What is a volunteer camp host position? A volunteer camp host exchanges labor — typically 24–40 hours per week — for an RV site, where one is offered, at a public land campground, state park, or national forest. No wages are paid; whether the site, hookups, or stipends for propane or supplies are provided depends on the listing.
Volunteer camp hosting is one of the most accessible ways to try the workamping lifestyle without committing to a traditional employment arrangement. Many volunteer hosts are offered an RV site, sometimes with hookups, in exchange for weekly hosting hours; the site, hookups, costs, and required hours depend on the listing and the agency. There's no paycheck, but where a site is offered at no cost it can mean significant real-world savings if you're full-timing.
Federal, state, and nonprofit land-management agencies are the largest sources of volunteer host positions. The U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service, Army Corps of Engineers, and individual state park systems all rely heavily on volunteer hosts to staff remote and high-traffic campgrounds where paid staff would be cost-prohibitive.
Most volunteer positions run for a minimum commitment of 2–4 weeks, with many extending through an entire season. Some positions offer additional perks, such as a small daily stipend, reimbursed propane, free entrance passes, or access to equipment and facilities.