Campground News — Published 2026-06-18 by HitchPath Editorial
Most workampers know about national park hosting. Forest Service campgrounds get attention from the outdoor media. The Army Corps of Engineers — the federal agency behind dams, reservoirs, and water infrastructure — runs the largest campground volunteer host program in America. And most RVers have never seriously considered applying.
The Corps operates over 2,500 recreation areas at 422 lakes and river projects across 43 states. These areas collectively draw tens of millions of visitors per year. To staff their campgrounds, visitor centers, and day-use areas, the Corps relies on approximately 4,400 volunteer hosts annually.
That number exceeds the volunteer host programs at the National Park Service, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management individually.
Army Corps host positions are known within the workamping community for two things: consistency and good infrastructure. The typical package at most sites:
The stipend structure tends to be more reliable at Corps sites than at many NPS or Forest Service positions, where stipend availability varies dramatically by district.
Corps sites are built around reservoirs — artificial lakes formed when dams were constructed. They don't offer alpine scenery or coastal wilderness. What they offer instead: wide water, wooded shorelines, excellent fishing and boating access, and a camper demographic that skews toward local families, anglers, and boat owners rather than international tourists.
For hosts who enjoy that community more than the visitor-center bustle of a major national park, Corps sites often fit better.
Applications go through Volunteer.gov. The Corps organizes recruiting by district, each with its own schedule — some open applications in the fall for the following summer. Contacting the district volunteer coordinator directly before submitting your application is encouraged and usually leads to faster responses.
Browse Army Corps and federal campground host positions →
The Army Corps of Engineers is the most underappreciated placement option in workamping. For hosts who want organized programs, reliable hookups, and lakeside settings without the national park competition, it deserves a serious look.