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Hosting with Georgia State Parks

Come to a state park in Georgia, chances are, the first people you see in the campground are our hosts. The campground host program is one of our most popular volunteer opportunities. In exchange for a free campsite and utilities for your RV or motorhome, hosts serve the park and the public. Retired couples often find it an ideal way to spend a few months. Hosts commit to a minimum of 2 months and up to a maximum of 6 months. Hosts contribute a minimum of 24 hours per week per couple. We require hosts to register with us to be insured and to submit and clear criminal background checks for all participants in the hosting program.

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Steps to Apply to Host with Georgia State Parks

1. You must be available at least 2 months for the minimum assignment (choose a currently open space with at least 2 months remaining)
2. View openings at all parks, or choose a park above in gray search bar
   • Campground Host Openings
   • Golf Host Openings
   • Historic Site Openings
   • Excursion Train Host Openings
3. On the host timeline, click a GREEN LINE to apply
4. Fill out the answers as completely as possible

It is best to be specific about the sites you are applying for, this will help us in directing your application more expeditiously. Parks and staff rely on this information for initial screening so please include what will make you marketable as a host for Georgia State Parks. Not every application can be approved, it is best to find several parks where you would be willing to serve.

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Resources

• Volunteer/Host Manual
• Host Agreement

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Log Your Volunteer & Hosting Hours

Please enter your volunteer hours online. This helps us show the tremendous level of support volunteers provide to Georgia State Parks!

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Host Orientation Videos & Interviews

• Introduction to Hosting (with favorite things about hosting, Park Ranger orientation, and advice to new hosts)
• Host Work Schedules
• Registering Guests After Hours at Reed Bingham and Host interviews
• Equestrian Hosting
• SAM Shortline Excursion Train Host
• Campsite Cleaning Procedures
• Customer Service
• Golf Course Host: Coming Soon

Volunteer at Georgia State Parks Facebook

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Host Descriptions

Campground Host

Provide information and explain rules and regulations to visitors
Assist visitors with services available
Collection of fees from visitors (as long as it is in compliance with authorized procedures)
Distribute maps and brochures to visitors
Perform light maintenance work around the campground such as picking up litter, cleaning and stocking restroom facilities
Perform emergency repairs
Perform emergency assistance for visitors such as unlocking gate in emergency situation, and keeping first aid kit on hand for minor cuts and abrasions
Help reduce litter and vandalism (mainly by your presence)
Gather information on use of facilities
Keep park staff informed of any problems
Work in the visitors center and retail centers
Perform other duties as appropriate

Maintenance Host

The maintenance hosts work only with the maintenance staff at the park taking on projects to keep the park looking good. These can include: mowing, trimming, leaf blowing, building new campsites, pressure washing, and electrical repairs to name a few. The maintenance staff will determine what projects meet the volunteer's skills and build the duties that way. The host doesn't interact with the public as much in this role.

Yurt Host

The yurt host is where the host is responsible for the yurt section of the park. Going in prior to a reservation and make sure that the yurt is ready for occupancy as well as doing a final clean up afterwards.  Guests bring their own linens for yurts. Generally, turn over would be wiping down all surfaces and emptying the trash. Yurts are unique to most folks in Georgia so being a Yurt Host can also mean showing the guests where things are inside as yurt and also showing them where the closest bathhouse is. It is always good customer service to know about the park amenities and local businesses/restaurants to meet their needs.

Golf Course Host

To help the staff at our golf course enhance the experience for our guests who utilize the golfing facilities.

Requirements

• Ability to work with people in a team environment
• Ability to provide excellent customer service
• Some experience working in a volunteer capacity
• Good physical condition needed for course management duties, including possible lifting, maintenance, cleaning, ladder work, etc.
• Maintain committed schedule for host slot allotted
• Some experience working with groups
• Plus the requirements of all Georgia State Park and Historic Sites Volunteers

Time Required

24 hours per person per week; may vary from course to course depending on need.

Supervision

Required daily contact with the course assigned supervisor.

Duties

The duties of the golf host may vary from course to course. The day usually begins around 7:00 a.m. For detailed list see the Volunteer Welcome Packet.

• Around the Driving Range
• Patrol Golf Course for Trash
• Patrol Golf Course and Clubhouse for Routine Maintenance
• Customer Service

Excursion Train Host

Requirements

• Ability to work with people in a team environment
• Ability to work for long hours on days scheduled
• Knowledge of trains, electrical, construction, landscaping a plus
• Must have a customer service and people-person driven personality
• Must attend training and orientation regarding operations and safety of volunteering on the train
• Must be cheerful and helpful to passengers at all times
• And other duties as required for the smooth, successful functioning of train operations

Time Required

24 hours per person per week; may vary depending on season and train schedule.

Train Handbook for Train Volunteers

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Other Hosting Opportunities

FIND Outdoors – Actively Recruiting Hosts

FIND Outdoors, formerly the Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association, is actively recruiting individuals in the areas of campground management, maintenance, and hosting, plus environmental education and retail. Campground Hosts provide light campground work in exchange for a campsite and full hookups. Visitor Center hosts greet visitors, provide information and run gift shops in exchange for a site and full hookups. FIND Outdoors has hosting opportunities in the mountains of Georgia and North Carolina and in Indiana. More information can be found at https://find.catsone.com/careers/.

