8GWJ: Host Opportunities (Campground, Station, Visitor Center)

The Glenwood and Pedlar Ranger Districts is looking for enthusiastic volunteers who enjoy a busy pace and want to spend time at the Sherando Lake Recreation Area in Central Virginia at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  We have 12 volunteer host campsites available from April through October.

Campground Host Duties: Meet and greet campers in assigned loop, answer questions and provide information, prepare campsites for visitors (pick up trash, clean fire rings, rake, post reservations), clean bathrooms (sweep and mop, restock toilet paper, empty trash, clean sinks).

Entrance Station Hosts:  Register visitors and collect fees (as designated collection officer), answer questions and provide information, interpret rules and regulations to visitors, maintain gatehouse (sweep, trash pickup).

Visitor Center Hosts:  Answer questions and provide information, sell materials provided by Interpretive Association, maintain vending area, clean open pavilion, visitor center, and bathhouse (dust shelves, sweep and mop floors, empty trash, restock toilet paper, spot-clean) and monitor beach/swimming area.

Interpretive Hosts: Plan and implement evening campfire programs (Memorial Day through Labor  Day) at least 2 nights per week, post program notices in campground, maintain amphitheater building, plan and conduct other interpretive activities as needed.

Volunteers are an important asset who help make Sherando Lake special to many of our visitors.  We ask for at least a one month commitment (come in at the first of the month and leave at the end of the month).  Volunteers are asked to help at least 4 hours per day, 5 days per week, per person.  Weekends and holidays are the busiest times, so volunteers "days off" are scheduled for the less busy weekdays. Volunteer campsites are designed to accommodate large campers and motor homes with up to 50-amp service.

Sherando Lake Recreation Area, located near Waynesboro, Virginia, is within an easy half-day drive from Washington DC, the Tidewater Virginia area and Virginia Beach.  The recreation area offers many activities for the visitors and volunteers to enjoy:  a 25 acre lake for swimming with a sand beach, fishing, and small boating; a 7 acre lake for fishing; stocked trout waters; 65 family campsites; large group camping area; hiking trails; and picnic facilities.   The Blue Ridge Parkway is within 5 miles and the Shenandoah National Park is only 20 minutes away.