you at your campsite and are they even available or provided as part of your pay. Do you have to have cable TV, laundry, propane, full hook up or just water and electric? Do you need 50 amp or will 30 amp do?
Do you have pets? Is your job site walking distance from the RV site?

A successful work camper experience requires the work camper to know exactly what he or she needs and wants for the work required, and the RV park operator have clear expectations of the extent of work the work camper will do for the benefits offered.

Everything in writing prevents misunderstandings.

We hosted the month of June this past year at Point Lookout, MD and it was GREAT! If we hadn't had other obligations, we would have stayed another month.

The experience was great, there are 6 or 7 camp hosts there, so you have help with what you need to do.

Jonas Williams is the ranger you need to speak with if you call the park.

They are always looking for more camp hosts and it is close to your home. It is about 60 miles south of Annapolis.

The duties there were to just be available if there are any questions from the campers. They expect you to be there at the very least on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. You are asked (not required, but requested) to assist for one hour on Saturday and Sunday evenings 7-8 pm, in cleaning up the picnic/beach area. (If 2 of you go, that's 4 hours) On Sunday, after the campers have left, the hosts rake the sites and clean out the firepits. Quick and easy work.

I also volunteered as a greeter at the nature center, which was fun since my children wanted to be there anyway.

We also host at a Virginia SP for a couple of months each year. In VA, we are required to be there with 2 days off each week. We sell firewood and ice when the camp store is closed. We help out in the store, relieve the contact station workers and other things that are needed within the park. It's pretty non-strenuous and we are always told that if we are not comfortable doing something, just say no. We are also told that we are NOT to take any actions with campers, just notify the ranger.

Each state is different as to the requirements and duties.

We have volunteered in many parks in the country, both state and national, and most of the gigs we got was by visiting the park in person to see what the 'atmosphere' of the park was, talking to the current hosts about the duties and if they were happy there, and then we inquired at the office if the park suited us. They really were impressed that we were there in person so they could interview us and get a 'feel' about us. It worked for both us and them.

We have never taken a position where bathroom cleaning was required. Many parks have their own maintenance departments for doing that. We have worked in the entry station booth signing in campers and general 'in the campground' presence with walking the campground a few times a day and visiting and answering questions. Our best positions have been interpretative - giving lighthouse tours is our specialty.

Volunteering is a great experience knowing we could help out. We enjoy meeting new folks and helping them, if needed.

Don't understand if you want to be a host or just want to know how they are? In Pa State parks,we generaly don't even know they are there.At one state park,the host would sell firewood.

Too Tall wrote:
What some of the duties you were offered? What wouldn't you do again.

It really depends on the park. We used to clean bathrooms, and fire pits, but last year my wife said: "I am too old to clean bathrooms." So we found a spot that does not require it. We greet campers, help answer questions, put on water safety presentations, monitor a boat launch ramp for payments.

20 hours a week. We are allowed to set our own schedule. We normally take Wednesday "Off", but are still active in the park, mainly because we love it so.

Get out there and experience campground hosting. If you like people, you will have a great time. As the years go on things that you don't want to do will become clear to you, as an individual. You won't really know until you try.

Sounds fun, Thank You