How Do I Start?

I have often been asked about how to go about starting to volunteer and workcamp. I will try to help from personal experience. We had lived for 22 years in the middle of the largest state park in the States. We knew about camp hosting long before we decided to try it. When Terry and I retired, we were told that we would be perfect for the position. With Terry’s law enforcement background, my retail experience and decades of life on the farm, we had skills that were needed.

Our seventh month of fulltiming was spent in Oxnard, CA at Port Hueneme Naval base. One day, while on a bicycle ride, we stopped in at McGrath State Beach and asked for a volunteer application. We talked to the ranger on duty and he told us what the requirements were for hosting there. We filled out the applications and sent them in. The next month we were in Grover Beach and recieved a call from the Park office in Ventura and were told that we were accepted, when could we start?

It was just that easy! My suggestion to folks is to decide on an area that you would like to spend some time. Then start searching for likely locations that utilize volunteers or workcampers. Are there state, federal, county or city parks there? If so, contact them and ask about volunteer programs. Many times the information is available online. That is where I start looking. Pick the park, go online and find the volunteer page. If there is none there, the contact information will have email addresses as well as phone numbers for the person in charge of volunteers. From there, just follow their instructions.

Workcamping is similar. We decide on an area, first. Many times we have already stayed at the facility and know if it will suit us. We make contact and discuss the possibility of working. We try to get pictures and will discuss thoroughly what is expected, both from the employer and us.

We also utilize the magazine Workcamper News. This is a publication dedicated to workcamping and volunteering, especially geared toward RVers. We have subscribed for many years and also utilize their Hotline. This is an email service that lists new or current listings several times a week. It is a most helpful source for us.

We have also used the Good Sam Club VIP program. It is a service which collects applications and the employer is able to peruse them and pick those they would like to contact. We have been very happy with the positions we have taken using this program. Another source is the Workcamping/Volunteering forum on the Affinity Group forums such as RV.net. Many times employers post there.

If you are really serious, there are many resources out there, including word of mouth. Start in your community and then venture out. Search the internet and talk to those who are already doing it. Have fun, and do the research. There is something for everyone.