ALERT - Critical Camp Worker Information to avoid BIG Mistakes

Waterfront Camp Host sites next to The Shop

Today, 11/7/2011, we were enlightened! We thought the big advantage of work camping is the free site. When you do the math, your site is often double or even triple what you would normally pay for a camp site. And your site is often sub-standard…next to the camp shop, or crowded together with the other hosts next to a busy road, or in a less-desirable area...like next to the dump station!   

Front Gate Elite Resort at Salt Springs

We found an RV resort across the street from Salt Springs Campground with a lot renting for $250 a month, including cable and all utilities except electric, and activity fees already paid.  (See resort here.)  The lot is landscaped and huge, with concrete pad and patio.  Even the lawn furniture is included.  So if we get a job…maybe checking people in at the front gate…you have a little income that works out to be more than you’d ever get with the “free” site.  The light goes on!  Negotiating the lot rental separately from the job is a much more profitable setup…at least in this instance.  And you’ve avoided losing your freedom to roam, as many host positions actually require you to be "on duty" most, if not all days in smaller campgrounds.

San Clemente State Beach - Health Spa Hosting

With the bikes fixed, this park became our own "health spa". You could soak in the ocean, chase and be chased by waves, bike the beach and the gorgeous bike trail along the coast. The bluffs here are an erosional wonder. The trails wander through bunches of flowers. You don't even realize you are getting in shape as you explore the canyons. Wonderful!http://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/San_Clemente_Sb/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=CA&parkId=120082&pstate=CA

P.S. California's state park hosts are strictly volunteer....no pay/no stipend. You do get a spot to park your rig and hookups (if available). We don't know if it's true, but we heard that management tends to not treat the hosts very well in Southern California. In Northern California it seems you have to apply and wait at least a year or two for a spot...so hosts must have a better time of it there. On the up side, you can volunteer for as little as a month. There's complete information on all of the host jobs at this link: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=911