Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d000000lWatAAE/campground-host-volunteer-steel-creek-nov-2023
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ADDRESS: Buffalo National River; Jasper, Arkansas 72641
DATES: 10/31/2023 – 11/30/2023
DESCRIPTION:
Come volunteer as a Campground Host at the beautiful Buffalo River and be a valued part of our team. The Host position is the first line of contact with campers and visitors. The Host(s) will work directly with National Park Service Law Enforcement, Fee Collection and Maintenance personnel in managing a campground.
Main duties include: ensuring compliance with park regulations, visitor use fees are paid in a timely manner, applicable documentation is correctly displayed at the individual sites, visitors occupy the site in accordance with park policy, and to facilitate an orderly and safe experience by the visitor.
The prospective Host is expected to arrive with adequate housing for extended periods, such as a camper trailer or motor home. The Host is provided a pull-in site with 30 or 50 amp service and potable water in exchange for services rendered.
Scheduling of duty periods will be worked out with the Fee Program Manager. Typically, the Host and employees try to schedule staffing around the weekends (Thursday through Monday), as that is the part of the calendar week with the heaviest concentration of visitors.
The Host duty day will revolve around the core hours of 7am to 9pm, with emphasis on visitor arrivals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, and departures on Sunday mornings; but infrequent knocks on the door, at all hours of the day and night, should be expected.
As the first line of contact with the visitor, the Host is responsible for providing friendly, accurate and timely information about the park, available interpretive programs, campground regulations, and general information about the region. The Host must present a friendly demeanor and be willing and able to communicate with a wide variety of visitors, in a professional and congenial manner. The Host should be in sufficient physical condition to rove the entire campground, several times a day, on foot.
In addition to ensuring compliance and safety, the Host is expected to assist the employees by cleaning fire rings after visitors vacate a site, restock restroom facilities as needed, police up any garbage, secure and turn in all found items and report lost items to uniformed staff.
Main duties include:
- Providing information about the park, available interpretive programs general information about the region and answering questions
- Explaining park regulations and checking that visitor use fees are paid in a timely manner
- Assisting NPS staff in displaying and updating campsite reservation cards
- Report emergencies and law enforcement issues to personnel by radio and in person
- Facilitate an orderly and safe experience by the visitor
- Assisting other employees in cleaning fire rings, restocking restroom facilities as needed
- Police up litter, secure and turn in all found items and report lost items to uniformed staff
- Typically, Hosts work weekends with 5 days on and 2 days off per week.
- The Host daily routine is involves making rounds in the morning, afternoon and evening, but infrequent knocks on the door, at all hours of the day and night, can be expected.
Other expectations include:
- The prospective Host is expected to arrive with adequate housing for the season.
- The Host must present a friendly demeanor and be willing and able to communicate with a wide variety of visitors, in a professional and congenial manner.
- The Host should be in sufficient physical condition to move about the campground, several times a day. A cart is provided depending on availability.
- The Host will be provided uniform shirts and hat, which should be worn proudly, during duty hours.
- The Host report to the Fee Program Manager for scheduling, supplies and on-site issues.
- Conservation Education
- Drivers License
- General Assistance
- Map Reading
- Visitor Information
- Working with People
Steel Creek Campground is 3 miles east of Ponca, Arkansas, off of Highway 74. Half of the tent only portion of the campground, sites 1 – 13, and sites 27 – 32 in the horse only camp area are available for reservation. Sites can be reserved 5 days to 6 months in advance. All individual sites are $20 per night with 6 people permitted per site. Fees are charged March 15 through November 14.
All remaining tent only sites (14 – 26) and horse camp only sites (33 – 40) are available on a first come, first served basis. Additionally, a site that is reservable, but has no reservation on it for any given night is also available on a first come, first served basis. Reminder: the horse campground at Steel Creek is only for campers with stock animals. Payment of cash or check only can be made at the self-pay station in the campground immediately after a site is selected for any first come, first served site. The campground provides flush restrooms and water spigots are located throughout the campground. There are no RV hookups anywhere in the Steel Creek Campground.
Housing Description: The prospective Host is expected to arrive with adequate housing for extended periods, such as a camper trailer or motorhome. Cellular phone signal is not available in the Steel Creek Campground; WiFi service available through local provider at volunteer’s expense. The Host is provided a pull-in site with 30 or 50 amp service and potable water in exchange for services rendered.