8O: 2018 Campground Host

The Jessieville/Winona/Fourche Ranger District in the Ouachita National Forest is looking for friendly and enthusiastic volunteers to serve as Camp Host at Lake Sylvia Recreation Area located 38 miles from Little Rock, AR. The Host(s) will need to provide their own living quarters in the form of a trailer or RV for an agreed-upon duration during the open period of early April through the end of October. The pads were designed for 30-foot campers or less, although Host site 1 will hold a much larger unit. It measures approximately 53' in length and 14' in width at the narrowest near the parking stop. Additional parking is available adjacent to the site for tow/pull vehicles if needed.

Host(s) should be in the campground or day use area and available to visitors at least 5 days out of each week, plus holidays per their volunteer agreement. Days typically needing the most coverage are Thursday through Sunday except around holidays. Service hours range from 8am-8pm, but Hosts may be called upon 24 hours/day if needed.

Campground Host Duties: provide recreational information to campers, hikers, and day use visitors in a friendly and helpful manner, occasionally explain Recreation Area and Forest regulations and the reasons for them, litter pick up in campground and day use area, cleaning fire rings and grills, assist with fee compliance and minor regulation enforcement. Hosts are sometimes asked to assist Forest Service (FS) Recreation Technicians with minor maintenance projects according to their skills and abilities. Host(s) represent the Forest Service at all times during their stay and should have good people skills, be responsible and neat in appearance. All necessary tools, supplies, and safety equipment will be provided by the Forest Service along with any training if needed. Applicants will be subject to a criminal history inquiry.

Volunteer Camp Hosts will be provided an RV/trailer campsite with electric (30/50 amp), water and sewer connections, weather radio, and a landline telephone (official use) free of charge. Each camp site also has a picnic table, fire ring, grill, lamp post and a large tent pad. Cell coverage is spotty to non-existent in the campground and day use areas but is available at nearby Camp Ouachita located ½ mile up the highway. There is no internet service. Host(s) should report vandalism or other problems to FS personnel and/or local law enforcement and 911 for emergencies.

Lake Sylvia Recreation Area is located in the extreme northeastern section of the Ouachita National Forest. Getting to Lake Sylvia is simple, just take AR Hwy 9 south from Perryville for 9 miles and turn right onto Hwy 324 and go 4 miles. Take Hwy 10 from Little Rock and turn left onto Hwy 324 one mile north of the Hwy 9/10 junction. This picturesque 18 acre lake is popular for its fishing, swimming, hiking, and biking opportunities as well as its proximity to the Ouachita National Recreation Trail. The campground has 14 campsites with electric/water, 8 tent sites, 2 group sites and 2 bathhouses. The day use area has 36 picnic sites, boat ramp, play unit, bathhouse, swim beach, and diving platform. This recreation area is fairly remote and is sometimes slow during the week but very busy on the weekends during the summer months.

If you enjoy being in the heart of nature, then come spend part of your summer with us on the Ouachita National Forest.