Rules for successful camp hosting

For those of you considering a camp hosting position, there are good and bad points you should be aware of:

You're a volunteer so unless you break the law, you can't be fired.
You're not on at the location forever so if it's a bad place, you don't suffer too long. If it's a good place, you can return.
Your main activity is to be nice to campers and visitors: you're the nice one who answers questions.
You don't have to enforce the law (that's why there are rangers) but you can create some rules to make your job easier.

Last weekend, I created these rules:

*No dogs in the restrooms
*No bicycles in the restrooms
*No scooters in the restrooms
*No skateboards in the restrooms
*Girls only in the girls restrooms
*Boys only in the boys restrooms
*No washing your little brother's dirty feet in the toilet in either restroom (see previous two rules)
*No pooping in the shower (someone did)
*No swinging from the tree branches
*No riding bicycles, scooters or skateboards without a helmet: if you do not have a helmet, you do not ride your bike, scooter or skateboard
*Hold your hand flat with the palm up and the carrot in it if you want to feed the horse. One horse may eat politely; the other will take your entire hand in his mouth and you'll know what his tongue and teeth feel like from the inside. Ewww!
*If you leave your bicycle, helmet and backpack outside on the ground all day, it will be locked up at the camp host's site until you (accompanied by your parents) pick it up in the morning. Then you can explain the Lord's Prayer approach to theft prevention: "Lead us not into temptation." Your stuff was locked up so no one else would steal it.
*Finally, if you make enough noise after quiet hours and keep the camp host awake, she will be sure you are out of your tent or RV to join her for birdwatching at 5 am.

Believe me, the parents will support you, the staff will support you and the ranger will laugh at you. You'll have fun and isn't that what camp hosting is all about?

Safe, solo and self-protected

When I began RVing alone, I felt unsafe in a canvas-covered pop-up so I traded for a hard-sided travel trailer. I felt completely safe in the trailer; however, I usually camped in a campground (private or public). I did not stay overnight in retail establishment lots because, to move on, I would have had to leave my trailer to get to my truck. I think some form of motorhome would be ideal because one never has to leave one's rig to move on. If you don't feel comfortable, all you have to do is drive away.

I never felt unsafe traveling alone. I had roadside assistance, a cell phone, a CB radio, a lockable trailer, and I remained vigilant of my surroundings. I also had a tire iron close at hand! Kathy Frazier

Kat is a member of RVing Women and we concur on safety issues while traveling alone. I don't carry a tire iron but since I have years of aikido training, I have other means of protection. No, I don't have a black belt. Aikido practioners work for years to attain the next belt level so I have a brown belt. The first six months, you learn to fall properly so you're not hurt. I fall better than anyone I know. If you want to see an aikido sensei in action, watch any Steven Seagal movie. A little trivia: When Sean Connery was filming "Never Say Never Again," Seagal was hired to train him and broke Connery's wrist.

There is quite a bit of philosophy attached to the moves and the best part of this discipline is that little strength is involved. It is suitable for all ages and levels of expertise. I've taught classes to everyone from an eight year-old boy to a 66 year-old woman with much success. Do a little reading about aikido and see if it might work for you.

Basically, be aware, be alert, be prepared and then--be having a good time on the road.