Camp Hosting in New York State Parks
Camping season in New York is generally between Memorial Day and Labor Day. This is a volunteer only position. Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to apply at the New York State Parks listed below. You will need to be a seasoned camper, and have a desire to help others. For these positions they are looking to staff folks who can commit to spending 2-4 weeks at a park.
During your short time commitment, you will have a schedule that includes working 5 days a week- including holiday and the weekends. Shifts are short, as volunteers are usually only asked to work between two and five hours each day although you are considered always ‘on call’.
In exchange for your volunteer hours, campground hosts will be given a free campsite for their stay.
Program Description
New York’s campground hosts are a part of the Camper Assistance Program in the state. The duties include:
- Welcoming campers
- Informing campers
- Helping campers to become aware and involved in park programs and regulations
- Assistance with nature programs and any recreation programs
- Checking facilities in between maintenance workers
- Restocking facilities when need be
- Being a model camper in order to set a great example for visiting campers
How to Apply
Download the New York Camp Hosting Jobs application at this link. Once you complete it the full application, you will need to print and mail the form to each of the State Parks listed below- that you are interested in working at.
Since this can be a bit of a process and isn;t offered virtually- make sure to allow some extra time in your planning to account for the mail delivery and review.
State Parks
Allegany State Park – Quaker Area
The Quaker Area has 2 lakes, a beach, swimming, 2 fishing piers, canoeing, kayaking, boating, hiking and biking trails, a variety of plants and wildlife, an amphitheater, picnic areas, a playground, baseball fields, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, horseshoe pits, and camping of course. There are 2 campgrounds and 20 cabin trails. In total, there are 189 campsites, 230 cabins, and 1 group camp. There are also 7 cottage rentals.
Allegany State Park – Red House Area
Everything here is located around Red House Lake. There are paved bike paths, rentals for bikes and boats, a beach, fishing, snowmobiling, boating, fishing, skiing, snowshoeing, softball, tennis, horseshoes, volleyball, the Administration Building which has a museum and a gift shop, and also tons of trails and nature to see. There are 125 campsites, 144 cabins, and 2 group camps.
Bowman Lake State Park is a small remote retreat, known as “a camper’s paradise” in New York. There is a sandy lakefront, picnic areas, fishing, bird watching, a nature center, a 9-hole golf course, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, 13 miles of trails, and camping. Being that this is a small park, there is a limited number of campsites. There are also a small number of rustic cabins for rent.
Cayuga Lake State Park has boating, boat launches, fishing, swimming, ice-fishing, hunting, pavilion and picnic areas, playgrounds, snowshoeing, skiing, and camping! While the beach and grass areas are flat, the campsites and cabin areas are located uphill. There are 252 campsites, 14 cabins, and 1 cottage that are available to reserve.
Chenango Valley State Park is from the history of the ice age. There are tons of activities such as biking, boating, boat rentals, fishing, swimming, hiking, sledding, snowshoeing, skiing, playgrounds, picnic areas, and geocaching. There is also an 18-hole golf course and pro shop. There is a restaurant, the American Grill. There are 182 campsites and 24 cabins for rent during the camping season.
Cherry Plain State Park is 175-acres located on the Black River Pond. The outdoor activities are endless. Activities and amenities include biking and hiking trails, boating, boat launches and rentals, fishing, ice fishing, swimming, hunting, playgrounds, picnic areas and pavilions for rent, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and skiing. In regards to hunting, you do need a hunting permit. There are 10 trailer camp sites, 10 lakeside tent campsites, and 10 hikes in sites that are not vehicle accessible.
Darien Lakes State Park has woodlands, ravines, streams, a lake, and even more beautiful terrain. Activities and amenities include biking, hiking, hunting, disc golf, horseback riding, trails for horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, grills, pavilions, picnic areas, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skiing, and comfort stations. There are 154 camp sites. 141 of these camp sites have electric hook-ups. 13 of the camp sites are primitive.
Delta Lake State Park is a year round park that has many summer activities and also winter activities. There are beaches, boating, boat launches, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, hunting, playgrounds, geocaching, snowshoeing, skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and of course – camping. There is also a restaurant located in the park – Teddy’s Treats. There are 101 camp sites available for campers to choose from.
Evangola State Park is best known for it’s water. There is a gorgeous sand beach, and cliffs overlooking Lake Erie. Activities and amenities include biking, hiking, hunting, disc golf, play grounds, baseball playing fields, basketball court, tennis courts, a beach, water activities, fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skiing, and a nature center for exploration. There are also many pavilions and picnic areas to rent and use. There are 3 campground loops that hold 80 camp sites for campers to rent. There are also 6 yurts and a cabin for rental.
