We would like to volunteer in either the fall or winter in southern CA, somewhere warm. We have a large rig including a HDT that would have to be accomodated. Any suggestions for two New Yorkers who have never been to CA?

We volunteer at one of the State Beaches during the summer, but there are also volunteers here during the winter season. There are several State Beaches from north of Santa Barbara all the way to San Diego and most of them use volunteers. Not all parks would be able to accommodate your rig, but we many will.

If you click on this link it will take you to a page that talks about the volunteer programs. Near the middle of the page is a link to another page about camp hosting that includes a list of parks and opportunities. I know the list is not complete or current, but it should give you some ideas.

This may help...

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=911

USCOE has some campgrounds in the Central Area of California. A bit of rain and a lot of fog sometimes but no snow and seldom freezing temps.

Puts you within striking distance (an hour or two drive) of Yosemite National Park or within striking distance to Seqouia & Kings Canyon Naitonal Park.

Puts you close to maybe Modesto or to Fresno, depending on which campground. Modesto is about 90 minute drive to the San Francisco Bay area. Generally some decent fishing, in the resavoir your hosting at or in Sierra Nevada streams & lakes.

For Southern California it's either State Parks or County Parks (I know San Diego County has several campgrounds with Camp Hosts.)

Steve Ball
USN Ret.

Don't forget Joshua Tree National Park east of Palm Springs. I think Kirk & Pam have volunteered there? Don't know if they use volunteers at Death Valley. The BLM uses hosts at the LTVAs.

Just a note about Joshua Tree. I inquired there about next winter and they said they were leaning toward volunteers that had solar power. Since I don't have any solar panels, I was told to check back at a much later date. I have since made other plans.

We spent Oct-Dec at Rio Bend RV Park just west of El Centro, CA. We had a really positive experience. Nice park with 9 hole golf course, cafe, activity center and activities. Expected to volunteer 20 hours per week. Got free site, utilities ($100 credit toward electric), cable; and punch card for either cafe or golf. Good location if you want to explore the desert and be relatively close to San Diego.

quote:

Rio Bend RV Park

Jergrimes, That looks like a commercial establishment, so I don't think I would really consider it volunteering (and neither probably would the tax folks I suspect.) From their website, using a value received of $650 per month ($550 monthly rent rate + $100 electricity credit) and your information of 86.6 hours per month (20 x 4.33 weeks per month), it looks like you are working for $7.51 per hour. I guess depending on what they have you doing and the level of effort/intensity involved, it might be an OK rate of pay for the job.

Please don't get me wrong, I encourage and have done a little volunteering and when it is done for non-profits or the government, I don't think you really should do too much in the way of an hourly rate analysis. But for a commercial enterprise that is for profit, I do think you should plug that issue into the mix as part of the decision making process.

Another note about Joshua Tree... When its warm it is absolutely gorgeous. But the place can be brutally cold for extended periods in the winter months and snow is not unknown. Without hookups you'll be burning through the propane.

(Had plenty of time in the Joshua Tree area with 5 years at the 29 Palms Marine base and another 5 years in the area after retiring from active duty.)

The most temperate campground would probably be Cottonwood Campground in the southern part of the park, which is miles from anywhere.

Death Valley does indeed use camphost volunteers and is very nice in the winter, if you don't mind remote!