Campground and Park Hosts
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at a California State Park! Current volunteer opportunities at the Ocotillo Wells District include:
Salton Sea State Recreation Area - Camp Host
Seeking a place to spend the winter in sunny southern California with a view? Consider the Salton Sea State Recreation Area! Volunteers and camp hosts are needed from October through April at California’s largest lake. Currently, multiple camp host/volunteer spaces are available at our lakeshore campgrounds. We provide full hookup sites backdropped by views of the sea and the Santa Rosa Mountains.
Duties include staffing the visitor center, performing light maintenance and housekeeping, running the camp store, and helping with educational activities. The minimum stay is 3 months, with a minimum commitment to work 30 hours per week. We are particularly interested in recruiting volunteers with a keen interest and expertise in birding, as the Salton Sea is a major stop along the Pacific Flyway for hundreds of migratory bird species.
Although located in a rural area, the Salton Sea State Recreation Area is less than an hour away from beautiful desert cities such as Palm Springs, La Quinta, and Palm Desert. For those interested in exploring the high desert, the southern entrance of Joshua Tree National Park is also a short drive from the park. During the winter months, the weather is perfectly mild with warm days and cool evenings.
The Salton Sea is often misunderstood. Despite challenges regarding increasing salinity and retreating shorelines, the sea plays an essential role in maintaining California’s extraordinary biological diversity and offers many opportunities for inspiration and education. As a camp host, you will have the ability to gain a deeper understanding of the delicate balancing act orchestrated by natural forces.
Picacho State Recreation Area - Camp Host
A former mining town located on California’s southeastern border, the park provides visitors with quiet refuge deep within the Sonoran Desert as well as access to the lower Colorado River.
The minimum stay is 3 months, with a minimum commitment to work 30 hours per week. Duties include providing information to visitors, performing light campground maintenance, assisting with the park recycling program, and if needed, staffing the visitor center/park office. There are also opportunities to support interpretive programs.
Please be aware the park is located in a very remote area. The main road to access the park includes 18 miles of unpaved road with sandy areas. The road travels down canyons and through washes. The maximum trailer length is 30 ft. If you are traveling in a camper/motorhome, the maximum length is 35 ft. If your vehicle is able to traverse the main road, you will be rewarded with a stay at one of the geological gems of the California State Park system. The main campground provides convenient access to hiking trails that showcase the breathtaking colors and striking landforms of the Chocolate Mountain range. For those traveling with a boat, the park offers easy access to the Lower Colorado River with two launches near the campground.
Please contact Volunteer Coordinator Eric Kung at Eric.Kung@parks.ca.gov for more details.
