Campground and Park Hosts
Camp and Park Host positions available in 11 beautiful parks along the rugged coastline and in the redwoods.
Hendy Woods State Park
Hendy Woods State Park is an 845-acre redwood oasis with 92 campsites and 4 primitive cabins, offering a traditional family camping experience along with several hiking trails through two separate old growth redwood groves. The park is located in the beautiful Anderson Valley three miles West of the town of Philo and 20 miles from the coast. The Anderson Valley hosts several wineries along Hwy 128 and the Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Boonville. Some services, gas, hardware, and local markets are available in Philo and Boonville. Shopping and more services are available in Ukiah, a drive of approximately 45 minutes. Summers and warm with temperatures in the 80s-90s during the day and mid-40s-50s at night. Winter weather can be cold and very wet with temperatures in the 40s-50s during the day and mid-20s-30s at night. This host site has full hook-ups water, sewer, and electrical (30 and 50 amp) but no propane hook-ups. There is some cell phone reception and Wi-Fi is available at the kiosk. If you enjoy the outdoors, you will love Hendy Woods State Park. Please contact Brandon Burson by email at Brandon.Burson@parks.ca.gov
MacKerricher State Park
This state park showcases the rugged beauty of the Mendocino Coast. The park features 10 miles of beach, a lake, sand dunes and coastal trails. The park is three miles north of Fort Bragg on Highway 1, near the town of Cleone. There are 143 campsites and 2 group camps located in the park. There are two different host sites in the park with different duties: Visitor Services Hosts and Light Maintenance Hosts. Visitor Services Host duties include working in the entrance station, doing camp checks, collecting fees, selling firewood, registering campers and working with the reservation systems. Prior State Park host experience using the R2S2 reservation system is desirable. Light Maintenance Host duties include selling firewood, selling tokens, cleaning campsites, stocking comfort buildings, and light maintenance. All applicants must be able to provide great customer service in a very fast paced, extremely busy park. Electrical, water and sewer hook-ups are available.
Please contact Tracy Weisberg by email at tracy.weisberg@parks.ca.gov and/or Alex.Weseloh@parks.ca.gov or by phone 707-964-3689.
Manchester State Park
Manchester State Park is located along the beautiful Mendocino coast six miles north of the town of Point Arena. The park has 36 primitive campsites and group camping. Some services, gas, laundry, and a local market are available in Manchester and Point Arena. There is some cell phone reception and Wi-Fi is available at the office. Looking for a great host who is self-driven and enjoys working outdoors. Host site has full hook-ups; water, sewer and electrical (30 amp), but no propane hook-up. Summer host duties include assisting campers, fee collection, firewood sales, housekeeping and light maintenance. The campground is closed during the winter, so winter host responsibilities will involve caretaking the park. Summers are cool with temperatures in the mid-50s - 60s during the day and mid-40s - 50s at night. Winter weather along the coast can be cold and wet with temperatures in the 40s - 50s during the day and 40s at night. Strong winds prevail year around.
Please contact Tracy Weisberg by email at tracy.weisberg@parks.ca.gov and/or Alex.Weseloh@parks.ca.gov or by phone 707-964-3689.
Mendocino Headlands State Park
Ford House Visitor Center
The Ford House Museum & Visitor Center at the Mendocino Headlands State Park seeks Docents to work in the Ford House providing house tours, dispensing local information, selling items in the gift shop on a point-of-sale system and performing light housekeeping, as well as providing support for events. The Ford House, built in 1854 in Mendocino, is located in the heart of Mendocino and serves as a museum, retail store and information center for visitors, and is operated by the 501c3 nonprofit organization, the Mendocino Area Parks Association (MendoParks).
Host sites are available at the California State Parks Mendocino District yard located approximately three miles from the Ford House. Water, electric (50 amp) and sewer hookups provided. As needed, Hosts may be asked to work at any visitor centers operated by MendoParks as part of their required volunteer commitment.
Please contact Tracy Weisberg by email at tracy.weisberg@parks.ca.gov or phone 707-964-3689 and/or director@mendoparks.org for additional information.
Navarro River Redwoods State Park
Season is May – September
Navarro River Redwoods is a 660 acres, 14 mile redwood corridor from Anderson Valley to the Pacific Ocean. The park offers 26 primitive campsites at Paul Dimmick Campground nestled in a redwood grove with access to the Navarro River and 10 primitive campsites at Navarro Beach campground. The camp host position is in Paul Dimmick Campground and is 7 miles east from the coast and 14 miles west of the town of Philo, CA. The local area offers several wineries along Hwy 128 and the Anderson Valley Brewing Company in Boonville. Some services, gas, hardware, and local markets are available in Philo and Boonville. Shopping and more services are available in Ukiah, a drive of approximately 1 hour. Summers are warm with temperatures in the 80s-90s during the day and mid-40s-50s at night. This is a ‘backcountry’ camp host position with no hook ups. Services may be provided for a generator and waste water. Cell service is minimal in the campground; we will provide a radio for emergency contacts.
