The job of camp host should not be only about a place to park your RV for free

[RoadStar66]

Several times I've been in a campground and was kept awake by noise after quiet time, campers dragging large mesquite wood from areas surrounding a campground to burn, which is illegal just about everywhere, and other infractions of campground rules. I go knock on the host's door and am confronted with "not my job" mantality. It started me wondering, what does a job as campground host entail. From what I've seen it's mostly about an opportunity provided (often by taxpayers) for someone who could well afford to park in an RV park, or who may have a house they're renting etc. to park their expensive, late model RV in a spot surrounded by natural splendor and with all the electricity, water and sewer service they can use for free. Soon as any demands are made upon them to actually perform anything remotely resembling work, they're poor, picked on retired senior citizens who view their free lifestyle as something they're entitled to for just being born and survived 60 or so years. 

Camp host should be made a job with performance guidelines hosts must meet or they are replaced by the many seeking host jobs, just like any other job.

 

[GraceinMotion]

I agree that infractions of rules should not be let to slide, but the task of enforcement usually falls upon park rangers (who often are LEOs or pseudo-LEOs), not camp hosts. And we know how thin rangers are spread. The response I expect from a camp host would be that they will report the offenders to the appropriate authority (after trying to resolve the issue with said offender if feasible--i.e. the offender is not a complete a_ _ hat or drunk, etc.) In general, I avoid places where there will be potential a_ _hattery going on, because in my experience, too many people think they're special and rules don't apply to them. So I practice avoidance to maintain my sanity.

 

[maki2]

You do have the power of influence, you can send an email or make a phone cal to their employers describing the situation.

 

[Minivanmotoman]

Unfortunately, those situations rarely end up well for anyone who interacts with the offenders who obviously are indifferent to others around them. Add guns and alcohol to the equation, not too enticing for anyone. The only real solution is LEO, and call them out for something so minor might take them away from more serious and urgent calls.

And camp hosts see this all summer long. Offending adults are not fun to deal with. Spent a lovely 2 weeks in a campground last summer, quiet mostly during the week, except for generator Johnnie's. On the weekend, the crowd packed in, multiple campers per site, lights, noise, teens till early morning hours.
Complain and you become a target for....

That's why camp hosts do nothing.
And it's only going to get worse with more and more camping. Got to find quiet, out of the way spots which also are getting harder and harder to find away from the noisey crowds.

 

[owl]

Having been an operations manager for a large California company running campgrounds for the Forest Service I have some experience with the situation you describe. !. There are not many seeking host jobs, we couldn't fill positions any year. 2. They are hosts, not LEO's. What did you want theses folks to do? Campgrounds are becoming places you really don't want to be unless you like rowdy drunks, industrial generators and overcrowding. Tahoe National Forest is 900,000 acres and covers 1400 square miles. One Forest Service LEO. Sheriffs and city cops don't have authority on Federal land unless a Fed is there. I understand your anger but directing it at hosts who are often volunteers is pointless.

 

[owl]

While I was with the company we had a host murdered and multiple beatings and this was just one N.F. In southern cali gangs are a major problem in N.F. campgrounds. Hosts face many threats in a season, that is why in a lot of areas we couldn't fill, or keep filled the position. Job description, on call up to 14 hrs. a day, 6 days a week. Collect fees and fill out paperwork daily in triplicate by hand. Clean a every campsite after guests leave. Clean upto 8 toilets twice every day. Handle complaints, everything from why are there so many bugs to why can't I get a cell signal? So the job is much different than you might imagine.

 

[bigsallysmom]

I've volunteered at two national wildlife refuges. Not only was it not our job to confront rule breakers, we would have lost our volunteer opportunity if we had done so. All we were allowed to do was call the federal LEO who was watching over way too many acres.
Are some of the camp hosts unable or unwilling to do the necessary tasks but are somehow still there? Odds are, yes. If you feel strongly, send the supervisor a detailed, fact-based email or letter but before you do please know what rules the volunteers are operating under.

