Become a Park Host or Community Center Host and you can camp free in your RV or trailer (electric, water/sewer hookups at all locations) for a minimum of 180 days at any of 13 sites in exchange for your volunteer services. Applicants must have their own RV, trailer or 5th Wheel to live in onsite, and an extra vehicle is strongly recommended for personal transportation. No salary or stipend is provided. A minimum of 20 hours per week of service is required. Experience in camping, or prior campground/park host service is desirable. Experience working with the public and/or maintenance or administrative skills are considered during the selection process.

Job Responsibilities: Greet campers, answer questions, give directions, open and close park gates, maintain campgrounds by picking up litter, clean campsites after visitors leave, clean and re-stock restrooms, check for park passes, and other related assignments as needed. You must be able to understand and explain park rules to campers, if necessary. Occasionally, Park Hosts must call law enforcement personnel or Parks Staff to report problems in the park. Hosts must be onsite overnight and be available to campers that have complaints. Parks Host campsites must be kept clean at all times.

Job Responsibilities for Community Center Hosts are the same as Park Host above, with the following added responsibilities: schedule reservations for the facility and oversee calendar, answer walk-in and telephone inquires from the general public, open and close main gate and secure facility as required, and clean/maintain the facility. Community Centers must be kept in a "ready for business" state at all times.

Call Pam Gallo, Park Host Coordinator at 805-654-3934, or e-mail county.parks@ventura.org You can also print an Application Form and send it to County Parks Department, 800 S. Victoria Avenue L#1030, Ventura, CA 93009 or fax it to 805-659-6992.