Getting a Job at a County Park Campground

We re-visited E. G. Simmons County Park...where we had lived with our 6 children when we first came to Florida in 1984.  We had a tiny old trailer then that had only one small bed, one canvas tent and no money, but it was the happiest time of our lives.  I had just finished painting our 100-year-old home in Pennsylvania inside/outside (after burning off all of the paint and almost burning the house down).  I crocheted curtains (including the two below) refinished all of the honey-colored interior oak trim and mantle, and stripped the ancient archival layers of wall paper (the toughest job of all).  We were forced to sell this architectural wonder due to no income and no way to heat the enormous 3-story structure....other than gathering sticks in the street (for real).   The kids had croup, so we just drove south and found refuge in Florida parks.  

I tried to take a photo of each of the places where our children played long ago...as I could still seem to hear their giggles in the breeze.  I was clicking away when I was surprised by a flock of "pterodactyls" flying overhead.  Memory jog!  Our son, Nathan, had hit the ground as soon as he first left the safety of our old station wagon upon our arrival in 1984.  Why?  Bob had yelled "Pterodactyls!" as a flock of giant blue herons flew closely overhead!  Below is the much-changed 2011 beach and playground, but the picnic pavilion where our youngest was "married" (at age 3) to another young camper is much the same.

 The sites look the same as back then (new RV, excepted) and we still get around by bike, and coon tracks are everywhere, and the rangers are still extra friendly. 

E.G. Simmons Park Marina

We found out that Volunteer camphosting in county RV parks is an excellent way to live in some of the most beautiful places in the United States with a free site and utilities in exchange for a few hours of work.   Not only are you providing a valuable community service, you benefit financially as well.  The rangers treat the hosts like "they walk on water"...and their only duty is usually just to clean their assigned restroom.  At E.G. Simmons there were 5 hosting couples.  As always, the best way to find a job is to actually camp where you'd like to work, talk with the hosts and the volunteer coordinator to see if you like what you hear about the job, and then if you are interested....ask if they need help.  If they are "full up" then still leave a card or an application in case something comes open...and it often does.  Hosts usually commit so far in advance to a job, that there is enough time for life circumstances to change their ability to host at an agreed on time.

So what are the general requirements for county camp hosts?  Hosts need to be outgoing and love meeting new people..... able to deal positively with different kinds of people and understand the limits of their authority and responsibility. (You are only supposed to inform the public, not enforce rules.)  They should have strong camping experience, familiarity with the county parks and a knowledge of the area surrounding the campgrounds (or are willing to do what it takes to gain such knowledge).  Hosts provide their own camping unit, which can even be a tent...if you are that tough.    Go for it!

A REAL Job Offer on Nov 10, 2011

I wanted to share what an actual job offer looks like.  This is a great example, as it gives the expected duties you would perform.   A pitfall to avoid is jumping into a job without knowing what you are going to be asked to do!  We received the following offer via email:

Highlands Hammock Catwalk - a Favorite!

Thank you for requesting information about the camp host program at Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring, Florida via the online system. I currently have three positions available.  [If you like what you see in an offer, you just have to shoot an email back...but make sure to make a phone contact first to get full job details.]


Our camp hosts primarily clean restrooms, [The fact that she bolded this item makes me think it has been a problem getting camp hosts to do this chore.  Bob and I don't mind it at all...which was a surprise to us.]   mow & trim grass, clean BBQ grills, pick up trash, trim trails, patrol the parks, perform minor maintenance (carpentry/plumbing/electrical), use a gas-powered log splitter for firewood, operate park vehicles (current driver's license required) and other campground-related duties.

Our hosts work five hours a day, four days a week (Sun/Mon/Tues/Weds or Weds/Thurs/Fri/Sat). Special events, heavy day use or camping attendance may require additional volunteer hours from our camp hosts, particularly on holiday weekends or during our high season (Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb/Mar). During high season, we also have ranger station support positions that are typically filled by the wives.

[Count on working weekends and holidays because, naturally, that's when you have almost all of your campground business.]


