Maintenance
Volunteer
Job Description
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Campground Host for Dinosaur National Monument campgrounds in Colorado
DATES: 3/1/2021 – 10/31/2021
The Campground Host is responsible for visitor services, river trip check-in compliance, and basic custodial duties at their assigned campground within Dinosaur National Monument. There are three campgrounds on the Colorado side: Echo Park, Deerlodge, and Gates of Lodore.
The Echo Park Campground is located at the heart of Dinosaur National Monument near the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers. It is accessed off a high-clearance recommended dirt road 38 miles north of the Canyon Visitor Center and approximately 90 minutes from nearest groceries. The campgrond has 20 sites and one reservable group site with picnic tables and firepits. Water is available mid-May to mid-September. The host stays in a primitive cabin with solar power.
Deerlodge Campground is located on the east end of Dinosaur National Monument approximately 25 miles from any services and 55 miles from groceries. The campground has seven sites suitable for tents, each site with a picnic table and fire pit. There is running water (mid-May to mid-July only) and vault toilets only. The host stays in a cabin with running water that is solar powered and has a propane refrigerator.
The Gates of Lodore Campground is located on the north end of Dinosaur National Monument approximately 55 miles from the nearest location with any services and 85 miles from groceries. The Lodore Campground has 19 sites. There are two sets of vault toilets for the campground and four spigots for potable water access during the summer. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit or grill. Firewood collecting is prohibited on site, but users are allowed to bring their own. Payment for the campsites is via a self-pay station located near the Ranger Station. An electric golf cart is available for host/staff use for maintenance and cleaning duties. There are two host sites: one trailer pad with RV hook-ups and a picnic table, and a furnished one bedroom apartment attached to the Ranger Station.
The boat ramps at the Lodore and Deerlodge Campgrounds serves as the launch site for overnight trips on the Green and Yampa Rivers through Dinosaur. During the high use season there can be 4 or 5 groups (private and commercial) putting on the river a day with up to 25 people in each group. The ramp can be very busy and direct oversight is pertinent to visitor safety and coordination. Each group needs to be checked in and hosts or rangers need to verify their trip leader and equipment checklist.
Campground Host duties will include staffing the Host RV site (or residence) and making multiple trips throughout the campground during operating hours and providing boat ramp and permit duties during peak boater hours. The Host meets and greets visitors and provides general orientation about camping, hiking, history, wildlife and recreating in the park. The Host monitors visitor activities and reports any noncompliance of park policies or regulations to the law enforcement division of the park.
The Host will be responsible for restocking toilet facilities and maintaining a consistent cleanliness of the camp facilities, including fire rings. The Host reports any repair/replacement needs to the supervisor upon identification of the need. The Host will also provide light landscaping services to maintain campsite designations and professional appearance of facilities.
Hosts may be asked to assist with management of persons during animal encounters and/or wildfire situations.
All three of these campgrounds are situated in scenic view spots along the river banks. They offer fantastic views and experiences for those staying and working in them but require self-sufficient volunteers to help make them successful operations.