Campground Volunteer Host

FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a09SJ00000Jxv5p

ADDRESS: 24 Fort Missoula Road  Missoula, Montana, 59804

DATES: 2026-05-12

DEPT: Forest Service

JOB DESCRIPTION:

This U.S. Forest Service volunteer position is a fantastic opportunity to live and work on the Lolo National Forest in western Montana, providing public service while hosting and maintaining the beautiful Lee Creek Campground and day use picnic area. A stipend or salary is not provided.

 Lee Creek Campground is a 22-site fee campground located 25 miles west (30 minutes) from the town of Lolo along scenic Highway 12 (paved, two-lane) and approximately 35 miles (45 minutes) southwest of the city of Missoula. The campground sits at an elevation of 4200 ft, surrounded by lodgepole, larch, Ponderosa pine, and spruce forest, and adjacent to both Lee and Lolo Creeks. This campground is divided into a lower and upper loop with paved roads and parking areas. Campground amenities include restrooms, dumpsters, water, fire rings, picnic tables, and tent pads.

 Volunteer campground hosts are front-line representatives of the United States Forest Service, and there is a high level of public interaction and customer service expected. This is a great position for people who enjoy sharing their love of public land with other members of the visiting public. Volunteer service is greatly appreciated and is critical to achieving our Agency’s mission of Caring for the Land and Serving People! 

General duties include:  Hosting: Being a courteous, professional, and friendly host to forest visitors while representing the Agency, Information sharing: Providing visitor information including recreational opportunities, rules, and regulations, Upkeep and maintenance: Maintaining the campground and picnic site to a level directed by forest service recreation staff,  Monitoring: Monitoring fee compliance and adherence to rules and regulations,  Cooperating: Working effectively and positively with Forest Service staff

The Lee Creek Campground host must be available from approximately mid-May (5/12) through Labor Day, 2026. Hosts volunteer five days a week, including weekends and holidays, typically on duty 2-4 hours per day, averaging around 20 hours per week. For a typical day, hosts are on duty morning and evening during daylight hours to greet visitors and to conduct fee compliance checks. The Forest Service 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, and the host is not required to stay on site during days off.

 The campground host site parking spur is paved (12’x 58’) to accommodate a RV or camp trailer. A secondary pull-out is provided for the host’s personal vehicle. Electricity (30A,50A 120v), water, vault sewer, garbage, and land-line phone service (local calls only) are provided by the Forest Service. Previous hosts have chosen to pay for additional long-distance phone service using pre-paid calling cards. Please note that there is no internet available at this location. Cell phone reception is available within a few miles of the town of Lolo.

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. Pets may be permitted with prior Forest Service approval 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 (must be street legal) to ride on State and Forest Service roads.

General Information:

–    Full services including groceries, gas, and restaurants are available nearby, in Lolo and Missoula; Lower loop: 5 sites host site located at site #5; Upper loop: 17 sites; Day Use Picnic area: 1 site; Campground fee rate: $15.00 per day/ $4.00 for an extra vehicle; Limit of two motor vehicles per site; Average parking apron size: 12′ x 40′;  Number of parking pull throughs: 7; Hook ups: Host site only; Number of restrooms: 4 (single unit vault toilets);  Number of water spigots: 7;  Number of dumpsters: 3 (with Monday pick-up);  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 garbage service, water, site improvements, law enforcement patrols and hosts utilities. 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 weekly. Hosts request that visitors pay the fee when they have failed to do so and inform visitors about general regulations including food storage, quiet hours (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.), parking, and leashing pets. Hosts are required to wear a volunteer uniform polo shirt or jacket while conducting rounds.

Campground Maintenance: All supplies, tools, equipment, and host uniform components are provided by the Forest Service. Ensuring a clean and well-maintained campground for the public is of utmost importance. Daily campground maintenance duties include:  Cleaning and stocking restrooms, Shoveling and cleaning out fire rings, Monitoring the water system to ensure it is operating properly, Mowing / line trimming (as needed), Sweeping parking spurs (handheld blower is provided) and roadways, as needed, Reporting vandalism or facilities that need repair, Litter pick-up,  Painting picnic tables

Tagged as: SUMMER '26