By Brenda Odom
We have been campers for more than 30 years; we have been work campers for the past five of those. Before that, we spent a year managing a large coastal RV resort. In other words, I doubt we would be called “newbies.”
During our journey we have enjoyed the privilege of serving fellow campers, sharing whatever knowledge we have acquired along the way, meeting new friends and giving back to the community as volunteers. We have the Shutterfly albums, the campground patches, and the hiking medallions to prove it.
As I write this, my husband and I are taking a quick break from our current camp host duties. Below is a quick recap of just the first few hours of our day.
Work campers, the day-to-day
- Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. Check-out time is 1:00 p.m. It is not even 11:30 a.m. yet and campers are lined up waiting to come in! (Shown in the photo above.) If you do the math, camp hosts should have three hours to clean and prepare sites. As near as I can figure, the above scenario results in a negative 1.5 hours of time to do our jobs. I am not even sure how to work backward!
- As we cleaned sites this morning, we actually had waiting campers tell us it was okay with them if we did not clean the site… they just wanted in! Actually, we would love to not have to clean; we could just sit in our chairs and watch the caravan roll by. But we are old folks with that “work ethic” thing going, so we follow the requirements of our host park, which requires work campers to sanitize sites, spray touched surfaces with disinfectant (re COVID precautions), clean fire pits, and rake gravel sites to remove trash. We actually carry a sharps container just in case we find something undesirable that could harm you or your children. And when you say it is “okay” for us not to clean so you can ignore check-in time, then the trash in your fire pit and that big pile of dog poo left behind becomes your problem, not ours.
- A few campers are leaving. Many will wait until check out time; several of those will exceed that time and when politely reminded, will look us dead in the eye and say, “Yes, we know.” (Translation: We are not leaving until we are good and ready.) I can’t swear to it, but I suspect these are the same ones who pulled in well before checkout time expecting to find a site!
- One especially large Class A, pulling a 20’ trailer tall enough to stand in, has requested that my husband precede him as he leaves, trimming overhanging limbs along the way so that his McMotorhome won’t get scratched. This is a state park. We try hard, but there is no concierge service.
Becoming “just campers” once again
As I think about the above scenarios, I find myself tired, wanting a shower, and desperately needing to keep the good memories alive and untarnished by those of this brave new post-COVID-camping culture. And so we have both decided to become “just” campers once again.
We will camp during the week when things are quieter and we will avoid 200-site campgrounds with the crowds, the noise, the expensive glamping amenities, and search for the small town communities where folks are content to hike the trails, visit with neighbors, read a book, relax in their hammocks and smell the campfires and the fresh air. We will return to our camping roots and seek places where folks leave their sites clean, keep their music low, pick up after their pets and children, and abandon their privileged attitudes at the gate.
Those places are out there. I know they are. But I’m not telling where: That is a secret best kept for retired work campers.
Why RVtravel.com exists and where you fit in: “RVs don’t break down. RV roofs do not leak.”
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What annoys me is RV’ers call themselves campers. Holy Moly, riding around in a fancy RV is NOT camping. TV, Internet, stereo, electronics, recliners, microwave ovens, regular ovens, electric this and that (awnings, sides, etc). That is NOT camping. It is some kind of glorified stay in the outdoors where you haul a ton of material possessions to an outdoor location and then claim you are “camping”. What a joke. For all you who are looking for peace and quiet, go camping. Bring a tent and reserve a non-electric site. My guess is you will find some peace and quiet.
Right!
Boy O Boy reading all responses below NOW even the old folks are a now a big part of that IT’S ALL ABOUT ME generation!
I guess you read it one way and I read it another. I read that all of us are the prefect camper and it is ‘the other guy” that is the slob. BUT if all of us are perfect, there can be no “other guy”. Therefore if all of us are perfect, who is this “other guy”? unless it is one of us? I’m getting dizzy from going around in circles, however I am satisfied that I am the perfect camper, living in the perfect world, in the perfect campground – unless I somehow end up being “the other guy”. Oh my gosh!, was my Mom right? “Just remember, Mr. Big Britches, you are not always right.”
I don’t know why state parks have such late check in times. We full time and it’s really hard to drive in the afternoon as my brain feels like that is nap time and I have a hard time staying awake. Caffeine puts me to sleep so I avoid it. We seldom stay at state parks because of that. Also, since April we have been on the road on a weekly basis and no one has bothered to clean our sites, that seems to be a dead art, kudos to you for doing it.
On the other side, and I think this is funny, these millennial pains in the rear people are usually the local folks, not the full timers and not the out of staters. And I find it funny because yesterday, or the day before, there was a discussion about making out of state visitors pay more than locals to stay at local parks. So, in the end, the cleaner, nicer people will be driven away due to cost while the rude, spoiled generation will have the state parks for cheap to trash on a weekly basis.
We have been full timing for 5 years and RVing for 15. We are truly questioning why there would be a check later than 1. We are in our 70’s and leave at 11 because we don’t want to drive over 200 miles each day especially when things we want to see aren’t spaced far apart!
