California state parks always looking for camp hosts

The California State Park system has more than 270 state parks. Miles of breathtaking coastline, remarkable wetlands, majestic redwood forests, beautiful deserts and colorful valleys provide a variety found nowhere else in the world. Volunteer camp host positions are available at more than 100 parks.

Host duties vary according to each park but generally include providing visitor information, staffing visitor centers and museums, maintenance projects and general housekeeping. Most hosts work approximately 20 hours a week and, in exchange for those services, they receive a campsite during their stay.

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, the State Park Districts and Parks file provides a helpful overview. In addition, parks often advertise current and ongoing campground and park host openings below.

---

RVs for sale
Motorhomes, Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, Truck Campers, Pop ups and much more. See the big selection at NewRVer.com. Click here

---

Oregon seeks camp hosts for next summer

Looking for a camp hosting position next summer? If you've got an RV and want to grab a little of Oregon's summer sunshine, then the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife wants to hear from you.

The agency is currently accepting applications for next year's volunteer host positions at the state's wildlife areas, fish hatcheries and field offices.

“This is a great way to travel around and discover new parts of Oregon,” said Jennell Hoehne, volunteer coordinator for ODFW’s Northwest Region in Clackamas, Ore. “Most of our sites are in close proximity to mountains, streams and trails and offer high-quality, low-cost access to boundless recreational opportunities.”

The volunteers stay at a location between one to three months. Duties vary with each site, but typically include groundskeeping, maintenance and clerical work but can also entail more unusual activities like feeding fish, banding waterfowl, baiting bears and counting deer and elk. For more information, click here.

Too many days away from home? Take the family

Michael Santarcangelo travels up to 100 days away from home. Tired of it, he bought a large motorhome and now takes his family with him. His New York-based Internet security company has clients all over so he has to travel many miles each year. By taking his family along, he gets to spend time with his wife and kids and see them grow up.

His two children, 5 and 3, are homeschooled. Stops along the way become part of their lessons.

While most RVers are older, more families are finding ways to earn a living and travel at the same time. If you have your own business or work as an independent contractor, it is easier than if you try to pick up jobs along the way. There are pros and cons to traveling as a family, but at least the family is together. Read the full article. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on running your business or working as an independent contractor on the road, see Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road at RVBookstore.com.

Before you leave your job

It's the end of the season and you are gearing up to leave. Before you leave, ask for an appraisal. If the employer doesn't do a formal, sitdown appraisal, ask how you did. Find out if there were areas the employer thought you could improve upon. This can be insightful.

If you get positive feedback and/or are asked to come back next year, ask if the employer will write a letter of recommendation for your files. You might even be asked to write it yourself! Letters of recommendation can be photocopied and sent with resumes - an instant positive reference.

If, by chance, your appraisal or feedback is not positive, this may not be an employer you want to include in your list of references. In any case, do your best to find out why. For example:

• If it is a personality difference, look honestly at yourself. Did your behavior contribute to the problem? Workampers who have been used to running a business or a department sometimes have difficulty doing what they are told instead of offering suggestions the boss does not want to hear.
• Are you lacking skills in a certain area? If so, see about acquiring those skills or pick a different type of work. For example, if you had to use a computer and found it difficult, take classes this winter or work in an area where computers aren't needed.
• Was the work too much for you physically? If you couldn't stand as much as required or lift the weight needed, make sure this is not an element of your next job or that the employer is willing to accommodate you.
• If you are told you didn't get along with people, look honestly at yourself. Would you be happier working on your own? Or in a situation that was less customer-intense? Look for jobs next year that meet that need.

By now, most RVers have serious hitch-itch and can't wait to get back on the road. Take the time to get feedback from your current employer before leaving and learn from it. Find out what you need to change or improve upon. You may want to make these changes. Or, you may want to focus on different jobs/employers for next year. Either is ok. We're learning as we go. It is always valuable to find out what you don't like so you can focus on what you do like. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com.