So, you say you love camping so much you wish you could do it year round? Well, why not take a job working at a campground? Both government-owned and privately-managed campgrounds have plenty of job opportunities that will allow you to explore your passion for the outdoors, all while making a living. If the idea of working at a campground appeals to you, read on for more information about the different opportunities available.

Seasonal Help

College students, high school students, retirees and stay at home parents may all be interested in the temporary, seasonal positions offered by many campgrounds. The following are some of the seasonal positions available at many campgrounds:

Office Help – During the busy summer season, campgrounds must maintain a small staff whose duties include checking in campers, assisting campers with questions and problems and enforcing campground rules. The work can be full- or part-time, and qualified applicants must have good customer service skills and be comfortable interacting with a wide variety of people.

Lifeguards – Some campgrounds hire part-time lifeguards to oversee camper safety in their lakes and pools. Qualified applicants must have experience working as lifeguards, and should be certified in first aid and water safety.

Environmental Educators – Many campgrounds offer educational programs for visitors of all ages. For example, an environmental educator may lead a class on identifying native flora and fauna for children staying at the campground. Employees in these positions typically have associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in environmental issues and experience developing and implementing environmental education programs.

Campground Host – Some campgrounds enlist the support of volunteers to act as campground hosts for the summer. Typically, these campers set up in a designated spot for the duration of the summer and act as a resource for other campground visitors, offering coffee in the morning and advice on local destinations and activities. Although these positions are typically unpaid, most volunteers receive free accommodations at the campgrounds where they host.

Year-round Positions

Don’t forget – people camp year-round, even in the coldest of climates. Consequently, campgrounds need to maintain a small year-round staff to accommodate these visitors. If you’re interested in working full-time, consider the following positions:

Campground Manager – The campground manager is typically in charge of the campground operations year-round. During the summer months, the manager is in charge of overseeing the seasonal staff and acting as a point of authority for any disputes that arise. In the off-season, the campground manager may take over more of the tasks formerly carried out by the seasonal staff, including checking in visitors and overseeing campground operations. Applicants interested in these positions should have experience managing facilities, preferably in the hospitality industry.

Park Ranger – State and federal forests often employ park rangers to work year-round on protected lands. Rangers may have limited policing authority and are often responsible for undertaking maintenance projects, including brush clearing and facility renovation. Applicants for these positions should have a background in law enforcement or forestry and a solid resume of prior experiences.

Of course, it’s worth mentioning that you’re not going to get rich working part-time or full-time for a campground, unless you’re lucky enough to be the owner of a popular private campground. However, most people undertake these positions out of a love of camping and the natural world and find a deep fulfillment from these aspects of their work.

Good quality hiking boots aren’t cheap, but trust me – the expense is well worth it! If you’re planning a major camping or hiking outing, the last thing you want is a pair of cheap boots that causes you injury or falls apart in the middle of your journey. The following are a few tips to help you select the right pair of hiking boots.

Buy from a Hiking or Camping Store

Buying hiking boots is one of those times when it’s best to buy from an expert on the subject. If you’ve never purchased boots before, a professional fitter will help determine which pair is best for your feet. If you have wide feet, fallen arches or any other condition that requires special shoes, you’ll need to find hiking boots that accommodate these needs. A professional salesperson who has an extensive knowledge about the different styles of hiking boots available will be able to find the best fit for your needs.

Think Support

When you try on a pair of hiking boots, the first thing you should look for is good support in both the arch and the ankle. The arch of the boot should feel comfortable, but not too high. While you can expect the arch to settle slightly with use, an insole that feels uncomfortably high is unlikely to give enough to fit correctly. In addition, the upper portion of the boot should feel snug around the ankle, but not so tight that it will chafe with regular use. The upper boot will help to protect the ankle from rolling or twisting while hiking, but again, don’t expect it to give too much if it feels uncomfortable on your first fitting.

Examine the Construction

As with regular shoes, the way hiking boots are constructed will vary. Some boots are attached to their soles with glue only, while others are supplemented with stitching. Once you’ve narrowed down your selection of hiking boots, closely examine the construction of each of your finalists. Is the sole made out of a durable material? Is the boot made out of high quality leather, or does it feel cheap to the touch? Does the tongue appear to be connected firmly to the boot? If you have any concerns about the construction of the hiking boot, see if there’s another pair that feels better – the last thing you want is for your boot to come apart on your trip!

Consider Cost

Of course, cost shouldn’t be your first consideration – cheap boots are just that, and put your whole vacation in jeopardy. However, expensive hiking boots can easily run as much as $300 or more, so it’s important to find the right fit for both your feet and your budget. The price of the boots is often an indication of the quality of the materials used in their construction, so you’ll need to find a balance between cost and value. Spend as much as you can afford to, without taking out a second mortgage to do so.

You don’t need a Boy Scout merit badge to build a roaring fire at your campsite – all you need are a few simple supplies and the following technique.

To get started on your campfire, there are a few things you’ll need to gather, including matches, newspaper, twigs and logs of varying thicknesses. It’s probably easiest to bring the matches and newspaper from home, although you may be able to find a camp store nearby that carries these items. You can find twigs around the campground, and you can even make it a game for small children to see who can gather the most. As for the firewood, drive around the community surrounding your campground. You should be able to find at least one home that has firewood stacked for sale with a “scouts honor” cash box.

As a note, many campgrounds are asking that campers refrain from bringing firewood from home, in order to control the introduction of emerald ash borers and other pests into managed forests. Don’t waste valuable car space bringing firewood that you may just have to throw out – wait until you get to the campground to purchase firewood locally.

When you’re ready to start your campfire, begin by crumpling up several pieces of newspaper and stacking them in the middle of your fire ring. Don’t ever try to start a campfire in anything other than the cement-filled fire ring located on your site – this could have disastrous results! The best time to start your campfire depends on what you plan to do. If you intend to cook lunch or dinner over the fire, start it at least an hour ahead of time to give the coals time to form. If you’re only interested in roasting marshmallows and spending the wee hours with friends and family around the fire, shoot for a mid-evening start.

Once you have a small pile of newspapers built up in the middle of your fire ring, begin to stack the twigs vertically around the newspapers, forming a small tee-pee over them. You don’t need to completely cover the newspapers with twigs, but you do want to include enough so that the twigs will burn long enough to catch the heavier firewood on fire. Next, add pieces of firewood around the twig tee-pee in the same structure. For best results, make a pyramid of three thin pieces of firewood over the twigs, and then add 2-3 heavier logs around the perimeter.

Once your structure is set, light the newspaper in several places around the fire ring using the matches you brought along. The goal is for the newspaper to burn long enough to catch the twigs on fire, which in turn catch the thin logs and then the heavier logs on fire. If the newspaper goes out before catching the twigs, add more, being careful to avoid any pieces of paper that are still on fire. Once the fire is going, keep an eye on it, using a separate stick to nudge any falling pieces into place. At the end of the night, be sure to douse any remaining embers with water to be sure the fire doesn’t spread overnight.