Job Description
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Campground Hosts serve as Forest Service as “eyes and ears” in designated day-use recreation sites where camping is permitted in a high-use urban forest setting. Hosts are assigned a camping area where they are assigned a variety of host duties. One of the most important tasks is to greet forest visitors with pertinent local information and reminders of Forest Service rules and regulations. Hosts also inform the public about camper safety, answer question related to local recreational opportunity, and report compliance and maintenance problems to appropriate Forest Service personnel. Hosts are required to keep a daily log of overnight visitors as well as be able to open and close access gates at designated times when determined necessary. The ability to conduct light maintenance, such as monitoring restrooms, picking up ground litter, general painting, and tree trimming/vegetation control is required of all host positions. Volunteers are not to act in a law enforcement capacity.
Requirements for Volunteers
- Be a U.S. citizen and provide a permanent mailing address.
- Pass a background check and possess a valid state driver’s license.
- Volunteer 24 hours weekly, including weekends, and commit to 90 days contagious service as a host.
- Provide your own personal camping accommodations maintained to be welcoming and approachable by the public.
- Be able to be self-sustained in a dry camping environment.
- Be in good physical condition and have a positive and helpful attitude.
- Be able to work safely without daily supervision.
- Be prepared to work under varied conditions, including inclement weather.
- Provide a professional reference to verify experience.
- Represent the Forest Service to the public in a respectful manner.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Hosts represent the Forest Service as “eyes and ears” in designated day-use recreation sites in a high-use urban forest settingand report any questionable or illegal activity to Forest Service Protection Officers or Law Enforcement Officers.
- Hosts greet forest visitors with pertinent local information and reminders of Forest Service camping rules and regulations.
- Hosts are required to keep a daily log (provided) of overnight visitors.
- Hosts are expected to encourage fee compliance and relay fee information to campers.
- Hosts are expected to be able to conduct light maintenance activities, such as monitoring restrooms, picking up ground litter, general painting, and conduct tree trimming and other vegetation control measures to promote an enjoyable recreation experience.
- Hosts recognize and remove hazards which can be considered unsafe for visitors or notify appropriate Forest Service recreation technicians or program manager of liability concerns.
- Hosts may be asked to lock entrance gates in your assigned camping area at 10:00 pm and open them at 6:00 am. For safety purposes, daily hosting activities should conclude at sunset.
- Hosts maintain a positive and helpful attitude towards forest visitors and other volunteers that you may be assigned to work with.
- Hosts accept full responsibility for personal actions and any inappropriate behavior unbecoming to a Forest Service volunteer.
- Hosts set a positive example to other forest visitors by keeping a clean and presentable campsite and encouraging common courtesy throughout the campground.
Additional Information
As a Campground Host you will be looked upon by the visiting public as the first person they will consider for information regarding the area and their National Forest. The Volunteer Campground Host Program is an integral part of the district recreation program in providing quality experience and safe environment to the visiting public Campground Hosts, with all forest service employees, have the responsibility of representing the Forest Service in carrying out the mission “Caring for the Land and Serving people”.
Campground hosts will be required to complete 24 hours of work per week, including weekends when use of the recreation sites is at peak. Furthermore, Hosts need to be able to commit to a consecutive 90-day appointment. Campground fees shall be waived for each host with an active volunteer agreement. Utilities are not available in camping areas and all fuel reimbursements are only considered with prior approval of the program manager. Forest Service key, hat, and vest may be provided (if required) along with any tools and supplies necessary for maintenance of the campground. All property and maintenance equipment checked-out to volunteers shall be adequately secured when not in use and returned to the program manager at the end of the camping season on or before April 15th.
Campground Hosts are by NO means law enforcement officers and will NOT confront Forest visitors as such. There is nothing in your duties as Campground Host worth jeopardizing your safety. If you, as a host, recognize a minor violation then you are encouraged to point it out in a helpful and informative manner to the person in violation. Hosts are NOT to involve themselves in an argument or antagonize the person or persons in violation. In all situations where the likelihood of confrontation is elevated, please contact Forest Service personnel or law enforcement to take appropriate action.
In cases where a host chooses to come in contact with a visitor, it should be no more than a friendly encounter. The potential for hosts to be involved in an unfriendly situation or serious conflict does exist, especially in high-use urban forest settings. This is why we cannot overemphasize your personal safety.
Training
Volunteers will be briefed on relevant Forest Service policies and will be included in formal and other specialized training sessions (when available) at district offices. Volunteers must attend all mandatory safety trainings related to their volunteer position. Eligible volunteers who wish to obtain a Forest Service drivers’ license must take the Forest Service Defensive Driving class and be tested as a federally licensed vehicle operator.
Time Commitment
24 hours of volunteer work per week, including weekends, during a contiguous 90 days commitment.
See application information at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tonto/workingtogether/volunteering/?cid=stelprdb5445508