Alaska State Parks Volunteer Program Campground Host Positions - 2012

Mat-Su/CB Area Office
7278 E. Bogard Road
Wasilla AK 99654
phone: (907) 745-3975
fax: (907) 745-0938

Note: Please be sure to check the general information page for instructions on applying! Don't forget to look at the More Information on Campground Hosting page. Click here to return to the area listing of host positions.

Byers Lake Campground - Denali State Park
This quiet, family campground is nestled on Byers Lake at the foot of Kesugi Ridge. The area offers spectacular views of Mt. McKinley. It is located 147 miles north of Anchorage and 90 miles from the National Park Service entrance. An RV is required.
Special Projects: Visitor information and daily visit counts, campground maintenance, assist in trail projects.
Amenities: Subsistence payment. Centralized facility with laundry, and showers. Season: 4 weeks minimum, Late May – early September, prefer 2 months or more commitment.
Contact: Ranger Jason Nielsen
email: jason.nielsen@alaska.gov

Denali View North Campground - Denali State Park
This campground and popular day use area is situated on a bluff above the Chulitna River with a spectacular view of Mt. McKinley. The site includes many interpretive panels detailing history, geology and other features of Mt. McKinley and a spotting scope for mountain viewing. It is located about halfway between Anchorage and Fairbanks, along the Parks Highway. An RV is required.
Special Projects: Visitor information and daily visit counts, campground maintenance, assist in trail projects.
Amenities: Subsistence payment. Centralized facility with laundry, and showers.
Season: 4 weeks min., May 15 - October 1, prefer 2 months or more commitment.
Contact: Ranger Jason Nielsen
email: jason.nielsen@alaska.gov

Denali View South Campground and Day Use Area - Denali State Park
This very popular day use area provides visitors with interpretive signs and photographs of Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range. It is located on a bluff above the Chulitna River with the best view of Mt. McKinley on the road system. An RV is required.
Special Projects: Visitor information and daily visit counts, campground maintenance, assist in trail projects.
Amenities: Subsistence payment. Centralized facility with laundry, and showers.
Season: 4 weeks min., May 15 - October 1, prefer 2 months or more commitment.
Contact: Ranger Jason Nielsen
email: jason.nielsen@alaska.gov



Nancy Lake State Recreation Site
This smaller, 30-site campground is on the northeast shore of Nancy Lake, a popular fishing and boating area in the community of Willow (67 miles from Anchorage, 30 miles north of Wasilla). Nancy Lake campground also has a picnic area and a boat launch.
Special Projects: Firewood and decal sales, and assisting with campground maintenance.
Amenities: Subsistence payment, electric RV hookup, phone (hard line), and the use of Nancy Lake Office facilities.
Season: 6 week minimum, 5/15 - 9/6
Contact: Ranger John Wilber
email: john.wilber@alaska.gov

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South Rolly Lake Campground - Nancy Lake State Recreation Area (2 positions)
This quiet campground is the largest in the state system and is spread over beautiful forested hills. The lake is restricted to electric trolling motors and non-powered boats only. The popular Red Shirt Lake hiking trail is nearby.  The campground is located at the end of the 6 mile Nancy Lake Parkway, in the community of Willow (67 miles from Anchorage, 30 miles north of Wasilla).  Several lakes are accessible from the Parkway, as is the canoe trail system.
Special Projects: Firewood and decal sales, and assisting with campground maintenance.
Amenities: Subsistence payment and the use of Nancy Lake Office facilities.
Season: 6 week minimum, 5/15 - 9/6
Contact: Ranger John Wilber
email: john.wilber@alaska.gov

Willow Creek State Recreation Area
This large, paved campground is a popular salmon fishing spot near the confluence of Willow Creek and the Susitna River. The mouth of Willow Creek is known for excellent King salmon fishing, as well as other fish species. It is located in the community of Willow (70 miles north of Anchorage, 33 miles north of Wasilla).
Special Projects: Firewood and decal sales, visitor contact, campground maintenance, light janitorial, and assisting with staffing entrance station on peak use weekends.
Amenities: Subsistence payment and the use of Nancy Lake Office facilities.
Season: 8 weeks minimum, as long as 5/15 – 9/6
Contact: Ranger John Wilber
email: john.wilber@alaska.gov