Camp sites are not hotels! We have watched work campers literally just drive in the site, not even get off of their golf cart to check anything and leave! No raking, no spraying utilities, not trimming branches etc.
This check in practices of 3 or 4 in the afternoon is ridiculous. Then you have to leave at 11 the next day! Done even charge if you arrive early EVEN if the site is vacant and ready!
90% of campgrounds have normal check in times. We would say if people are lined up at 1:00 to enter maybe it’s time to change the check in and check out times you have!
Keep in mind that not everyone using a campground is traveling.
Local people with a half hour or hour drive appreciate not having to be in a rush to get out by mid morning on Sundays to head home.
But, we all want all the rules to mold perfectly to our personal way of doing things. Instead, look at the rules in place and if they are intolerable then don’t stay there. Per your statement, that keeps 90% of campgrounds OK for you.
30 years ago when my desire to full time was at its peak and I was still young I thought I could supplement my retirement by work camping. 30 years ago campers were a different breed from what they are today, I couldn’t deal with todays campers who are totally “ME” generation as I would likely be fired by management when I told a me to kiss my a**.
Oh man do I feel for you! We were camp hosts for 90 days (just out of COVID) at a state park. 1:00 check out, 3:00 check in. The people who had trashed their site during their stay were the one who left their sites spotless. The ones we never saw were the problems. Pets left outside unattended all day (against park regulations) while campers wee out all day. Dirty diapers, pet waste bagged up and garbage bags in the fire pits were common from a majority of campers. Calling the police on campers due to the loud vulgarity at 1:00 a.m. happened too often. I could go on and on but all I really need to say is we won’t go through it again. And yet every spring we get a call asking us to come back. No thank you!
Boy do I ever hear you, loud and clear. My husband and I have been RV’n since 1984. Upon retirement we decided to try workamping. After 1 gig we gave up workamping and RV’n. We downsized our rv to a truck camper and only use it for road-trips. When we are traveling we mostly boondock on Harvest Host sites, avoiding RV parks as much as possible.
That 4pm check in at state parks and COE’s is a killer. Most campgrounds want you out by 11 am so, unless there is a rest stop to hole up in, most of us will get there way earlier than 4pm on a travel day. Usually, the hosts understand this and politely offer us a place to wait.
Even camping during the week can be hard now.
Thanks for your conscious work as hosts. It is appreciated.
Sad but true is the attitude of those hitting the road today. Nobody but themselves and think that trash just disappears when they leave! We have done them all ourselves and even Yellowstone in all it’s glory, you won’t believe the people that just drop whatever is in their hands and think nothing of it! Give me the peace and quiet of the desert southwest in a boon docking spot by myself! Oh, they are ruining those places as well.
So true. We’ve owned an RV for 20 years and have stopped going to most places bc there’s no peace and quiet in many of these places. Loud music and parties take over and often no one does anything about it. There are rare exceptions. Then there’s the RV places that are simply just PARKING lots with hookups, where you’re so close to your neighbors you have no privacy or peace. That’s not camping. Last time we went to a CA State park and were literally kept up all night by partiers in the next site. I’m selling the RV.
I’m going to be 56 years old, and my husband is going to be 59. I’ve been camping since I was a kid. I’m raising 2 grandkids, and both boys have Autism!! We go camping too unwind, let loose, and have a great time. The boys meet new friend’s, and so does the rest of my grandkids!! We clean up our camp sites every time, but we didn’t go camping to be told to go to bed @ a certain time, or to shut off our generator, and music!! If you want quite time, then stay home, because it’s not fair to the rest of us!!🤬🤬🤬 Yes, we all have camped next to wild people!! Everyone just needs to mind their own business!! As far as people leaving poop 💩 from their dogs, and not cleaning up the camping sites, let them know they will be charged to their credit card, if you have to clean up the sites, or they did any damage to sites!! Problem solved!! Everyone enjoy yourselves, grow up, don’t be a downer for everyone else!! 😱😱😱
Everyone needs to follow the rules of the places they camp. Why are you raising grandkids?
No loud noise past 10 (including generators) is not too much to ask imho
To my knowledge your statement Pam has and is normal protocol in most if not all paid sites, regardless of state parks, national parks. Unfortunately the strong minority use present day behavior from watching the dysfunction of our so called political leaders and those that feel its OK to behave as such! What ever happened to respect for your neighbors and those that are adversely affected? Gone, forever?
I’m sorry, but I can’t accept this commentary, and I have a grandchild with Autism. It’s about common courtesy. I have never seen a campground without quiet hours. There may be exceptions with unnecessary rules, but basic rules are good for everyone.
You need to follow the rules! If you can’t then stay home!
A campground is not a disco/nightclub THAT is for your stick built home. Wait, if you party most likely the police will be called. I get it now. Yeap that mind set is what is ruining camping.
So turn the campground into a rave. Where every camper can be loud and party til 2:00 am, although the exhausted neighbor has an infant trying to sleep. Check the campground rules for quiet times, if the rules don’t work for your music volume then party at home. Your rules go both ways. Stay home and party. The worst camper is the one that thinks the rules should apply to them.
