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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
DNR needs campground hosts for 2025
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
The Iowa DNR is seeking campground hosts for the 2025 camping season. If you enjoy camping and meeting new people, this may be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you.
Campground hosts work alongside DNR staff to help clean and beautify the park, ensure reservations are up-to-date and accurate and assist visitors in a welcoming and helpful manner.
Actual duties vary based on each park’s individual needs.
In this volunteer position, hosts are provided a free campsite and live in the park for one to five months during the summer season. Hosts volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per week, often including weekends and holidays, while living on site in their own camper.
Each park’s camping experience is unique — some are rural and rustic, others are in popular tourism areas; some have small campgrounds, and many are hubs of activity, especially on peak weekends.
In addition, assigned lengths of stay are dependent on each park’s needs for the coming season.
Backbone State Park in Delaware County needs hosts for two campgrounds. Clear Lake in Cerro Gordo County needs two hosts.
Also needing hosts are Bellevue State Park, in Jackson County; Geode, in Henry County; Lewis and Clark, in Monona County; McIntosh Woods, in Cerro Gordo County; Pilot Knob, in Winnebago County; Pine Lake, in Hardin County; Prairie Rose, in Shelby County; Red Haw, in Lucas County; Stephens State Forest, in Lucas County; Union Grove, in Tama County; Walnut Woods, in Polk County; and Wapsipinicon, in Jones County.
To learn more about a park’s unique experience and needs, contact the individual state park office; a list of parks and their contact information can be found at iowadnr.gov/stateparks.
For general inquiries about campground host opportunities, email iowa.stateparks@dnr.iowa.gov.
Additional information about volunteering and applying for a campground host position is available at iowadnr.gov/volunteer.
The list of parks needing campground hosts can change. Check the website regularly for additional opportunities.
