South Dakota opens applications for summer help

Working in South Dakota State Parks means more than camp-host positions. The Mount Rushmore State needs all kinds of folks to help out in positions like general maintenance, entrance station attendant, maintenance worker, campground attendant, law enforcement, heavy equipment operator, and naturalist/programmers.

Of you might have experience that the state needs in other areas. Positions with the Division of Wildlife include habitat technician, habitat aide, fisheries technician, wildlife technician, conservation crew leader, naturalist/programmer, and wildlife damage technician.

How do you apply? Applications for summer employment with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks are available online and at South Dakota One-Stop Career Centers.

Here's the fine print: All applicants must be 18 years of age and available to work the normal summer season, mid-May through Labor Day. Applications must be submitted online or postmarked no later than February 10, 2012. Applications received after the deadline will only be considered for any remaining positions.

Seasonal employment with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks is also available through Executive Intern Program positions. The application deadline for summer 2012 internship positions is February 1. To qualify for an internship, applicants must be full-time students of at least sophomore standing and currently be enrolled at a college, university or vocational-technical school.

For the complete job listing and to apply, visit www.gfp.sd.gov, or contact any South Dakota One-Stop Career Center office.

Campground hosts needed in Michigan

Michigan needs campground hosts for the upcoming summer camping season. Their Volunteer Campground Host Program sets up in state parks or state forest campgrounds, providing a free RV site in exchange for help in caring for campground visitor's needs.

What kind of things will hosts do? Look for directing visitors to their campsites, answering questions about the park or state forest, arranging campground activities and performing light maintenance duties and other services, depending on the hosts' talents and interests.

Both individuals a teams are needed, and the minimum age requirement is 18. You'll be required to be "on duty" five days, 30 hours per week including weekends and holidays. The commitment is for a minimum of four consecutive weeks. You'll need your own RV and equipment. Training is provided in the form of a mandatory two-day training session at the end of April in Roscommon. If you'll be hosting at a state forest campground, the training is not required.

Campground hosts are chosen by park and forest managers who may require an interview or request additional information. Selection is based on the individual's familiarity with the state park or state forest system, his or her camping experience, special skills, availability, knowledge of the area and the needs of the specific park or forest campground.

Hosts are particularly needed during the busy camping season, which can begin as early as April in state parks in southern Michigan. Many of last year's campground hosts will be returning this year; however, vacancies still exist at park and forest campground locations throughout Michigan. Information and applications are available from the DNR's website at www.michigan.gov/dnrvisitorcenters. Those interested in being a campground host at a state park should apply directly to the park of their choice.

RVers find temporary jobs at big retailer warehouses

Fernley, NV warehouse of Amazon.com

Many RVers like to supplement their income with part time gigs and many employers, such as Wall Drug in South Dakota and Amazon.com, roll out the welcome mat to RVers that, like turtles, carry their homes with them.

Amazon, for instance, does about 40 percent of its annual revenue of $34 billion in the fourth quarter, and this happy event (to stockhholders) requires the hiring of hundreds of temporary workers to fill all the orders at its 34 warehouses scattered throughout the country.

Though it is too late this year to take advantage of its offer, put it on your calendar to check it out next year, especially Amazon's warehouse in Phoenix where many fulltimers snowbird for the winter. This year a spokesperson for Amazon said the company quadrupled -- to 1,200 -- its Phoenix staff. That's a lot of temp jobs - -and the pay is about $12 an hour and includes some overtime.

It can be hard work, however, and workers need to be prepared to be on their feet with a lot of overtime some days.

Desert Rose RV Park, Fernley, NV

The Fernley location in Nevada, which is about the size of 13 football fields, is about 45 miles east of the California border. The Desert Rose RV Park in Fernley (monthly camping fee is $375) gets about a fifth of its annual revenue from Amazon's temporary workers.

You can read more in an article published on December 20 by the Wall Street Journal here.

Wisconsin, Oklahoma need help!

RV travels can take you hither and yon. If either your hither or your yon includes Oklahoma or Wisconsin, both states are looking for RVers to help out.

In Oklahoma, the Chickasaw National Recreation Area near Sulphur is looking for camp hosts for the 2012 spring and summer camping seasons. Six sites are available. The camping season starts as early as March and goes as late as October peaking from May to September.

Hosts are campground eyes and ears, working both as guardians and stewards. Duties involve greeting visitors and answering questions. Hosts may check for payment on nightly stays, inform visitors of campground rules and regulations, perform minor emergency services, and conduct light grounds maintenance.

Chickasaw National Recreation Area is nestled in south-central Oklahoma, 75 miles south of Oklahoma City and 140 miles north of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. The 9,931-acre recreation area contains Travertine Nature Center, fresh water and mineral springs, six campgrounds with electric and water hookups and comfort stations with showers, 2,350-acre Lake of the Arbuckles, 67-acre Veterans Lake, and over 20 miles of hiking trails.

Sound interesting? Contact Volunteer-In-Parks Coordinator Ron Parker at (580) 622-7231 or Daniel Whatley at (580) 622-7291.

On to Wisconsin! Experienced campers are needed by the Department of Natural Resources to serve as volunteer park campground hosts and nature center hosts at Kohler-Andrae State. Current openings exist for May and July for campground hosts and June for the nature center hosts. Hosts live in free campsites provided by the park and serve as park ambassadors. You'll stay on at the campground for one month and volunteer a few hours each day.

Much like it is in Oklahoma, hosts greet visitors, explain park rules and help campers to enjoy a positive camping experience. They also answer questions about the park and local area, assist park staff, clean fire rings, pick up litter and sell ice and firewood Friends of Kohler-Andrae. Nature center hosts staff Sanderling Nature Center, welcome visitors, answer questions and sell merchandise for the Friends of Kohler-Andrae.

Selections are based on past experience as a host, previous camping experience and an interest and knowledge of the park and the surrounding area. Applicants should be familiar with park rules and practice good housekeeping. Successful hosts should be model campers and set a positive example for other campers.

To apply to be a volunteer host at Kohler-Andrae State Park, contact the park office at 920-451-4082.