Old saying: “Raise your kids right or you will be raising your grandkids.”
Reading the rest of this post, i feel for the grandkids.
You are the ones that can’t follow rules because you think you’re entitled. Just because your grand kids have autism doesn’t mean you should be instilling values and respect.
Rules were put into place because of people just like you , who do not respect anyone but themselves. If you do not want to follow the rules, then stay home.
If I read your comment correctly, you are saying since the kids have autism you are entitled to stay up all night running your generator and playing loud music & ignore the campground rules. And those of us who respect the rules, act right & demonstrate self-control need to grow up and not be a downer because it’s not fair to you. Did I miss anything?
Your first problem could be partially solved by changing your check-out and check-in times. In our part of the west, checkout is 11 AM and check-in is 1 PM. Your check-in time of 4 PM leaves no time for campers to get set up and enjoy the afternoon. And when it comes to cleaning sites, many people leave our camp sites shortly after breakfast. So cleaning starts earlier than 11 AM. And then, most campers stay for several days so all sites don’t have to be cleaned daily.
GOOD ANSWER, David!
My husband and I both empathize with you. We live in FL where everyone has flocked to. We were full timers for 4 years and did work camping post covid. After not being able to go to our favorite (quiet) camping spots during the week due to there being no availability, we both agreed to put both work camping and camping on hold until these post covid attitude-filled campers calm down a bit. Life was much simpler and more quiet prior to covid.
These so called campers are ruining it for all of us. It’s more relaxing staying home.
Last time I used a state park campground was around 2009. I preferred the primitive camping scene. Had my 2 young children with me. Around 1 am the liquor kicked in with our neighbors and fights started breaking out. My kids learned lots of new language and were scared to death. I tried to get people to settle down but it’s hard to reason with drunks. After that experience I decided I was done and invested in a cabin that cost less than most RVs. It’s quiet, peaceful, and I don’t have to put up with other peoples disrespect of nature and fellow humans. When we want to rough it I pitch a tent in a wooded area on my property. Best decision and investment I ever made. Sucks that inconsiderate entitled aholes ruin it for everyone else.
State parks in NJ alcohol is a big NO. Rangers will bang you a 175$ ticket every time. They even get to know you and will check. On the river to,people think canoe and alcohol are a right. I like to watch the Rangers waiting and helping them beach, then hand them a ticket.
We have hosted several times during the last 5 years and, I have to say, are done with it. Asked to intervene in campsite fights, people wanting you to get out of bed at 10pm to buy firewood, early check ins robbing you of your duties time, late check out and the attitudes associated with them. Enough. Enforcement by park ranger staff is inadequate, with most not caring. Some do, most don’t. Campers again! So don’t ask…not happening.
Any more most camp grounds, especially conservation areas/campgrounds are the worst for inconsiderate idiots that care less some thirty feet away there is a tent that can hear everything to a tent trailer on the other side. Go ahead ask nice to have them keep it down and they have a hissy fit turning the noise levels up despite knowing they’re breaking the park rules to showing those around them that they care less if everyone else wants a little quiet on their side. Add pot smoking now, needles on the grounds to dog crap.
Camping is costly in most places but no longer enjoyable. We enjoyed being seasonal as during the week it might be quiet. Add dogs barking and it’s time to leave camping to those that enjoy each other’s noise.
We are not nubies but I will say we do not arrive until it is time to check in. We leave when we need to leave but most of all we clean up after ourselves as a courtesy. I’m very upset that is going on. Charge a deposit and keep it if they want in early or leave late. So embarrassing. I’ve been in many campsites. I’ve seen camp hosts and extremely nice camp hosts. Hang in there we’re not all that way. Some of us have manners. We have even repaired picnic table and at times leave the site better than we found it. Your job is very important and you all do a great job. Very appreciated.
Elena, your idea of charging a deposit is good in theory, however,that doesn’t help the workkampers who often are working in exchange for free site rent and utilities and occasionally propane. The park owner/management should change the check in/checkout times and make campers know it will be enforced, no exceptions. Then add a hefty deposit and share some it with the workkampers. Having workkamped on and off for 5 years for private and state owned parks we experienced abuse both by campers and park owners. Our state park rangers gave us a lot of freedom in accomplishing our jobs, but failed us in providing necessary tools to do the job, not acting when we reported maintenance issues and not enforcing rules, especially decorum, leaving us vulnerable and frustrated. It’s a problem that requires that first management gives a {bleeped} and wants clientele as well as staff to have a positive experience. We finally gave up and decided that enjoying our retirement meeting new friends was more important.
Kick them out..kick some all out! That’s absolutely horribly rude beyond obnoxious and they know better they can’t get the rules bent for themselves now it’s their bent for everyone else and it’s complete chaos. Never in my life outside demanded to check in early if I hear somebody excessively loud noise I’d be more than happy to go over there and deal with it myself bringing a pair of scissors if I need to cut any cords of their radio that’s too loud if needed 😆
Kat, love your comment. I’ll bring the wire cutters. LOL
And that’s the attitude that everyone else is talking about.