 

[owl]

"From what I've seen it's mostly about an opportunity provided (often by taxpayers) for someone who could well afford to park in an RV park, or who may have a house they're renting etc. to park their expensive, late model RV in a spot surrounded by natural splendor and with all the electricity, water and sewer service they can use for free. Soon as any demands are made upon them to actually perform anything remotely resembling work, they're poor, picked on retired senior citizens who view their free lifestyle as something they're entitled to for just being born and survived 60 or so years." 

I was born and have survived for more than 70 years, I don't feel entitled at all. I am sorry you feel the way you do about older folks, and I hope when you are older you will change your mindset.

 

[RoamerRV428]

Get a copy of any host's job description. That is the only way you know WHAT details are in their job description. Sounds like your host did not say it clear to you. I am sure it came out of 'not my job mentality' but there are reasons they are not law enforcement and they can not act as it. Your host should explain their position better to you.

Your attitude about hosts is sad. You need to learn way more about the true job positions they have before you make blank judgement statements like that.

 

[ckelly78z]

I always thought that a camp host was more about maintaining a clean appearance for the grounds, ensuring that each site is cleaned up after the campers leave, and cleaning restrooms.

Sunday morning/afternoon would be their busy time when all of the weekend warriors are leaving.

 

[RoamerRV428]

and they give wonder directions and best cheap local places to eat use them for what they are needed for actually then to expect them to 'save you' from all the 'breaking the law' action and ya got it made. Make a report, sure, expect action, nope. I mean something small they might go and chat with the person on the campsite per their discretion and what they are told they can handle, but most confrontation is not allowed.

 

[Wabbit]

...From what I've seen it's mostly about an opportunity provided (often by taxpayers) for someone who could well afford to park in an RV park, or who may have a house they're renting etc. to park their expensive, late model RV in a spot surrounded by natural splendor and with all the electricity, water and sewer service they can use for free. Soon as any demands are made upon them to actually perform anything remotely resembling work, they're poor, picked on retired senior citizens who view their free lifestyle as something they're entitled to for just being born and survived 60 or so years...

I'm pretty sure you could not have found a way to say this with more ignorance than you did. Great job!

Here's a *kick in the ass* and now here's a *hug*. Please listen to how people are responding to you, I don't think you're coming across like you think you are.

Relax and go *hug* somebody. If you don't like hugs, then maybe go volunteer or do something for someone else. Be constructive, not destructive. I try not to hold onto stuff, if we ever meet up, first rounds on me. Prob second and third round too, I'm feeling guilty now for the lecture...

 

[Homeless in Canada]

I think the employer is bargaining on the fact that a lot of older retired people like to stay busy and will work for practically nothing. There's also the mall cop types who enjoy being in a position of authority.

The problem with this approach is now there are more and more people seeking jobs like campground host out of economic necessity. And are not inclined to provide additional services beyond the job description.

 

[Iggy]

I've been a camphost for the last two summers in California. We go through two days of training and are given a thick handbook of our responsibilities. Camphosts are primarily there to collect fees, check in campers, clean bathrooms and campsites, and do a lot of paperwork. If someone is noisy after 10 pm, we are to get up, put on our uniforms, and try to quiet them down, using non-aggressive language. We never supposed to be confrontational with the campers or make any threats. If that fails to solve the problem, we are instructed to call our boss. He/She is to show up and have a go at it. The last resort is to call LEOs.
I've been fortunate in that I've only had to get up and have a talk with disruptive campers maybe once every week or two, and have never needed to call my boss. But I've been at remote locations that don't generally get the rowdy weekend crowds. I think I would pick another career if these problems were more frequent. It does help to emphasize when quiet is expected, at their check in time.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[RoadStar66]

I agree that infractions of rules should not be let to slide, but the task of enforcement usually falls upon park rangers (who often are LEOs or pseudo-LEOs), not camp hosts. And we know how thin rangers are spread. The response I expect from a camp host would be that they will report the offenders to the appropriate authority (after trying to resolve the issue with said offender if feasible--i.e. the offender is not a complete a_ _ hat or drunk, etc.) In general, I avoid places where there will be potential a_ _hattery going on, because in my experience, too many people think they're special and rules don't apply to them. So I practice avoidance to maintain my sanity.

