arft
fulltiming some place
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Joined: 12/04/2003
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No flaming please but with the way things are going does it not seem to be a time for at least enough for gas to and from host location. I see lots of places for hosting and maybe they are not being filled.
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LEN Retired
SW Michigan ( Two Paws )
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Joined: 02/24/2009
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I volunteer to volunteer with no request for compensation, kinda a way I give back, when I'm unable to afford it I'll look for a Job! I do it for enjoyment!
Bill.
06 GMC 2500HD Duramax, 2007 Holiday Rambler Alumascape Suite 32SKT,3 slide 5th wheel " SEMPER FIDELIS "
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luvglass
Milwaukee
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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I think the thought is you're traveling anyway and they offer you free hookups in return for minimal work effort. You have to judge if it's worthwhile for you. Needless to say, if travel is an issue you have to look for opportunities near you.
Fred Wishnie
2006 Carriage Cameo 35KS3, 2006 Ford F350 diesel dually, fulltimer
See our blog at http://www.mytripjournal.com/wanderingwishnies
“If all you ever do is all you’ve ever done, then all you’ll ever get is all you ever got.”
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wepampercampers
Full-Timers on the road to snowbird country
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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I kinda think the volunteer market is gonna be effected by the economy also.....I mean even the good ones will start taking paying positions just to lighten the impact on the kids inheritance....and the volunteer force will dwindle....a stipend would allow some of the good ones to remain in the volunteer force......as we travel through alaska we are talking and asking state park volunteers and they are getting stipends.....not much but like you said....even enough to pay your travel expences.....if they want the good ones back they need to sweeten the pot....not much but just a touch. Some of the state parks up here have switched to vendors running the campgrounds also.....which is the next step when good volunteers aren't available.....
happy trails
Don
Jo 'n Don
www.PamperingCampers.com
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Joined: 04/21/2005
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I have to agree with you. Having been unemployed for five months now, and at my age the prospects for securing another job are slim, I am trying to sell the house and maybe just retire. If that happens, I sure would like to get some income for my labor. At least enough to pay for fuel to and from and maybe buy my propane too.
Donn
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Horsedoc
Dixie --- N. Georgia
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Joined: 09/30/2002
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Many of our old volunteer people are now in paying positions at the same park. We still volunteer. As far as the 'giving back' business goes, I figure we have given them more than we have ever recieved from them. It is a great way to stay a few months in an area at a very low cost and not do a lot of nasty or hard work. We are covered by workmans comp while we are here and we do have a lot of responsibility with scheduling sites, collecting fees etc.
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stickdog
longitude W88.1, latitude N41.6
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Joined: 01/27/2002
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DW and I are neither well to do nor just getting by but looking at many budgets and actual expenses as posted by members of this forum and on others, we feel our retirement finances position us in the same range. That being so, volunteering is a means to spend extended time in places we want to explore and soak in while doing work that will contribute to providing quality outdoor adventures to others and ensure future generations will also benefit. This is not altruism as we will have experiences and memories worth more than a few tanks of gas/diesel.
9-11 WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
stickdog
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Kirk
Livingston, Texas.
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Joined: 06/17/2001
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arft,
As one who has had a lot of volunteer experience over the past nine years, I have to say that while that could be a good idea, most agencies that rely upon volunteers have even tighter budgets than in the past so as a result we see fewer and fewer stipends offered. Most places that do offer one it will most commonly $10/day worked.
Of the national wildlife refuges that once offered the stipend, fewer than half still do so and the reason is tight budgets. Thus far it seems to us that there are more people who are volunteering services, probably because there are more who want the free RV site and utilities. That may change as the economy develops more problems with the current negative trends and the proposed increases in taxes, but since most of the volunteers that we know have been retired folks, we have seen more join the group than we have seen leave to look for paid positions.
Others may report different observations, but that has been ours, so far.
Good travelin! ........Kirk
Professional Volunteer
www.adventure.1tree.net
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Fezziwig
SF bay
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Joined: 07/25/2008
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I just started as Camp Host at a San Jose CA area county park. All I get is a site and hookups, but that's OK with me since my duties are light. Basically, I just keep my eyes and ears open, answer camper questions, and sell charcoal for campfires.
I think this is a great arrangement since I have a gorgeous location which is quiet 5 days a week, then we have some families for 2 days, so I get plenty of privacy and then some socializing.
Maybe in 10-12 months I'll be looking for a new gig. Is there a website or blogsite or bulletin board where Camp Hosts get together to discuss these gigs?
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bluegypsy
Everywhere
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Joined: 04/19/2007
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Many places with no or limited hookups provide stipends or pay "expenses." We're camp hosting at at NFS campground with no hookups (through a concessionaire). As well as a stipend, they reimburse us for propane, generator fuel, and cost to dump our tanks as needed.
I've noticed that many (if not all) campground hosting jobs with Utah State Parks include a stipend.
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