Job Description
CAMPGROUND: Custer Gallatin National Forest
DEPT: Forest Service
AVAILABILITY: 6/15/2020–9/21/2020
RV INFORMATION: Trailer/RV PadsDescription: The campground host site parking spur is 12’x 50’ to accommodate the host’s RV or camp trailer. Electric, water, vault sewer, and phone service (local calls only) are provided by the Forest Service. Cell phone coverage is not available in the area.
DESCRIPTION
Volunteer Activities• Campground Host • Trail/Campground Maintenance Photo Courtesy of FS DescriptionOpportunity Description: Soda Butte Campground, Cooke City MT This U.S. Forest Service volunteer position is an opportunity to live on the National Forest, providing public service while hosting and maintaining the 27-site Soda Butte Campground. Approximately $30 reimbursement for each day served is provided for propane/gas/fuel for cooking and heating. Soda Butte Campground is located 1 mile east of the town of Cooke City on US Highway 212 and 5 miles east of the North East entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The campground is situated at an elevation of close to 8000 feet, partially wooded and lies adjacent to Soda Butte Creek. Regular wildlife visitors to the area include buffalo, deer, moose, fox and an occasional bear. Vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables, bear boxes and water spigots are provided to the public at this fee campground. There are no electric hook-ups or dump stations for public use. This campground is Hard-sided only, NO tents allowed. The lower loop, sites 22-27, are currently day-use only and no overnight camping is available there. Volunteer campground hosts are front-line representatives of the United States Forest Service. Few Forest Service employees have as much direct daily contact with members of the public as a volunteer campground host. Volunteer service is greatly appreciated and critical to achieving our agency’s mission of protecting the land and serving the people! General duties include: Being a courteous, professional, and friendly host to forest visitors while representing the agency Providing visitor information including: recreational opportunities, food storage order info, rules and regulations Maintaining the campground and stocking/cleaning vault toilets Trash collection and dropping off at trash compactor building Monitoring fee compliance Ensuring a positive working relationship Season, Schedule, and Utilities: Campground hosts must be available from approximately June 15th thru September 21st, depending on weather with an option to extend season on either or both ends if desired. Hosts volunteer 5 days a week, including weekends and holidays. A full season’s commitment is required. A typical commitment is 2-3 hours per day/20 hours per week. Hosts are on duty in both the morning and evening during daylight hours to greet visitors and to conduct fee compliance checks. The Recreation Manager will coordinate with the host regarding the time of day to complete maintenance duties. Days off will be taken mid-week on Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday. The host is not required to stay on site during days off. The campground host site parking spur is 12’x 50’ to accommodate a RV or camp trailer. Vault sewer, electric, water and phone service (local calls only) are provided by the Forest Service. Cell phone reception is not available in the area. Hosts must provide their own RV or camp trailer along with propane (if applicable). The use of a tent as the only means of housing is not permitted. Showers are available at the Forest Service office located approx. 1 mile away and use is encouraged to help host sewer vault from filling up. Pets may be permitted on a case by case basis. Please note that all pets must be on a leash, including host pets, within the campground. Also, ATVs, UTVs, and motorcycles must meet Montana state law (e.g., must be street legal) in order to ride on State and Forest Service roads. There is a post office in the town of Cooke City, where hosts can either pay for a PO Box or can have mail delivered via General Delivery. General Information: Full services are limited. There is a gas station, general store and a few restaurants/bars in Cooke City. The closest town with doctor services is located in Cody, WY about 1 ½ hours away. 27 sites, 6 are day-use only. Limit of two motor vehicles per site Maximum stay permitted: 16 days Average parking size: 12′ x 40′ Hook ups: Host site only Number of restrooms: 5 (single unit vaults) Food and attractant storage regulations are in effect to prevent wildlife/human conflicts Fee and Regulation Compliance: Ensuring that campers pay their fees is one of the host’s primary duties. Fees collected at the site pay for the host’s utilities, water, site improvements, and law enforcement patrols. Campground hosts conduct both morning and evening checks to verify that campers have paid their fees and are abiding by vehicle limits and campground rules. The host records fee permit and license plate information that is submitted to the Forest Service to verify payment. Hosts request that visitors pay the fee when they have failed to do so. Hosts also inform visitors about general regulations including: food storage, quiet hours (10 p.m.-6 a.m.), parking, and leashing pets. Campground Maintenance: All supplies, tools, and equipment are provided by the Forest Service. Ensuring a clean and well-maintained campground for the public is of the utmost importance. Hosts will be asked to perform the following: Cleaning and stocking restrooms Shoveling and cleaning out fire rings Mowing / line trimming (as needed) Reporting vandalism or facilities that are in need of repair Litter pick up Collecting and hauling trash to the waste station Painting picnic tables Installing/repairing site number signs Volunteering as a campground host for the US Forest Service provides a great service to the public, and most hosts find the experience rewarding. We thank you for your interest in volunteering for the Custer Gallatin National Forest. Applicants must submit: a volunteer application on volunteer.gov if requested, a resume with past work or volunteer experience and three references agree to a background investigation completed by the Forest Service if tentatively selected for the position If you have questions or are interested in this position, feel free to contact David Green at the Cooke City Workstation at (406)-838-2007 or by email david.green1@usda.gov we look forward to hearing from you! HOUSING & AMENITIESType: Trailer/RV PadsDescription: The campground host site parking spur is 12’x 50’ to accommodate the host’s RV or camp trailer. Electric, water, vault sewer, and phone service (local calls only) are provided by the Forest Service. Cell phone coverage is not available in the area.