CCC Masonry Masterpiece at Highlands Hammock

Camp host positions can be strenuous at times, requiring the ability to walk over uneven terrain for several hours in duration as well as bend, stoop and twist to clean, mop large floor areas, pick up debris, etc. Moderate lifting of boxed materials, shoveling of heavy cinders from campfire rings, emptying of trash cans and loading firewood will require the ability to lift and carry. Several hours of work each day will expose hosts to high heat & humidity during the summer months and chilly, damp weather during winter cold snaps. Hosts work independently most days and thus these positions are best for self-starters and those that can identify and problem-solve situations. [This is a well-written disclosure.  You can't be sensitive to smoke and ash or temperature changes, or the job will be intolerable.]

We offer a free campsite with water & 30 amp power hookup for our camp hosts. We do not have sewer connections, but have a dump station on site. Hosts camp in the family campground with the general public and our campsites are very close together with little or no buffer between sites. Our lettered sites (A/B/C/D/E/F) are our camp host sites. We are pet-friendly and remain nearly full to capacity from November through May and then experience our low season June through September.

Our campground has 158 campsites and four large restroom buildings. Most campsites are shaded and have a dirt base. Our park is located four miles west of US Highway 27 in Sebring, Florida. Major shopping/dining facilities (Walmart/Publix/CVS/Walgreens/Lakeshore Mall) are within ten miles of the park as are two hospitals. [This is a BIG factor for me...what's close by?...especially whether there is a church.] 

If you are interested in serving as a camp host, please download the attached form and fill it out for both you and Bob and forward any letters of recommendation highlighting your previous host/campground experience with your application.

Please keep in mind that the months of January, February and March are most in demand and that I am holding a waiting list for possible openings for 2012. Any possible openings will be filled from this waiting list so if you are interested in that, please let me know. Our web address is listed below in the event that you would like to browse our site for additional information/photos.
Dorothy L. HarrisPark Services Specialist
Highlands Hammock State Park 5931 Hammock Road, Sebring, Florida 33872
(863) 471-5324 Office





Looking for a Job Camp Hosting in all the right places

Turn downs, “no openings”, “we have all of the help we can use“, “keep us in mind for next year”...

and other nice ways of letting us know we didn‘t get the job abounded this week. We did get two more job offers, but not in the Orlando area. We really do want to stay close to our son and his cute, cute wife and girls and to our nephew, Craig, and his wife, Tanya. They are expecting their first baby, and we just have to be a part of that. Besides, they all have Disney passes and I, like all of the world, want to go to Disney.

The two offers were intriguing: One in a Florida Preserve , helping in the visitor center, and the other in the Everglades, working in a lab studying marsh lichens . But the jobs were not only too far from family but involved too many scheduled hours, which would kill exploratory trips. Florida truly is Adventureland. And I’m done with 100% of my time being tied up with work.  We need time to play with little mermaids and baby tigers.

List of Jobs Currently Available

Ready to go to work?  Here's a list of jobs put out by "Work for RVers and Campers".
We responded to the following ad from this list....with enthusiasm....but received no reply whatsoever.  We couldn't get even an acknowledgement that our application was received:
FL: Winter Position on Citrus Ranch Near Disney World
Work campers needed. Work on a 2500-acre ranch close to Disney World. Job runs November through April. We have a U-pick citrus grove, old time country store, eco tours, and a camp ground. Please see our website showcaseofcitrus.com for more info about us.  Call Julie at 352-267-9903, if you are interested.

I like this list because it gives a posting date...so you have an idea if the job might already be filled...or so undesirable that no one has responded and the listing is still active. 

There's a free list by Cool Works of jobs you may have never considered...but could have a riot with.

There ARE many, many camp hosting positions that are paid (in real money).  One of the must varied lists of camp host jobs is found at http://www.simplyhired.com/ .  You can get your free spot without even being in a campground.  Another surprising site is jobsonline.net  with an easy search gadget.  You could be involved with anything from camp counseling to RV sales.

Then we checked the list of jobs posted by Happy Vagabonds.  Why not?  You have nothing to lose by applying.  We sent emails and made phone calls (no answers) and we left messages (with no replies).  We'll let you know if these are valuable lists or not....shortly.   [They are...but apply early and expect quite a bit of competition for the job.]

Here's a sample of a job posting that is supposedly available right now:
Workamper Needed at Fishermans Cove Resort
Needed immediately workamper 20 hrs a week in exchange for site and utilities. Duties are cleaning/general maintenance, friendly, relaxed atmosphere, ideal for retired couple, Come and experience our little fishing / resort. Contact Brenda at (941) 729-3685.