If you are interested in this unique camp hosting position at Navarro River Redwoods, please contact Alex Weseloh by email: alex.weseloh@parks.ca.gov or 707-961-0404.
Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park
Point Cabrillo Lighthouse is located just north of Mendocino Village, on Point Cabrillo Drive. There are two side-by-side host sites with full hook-ups available for a person or couple willing to put in 20 hours of volunteer time at week at the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse museums, gift shop, and marine science exhibit, under the direction of the Point Cabrillo Lightkeepers Association. Duties include leading walking tours, manning the gift shop, docenting in the museums, and leading tours to the top of the lighthouse, as well as infrequent administrative tasks.
Please direct all inquiries to Jen Lewis by email at info@pointcabrillo.org or by phone at 707-937-6123 or Amelia Schall Tůmová by email Amelia.Schall@parks.ca.gov or at 707-800-6406.
Russian Gulch State Park
This scenic park along the Mendocino Coast is located three miles north of Mendocino and seven miles south of Fort Bragg and includes beautiful beaches, bluffs, trails, and a waterfall. The park has 29 camp sites and one group camp. Host duties include assisting campers, parking lot checks, firewood sales, and housekeeping. This host site has full hook-ups water, sewer and electrical (30amp) but no propane hook-ups. Candidates must be self-motivated and hard working. Looking for people with a strong desire to improve the parks and give outstanding customer service. There is limited cell phone reception and Wi-Fi is available at the Rec Hall.
Please contact Krista Pelikan at 707-961-0404 or by email at krista.pelikan@parks.ca.gov or you can apply online.
Salt Point State Park
The camp host will provide information to visiting public, report medical emergencies, and other park related problems to the staff, and supplement the maintenance staff by performing minor housekeeping in the campground rest rooms. The camp host must be willing to work with people and possess good communication skills as well as possess the ability to collect fees, make change, and perform simple accounting procedures. The camp host must have a self-contained vehicle; full hook-ups except propane are provided. The camp host must be willing to work weekends and holidays. Applicants must be willing to commit to at least a 3 month commitment that can be extended for another 3 months. Camp hosts will be trained by DPR staff in proper campground operations.
Gerstle Cove Campground is located about 1 hour north of Bodega Bay and offers 29 campsites and a group campsite.
Woodside campground is located about 1 hour north of Bodega Bay and offers (up to) 78 campsites.
For any questions regarding this position, please contact Amelia Schall Tůmová at (707) 800-6406 or Amelia.Schall@parks.ca.gov and/or Kevin Hobel at Kevin.Hobel@parks.ca.gov and/or Autumn La Rue at Autumn.LaRue@parks.ca.gov.
Sonoma Coast State Park
Wrights Beach Campground is located about 6 miles north of Bodega Bay, and offers 27 campsites and 10 overflow sites, Bodega Dunes Campground is located one mile north of Bodega Bay and has 98 campsites, with two host sites, and a day use area on the beach. The camp host will provide information to visiting public, report medical emergencies, and other park related problems to the staff, and supplement the maintenance staff by performing minor housekeeping in the campground rest rooms. The camp host must be willing to work with people and possess good communication skills as well as possess the ability to collect fees, make change, and perform simple accounting procedures. The camp host must have a self-contained vehicle; full hook-ups except propane are provided. The camp host reports to the designated Visitor Services Analyst. The camp host must be willing to work weekends and holidays. The schedule for this position is 5 days on and 2 days off, with hosts working Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Applicants must be willing to commit to at least a 3 month commitment that can be extended for another 3 months. Camp hosts will be trained by DPR staff in proper campground operations. For any questions regarding this position, please call (707) 875-3483.
Van Damme State Park
This park is located two miles south of Mendocino along the scenic north coast and has a mild climate and wonderful trails. Host sites have water, electric (30 amp) and sewer hookups, but no propane available. There are two host sites. Some camp host duties include assisting campers, firewood and shower token sales, and ensuring campsites are in order for new arrivals. Candidates must be self-motivated and hard working. Looking for people with a strong desire to improve the parks and give outstanding customer service. Cell phone signals are not strong, but Wi-Fi is available at the Visitor Center.
Please contact Brandon Burson by e-mail at brandon.burson@parks.ca.gov or at (707) 292-0740 OR Tracy Weisberg by email at tracy.weisberg@parks.ca.gov or (707) 964-3689.
Westport-Union Landing State Beach
This state park showcases the rugged beauty of the Mendocino Coast with sweeping views of the restless Pacific, tree-covered mountains, and the Lost Coast. The park is three miles north of the town of Westport. There are 86 campsites located along three miles of bluffs and sandy beaches at one of the few parks in California that offers campsites that overlook the ocean. Host duties include assisting campers, fee collection, firewood sales, housekeeping, and light maintenance. Electrical, water and sewer hook-ups are available. The host site is located on a bluff that overlooks the beach and ocean.
Please contact Tracy Weisberg by email at tracy.weisberg@parks.ca.gov or phone 707-964-3689.
