How To Become a Campground Host
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Becoming a campground host is a great way to see the country and enjoy some free camping. Whether you are retired and don’t need an income, or you need some pay and want to enjoy a particular area of the country, a campground host position might be perfect for you.
Campground host positions are often unpaid, but you do receive your site for free and sometimes get other amenities. There are host positions that are paid but you might have to look under a few rocks before you find the perfect paying job.
As a full-time RVer and a camp host myself, read on as we share our perspective of the good, the bad, and the ugly of campground hosting and how to garner one of these positions.
What is a Campground Host?
A campground host is essentially the ambassador for the park. You are likely the first person guests see and the one who is called upon for information and help.
Making campers feel welcome is a big part of the job. You need to be happy to help others and set a great example of rule-following to model to other campers.
Campground hosts generally provide services to a private, state, or national park campground. Of course, you must have your own RV, and enjoy the outdoors. If you are a people person with a strong desire to help others, this might be just the job you are looking for.
What Do Campground Hosts Do?
The duties of a campground host vary from place to place but usually involve greeting visitors, camper registration, firewood sales, site maintenance, cleaning bathrooms, cleaning vacated sites, and much more.
When we were camp hosts, we performed jobs such as office administration and maintenance worker.
You could be assisting at the entrance station at a park or participate in interpretive programs.
No matter where you land your job, you will answer questions about local attractions, activities, trails, and about services or medical facilities near the park. You could refer visitors to forestry officials or other park administrators.
You could also help to carve out trails, plant trees, pick up dog poop, or assist with wildlife management. My father-in-law also did all of these while campground hosting. He even wrangled a few snakes.
How Do You Find Campground Host Jobs?
Update your resume and get ready to put your best foot forward. Any experience you have with customer service or dealing with customers will all work toward getting your first interview and the position that you desire.
Don’t forget to get started early. Right now, is a great time to start looking to see what is out there. Usually, parks will begin to advertise their positions in January ahead of the summer season.
Finding the perfect camp host position is not difficult. Here are a few websites we have used that you can start perusing.
State Parks
You can start by finding a state park that you would like to work/volunteer with or one that is close to you. Go to this link to find parks by state. https://www.stateparks.org/locate-a-park/
Once you have selected a state, a link will take you to that park’s website. Check for a volunteer link at the bottom of the page with information about volunteer programs, ways you can volunteer, and a link to start the application process.
National Parks
National parks also have campground host volunteer positions available. You can start your search by clicking http://bit.ly/NPScampgroundHost.
Being a National Park, these positions might be a little tougher to come by.
Workers on Wheels
Workers on Wheels is a site that lists jobs available throughout the USA. Various positions are posted regularly including paid employment, work-for-site jobs, and volunteer positions.
Workamper News
Workamper News is one of the best places to find camp hosting and other work camping positions. This organization requires a membership to get the most up-to-date job listings, but it is worth the money.
You will have to pay a little more for some of their online tools. Check out www.workamper.com for more information.
Indeed
If you aren’t sure where you want to camp host, searching Indeed could be a good starting point. A search will net jobs of varying lengths, as well as some volunteer and some paid.
Check out the available positions by searching campground host jobs on Indeed.
Other Website Options
Vista Recreation has campground host positions available across the US. You can choose a state and see what might be available in that area.
Also, check out the Forest Service website for regional positions.
Do Campground Hosts Get Paid?
While campground host positions are often considered voluntary, there are plenty of places that do pay an hourly wage and provide a free site, as well as other amenities.
Keep an eye out for these as you search for a position. One of the perks of starting your search early is these positions are often the first to be filled.
Of course, if you are retired and don’t need the income, there are a host of options you can consider. Generally, whether you are paid or unpaid, you receive a free site in exchange for a certain number of hours worked.
Do National Parks Have Campground Host Jobs?
National parks are great places to find a camp host job. Just think about spending a whole summer exploring a national park like Yosemite, Grand Canyon, or Yellowstone. These may take a while to secure because background checks are required, which could take several weeks to process.
5 Benefits of Being a Campground Host?
1. Free campsite with full hookups
You get to stay at a beautiful park for a whole season. Not only can you enjoy the benefits of the park, but you can also explore the surrounding area. You don’t have to pay for your utilities so a large part of your RVing bills are covered.
