This month, instead of a grand overseas adventure, we decided to see what it would be like to serve as a campground host in a Missouri State Park. I love to camp and I love the woods, but will I still be in love at the end of the month?

My morning ritual is to make coffee over a small fire. My 30+ year old pot makes the best morning elixir. I drink it slowly and listen to the birds as the sun comes up. People generally don’t start stirring until 7:30 or 8:00, so I get plenty of time for quiet contemplation.

We work three or four days each week and the duties are generally light. We make rounds in a golf cart, gently reminding campers of campground rules and answering questions (see related post GIVE A HOOT). We provide assistance during emergencies (see related post (CAN YOU HELP?). We also facilitate guest check in and check out (see related post DON’T WEAR OUT YOUR WELCOME). This includes changing occupancy signs and making sure the site is clean and ready for the next guest. The reward for this “volunteer” position is a free full hook up site for the duration of the month.

Many of our fellow volunteers are full time RVers. They travel the U.S., going from one hosting gig to the next. One couple we serve with never comes out of their rig unless they are on duty. This seems especially strange, as I camp to be outdoors….but to each their own. Maybe if my camper was also my house, I would feel differently.

The vast majority of campers are friendly and fun. We swap stories and make suggestions for recreational activities. Children’s eyes light up when you share fun cards with an animal track scavenger hunt or information about nearby caves and swimming holes. They enter joyfully and leave silently. They leave no trace of their excursion except some ash in the fire pits.

But there are notable exceptions, especially on the weekends. The group of high impact guests come in one of three categories. The most lovable, bless their hearts, are the “I have never camped before….have no idea what to do…..and am totally unaware of campground norms” guests. It is hard to get upset about cleaning out a fire pit full of brand new wood, left charred and still in its bundle; when it is clear the camper put in the whole stack, lit paper under it, and hoped for the best. When it predictably fails to light, they leave it, having spent $7.00 for nothing. The next morning as I clean out their abandoned site, I have a chuckle and help myself to a nice bundle of free wood.

The next group, the entitled hedonists, are much harder to love. These guests usually travel in a herd and only care about whether they are having a good time. They are loud and destructive. They don’t need to take out their trash, they can just fill the fire pit or leave it lay in the grass. Quiet hours don’t apply. Their tents can sprawl onto their neighbors site, their cars can be parked in someone else’s drive while they drink on a sandbar. They don’t care that someone is unable to set up because their things are scattered across multiple sites they didn’t pay for. They litter and destroy property. The peacefulness of the park is disturbed until they are gone. They don’t think rules apply to them and they never like being reminded of them. Thankfully, they usually only make an appearance on the weekend. They are here to party and the quiet weekday life in a campground has no appeal for this group.

The last group is harder to define. I call them, only the lonely. Age five to eighty five, this group just wants to talk. They ask endless questions and share too much personal information. Most days this is not a bother. Some days it is entertaining. However, when there are ten rigs lined up and the same camper is asking for information you have already shared with them numerous times, you have to take a deep breath and find a polite way to move them along.

Except for the mosquitoes and the infrequent unruly guests, I am happy with this adventure. I can live in my little corner of paradise, taking a nap in my hammock or kayaking the river. A few days a week, we do our assignments and the time passes pleasantly. The park staff is friendly, appreciative, and supportive. As a travel goal, I am glad we tried it. I would definitely consider doing it again. If you don’t mind a thin coating of ash from the fire pits, it is fun to be the old lady with the golf cart.