Thank you for your interest in becoming a Campground Host in Glacier National Park.

Campground hosts serve as volunteers in the National Park Service's Volunteer-in-Parks (VIP) Program. A VIP is anyone who performs work for the National Park Service for which he or she may or may not be reimbursed for some out-of-pocket expenses. The following is an overview of the working environment and duties of a campground host. Hopefully, this will help in your decision to apply for a position.

Most campgrounds have full recreational vehicle hookups for hosts, but a few are more limited in utility services (see Campground Information below). Campground hosts live in designated sites within the campgrounds and are subject to visits and requests for assistance at all hours of the day. Hosts should plan on working in all kinds of weather due to the park's mountain environment. Due to training requirements, most campground host positions require a commitment, of approximately three months. Campground seasons run from mid-May through mid-October, depending on the campground.

Hosts assist park staff with campground operations and provide a variety of information to visitors including: campground and food storage regulations; safety advisories concerning visitation while in bear and mountain lion country; backcountry camping, hiking, and fishing; National Park and concession facilities; interpretive programs; road conditions; park natural resources and other points of interest.

Hosts are often thought of as the "eyes and ears" of campgrounds. They provide supervisors and rangers with information regarding campground facilities, visitor use, wildlife sightings, and safety concerns, but do not take direct action involving law enforcement situations. Hosts may staff ranger stations, provide upkeep of campgrounds, assist with the selection of campsites, and camp registration and fee payment. They do not accept or handle recreational fee transactions. The wearing of a VIP uniform identifies campground hosts. You may be reimbursed for the cost of required uniform clothing items.

After your review of the Campground Information (below), please indicate on the form, in preferential order, the campground(s) you are interested in hosting and return to us at: Glacier National Park, ATTN: Human Resources, PO Box 128, West Glacier, Montana 59936. You will also need to submit a volunteer application. To obtain an application, please visit http://www.nps.gov/archive/tarp/volunteerapp1.htm. Once we receive your paperwork we will maintain it in our Volunteer-In-The-Parks file for supervisory review throughout the current calendar year. If considered, a supervisor will contact you directly. If selected, information concerning appointment, position description, uniforms, etc. will be sent to you.

Thank you for your interest. We hope to hear from you soon!

Campground Information and Campground Preference Form (14kb PDF file)