Go Camping in Western Montana and Get Paid to Help
Each year, the campgrounds around Montana, including the Bitterroot valley, are very popular. And, every year volunteers help keep the outdoor experience fun.
The Bitterroot National Forest is looking for campground hosts again for the summer recreation season. Tod McKay of the forest said there are two campgrounds that need hosts.
One location is the Lower Como Campground at the Lake Como Recreation Area. This is the area where folks with motorhomes and trailers find convenient places to park as they access one of the most visited national forest recreation areas in the Northern Region of the U.S. Forest Service. There is a space for the campground host's trailer and there is water and electricity available at the well-developed area.
The other area is the Blodgett Campground west of Hamilton. This is a more rustic setting with no water or electricity at the campsites. The area is often visited by day hikers and short-term campers at one of the most photographed canyons in the Bitterroot.
McKay said that the campground hosts are asked to help with managing the area, making sure everything is safe and then working with the public, such as answering questions about trails and the wildlife. The volunteers get a nice place to stay during the summer and actually get a "modest" daily stipend to cover living expenses.
Interested? You'll need to get more information from the Bitterroot National Forest website or contact Shannon Harris at the Darby/Sula Ranger Station for the Como campground at 406 821-3913 or Caleb George at the Stevensville Ranger Station for the Blodgett campground at 406 777-5461.