2. You give back so future generations can enjoy the park
As a camp host, you are giving back to help keep that park staffed so anyone can enjoy the great views, vistas, and wildlife.
3. Getting to know other campers
Other workers, as well as guests, are people with whom you enjoy sharing a meal and a campfire. You truly make lifelong friends when you are a camp host.
4. Living and working outdoors
Generally, those who want to be camp hosts enjoy being outside. You can choose your climate and the place you want to be in your off time. You can also pick a place that has the outdoor activities that you enjoy such as hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, and much more.
An added bonus is, because you are there for several months, you have many opportunities to observe wildlife.
5. Variety of interesting work
If you get a lot of pleasure out of learning new things, being a camp host is a great chance to do a variety of interesting work. You won’t be bored, and you won’t be doing the same things every day.
5 Disadvantages of Being a Campground Host
1. Having to stay in one place
Some people don’t want to stay in the same place for several months. If you like to pick up and take off every week or so, camp hosting might not be the job for you.
2. Uncooperative people
There will always be people who are not nice. As a camp host, you must maintain a good attitude and have a customer service mindset.
3. You must enforce the rules
For some people, rules are meant to be broken. If you are a people person who doesn’t like conflict, this could be the most difficult part of the job.
Many campground rules, such as keeping your distance from and not feeding the wildlife, help to keep the area safe for others. Something as simple as where a guest parks their vehicle could affect the flora and fauna.
4. You may be on call even if you are off the clock
Your RV will probably be a target for those who need assistance any time of the day or night. A good attitude will help you to focus on the problem at hand.
5. Dealing with wildlife
As I indicated earlier, your job as a camp host could involve wrangling snakes. As you encounter wildlife, having a general knowledge of wildlife precautions, habits, and identification can help you maintain a safe camping environment and keep visitors safe as well.
How Long Do Campground Hosts Stay at a Campground?
Campground hosts are usually seasonal workers. They could stay from early May, depending on when the campground opens, to late September or early October.
If some of a campground host’s duties include opening and closing the campground, those dates might be weather-dependent.
Personal Tips:
Always make sure you come to an agreement with your employer as to your arrival and departure dates so there is no miscommunication.
Since many national park positions are also volunteer (you work a prescribed number of hours for your site), you may be working in a remote area with little access to Wi-Fi or cell signal so be prepared to find your own access to the internet.
Also, consider that many of the more popular parks will be inundated with applications. You may want to consider a smaller or lesser-known park.
Final Thoughts About Becoming a Campground Host
We have enjoyed campground hosting for a number of years. Camp hosting is a great way to work and has all the benefits of enjoying a particular area of the country for a season.
These positions are not so strenuous or heavy with working hours that you can’t take the time to enjoy nature, watch the sunrise, or catch the elk as they take a stroll through the campground.
Don’t miss out on canoeing or fishing in a nearby lake or stream or striking up a conversation with other campers. There are so many wonderful people with interesting stories.
Campground hosts are the concierges, as well as public relations, marketing, and customer service gurus, and the face of the campground. While your duties might be many and varied, they will all come back to helping people.
If that sounds like something you might like, get out there and do it. You won’t regret the friends you will make, the sites you will see, and sharing the stories of all your epic adventures.
Related Reading:
– Harvest Hosts – A Great Way To Camp For Free
– Fully Automated RV Parks: The Future Of Camping?
– CamperGigs: Work Camping And Volunteer Jobs For RVers
– Best Work Camping Jobs For RV Couples
Terri Nighswonger – Author and Full Time RVer
Terri Nighswonger and her husband Todd have been RVing and work camping for six years with their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Newton, and their Minnie Australian Shepherd, Remi.
They originate from the Midwest but plan to enjoy the West for a few years, wintering in Arizona and summering wherever the road may lead. Writing is Terri’s passion, but she also loves hiking, kayaking, walking her dogs, and anything she can do outdoors.
Terri has written for RV Life and RV Camping Magazine.
Source: https://rvblogger.com/blog/how-to-become-a-campground-host/
