The South Australian Campground Host Program provides an opportunity to combine your love of camping with doing a good deed by becoming a volunteer campground host in one of South Australian’s national parks.
If you’re an avid camper, you might have come across one of our campground hosts in our national parks – they’re the people who greet you in the park, generously volunteering their time to make your stay more enjoyable.
Whether it’s being on-hand to answer questions about the park, reminding you that it’s a total fire ban day, or looking after the upkeep of facilities like barbeques or toilets, campground hosts help look after the place and help you feel at home while you’re far away from yours.
Sound appealing? Here’s all you need to know about being a campground host.
What will I be doing?
A campground host is a volunteer who stays in a national park campground during peak visitation periods for a specific peak period, like the Easter break or a long weekend, or an extended period of time (up to a few months) to support park rangers and campers.
Duties usually include:
- Welcoming visitors and sharing information about campsite facilities and attractions
- Sharing information about local flora, fauna, natural and cultural attractions
- Regularly check facilities and ensure the campground is tidy
- Liaise with park rangers regarding site conditions, facilities and any issues.
Host are not responsible for making sure visitors comply with the rules of the park – that’s the ranger’s job. But their role is to provide information to visitors that will help them enjoy their stay, and make it a safe one.
Some parks require a caretaker host. These hosts have a bit more responsibility around general maintenance. Caretaker hosts stay in a park for between two and six months.
Download the Campground Host Role Description.
What skills do I need?
You will need to have:
- A passion for the environment and be a keen camper
- Good communication skills
- Have a calm disposition
- A willingness to learn about the local environment
- A liking for national parks and reserves
- A willingness to talk to and provide information to visitors
- Prepared to work with minimum supervision.
Campground hosts need to bring their own tent, camper trailer or caravan, and stay in the park for an agreed amount of time.
What are the requirements?
You must:
- Be 18 years of age or over
- Have a current First Aid Certificate (HTLAID003 Provide First Aid or higher)
- Have a mobile phone
- Have your own car and tent, camper trailer or caravan
- Undertake an induction before volunteering
- Undergo a Working With Children Check and National Police Clearance before beginning volunteer duties. There is no cost for these checks.
What are the Benefits?
- Share your passion and knowledge about the environment with others
- Training will provide you with valuable knowledge and skills
- A free uniform is provided for volunteers to wear
- Help visitors to better access, learn and experience South Australia’s reserves
- Gain extensive knowledge of different parks
- Spend time in some of the most beautiful and special places in South Australia
- Free park entry and camping while you volunteer.
Which parks are involved in the program?
The following are some of the parks involved in the Campground Hosts Program:
- Coffin Bay National Park
- Coorong National Park
- Deep Creek Conservation Park
- Dhilba Guuranda-Innes National Park
- Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park
- Lashmar Conservation Park
- Lincoln National Park
- Little Dip Conservation Park
- Mount Remarkable National Park — Mambray Creek
- Murray River National Park
- Naracoorte Caves National Park
- Newland Head Conservation Park
How to join?
If you are interested in joining the Campground Host Program follow these steps:
Step 1:Read through the Role description, and Campground Host Program Volunteer Handbook
Step 2:Register your interest as a volunteer.
When you submit your application you will receive an automatic email (check your Junk email folder). At this time we are only recruiting new volunteers on an ‘as needs’ basis. Applicants that match our recruitment needs will be contacted and invited to attend an interview.
Step 3: Attend an interview
The Campground Host Program Support Officer will contact suitable applicants to arrange an interview.
Step 4: Placement
Volunteers will be offered placements based on their suitability for the role, availability and any particular skills or qualifications that are required.
Enquiries
For any questions, please email DEWcampgroundhosts@sa.gov.au