Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d000000lDktAAE/dispersed-campground-host
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ADDRESS: Seeley Lake Ranger Station; 3583 Highway 83; Seeley Lake, Montana 59868
DEPT: Forest Service
DATES: 5/26/2023 – 9/4/2023
DESCRIPTION:
The U.S. Forest Service / Seeley Lake Ranger District is looking to fill one vacancy for a Dispersed Campground Host in Seeley Lake, Montana for the 2023 season.
Seeking a customer-service focused individual (or a couple) to service and maintain numerous dispersed recreation areas throughout the Seeley Lake Ranger District. Unlike typical campground hosts, dispersed hosts will be stationed at the district office and will drive a Forest Service vehicle to various dispersed campgrounds and other remote recreation sites. A valid driver’s license is required for this position. Selected candidates should expect 2-5 hours of driving per day, four days per week.
We are looking for hosts who can commit to being with us from Memorial Day through Labor day, though exact start and end dates are flexible. Selected candidates will be provided a parking spur with water, electric and septic hookups for the duration of the season. Selectees will need to provide their own hard-sided RV or travel trailer.
Major Duties:
- Provide information to forest visitors. Hosts will be provided with a forest map and information about the surrounding area so that they will be knowledgeable about nearby recreation opportunities and activities.
- Maintain various dispersed campsites and recreation areas. Includes cleaning toilet facilities, picking up litter, painting picnic tables, removing excess ash from fire pits, and performing vegetation management.
- Maintain consistent communication with District Recreation staff, Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers, and Montana Fish and Game Wardens.
Hosts will be provided with all the necessary training, tools, and supplies to successfully complete duties.
Desirable Skills Include:
- Interpersonal skills and communication
- Experience in developed/dispersed recreation activities
- Detail-oriented
- Experience with motorized and hand tools
- Ability to work as part of a larger team
- Comfort with driving on narrow, gravel roads in mountainous terrain
Dispersed Hosts in Seeley Lake get the opportunity to maintain and service some of the most beautiful and remote areas of the district. The Seeley Lake Ranger District is well-known for its “Chain of Lakes”- about a half dozen glacial-formed lakes between the Swan and Mission mountain ranges through which the Clearwater River flows. The district office is situated right off the North shoreline of Seeley Lake, so selectees will have easy access and plenty of space to play in the water in their off-time.
The town of Seeley Lake (located about 5 miles south from the district office) has a year-round population of about 2,500 and offers services including gas, groceries, a post office, a laundry mat, a hardware store, churches, a bank, bars, and restaurants. The community is home to an elementary school and a high school. There is a family medical center that handles minor emergencies and has a heli-pad (Life Flight) to serve those who need more extensive care at regional hospitals. The foundations of Seeley Lake’s economic base are wood products and recreational opportunities.
The town serves as a “hub” into 3 nearby wilderness areas—The Bob Marshall, Scapegoat, and Mission Mountain Wilderness—over a combined million acres of the most untouched land in the lower 48. There are recreation services in town such as boat, canoe, and kayak rentals, guide services, a golf course, and resorts. Seeley Lake is just a day trip away from Glacier National Park, known for a variety of opportunities to explore alpine landscapes, active glaciers, and view unique wildlife. Additionally, it is an hour away from Missoula, one of western Montana’s largest outdoor hubs. Missoula is a full-service city with 2 hospitals and an international airport.