Thanks for all the responses. It gives us some insight something to think about. I enjoy having something to do everyday, or at least be occupied most of the week. DW is off and running each day with something she is into..
We are doing our very first Park Host job at Galveston Island State Park right now and have been at it only since May 1st. We get our spot with full hookups in exchange for 100 hrs per month service. 100 hours combined for a couple, or 80 hours for a single. We are having a great time as of now. They are needing more hosts at this time I believe. Contact the park office that you are interested in for further information. Good luck.
Full Time
2006 32' Keystone Everest
2001 Ford F-250 Super Duty 7.3 Power Stroke Diesel
Thanks again for the imfo. As I said we were looking at this, and this morning
I signed an aggrement for a position. Just a few hours per mo. in return for free hook up. We will let you know how it works out.
Last year my wife and I accepted a one-month assignment in northwest Oregon for the Oregon Department of Forestry (different than the state park system). Having never been a camp host before, we weren’t sure what to expect. It turned out to be a great experience. We greeted all campers and many hikers, telling them about the area, along with a few ideas to make their visit enjoyable. We picked up trash when necessary, although the trash was minimal. We were also expected keep the pit toilets clean and stocked in TP, a job easily accomplished in a half hour. All in all, it was a nice experience and we met many very nice people. We were also visited daily by forestry staff.
There was no pay, but a nice site was provided with a water tank, a generator, propane, a septic arrangement, and all the wood a person could burn in a lifetime. We also had two free days per week, although we rarely took off for a whole day. They also provided a two-way radio for emergencies since there was no commercial communications. The lack of cell phone service did not please my wife but we visited a pay phone down the road almost daily.
The rewards were great, even though the pay was terrible.
Richard L. Miller
2001 Safari Zanzibar, 38'
2003 Jeep Liberty Toad
Amateur Radio KJ6W
So far, we have only worked for private companies or concessionaires in or near national parks and get paid for all 40 hours worked and pay a little for our site. But we have talked to many park hosts and volunteers, both paid and unpaid. Generally, they seem pretty happy with it. In inquiring, we have found that the national parks ask a lot of hours(too many in our opinion) for just a free site in return and we figure we can use the money so might as well work a few more hours and get full pay. We have found that some of the national forrests jobs might be a better compromise as many of them do pay a salary. I would encourage you to go ahead; especially if you don't really need a wage.
We volenteer at a Kansas State Park. our opligation is to clean the beach house, beaach and parking lot during the week. Some one else does it during on weekends. We get to park the fiver all season (April 15 to October 15) in one spot and have water and electric provided.
We are starting our second season and just love it.
We both still have full time jobs and a daughter in college, who comes out on the weekends, sometimes with friends.
We have met a lot of nice folks the past couple of years while both volenteering and just camping.
Steve & Linda
Son married (1 DIL, 3 granddaughters 1 grandson)
Daughter in College
Miami CO. Kansas
2004 F350 CC dually 8ft bed 6.0 PSD
1992 30ft Hitchhiker II w/super slide
B&W under bed hitch with 18k companion hitch
Over the past eight years of fulltime RV life, we have now completed 22 tours as "live on" volunteers. In most locations we have received no pay, but there have been two where a very small stipend was paid. Those are becoming more rare with the tight budgets of most public agencies.
One thing to keep in mind as you look at the various agencies that need volunteers is that this is not a paid or barter position but they are truly volunteer positions where the time given has little or no relationship to the value of what you receive. That is the reason that the IRS regulations allow for public, charitable, and non-profit agencies to supply sites to volunteers with not income tax liability. If you choose the place you will serve well, you will find that it will be a very enjoyable time and one that will lead to experiences that you could never have in any other way.
Let me invite you two look through the website in my signature as you will find a page about each location where we have volunteered and a summary of the duties required and of what we received in return. We love this life and we look forward to our next new experience. In a week we will be starting our 23rd position at another location where we have not been before. Next winter it will be off to Florida for a stay at Everglades National Park. What a wonderful life we have been able to lead!
DW and I hosted this winter for the 1st time in a Georgia State Park and really enjoyed it. They require 24 hrs per week for couple, we hardly ever put in that much time. We were there for almost 2 months. They provide FHU site and golf cart to use for dutys. We have reservation there again next Jan-Feb.
Rex and Anita 2002 F250 4x4 SC LB PSD 2004 Jayco Designer Medallion 31RLS
My wife an I volenteer as camp host at Milford lake,near Junction City,Kansas. We work a combined 20 hours a week as camp host, a very interesting job, get to meet lots great folks, we have a very private FHU site, with a private drive to our site, they even tilled us a garden spot. This is a position with the US Army Corps of Engineers.There isn`t any pay, but what a fum way to spend the summer, fishing, relaxing, an visiting friends. Then this coming winter we will be doing the same kind of job in Arizona. What a fun life.
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