Displaying my ignorance
I have looked on the Volunteer.gov site and have seen under volunteer postings from Bureau of Land Management and Bureau of Reclamation the following language: "Camp-rate reimbursement will be provid...
Forum Discussion
Retdep wrote:
"Camp-rate reimbursement will be provided." From BLM posting
"Hosts eligible to receive camp rate of $34/day for 5 days of the week with 2 days off. Volunteer responsible for reporting all taxable income."
This is government speak for a per diem.
BLM and a few USFS sites are so remote that it is almost impossible to get folks to fill them.
The $34 per day is their highest rate for very remote sites and is an attempt to offset the costs of travel - often 60 miles each way or more - for food, laundry, etc. Such sites are usually far beyond cell phone service and no internet capability.
If this is one of the two sites in Montana - they even offer a mileage reimbursement from your home to the regional HQ to the site - at 14 cents per mile - which isn't even 1/4 of the fuel costs to get there.
Such a site usually has a propane reimbursement also. The campsite and any utilities is free.
The BLM and USFS have to use such language because they cannot hire 'employees' for such positions. Not only is the site not authorized a FTE head count, but the hire process simply isn't compatible with a seasonal job.
The note about taxable income - the BLM makes you responsible for determining what is taxable and what is not. They likely will not send you a 1099.
But you need to ask those specific questions of the volunteer coordinator for that site.
