ThreeDtx
Central Texas
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Joined: 09/26/2007
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My wife and I have thought about this. A friend told me how to get into these jobs so we are thinking about it. We just want to here from some of you guys that have done it. or doing it to get some fed back from you on Pros vs Cons.
Thanks for your input.............
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DianneOK
Donnelly, ID
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Joined: 03/19/2004
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Moved from Fulltiming
Dianne
Donnelly, ID
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DianneOK
Donnelly, ID
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We have done this for 8 years. What would you like to know?
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travlers
tx
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Joined: 04/13/2007
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We have volunteered both in Tx and Or state pks. What are you wanting to know? So much to cover so if you could narrow the question. Both for us have pro's and con's.
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ThreeDtx
Central Texas
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Well I know that you get full hook up and a small wage that seem to be enough to cover some basic expenses, like groceries and gas $. My real question, I think, is being tied down for any length of time to one place. Commitment
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DianneOK
Donnelly, ID
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Most fed and state positions offer site and utilities but no wages.
If you don't want to be tied to a time commitment, then it is probably not for you. They are investing in you and need to be reasonably assured that you will put in your time.
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pbe10
Tonawanda, NY
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Joined: 07/22/2003
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Most are volunteer positions with a fixed time.
I volunteer in NYS parks several times a year, for 2 week commitments. Site hookups with electric only.
The work is fun and very relaxed. Meeting new people is a great side benefit.
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JJnLilly
Ohio
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Joined: 05/29/2006
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We've volunteered in FL and TX SP's. Get your site and are espected to 'work' 20-32 hours per site (depends on the park manager). If two working 16 hours a week is nothing. Many SP's in FL DO NOT have FHU sites - just water and electric.
2007 Ram 2500 QC CTD
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wayne_tw
South Dakota/Georgia
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Joined: 07/21/2007
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www.volunteer.gov/gov
This website has the volunteer positions available within the Federal system and sone others as well. Not all of them offer RV sites, so read the specifics on the ones you find interesting.
I have been volunteering for the National Park Service for 7 years and have never had even just a fair experience. All have been outstanding! Of course, almost always, its just the RV site for 32 hours per week of volunteer service. Rarely a stipend is offered but it never hurts to ask.
Many private RV parks will offer a site and some money as well, but that is a job, which I don't want anymore. I find volunteering to be fun, interesting, and I am always appreciated and thanked almost daily for the work I have done. That sure doesn't happen much when a paycheck is involved.
PM me if you have questions.
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Laura-N-Sasha
Dumfries, VA
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Joined: 04/24/2006
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I volunteered for almost a year at Prince William Forest Park, a National Park. I received an awesome site for the first leg, a campground host site for the second leg, and a small cabin for the last leg. I wanted to be there for a year. I was not offered any money, but the site was fabulous. You can check out my experiences at www.Laura-n-Sasha.com Full Timing in 2007 area of our website.
From that experience, I started applying to PAYING jobs with the National Park Service. I was offered 10 different jobs throughout the US, but had to decline them all because DH is still working in the Washington DC area, so we had to be sort of close to his stick and brick work.
BUT - if you volunteer, it is very possible that you could get paying jobs for the national park service, working seasonally. They typically have jobs that last only 6 months. This is our goal once DH stops working in a few years.
Right now, I am workcamping at Candy Hill Campground in Winchester, VA. I work 24 hours (as opposed to 32 at NPS) for my site, and then the rest is paid employment. The office work is fast paced, sales, and checking people in to the campground. I meet tons of people and I am enjoying myself fully. The last leg of working for the NPS was not enjoyable, and I would not volunteer for a Cabin Host again. I would volunteer for a Park Ranger position again, like I did on the first leg of the NPS gig. That was the best.
The state parks (in VA) usually only want 3 months as a campground host and do not pay any money. The regional and city parks only wanted a month, so that did not work for us.
Hope this helps.
Laura Jevtich
Laura-N-Sasha.com
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