In my most recent run-in, the host was inebriated. It was 11PM and he had every right to be I guess. But he completely shrugged off any responsibility even to investigate and perhaps ask the offending party. As expected the "offending party" was a vandweller that arrived after dark then left before sunup. This campground has probably gotten a reputation as easy to do the old in-out between self-pay box checks. I'm getting to where I much prefer campgrounds with a gate that keeps riff-raff out after dark. I'm having way too many of these episodes, some of which have come close to physical conflict with "offending" vandwellers. If they want to try their luck parking in shopping centers, industrial zones etc. that's their choice. But when someone has paid $20-35/night for a peaceful night's sleep and a van creeps in an hour after dark and they're rattling around cleaning out their van or playing "their" music, I have been cheated of what I've paid dearly for and expect some kind of meaningful assurance that at least some kind of obstacle is in place to keep this from happening. I've found the gated campgrounds are much more likely to deliver the peaceful experience.

I don't expect these bad mannered campers are the kind that show up at RTR. They only want what others pay for to be handed to them for free. And Bob would probably send them on their way for much of their behavior.

 

[RoadStar66]

I've been a camphost for the last two summers in California. We go through two days of training and are given a thick handbook of our responsibilities. Camphosts are primarily there to collect fees, check in campers, clean bathrooms and campsites, and do a lot of paperwork. If someone is noisy after 10 pm, we are to get up, put on our uniforms, and try to quiet them down, using non-aggressive language. We never supposed to be confrontational with the campers or make any threats. If that fails to solve the problem, we are instructed to call our boss. He/She is to show up and have a go at it. The last resort is to call LEOs.
I've been fortunate in that I've only had to get up and have a talk with disruptive campers maybe once every week or two, and have never needed to call my boss. But I've been at remote locations that don't generally get the rowdy weekend crowds. I think I would pick another career if these problems were more frequent. It does help to emphasize when quiet is expected, at their check in time.

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Tapatalk

That sounds like what I would hope the camp host's code of conduct would be.Sadly it often isn't. Some hosts see a host position as a place to park for free, with utilities paid for minimal tasks during daylight hours only. And many host's rigs bespeak that they are not poverty cases desperately looking to save a buck. I'm glad Bob is encouraging his followers to seek host positions as I'm confidant they'd be more likely to follow the code you mentioned.

 

[RoadStar66]

I think the employer is bargaining on the fact that a lot of older retired people like to stay busy and will work for practically nothing. There's also the mall cop types who enjoy being in a position of authority.

The problem with this approach is now there are more and more people seeking jobs like campground host out of economic necessity. And are not inclined to provide additional services beyond the job description.

I wouldn't call all expenses paid parking for an RV in a recreation area 'working for nothing'. RV park spaces are not cheap and usually what I once heard Carolyn call "hell" when she stayed in one in Nevada to fulfill her state residency requirement.

 

[RoadStar66]

I'm pretty sure you could not have found a way to say this with more ignorance than you did. Great job!

Here's a *kick in the ass* and now here's a *hug*. Please listen to how people are responding to you, I don't think you're coming across like you think you are.

Relax and go *hug* somebody. If you don't like hugs, then maybe go volunteer or do something for someone else. Be constructive, not destructive. I try not to hold onto stuff, if we ever meet up, first rounds on me. Prob second and third round too, I'm feeling guilty now for the lecture...

I'm not trying to win friends. Only to influence people.

FDR bragged that he was proud of who his enemies were, not his friends.

 

[RoadStar66]

and they give wonder directions and best cheap local places to eat  use them for what they are needed for actually then to expect them to 'save you' from all the 'breaking the law' action and ya got it made.  Make a report, sure, expect action, nope.  I mean something small they might go and chat with the person on the campsite per their discretion and what they are told they can handle, but most confrontation is not allowed.

I have gotten "action" from park rangers. There are some very dedicated ones out there. They carry guns for a reason. They deal with people who we campers don't want to. And if someone is carrying drugs or being sought by the law, they well could shoot a ranger dead if they think they might try and hold them for police, who would possibly lock them up.

 

[tripper]

My experience has been different. Usually they actually over enforce the rules, but most of them do a great job. I appreciate having them there