Welcome! I hope you took a moment to read the About page and that’s the reason you’re still here, instead chose to not just bolt but instead decided to find out a bit more about me and all the crazy, boring, sometimes interesting things that happen to me in my daily life. Let me just say that I love my life. I’m truly blessed to be able to enjoy all life has to offer. That doesn’t mean the same for everyone.
Many people want a fast-paced, always on the go life, but for Keith and me, we thoroughly enjoy the quieter-paced, nature-based environments that we choose to spend our life. We have been from Texas to Montana and now are spending extended time camp hosting in Arkansas. For us there’s no better way to spend extended time in one area exploring while at the same time giving back to beautiful campgrounds.
The Why
We chose this life for many reasons. In earlier years, life was spent in the crazy busy world of full-time work and raising kids. Kid life, love those days, but I realized, I rarely took the time to see and genuinely take in anything around me. We often are busy getting by and getting it done that we fail to “live”. In fact, I would say that most of us just exist and get through each day.
We decided we wanted more. More for us, more for our kids and grandkids. We wanted to teach them as adults to not just get by but to cherish every moment, to have quality in each day. I strongly feel the best way to lead is by example, so that’s what we did.
Now, life is filled with gratitude for each breath, each sunrise, and the sounds of life that surround us. I want my kids to experience all those things as well. Obviously, they are all starting out, getting married and having kids, so they are in the busy season. BUT they will learn earlier, what we learned later in life. Take the time to live.
What We Do?
We camp host at national, state or COE parks. So what is camp hosting? Camp hosts are typically located on site in the park. Some at the front and others within the park with other campers. Duties often vary depending on whether you’re at a national park, state park or private park.
Camp Host Responsibilities include and are not limited to:
*Maintaining cleanliness of campsites (trash pickup, firepits, etc)
*Park trash pickup
*Bathrooms
*Registration tags
*Fee Collection
*Greeting guests
*Setting a good example of rules and regulations for campers
*Little maintenance tasks
*Being knowledgeable of the park you’re at and answering campers’ questions about the park and the surrounding area
*Assist campers with the reservation system for the park
Am I Qualified?
A camp host can be paid and/or unpaid, depending on the park and position. Most national and state parks are non-paid. They often offer a free RV spot with full hookups. I have found they usually require you to have some kind of RV/Camper and not just a tent.
Qualifications:
The necessary qualifications you’ll need for camp hosting will be dependent on the position you are hired.
Most camp host positions in the national park require
*Your desire to be an ambassador for the park you’re hosting
*Willingness to complete the duties required.
*Physical capabilities to complete the duties required
*Basic knowledge of the area is helpful but not necessary if you’re willing to learn.
*You must pass a background check
My Day
First let me say that today my life is less crazy and definitely more relaxing. Currently, I am a maintenance camp host at a COE(US Army Corps of Engineers) in Arkansas. We chose Arkansas not only for its beauty, but we wanted to explore more of the area. So far, we have hosted in Hot Springs National Park and the Mt. Ida COE campgrounds. As a volunteer, I receive a free full hookup campsite in exchange for 20 hours of volunteer work a week.
As a maintenance camp host, I am in charge of maintaining campsites, including firepits, trash pickup and leaf removal. In addition, I maintain common spaces in the campground, such as roadways and trails. This campground has a company in charge of bathrooms and trash can pickup. I do rounds in the morning and evening either walking or driving, depending on weather. I greet and answer questions from campers throughout the day. Any downtime I have (which is plenty), I get to enjoy the amazing scenery of the park or surrounding areas.
Camp hosting for me is a rewarding position that allows me to discover the park and its surroundings. Check out our Curiosities page for some of my interesting finds. I get to meet new people from all around the country and learn more about their adventures, and where I might like to go next. For a little bit of my time volunteering keeping our national and state parks clean, I receive a home on the lake. I attached links to your National Parks, Arkansas State Parks and COE campgrounds. If you’ve not looked into camp hosting, I suggest you do it today!
