Des Moines Sun

Iowa Department of Natural Resources said it's looking for more than a few good volunteer campground hosts for the upcoming recreation season.

The search has been going on for a month but the department more recently took to social media in its search for people who like camping a lot and also like helping others in their camping experience.

"Camping all summer sound like your jam?" the department said in its Dec. 27 Twitter post. "We're looking for volunteer campground hosts in 11 state parks!"

The Twitter post links to a Dec. 7 release from the department that announced it "is seeking people who enjoy the outdoors, camping and meeting new people, to consider becoming volunteer campground hosts for the upcoming recreation season."

"Volunteer campground hosts live in state parks from one to five months assisting DNR staff with light maintenance duties, checking in campers, and being a resource for visitors enjoying state parks and forests," the release said.

Volunteer campground hosts get a free campsite while actively hosting during the camping season 20 to 40 hours per week, including weekends and holidays, for periods of one to five months. Volunteer campground hosts are required to live on site in their own camper.

Campground hosts' general duties include greeting visitors, assisting campers checking in and with reservations, cleaning bathrooms, light maintenance and administrative duties, according to the news release. They also are required to act as a liaison between campers and staff of the Department of Natural Resources, in addition to answering questions and disseminating information to campers.

Volunteer campground hosts are needed in Backbone, Beeds Lake, Clear Lake, Geode Honey Creek, Lake Darling, Lewis and Clark, Springbrook, Stephens Forest, Walnut Woods and Yellow River Forest state parks.

Successful volunteer campground hosts must pass a criminal background check.

Anyone who would like more information about campgrounds, Iowa state parks and volunteer campground host positions may visit the Department of Natural Resources online here, by directly contacting a particular state park or calling (515) 443-2533.