Newbe

[johnboy2]

We are thinking about doing a stint at volunteering at some NP< or other spot. I have many skills and my wife has others. We aren't sure how to proceed in applying for these positions we see available. Our question is do we do an application for each opening or is it just pot luck ?

[450Donn]

Some NF camp grounds are contractor run. They usually ask you to stay at the park for the season. Around here that is mid May to end of Sept. For that they pay you minimum wage with a bonus at the end of the season. We volunteer with the state parks. 30 days at each park, work 20 hours per person, 30 hours for a single per week with two days per week off. For that you get a nice full hookup site. Work is what you make of it. Some hosts do very little, we do a lot more than asked of us. Mow grass, pickup trash, prune shrubs/trees, clean fire pits, and interact with park guests are part of our duties. We have also cleaned bathrooms when necessary, although it is not required. We are not in it for the money, but rather a free site and the ability to give back for so many years of wonderful camping experiences.

[johnboy2]

We're not in it for the money either; it's time for us to start giving back. But do we need to call or fill in paperwork for each park. Any suggestions where to start?

[Rocky Larson]

Resident Volunteer Program

[450Donn]

Most state park systems have a web site with all the information you might need to get started. Once I have all my required courses finished for the year I look online on the volunteer web site and when I find a park I think I would like to volunteer in, I contact the park anger directly. He asks me some questions and if he thinks we are a match he assigns me the month I want. It is that simple. If you want to join a state park hosting system, pick the state and start looking around for hosting information. If you cant find anything online contact the closest park ranger and ask.

[missourijan]

We have a general resume that states what we used to do for work but stresses our customer service skills. Workamping/park hosting jobs are mostly camper interaction, either checking them in, answering questions, etc. In other words, do you like meeting new people, can you be friendly and take direction from a ranger much younger than you?

[johnboy2]

Thanks all who replied. They all good ideas for me to get started on.

John

[Craig_R]

Reading through the thread I saw no mention of Volunteer.gov Home Page. Here you will find volunteer opportunities with Federal Agencies including the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish & Wildlife, Bureau of Reclamation and the US Army Corp of Engineers. There are also opportunities listed for some State Agencies. All of these agencies list volunteer openings that include RV Sites and the means to apply to them.

Individual states usually have something listed on their State Park, Department of Natural Resources or State Fish & Wildlife websites along with instructions on how to apply. Look in the menu for "Volunteers", "Job Openings" or "Employment". In the case of the two latter categories there will usually be a sub-category for volunteers.

If you are out and about and you see something that interests you don't be afraid to ask about it. You will most often be met with an enthusiastic and positive response. We asked about volunteering at a period correct 1860s working farm and I think they would have taken us on right then. Two years ago some friends of ours asked about volunteer opportunities at a US Fish Hatchery who had never had volunteers before. The hatchery installed an RV pad with full hookups and our friends are now there on their second season working at a volunteer position that they essentially designed and created for themselves.

We are currently Volunteer Hosts at the Fort Morris State Historic Site in Midway, GA. We work 9 to 5 three days (Th, Fir, Sat) per week. Donna works in the Visitor's Center while I putter around the grounds doing what's needed. We have a great campsite with full hookups and access to a full sized washer and dryer. Other volunteer positions we've held over the past two years include being Lighthouse Hosts for Oregon State Parks, Campground Hosts for Oregon State Parks, Campsite Maintenance for Oregon State Parks, Yurt Hosts for Oregon State Parks (We liked the Oregon State Parks Department Volunteer Pregram, can you tell?), and Volunteer Patrol Rangers for the US Forest Service in the White Mountain National Forest. In all cases we were able to work with some great people and enjoyed the work.

Good luck finding something that suits you and remember to ask lots of questions. The time to start looking for next summer is now.

[Loren R]

X2 for the Volunteer.GOV Site. However, some of the programs listed may not respond to you immediately and you shouldn't give up if you don't hear back right away. For example, my wife and I volunteer in several National Parks and many of them don't finalize "housing" for volunteers until February or even March. Last year we supervised a Volunteer Program in Yosemite NP. But, we didn't arrive and get started until Mid May, and we had over a dozen applications that had been filed months before and hadn't been responded to... We lost some applicants because they were not contacted sooner. Of course WE had no control over that, but a lot of folks don't understand that every park works differently and sometimes you may not get an immediate response.

We've been asked to come back again this summer, but we've been told recently that we won't have a confirmation of an RV site until sometime in February. Our fingers are crossed, we are really looking forward to going back!!!

[bdickson]

Another vote for volunteer.gov as a great starting point. As budget cuts, sequesters etc continue to bite, the need for volunteers increases. We are on our third assignment with the US Fish & Wildlife Service, volunteering in National Wildlife Refuges. Depending on what type of volunteer work you want to do, it seems to be a good plan to pick an agency and build experience with them.

[johnboy2]

We know about vol.gov in fact have now had 2 first calls on positions so I guess I need chill out a little and not be so anxious but I am new to this.

[Craig_R]

Originally Posted by johnboy2

We know about vol.gov in fact have now had 2 first calls on positions so I guess I need chill out a little and not be so anxious but I am new to this.

Last year we were getting calls as late as Feb. One such call was near our former home and would have actually been our first choice but we had already made a commitment with another agency. Later on I received an email from that Volunteer Coordinator who didn't understand why, out of more than 100 applications she had no takers. It's not that it's an undesirable spot. In the 22 years that we lived there we never saw those volunteer sites go empty. The simple answer was that she had waited too long because most of us are making these plans 6 months to a year in advance.

Not to worry Johnboy2. There is something out there for everyone. We recently just settled on our position for this coming summer with our arrival there scheduled for 6 months from today.

[LaTravel59]

Originally Posted by johnboy2

We know about vol.gov in fact have now had 2 first calls on positions so I guess I need chill out a little and not be so anxious but I am new to this.

I am a newbie also. I was getting very worried about finding a position, but when the offers started, they were coming in regularly! I tried at volunteer.gov. And actually, finally got a position through them. My first workamping job, I found from Workers on Wheels newsletter. They send an email each week with job openings. It's free to join! I am in a RV/MH resort in the Rio Grande Valley until April. I had more luck with individual states. I am currently booked up through March of 2015. Hang in there, you'll get something.

[johnboy2]

FYI Pat and I got a camp host position in MD where we wanted and for the time we wanted. So now a new phase of our RVing begins.