Fair Haven Beach State Park is located on Lake Ontario’s shoreline and is famous in New York for it’s beach and guarded swim area. There is also the Sterling Pond and Creek in the park. Activities and amenities include biking, hiking, hunting, an 18-hole golf course, swimming, diving boards, boating, fishing, paddle boats, row boats, canoeing, kayaking, a camp store, concession store, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and ice fishing. There are 3 campgrounds, a cabin colony that has 30 units, and 2 other cabins and 3 cottages for rent. The campgrounds consist of 138 primitive sites and 46 campsites with electrical hook-ups.
Four Mile Creek State Park is very close to Niagara Falls and gives you access to all of that state park’s attractions. Aside from the Niagara Falls State Park activities, the Four Mile Creek activities and amenities include biking, hiking, fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, pavilions, picnic areas, and playgrounds. There are 259 campsites available for campers. Some have electric hook-ups, some have water fronts, some are primitive, there are yurts, and more. There is a variety.
Gilbert Lake State Park has tons of water with 3 ponds located within the park. There are 12 miles of trails for hikers and bikers, and during the winter skiers, snowmobilers, and snowshoers. Other activities and amenities include disc golf, swimming, boating, fishing, boat rentals, canoeing, kayaking, camping, pavilions, picnic areas, a visitor center, hunting, and playgrounds. There are 33 cabins for rent and 135 camp sites available.
Golden Hill State Park has the Thirty Mile Lighthouse as a landmark within the park. Activities and amenities include camping, fishing, hiking, biking, boating, swimming, nature walks, interpretive tours, picnic areas, hunting, boat launches, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, skiing, disc golf, pavilions, and playgrounds. There are 6 yurts, 55 camp sites, and 1 cottage for rent.
Hither Hills State Park is a tourist favorite. There are awesome picnic areas, sport fishing, biking, hiking, an ocean beach, playgrounds, swimming, surfing, windsurfing, other water sports, multiple types of playfields for sports lovers, cross country skiing, and other winter sports. There is also a conservation area – the Hither Hills State Park Napeague Bird Conservation Area. There is a campground that is on the ocean front that offers 189 campsites.
Lake Taghkanic State Park is a beautiful park that is located in nature. Activities and amenities include a swimming beach, boating, boat launch sites, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, rentals for water sports, playgrounds, playfields for multiple sports, hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, skiing, ice skating, and ice fishing. There are 4 cottages, 27 cabins, and 55 campsites available for reservation for visiting campers. The camp sites are RV and trailer accessible.
Lakeside Beach State Park is located on Lake Ontario as well as the farms and orchards that surround it. While it is privy to the lake, water activities such as swimming, boating, etc. are not allowed. Activities and amenities include fishing, picnic areas, disc golf, playing fields for multiple sports, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, grills, hunting, and playgrounds. There are 268 campsites available for reservation for visiting campers.
Letchworth State Park is known as the “Grand Canyon of the East.” There are 66 miles of trails for hiking and biking. You can also participate in snowmobiling, horseback riding, skiing, and hunting on these trails. There are performing arts programs, interpretive walks and tours, summer lectures, whitewater rafting, swimming, hot air ballooning, kayaking, snow tubing, the Glen Iris Inn, the Humphrey Nature Center. And a big special attraction is the Autism Nature Trail which is a safe space for those with autism or anything related. There are 81 cabins and 257 camp sites for reservation.
Max V. Shaul is a small, relaxing oasis. Activities and amenities include fishing, hiking, biking, playgrounds, snowshoeing, skiing, and more. There is a limited number of camping options with 30 campsites and a group camp site.
Oquaga Creek State Park has a 55-acre lake that offers tons of water activities. Activities and amenities within the park include fishing, winter sledding, snowshoeing, skiing, hiking, biking, hunting, ice fishing, volleyball courts, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, disc golf, and more. There are 90 primitive campsites, or a cottage available for reservation.
Sampson State Park has 2000 acres. There are 2 primary activities in this park – boating and camping. There are 96 boat slips, a huge launch site, gas pumps, and more. There are 243 campsites that have electrical hook-ups. Other activities and amenities include tennis courts, horseshoe pits, basketball courts, volleyball courts, a beach, playgrounds, a lake trail, fishing, hunting, biking, hiking, golf, geocaching, and more.
Schodack Island State Park is a State Estuary that also has a Bird Conservation Area. There are 8 miles of trails. There are 66 campsites, a bike trail, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, kayaking, canoeing, interpretive programs and tours, picnic areas, fishing, hunting, snowshoeing, skiing, grills, and more.
New York has so many great state parks you can contact to get a camp hosting job at. For a complete list of all of the State Parks in New York that accept camp hosting applications, view this link.