Bob called and left messages several times, and I wrote excited emails, because we used to live close to this resort and know (and love) a lot of people in the area.  After two weeks we gave up, as there was no acknowledgment whatsoever of the communications, resume and pictures we'd sent.  The "paradise" the owner of Fisherman's Cove described went up in vapors for us.  [Note:  We did follow up personally on this job lead, and it had been filled as we had supposed.]

Finding the PERFECT National Forest Position



This picture is of Shanty Pond Campground.  Our first job offer from the Forest Service!  We started with an online application, as we didn't know who to call directly.  It was so easy!  Just go to: Volunteer and search the available jobs.  Campground hosts receive free campground site use, so we checked the current fee per day to get an idea of the benefit we'd receive.  Shanty was a primitive campground and only $4/day.  Depending on which forest you would be working in, there may be a "daily subsistence and/or travel reimbursement"...as well as compensation for personal vehicle and cell phone use for Forest Service business.   This job's only benefit was the use of a Kawasaki Mule.  It had no hookup for water, just one water pump and one vault toilet for over 100 camp sites.  It also required a 6-month commitment...but we were excited.  We believed the postings about how hard it was to get any type of offer. 

We studied the Basic Requirements:

• Enjoy working positively with the public and being visible.  Convey the recreation facility rules as necessary.
• Provide own self-contained living unit.
• Agree to a background check as Hosts handle sensitive information, communicate with by radio and in some cases handle cash.  Provide a copy of your driving record and take a driving course.
• In good health and physical condition (repeated bending and lifting to clean restrooms and fire rings, litter pickup, filling potholes, and maybe even splitting firewood and pulling vegetation.)
• Able to operate equipment such as a leafblower, trimmer, mower, etc.

We shared pictures of Shanty, and our family complained 6 months was too long and the Ocala was too remote (no internet or cell service).  But there's only 15 campgrounds in all of Ocala National Forest.  What else could we possibly get? 
While searching on the internet for reviews about this campground, I found police reports of shootings and even a brutal murder of two environmentalists by gun shot.  It turned out this was mostly a hunters' camp and only had dirt roads.  I started nightmaring about drunken hunters laden with multiple guns.  Oh, no.

Your PAY CHECK

It's so true that the beauty of your surroundings and all of the kind (and fascinating) people you get to meet are pay enough. Here's some pictures of a special bonus this trip to Zion: Rock Art. I'm not sure if it was done by some ancient people...but I did see some very modern young people throwing rocks at it, trying to knock it all down. What would you do about the willful destruction of art?

How to be a Camp Host

First, talk with any and all camp hosts you can contact who already work in areas you are interested in. I've never found one who didn't love the job...and who wasn't happy to pass on any info that might be helpful to you. It was only last year that I ever talked with a camp host, after camping all of my life. I thought they were aloof and dictatorial...essentially all about very strict camping rules. Wrong. This past year our contacts were not only friendly, but frank...and encouraging: "Do it! Be a camp host; you'll love it!"

Second, it's almost mandatory that you be married. Management companies hire couples. So be sure you and your spouse can get along well (I mean really well) in a confined space...and you have no problems working as a team. It doesn't work out well if one does most or all of the work.

Thirdly, look for a small assignment at first with 30 or fewer hours a week, if you can. It would be sad if you took a long assignment...say 4 or more months, with heavy responsibilities...and then realized hosting was not for you.

You can fill out applications for groups such as CampHost.org, Workamper, etc., and even send a resume...but usually nothing happens. It's best to go right to the campground you are interested in, check it out and start asking questions. If it's a place you want to be, ask if they need any help. We got our first job when a camp host asked us why we were parking our RV in a group tent area in Jordan Pines, Big Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City. Our son had invited us to join his family on a church group outing, and we guessed that RVs weren't allowed...but we came along anyway. The host who questioned our being there was happy to answer our questions about his job. And when we asked how to get a hosting job (not seriously) he said he was the area manager and happened to have an opening at Albion Basin in the next canyon, near the Alta Ski Resort. We were curious enough to ask for an application, filled it out on the spot, and we were hired (with no interview). How could it be so easy? We soon got a cool ranger-like uniform, name badge and sturdy work gloves and were all set to go.