As the Summer is now turning into Fall....

[DutchmenSport]

...the camping season for those of us in the Northern states will all-too-soon be coming to an end for this year as the weather will start turning cooler and eventually cold. Before you know it, we'll be winterizing our RV's again. Those in the Southern states will have opportunity to continue through the Winter, pretty much, uninterrupted. Either way, this year is quickly coming to a close and 2025 will be gone.

So, right now is the time to begin making plans for next years camping itinerary. It never hurts to begin planning early. So, I'd like to throw my "pitch" out to everyone.

Please consider camp hosting as part of your camping experiences, especially if you are in the category where you are not tied to any specific employment any more.

Camp hosting is a great way to get a no-cost campsite in exchange for a few hours of work a week. In traditional state and national park campgrounds, that usually means cleaning fire pits when folks leave, to possibly cleaning restrooms once a day (or simply monitoring them as park staff may do that job), to greeting or checking in folks when they arrive, to selling fire wood from you campsite. The duties are all over the charts, but usually not physical in any extreme measure at all.

State Parks all over the county are hurting for good camp hosts, volunteers, and additional help. It's something worth looking into and your volunteer efforts are greatly appreciated. (although most folks who are camping barely notice the effort camp hosts put in).

Another option is "hosting" for paid positions, which has levels all over the charts for private or county campgrounds. Still, something worth looking into.

If you enjoy the RV lifestyle, then why not give a little bit back, .... a little bit of your time, talent, and energy to help keep things running for everyone.

Those who do, those who already have, and those who are planning on hosting or volunteering at different parks .... thank-you.

 

[Old_Crow]

I started out hosting for a paid company and spent two wonderful summers at the north rim of the Grand Canyon. Then I let them talk me into management. Now I manage 14 campgrounds in the eastern Sierras every summer. By my reckoning I was retired for 4 months. This is my 10 year with this company and I'm coming back again next year.

 

[SMR]

Excellent post by DutchmenSport
We have been volunteering since 2017 and have been to some really great places. We spend about 9 months volunteering and 3 months traveling. I like to be busy and volunteering is a great way to stay busy and active.
I'm hoping in the next few years to get into a few national parks.

 

[GregandDeb]

Can't wait for both of us to retire so we can do this. Both of us love to stay busy.

 

[Kirk]

Please consider camp hosting as part of your camping experiences, especially if you are in the category where you are not tied to any specific employment any more.

We started out as public campground volunteer hosts, but we found other RV volunteer positions much more to our liking. Our favorite agency was the USFWS, as resident volunteers at national wildlife refuges. We spent time at 11 different refuges, doing things ranging from visitor services to tractor operation and minor construction projects. We also were at 5 different national parks in volunteer interpreter positions, giving tours, answering questions or working in the visitor centers. We also did interpreter work in 4 different states as well as one state forestry department, 2 states game & fish depts. and 2 state historic sites. We were full-time for 12 years, spending 2 to 3 months at a stop, then traveling for a month or so in route to the next position. We have also done two more since returning to part-time. We loved the lifestyle and have volunteered at a total of 38 different locations in 29 different states. Only rarely did we return to a place a second time because we wanted to experience as many different areas as possible. We found Oregon, South Dakota, and Idaho to be our favorites for state parks, with Texas not too far behind. In addition, we did have one COE experience where we left early and location where the duties were not as described so didn't stay. One major advantage of being a volunteer is that if you get one of those rare bad experiences, there is nothing to prevent you from leaving.

To have had 38 wonderful experiences and only 2 poor ones is, in my opinion remarkable and we would do it again. We had so many experiences that one seldom get access too, made so many friends, and saw places that the public never gets to see. I could share some of those experiences, but this post would get far too long.

 

[DonTom]

Before you know it, we'll be winterizing our RV's again.

Not my RVs--no way! I do most of my RVing in the middle of winter. The best way to make my summers longer!

No need to winterize RVs here in Auburn, CA as it is very rare for it to get to freezing. Average overnight low in Dec (our coldest month) is 38°F. and that is for only an hour or two.

Southern AZ is a nice place to head for in the middle of winter.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[LarsMac]

There used to be some links to guide folks interested in Hosting and such, but a quick look around didn't turn it up.
Can someone point me in the right direction?

 

[John From Detroit]

Not my RVs--no way! I do most of my RVing in the middle of winter. The best way to make my summers longer!

Ah the "S" method of winterizing (The best one)
Turn so compass says "S". strap a snow blower (Originally I said shovel but the blower works better) and when someone looks at it pushes their cap back, scratches therir head and asks "What the (*&#@ IS That thing" you are winterized.