Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d000000lzR0AAI/2023-campground-host-lowman-rd
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ADDRESS: Lowman Ranger District; 7359 Highway 21; Lowman, Idaho 83637
DEPT: Forest Service
DATES: 5/19/2023 – 9/15/2023
DESCRIPTION:
On the beautiful Lowman Ranger District, you are surrounded by mountains, rivers, wildlife, lakes, trails (motorized and non-motorized) and roughly two hours from the city of Boise. If you want to experience the small-town mountain life and atmosphere, this is the place. The Frank Church River of No Return wilderness is nearby, as is the Sawtooth Mountain Range. The South Fork of the Payette River is known for its white water and scenic beauty.
Host sites include: Kirkham Hot Springs, ID and Elk Creek, ID. Elk Creek hosts will start June 19th.
A free campsite will be provided for the Host(s) who must have a self-contained RV or trailer. Water is available to fill your tank from a hand pump well or will be delivered once a week. A dump tank is available at the host site. There are normally NO electric hook-ups. Tools and supplies will be furnished by the Forest Service.
Kirkham Hot Springs, ID
Kirkham Hot Springs is located next to the South Fork of the Payette River. The springs are just east of Lowman, Idaho along Highway 21 at an elevation of 4000 feet. Visitors enjoy soaking in the hot springs on the banks of the river and exploring the popular 35 mile long Kirkham Ridge Trail. From the parking area a short trail with a staircase leads visitors down to the soaking pools and small steaming waterfalls next to the river. The South Fork of the Payette offers whitewater rafting, kayaking, and trout fishing. Kirkham Hot Springs encounters high use during the summer season and has multiple picnic tables, two vaults, and garbage service available.
Bear Valley Campground is located along Bear Valley Creek which is one of the major headwater streams for the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.
The campground is well shaded by a stand of lodgepole pine. However, many of the trees in the area are beginning to die due to a mountain pine beetle infestation.
Use is moderate to high during the summer months and hunting season, and the campground is often full on weekends.
Access to the campground is normally not available until June.
Fir Creek Campground is located along Forest Service Road 579 near the in beautiful but remote Bear Valley at an elevation of 6,400 feet. It is adjacent to the Frank Church – River of No Return Wilderness and scenic Elk Creek. Situated in a high mountain meadow dotted with Douglas fir and lodgepole pine amid the peaks of the Sawtooth Range, it is a perfect summer retreat.
Deer Flat Campground is a primitive camp – there are no amenities. Therefore, there are no fees. It is located along the North Fork of Deer Creek which is a small tributary of Deer Creek. The campground is well shaded by lodgepole pine and Douglas-Fir. The site is seldom used except during fall hunting seasons.
A subsistence reimbursement allowance is available. Many of the campgrounds require driving on gravel roads. There is no cell phone coverage at the campsites. Boise, Cascade, Crouch, and Stanley are the closest towns for grocery shopping and resupply depending on the campground you will be working.
Adults are preferred, as are seniors or a family. The start and end dates of this opportunity will vary depending on weather conditions/snow.
As a Campground Host, you will typically be expected to:
- Greet campers
- Give directions
- Answer questions
- Hand out pamphlets if available
- Help campers feel at home
- Perform minor maintenance and inspect the campground
- Clean and stock restrooms
- Keep records
- Fill out forms
- Inform the Recreation Specialist or Recreation Technicians of needs and issues
A Host must work well with people, be personable and neat in appearance. Because our hosts work independently, they must know how to interact with visitors in a calm and professional manner yet know when to take steps to contact local law enforcement for additional help when a situation requires it.
The Host may be required to be on-site 5 days per week, especially on weekends and high-visitation holidays. A Host must generally be physically able to perform some raking, shoveling and sweeping. The most important job as a Campground Host is to provide an enjoyable camping experience for the public. The Host is the first and sometimes the only contact with campground users, though Forest Service personnel will patrol the campgrounds daily or as often as possible.