5L: Campground Host

The Lassen National Forest covers a total of 1.2 million acres or 1,875 square miles. It lies within seven counties; Lassen, Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Plumas, Siskiyou, and Modoc of Northern California, at the heart of one of the most fascinating areas of California. Here the granite of the Sierra Nevada, the lava of the Cascades and the Modoc Plateau, and the sagebrush of the Great Basin meet and blend.  It is an area of great variety, greeting visitors and residents alike with a wide array of recreational opportunities and adventures year round. Fishing, hunting, camping, hiking, bicycling, boating, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and exploring and learning about nature are among the many popular pastimes.

 The Hat Creek Ranger District is renowned for its trophy trout fishing, dramatic mountain vistas, scenic hiking trails, and Subway Cave – a half-mile underground tube formed by volcanic activity. The Hat Creek Recreation Area is 11 miles of campgrounds, day use sites and recreational opportunities in beautiful Hat Creek and Old Station areas.

Campground Hosts serve as an integral part of the recreation and visitor service teams. Our overall goal is to offer recreational experiences that create long-term repeat visitors. To provide experiences worth coming back for, we need to offer visitors the valuable information they need to take advantage of the recreation area.  Campground Hosts are often the first contact for information about the forest.  It is important that we set a positive tone, offer correct and concise information, and maintain a friendly disposition.

Successful Volunteer Candidates have the following attributes:

• Friendly and outgoing personality with good verbal and written communications skills.

• Ability to perform light maintenance work in outdoor conditions.

• Interact with a diversity of visitors while maintaining a positive, helpful, and non-confrontational attitude.

• Ability to serve independently without direct supervision.

The campground season is from mid-April to Mid-October.  If you only have a month or two available to volunteer, do not let that stop you from applying; sometimes that is just what is needed. Hosts are given two consecutive days off per week.  Longer breaks can be considered with prior approval.

Campground Hosts are to be available to the public and complete campground checks at least twice a day. Hosts serve 20-30 hours per week.  Weekend and holiday coverage is mandatory as this is the busiest time campgrounds and day use sites.

Campground Hosts are expected to have a polite and courteous manner, with a helpful disposition.  It is necessary for the Camp Hosts to learn the rules and regulations of the recreation area including campgrounds, day-use sites and the general recreational area.  Camp Hosts enforce Forest Service regulations pertaining to the recreation area assigned; however, Camp Hosts will not be required to handle any law enforcement issues.  All violations can be reported to the Ranger District office, and law enforcement will be contacted.

Campground Host Duties:

• Greet visitors with a friendly and helpful attitude.Assist with campsite registration, answer questions and assure compliance with regulations.
• Keep restrooms and campsites neat and clean.
• Perform light maintenance of campsites and trails.
• Put out any unattended campfires.
• Maintain a neat, clean and organized host site as an example to the visiting public.
• Represent the Lassen National
• Forest in a professional and courteous manner.
• Show a presence of authority and report any law enforcement issues to law enforcement and recreation staff.
• Keep recreation staff updated on any issues regarding campers, campsite facilities or maintenance needs.
• Attend mandatory training sessions.

Local staff will provide training and support in duties.  Hosts perform duties independently without direct supervision.  Staff will make regular contact to provide support, heavy maintenance and regulatory compliance. On the Lassen National Forest, you will be working individually in your designated campground or day use site but also as a part of a forest-wide camp host program.  Host may receive reimbursement for mileage and incidental expenses incurred during the performance of duty depending on the availability of funds.

Benefits of Volunteering on the Lassen:

• Allows you to be outdoors.
• Meet interesting new people.
• Participate in the Forest Service mission of ‘caring for the land and serving the people.’
• Complimentary campsite.
• Uniform components and personal protective equipment.
• Hosts who complete a full successful season of 250 hours or more will receive an Interagency Volunteer Pass valid for 12 months from the date of issue.