Volunteer Opportunities VIP (Volunteers in Parks)

Campground Hosts
Camp host duties vary according to each park but generally include providing visitor information, staffing visitor centers and museums, maintenance projects and general housekeeping.

Many parks have full hookups with equipped restrooms and showers. For those who prefer a more rustic setting, there are parks with little or no hookups or commercial amenities. When applying as a park or campground host, make sure the location that interests you has the appropriate hookups for your needs.

For a complete list of California State Parks that use volunteers and/or campground hosts, visit http://www.parks.ca.gov.  In addition, parks often advertise current and ongoing campground and park host openings below. 

Limekiln State Park
 This small park is located in a very remote and scenic area along the southern Big Sur coast.  The park is off Highway One, about 1.5 hours south of Monterey and about 1 hour north of Cambria.  The park boasts a mild climate, hiking trails in the redwoods, a small beach, clear running creeks and a 33 unit campground.  At least half of the campground is closed during the winter season. This is a volunteer position with duties such as visitor contact/information and firewood sales.  The position also includes occasional park operation duties such as fee collection and some maintenance/housekeeping of the park grounds and visitor facilities.  The position requires someone who is active, energetic, and hard-working!  Full hook-ups provided, no phone available and cellular phone service is unavailable in this area.  Electricity is provided by a generator/inverter system.  Maximum RV or trailer length is 30 feet.  Please contact Ranger Kyle Brady by email at kbrady@hearstcastle.com or (805) 927-2010 to leave a message.

Morro Strand State Beach
Full hook-ups at the beach in Morro Bay.  Duties include fee collection, firewood sales, public information and record keeping.  Three to six month commitment needed.
Contact Eric Knapp at (805) 772-9723 or eknap@parks.ca.gov.

Hearst San Simeon State Park
(January-April)  Camp host duties include campground registration, firewood sales, interpretation opportunities, and light maintenance duties.  Three to six months stay required.  Full hook-ups available.  Please contact Kyle Brady at (805) 927-2013 or by e-mail at kbrady@hearstcastle.com.

Volunteer Opportunities VIP (Volunteers in Parks)

How you can Help

Campground Hosts
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=911

Cooperating Associations
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=976

Volunteers in Parks
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=886

Volunteer Program Guide
VIPP Application
http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/886/files/vipp.pdf

Information on Dogs
http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/735/files/flyerdogslionhr.pdf

Snowy Plover
http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/735/files/flyerploverhr.pdf