 

McDuffie Public Fishing Area

Looking for campground hosts to help out at the McDuffie Public Fishing Area (PFA).  McDuffie PFA primarily consists of three operations: the public fishing area (7 public fishing lakes), a warmwater fish hatchery, and an environmental education center.  Primary host duties include campground maintenance and camper registration, cleaning bath houses, customer service, evening rounds, general landscaping, etc.  In addition to the primary host duties, hosts are potentially able to assist with all three area operations and experience the inner-workings of pond management and fish hatchery work.  Hosts receive a free RV site (with 50-amp power, water, sewer, laundry, and wifi) overlooking the largest of our 7 fishing lakes in exchange for 24 hours of work per week.  A state truck is provided.  8-month maximum stay.  For more information about the area and our hosting opportunities, please visit: http://georgiawildlife.com/mcduffie-pfa or contact area manager Lewis Boykin at lewis.boykin@dnr.ga.gov or 706-595-1684.

 

Chehaw Park

Looking for a friendly and honest couple to serve as volunteer campground hosts. We are a 786 acre Park located in Albany on the banks of Lake Chehaw and Muckalee Creek. Amenities at the park include an AZA accredited Zoo Play Park, Splash Park, hiking and mountain bike trails, BMX bicycle track, 18 hole disc golf course, RC Track, stocked catfish pond, boat dock on Lake Chehaw, rental shelters, and campgrounds. We offer a free 30/50 amp full hookup pull through site with water, sewer, and Wi-Fi in exchange for 24 hours of work per week. Duties would include greeting campers, maintaining campsites, and monitoring campgrounds. Visit our website, chehaw.org for more information on the park. Contact the Park & Zoo Director Morgan Burnette at mburnette@chehaw.org if interested.

 

Towns Bluff RV Park and Campground

Volunteer Camp Host

Looking for an honest, hard working, and friendly couple or single to serve as volunteer camp hosts. We are a small, quiet, county-maintained park located in the piney woods of south Georgia on the banks of the Altamaha River in the Bullard Creek Wildlife Management Area, near Hazlehurst, Georgia. We have a 25 site campground, primitive area, boat ramp, nature trails and day-use area. We offer a free hookup site with power, water, sewer, laundry, and wi-fi in exchange for a flexible 20 hours per week in host duties. Duties would include greeting and registering campers, cleaning restrooms, checking the day-use area of the park, and various others as needed. A park truck and two days off are provided. For more information about the park, visit www.townsbluffpark.com or contact park managers at 912-379-9303 or info@townsbluffpark.com.

 

Clybel WMA

Looking for hosts to monitor camping activities on a primitive campground, pick up litter at the campground, and provide services or information to the campers. Hosts must have cleared criminal background check. Link to the Clybel WMA area: www.georgiawildlife.com/CharlieElliott/Hunting. For more information on the roles and hosting opportunity at Clybel WMA, contact Cheyenne Whitetree at 770-784-3059 or email Cheyenne.whitetree@dnr.ga.gov.

 

Jekyll Island Campground (Jekyll Island, Georgia) **Spring/Summer months only

Accepting applications for a friendly, energetic, hardworking retired couple or retired single person. We have 3 positions that we use Host Volunteers (bath houses, checking in guest after store hours, grounds). Come and enjoy “Georgia’s Jewel”. The campground, with over 170 campsites, consists of 18 acres under a canopy of trees with beautiful scenery. Host is provided a full hook up site that includes (power, water, sewer, cable, wi-fi). Host must be able to work 24 hours/week in exchange for site rental with a minimum of 3–6 months max. Come join our team here at Jekyll Island Campground in Southeast Georgia on the Atlantic Ocean. Email resumes to Ronnie Douglas at rdouglas@jekyllisland.com. Check out our website at www.jekyllisland.com.

 

Saint Simons Island Land Trust at Cannon’s Point Preserve

The St. Simons Land Trust is looking for an enthusiastic, hardworking, honest and dedicated couple or single to join our team at Cannon’s Point Preserve as RV Camp Host. Cannon’s Point Preserve is a 608-acre wilderness Preserve owned by the St. Simons Land Trust and protected by a conservation easement held by The Nature Conservancy. We are located on the north end of St. Simons Island along the Hampton Rover, overlooking Little St. Simons Island. We have roughly ten miles of dirt roads and trails, over 470 acres of maritime forest, a non-motorize boat launch and historic plantation ruins. We are open to the public 3 days each week. We offer a camp site with free power, septic and water hook ups in return for 24 hours of work Friday through Monday. Hosts must have a clear criminal background check. For more information on Cannon’s Point Preserve please visit: http://www.sslt.org/index.php/cannon-s-point
For more information on the hosting oppurtunity at Cannon’s Point Preserve please contact Preserve Manager, Stephanie Knox at sknox@sslt.org or call our office at 912-638-9109.

 

Bobby Brown Park, Elbert County Parks & Recreation Department

Maintenance Host Position

Bobby Brown Park is looking for a Volunteer Maintenance Host who is friendly, energetic and hard-working to become part of the team at the park. Duties will include, but not limited to: equipment repairs and maintenance, minor plumbing and electrical repairs, grass cutting, bathroom cleaning and other general park maintenance. We have 58 campsites, two picnic shelters, group shelter, picnic area, trails, pedal boat rentals and a pioneer camping area. In this position, you will be offered a free campsite with power, water, sewer and laundry facilities in exchange for 24 to 30 flexible hours per week. The host must clear a criminal background check. If you don’t mind a little hard work and enjoy being around people and fellow campers, this is the job for you! Bobby Brown is located on the southeastern tip of Elbert County on Clarks Hill Lake.
For more information, please contact Danny Burt, Park Manager, at (706) 283-5500.

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Contact Information

For more information on volunteering, contributing your time, or to receive your copy of the volunteer information packet, please contact:
kendra.barnett1@dnr.ga.gov
770-389-7262

Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites Headquarters
2600 Highway 155 SW
Stockbridge, GA 30281

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Click on a green baran Available link below to apply to be a Campground host.