Camp Hosting in New Mexico State Parks
The hosts and all other volunteer positions help to provide a top-tier experience for visitors through recreational activities. Campground hosting in New Mexico is no different and is vital to experiencing everything the New Mexico State Parks have to offer! Often offered as a volunteer position, your responsibilities are greeting guests and taking care of the park grounds. In return, you get to camp in some of the most beautiful parks around. Campground hosting is the opportunity to work while you camp!
Camp Hosting New Mexico Program Description
Campground hosts in the state of New Mexico are expected to:
- Greet and welcome visitors
- Verify payments and fee collection
- Give information when needed
- Know cash handling and reservation systems
- Perform light maintenance
- Have experience with tools and lawn tools
- Trash pick up
- Check in on campgrounds
- Assistance with any projects when needed
New Mexico State Park campground hosts are requested to sign up for a minimum of 2 months of campground host duties. Campground Hosts in New Mexico are also asked to work a minimum of 24 hours per week during their post. Schedules can be flexible based on park needs. You will also have the opportunity to be trained hands-on by experienced park staff.
This is a volunteer-only position. New Mexico State Park volunteer campground hosts will be provided a free campsite, with hook-ups. Not all parks have hook-ups, but they will be provided to the hosts where available.
Campground Host New Mexico: How to Apply
In order to apply to become a campground host at New Mexico State Parks, you will need to first register online and create an account. From there, you complete an application through this link – and then your application will be active and available for viewing by any park in the state.
Being chosen as a campground host in New Mexico depends on a multitude of factors – what and who the park needs, your experience as a volunteer in state parks, the availability in the park, and the preferences or amenities that you need while volunteering. The more flexibility that you have, the greater your chance to be picked.
Once you have registered and applied, check the specific park openings and reach out to the park manager/superintendent. This will speed up your process and give you a better chance of getting to be a campground host in the New Mexico State Park you want.
6 State Parks for New Mexico Campground Host
New Mexico State Parks is currently asking campground hosts to contact each park directly to see what openings they have available. Here are just some of the different New Mexico State Parks you can choose from!
Ute Lake State Park
Ute Lake State Park has one of the largest lakes in the entire state. At this park, amenities and activities include birding, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, biking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, boating, personal water crafts, sailing, water skiing, camping, picnic areas, 1.59 miles of trails, a beach, a visitor center with exhibits, and playgrounds. There are a total of 159 campsites available for reservation. There is a mixture of electric hook-ups, water hook-ups, and primitive sites for your choosing. There is also a group site, an RV dump station, and 3 areas that are specifically for primitive camping – the Rogers Area, the South Side Area, and the Mine Canyon Area.
Conchas Lake State Park
Conchas Lake State Park has tons of shoreline with the Conchas Lake itself and the South Canadian River running through. Activities and amenities include boating, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, personal water crafts, sailing, water skiing, fishing, a beach, swimming, camping, picnic areas, wildlife viewing, a visitor center with exhibits, and a playground. There are 2 campground options. The first has 24 campsites with water and electric campsites, 7 campsites with electric hook-ups, 16 campsites with only water hook-ups, and an RV dump station. These sites can be reserved. The other campground options are non-reservation and have 9 campsites with water and electric hook-ups, 17 campsites with water hook-ups, and 1 site that is handicap accessible. There are also a total of 500 primitive campsites that are along the shoreline, which give you beachside camping.
Pecos Canyon State Park
Pecos Canyon State Park is a newly created state park, making it the state’s 35th state park to date. In this new state park, you can find wildlife watching, boating, swimming, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, water skiing, trails for biking and hiking, interpretive programs, and more.
Caballo Lake State Park
Caballo Lake State Park holds Caballo Lake and the Caballo Mountains. Activities and amenities in this state park include boating, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, sailing, water skiing, horseback riding, equestrian camping, fishing, picnic areas, hiking, biking, interpretive trails, wildlife viewing, a beach, boat docks, and ramps, and camping of course! There are 4 campgrounds that hold 170 developed campsites, 98 campsites that have 108 campsites that have water and electric hook-ups, and 7 campsites that have full hook-ups which include sewer. There is also an RV dump station, a group campsite that has 54 sites, and primitive camping which is beachfront.
Percha Dam State Park
Percha Dam State Park is a quiet oasis out of the New Mexico State Parks. There aren’t any water activities here, but the scenery and woodlands are beautiful and relaxing. Amenities and activities include education programs, interpretive programs, 3 miles of trails for hiking and biking, interpretive trails, wildlife viewing, and camping. Camping options include 29 developed campsites and 23 campsites with electrical hook-ups. There is water for community use within the campground, as well as an RV dump station. There are also group campsites available.
Oliver Lee Memorial State Park
Oliver Lee Memorial State Park is another quiet oasis that is also full of history. Activities and amenities include education programs, interpretive programs and trails, wildlife viewing, trails for hiking and biking, a visitor center, historic sites, and camping. There is one campground that is for reservable and has 15 campsites with water and electric hook-ups, water within the campground, and an RV dump station. There is a non-reservation campground that has 12 campsites and shared water hydrants. There is also a group campsite.
New Mexico is a beautiful place with its mountains, lakes, and beaches. Why not become the next New Mexico State Park campground host and explore everything this wonderful landscape has to offer?
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