Many of us have run into this when volunteering

[nbargolf]

IMHO state parks should limit the time a volunteer can return to the same park. We have been in parks where the same host have been there for 5-10 years. Most think they own the park or work for the state and tend to boss other volunteers around. One park has host that have been there for 6-10 years and never leave they are residence. Georgia has just implemented a policy where a host can return to the same park for three years, which can be extended to 5 by the park manager but then they cannot return for a year.
These are volunteer position not employment position and the park should open it for more people to enjoy. They need new blood instead of the same old same old. Rant over sorry.
:R

[TXiceman]

donoln, you will most probably pass up some good workers that are new to retirement and work camping.

Ken

[donoln]

TXiceman --- No I am not a long term host. In fact I am part owner of an RV park in central California. When we ask for Work Campers to come in, I look for past work campers if I can. I know what and how they work and what I can expect. some that respond have great backgrounds and would fit in great BUT is it is a choice of a past work camper and a new one I will take the past ones first.

[nbargolf]

donoln wrote:
It seems many are over looking the "why" some state parks have the same host year after year.
the rangers have work to do, looking over resumes each year takes time. Higher a new host, the range must now spend time training and educating the new host as to how the park runs and the day to day duties the host must perform. The rangers then must worry if the new host will stay the duration.
With re-higher of past years host the ranger knows exactly what they are getting thus taking a big burden out of their day to day schedule.

In a perfect world maybe but we have been signed up for next year at more than one park when we had been there for one week. There's no way they knew how good or bad we were. They need the help.

[Dog_Folks]

One issue that enters into this discussion is rule enforcement.

In many parks, the campground host is the first contact that a camper has when a rule is being broken.

Often, a host presents the problem in a firm tone, that quite honestly, is usually not needed. It is not WHAT the host says but HOW they say it. Let's face it, no one likes to be told what to do by a stranger.

If it is said in the"wrong" way, the camper goes away with a terrible impression of the host, when in reality he/she may be really nice person.

It behooves all hosts to walk gently, at first.

[TXiceman]

Looks like we struck a sensitive note with donoln and I bet he is a long time host at a specific site.

I feel the park needs to get a certain amount of new blood in and let some experienced folks carry over for 2 or 3 years at the most. The overlap would give them the opportunity to keep training on place.

We have also seen the turn over from park staff and each of them want to run things their way and have to retrain everyone, including the returning folks.

What we have seen is some of the returning volunteers are more interested in getting a free place to camp out of the snow than volunteering.

Ken

[Dog_Folks]

In 8 years of hosting, we have run into "bossy" volunteers only once.

If you don't let people walk on you, they can't. We would not allow it and they never were "bossy" with us.

I am a volunteer, I do not have to put up with it, and besides I am also too old to put up with it, therefore, I won't.

On the other hand, we did have a ranger insult both my wife and myself,on two different issues,in one month! He had no reason to have contact with us in hie job description. We don't host there any more. Again, I don't need that stuff. I'm retired, and debt free.

[mrlightrail]

I agree with donoln about the need for rangers to have some stability, and have that "known quality" in the parks. But, I agree that some of these hosts have taken it upon themselves to be the "man in charge" far too often. Instead of griping, tell the ranger how you feel about the host. For good or bad. Let the good ones keep doing a good job, and help get the nazi's out. Cell phone videos make GREAT attachments when dealing with a crappy host.

[donoln]

It seems many are over looking the "why" some state parks have the same host year after year.
the rangers have work to do, looking over resumes each year takes time. Higher a new host, the range must now spend time training and educating the new host as to how the park runs and the day to day duties the host must perform. The rangers then must worry if the new host will stay the duration.
With re-higher of past years host the ranger knows exactly what they are getting thus taking a big burden out of their day to day schedule.

[Crabbypatty]

Not that I volunteer yet, but we had a regular at the County Park and we nick named him the beach nazi. He would confiscate whatever he felt in appropriate and ran around in the gator policing everyone. It took a few years but everyone complained about him and finally he was let go.

There are always the few bs'ers everywhere today. When we try work camping after having delt with these idiots my whole life, Ill just ignore them and enjoy myself.

[firedoc]

Thanks for the come back.

[nbargolf]

firedoc wrote:
I won't ask what park this is. But since it's a state park what state is it in?

The park is in Texas.

[TXiceman]

We were hosting at a state park and this one host had been coming there for 8 years. She only lived about 40 miles from the park and moved their trailer there every spring for 3 months. She always had the same site and made sure everyone knew she was a SENIOR volunteer. Bossy as all get out and not very friendly to other host at all.

I agree that the parks should use the repeat volunteers as reserve and let new blood come to volunteer. If they do not get new volunteers, then the repeat folks can come back, but each year, they are at the bottom of the list.

Ken

[MiRV]

nbargolf wrote:
IMHO state parks should limit the time a volunteer can return to the same park. We have been in parks where the same host have been there for 5-10 years. Most think they own the park or work for the state and tend to boss other volunteers around. One park has host that have been there for 6-10 years and never leave they are residence. Georgia has just implemented a policy where a host can return to the same park for three years, which can be extended to 5 by the park manager but then they cannot return for a year.
These are volunteer position not employment position and the park should open it for more people to enjoy. They need new blood instead of the same old same old. Rant over sorry.
:R

nbargolf, I couldn't agree more with you! However, it's not just the parks, but also the private owned CGs. The camp hosts we've dealt with are not very helpful nor very friendly. They have created "clicks" and for the New Guy, it's hard to break in to the group. We spent our first winter in Florida and felt like "outsiders" in a full park! We won't be going back…next winter maybe it will be different.

I wish these Camp Hosts would "remember" what it was like when they were starting out…be friendly. Also, remember that you maybe be getting compensated with FH, but this doesn't mean you have to be a know it all.

[firedoc]

I won't ask what park this is. But since it's a state park what state is it in?