Whetstone Horse Camp Host 2026

Whetstone Horse Camp is located on the Andrew Pickens Ranger District of Sumter National Forest in western South Carolina. Situated in the southern Blue Ridge Mountains, it is an 18-site campground associated with the Rocky Gap Horse Trail system and provides riders with easy access to excellent trail riding in both South Carolina and NE Georgia. Campers can also enjoy opportunities for fishing and boating on the nearby Chattooga Wild and Scenic River.  Facilities include vault toilets, hitching rails and highlines, wildlife proof trash receptacles, water hydrants, and information kiosks. Whetstone Horse Camp is a ‘Camping by Reservation Only Campground’, requiring visitors to book campsites on Recreation.gov in advance of their stay. Learn more about this campground at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234479.

Housing: Volunteers must provide their own accommodation (RV/Camper/etc.) to live on-site and will be provided with a designated host campsite with water, electricity, and sewer hook-ups. Telephone service, cell service, and Wi-Fi are not available in the campground. Hosts will be issued a handheld radio for direct communication with district office and field staff. 

Due to weekends being our busiest time, we expect hosts to be present Thursday-Sunday including holiday weekends from May through October. Time off to leave the campground for short trips during this season can easily be coordinated in advance with district Recreation staff. Since the campground is open year-round, we request that our volunteers stay at least 6 months, and stays can be extended as desired if agreed upon by both host and management.   

The Whetstone Horse Camp host is expected to live at the site and be knowledgeable of specific campground and day-use rules and regulations governing the use of the resource (e.g., fees, length of stay, alcohol regulations, etc.). The host must work well with people, be personable, neat in appearance, and behave in a manner appropriate to the workplace.

The host is responsible for performing the following duties throughout the campground: 

Public Contacts

• Greeting and assisting campers/visitors with information needs.
• Checking to ensure campers have reservations and informing them how to make reservations through Recreation.gov if wanting to book a site.
• Providing information and educating visitors regarding the rules and regulations of the area.
• Providing general cultural and historical information about the U.S. Forest Service and local area, along with other district recreational opportunities.
• Patrolling the area to OBSERVE compliance with regulations. Issues of non-compliance must be reported to the district’s recreation staff or LEO for further action.

Facilities Maintenance

• Checking and basic service of restroom facilities: replenishing toilet paper, sweeping restrooms, and general cleaning as needed. 
•  Checking bearproof trash receptacles and changing out bags as needed.
•  Reporting any plumbing issues: Occasional emergency plumbing tasks, such as shutting off water lines, may be required if USFS personnel are not immediately available.
• Performing regular grass mowing and weed trimming on and around the host campsite.
• Litter pick-up around the recreation area, including from fire rings and campsites. 

Host(s) will represent the Forest Service in public contacts, providing information and directions, and reporting vandalism and other problems to Forest Service personnel. All necessary tools, cleaning supplies, and safety equipment will be provided by the Forest Service. Campground Host training and orientation will also be provided by the Forest Service.

Please call or email for more information. Contact Howard Morrison at howard.morrison@usda.gov or 864-638-4463 (Office).