The Iowa DNR is actively searching for top-notch volunteers who love to camp and enjoy meeting people to serve as campground hosts for the 2025 camping season at several state parks and forests.
Campground hosts serve as welcoming guides to the park by checking in campers, answering questions and providing park information. Hosts also assist park managers with maintenance and housekeeping duties as needed.
Active volunteer time is about 20-30 hours per week, primarily on the weekends.
Because this is a volunteer position, campground hosts are not paid but are provided a free campsite while actively hosting, which is from April through October. Parks seeking campground hosts include:
- Backbone State Park - September and October Only (Delaware County)
- Bellevue State Park (Jackson County)
- Clear Lake State Park - 2 slots available (Cerro Gordo County, Clear Lake)
- Emerson Bay State Recreation Area (Dickinson County, West Okoboji Lake)
- Geode State Park (Henry County)
- George Wyth State Park (Black Hawk County)
- Gull Point State Park (Dickinson County, West Okoboji Lake)
- Lake Darling State Park (Washington County)
- Lewis and Clark State Park (Monona County)
- McIntosh Woods State Park (Cerro Gordo County, Clear Lake)
- Pilot Knob State Park (Winnebago County)
- Pine Lake State Park (Hardin County)
- Stephens State Forest (Lucas County)
- Union Grove State Park (Tama County)
Serving as a campground host is a fun and rewarding opportunity to enjoy Iowaβs outdoors. To apply, or to learn more, visit iowadnr.gov/volunteer, or send an email to iowa.stateparks@dnr.iowa.gov, or reach out to the individual park office.