Campground Host

Interested in campground hosting on one of America’s most beautiful barrier islands? Assateague Island National Seashore has begun accepting camp host applications for the 2021 mid-March through mid-November season. We need individuals or couples with outstanding interpersonal abilities and excellent customer service skills to represent the National Park Service and serve as the daily “eyes and ears” of our oceanside and bayside campgrounds.

National Seashore campgrounds include 41 oceanside drive-in sites, 49 bayside drive-in sites, 5 group sites, 58 oceanside walk-in tent sites located in sand dunes, and 2 horse camping sites (seasonal). Campgrounds offer drinking water, unheated showers, vault toilets, picnic tables and fire rings. We also have oceanside and bayside dump stations with potable water.

Wildlife watching is abundant with a variety of birds, wild horses, white tail and sika deer.

Duties: Camp hosts will welcome campers, provide directions, advise guests of activities occurring within the park and the surrounding area, answer questions and educate campers on campground rules and regulations. Hosts monitor the campground to ensure visitors occupy their sites in accordance with park policy, are displaying applicable documentation, and are vacating sites in a timely manner at checkout.

Hosts routinely perform minor maintenance duties such as cleaning fire pits and picking up trash. Other duties may be assigned as necessary. Record keeping and occasionally filling out forms is also required. Campground hosts are expected to provide timely information to National Park Service ranger staff regarding potential safety concerns as well as maintenance and repair needs raised by visitors or through personal observations. Hosts are also expected to participate in staff training throughout the season, which will include orientation as well as safety and staff meetings. Two of the most important jobs as campground host are to provide an enjoyable camping experience for the public and assist NPS park staff in protecting park resources.

Time commitment:  There is a one month time commitment with staggered -- beginning of the month and mid-month -- starting and ending times. Hosts will work a minimum of 20 hours per week and are required to be on site 5 days per week, especially on weekends and heavy use holidays. Hosts will have two consecutive days off Monday through Friday; shifts will vary depending on campground needs. Most work days revolve around the core hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., but infrequent knocks on a host’s camper door at all hours of the day and night should be expected.

Requirements: Hosts are expected to wear a volunteer uniform, name tag and cap (all provided) when working with visitors. Hosts are to arrive with adequate housing for the length of their commitment. Trailers, campers or motor homes are recommended. Tent camping is permitted at the host site. Hosts are provided a paved back-in site with electrical and water hookups at no charge. Host sites are located on the ocean side and bay side of the island.

Working conditions: Host duties are performed outdoors in a variety of weather environments typical to an ocean barrier island. During the summer hosts must be able to tolerate high humidity, temperatures sometimes exceeding 100 degrees, and buggy (mosquitoes, black files, ticks) conditions. There are very few trees on the island; therefore, there is very limited shade. Hosts should be in good physical condition and be able to walk up to a mile on irregular natural ground and beach/sandy surfaces several times a day. A valid driver’s license is required to use golf carts which are shared between hosts.

Please provide two references when applying. Contact Betsy Bangert for more information at 410-629-6603 or [email protected].