Willow Creek State Recreation Area
This second position is to assist during the busy King Salmon season. This large, paved campground is a popular salmon fishing spot near the confluence of Willow Creek and the Susitna River.  Willow Creek is known for excellent king salmon fishing as well as other fish species. Located north of Willow, 70 miles north of Anchorage, 33 miles north of Wasilla.
Special Projects: Firewood and decal sales, visitor contact, campground maintenance, light janitorial, and assisting with staffing entrance station on peak use weekends.
Amenities: Subsistence payment and the use of Nancy Lake Office facilities.
Season: 4 weeks minimum, 5/15 – 7/15
Contact: Ranger John Wilber
email: john.wilber@alaska.gov



Little Susitna Public Use Facility
Little Susitna Public Use Facility offers camping and boating access approximately 28 miles south of Wasilla. This beautiful campground/boat launch lies within the Susitna Flats State Game Refuge on the pristine Little Susitna River. The river is famous for its world-class sport fishing. Predominate fish species include Chinook and Coho salmon. Other species of salmon are present in addition to trout and char. The area is heavily forested with spruce and birch. Opportunities abound to view and photograph the area's wildlife. The game refuge is home to an abundance of wildlife including brown bear, black bear, moose and a variety of waterfowl including a large variety of migratory shore birds. A general store offering food, showers/laundry, storage, and gasoline is located within five miles of the campground. An RV is recommended for this position. This is not an Alaska State Park unit, but is managed as one.
Special Projects: Host/caretaker of entire facility, monitor visitor use, general campground management, firewood and decal sales, janitorial maintenance and other duties as assigned.
Amenities: Subsistence payment, uniform jackets/hats, and free camping.
Contact: Ranger Amy O'Connor
email: amyoconnor@alaska.gov



Hatcher Pass Management Area
Hatcher Pass Management Area includes three designated camping areas. A 4 site camping/picnic area at Government Peak with campsites, picnic tables, latrines and fire rings, a camping lot at Gold Mint trailhead with tables, fire-rings, latrines and well water and a no-amenity camping lot at the Fishhook Trailhead. Hatcher Pass and Independence Mine State Park boasts scenic vistas of the Talkeetna Range, high mountain peaks and multiple glaciers, gold panning, berry picking, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding and world class spring skiing. Host duties include welcoming campers and day users to the area, collecting fees, assisting with day-to-day area operations and maintenance including mowing, brushing, litter and trash collection, janitorial maintenance of latrines, light repairs, painting, cleaning fire rings, assisting area Ranger with special projects and collecting visitor use counts.
There is one host position available (couples are welcome to apply). Location can be at either Government Peak (no hookups, no water), Goldmint Trailhead (well water, no hookups), or Independence Mine Visitor Center area (electric available, shared: showers, laundry, bathrooms available in the visitor center). The nearest dump station is in Palmer, approximately 25 miles.
For area information please visit: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/hatcherpass/hatcherpass.htm and http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/indmine.htm
Season: 5/1 – 9/30, entire season desired (snow and weather dependent)
Special Projects: As assigned.
Amenities: $500 monthly subsistence, dump, phone, radio, state vehicle
Phone: 907-745-8943
Fax: 907-745-0938
Email: amyoconnor@alaska.gov

Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge (2 host positions)
This 28,800 acre state wildlife refuge protects a variety of wildlife habitat including coastal and freshwater wetlands, tidal sloughs and mudflats, lakes and streams, as well as upland birch forests in upper Cook Inlet. The refuge is located just outside the community of Wasilla and is about 25 miles northeast of Anchorage. During spring, tens-of-thousands of migrating ducks, geese, swans, shorebirds and other birds stop in the refuge to refuel during their migration to their northern nesting grounds. Many species of waterbirds remain in the refuge for the summer to nest and raise their young.  Nearly 160 species of birds have been documented in the refuge. Moose, black bears, coyotes, red fox, beaver, muskrats and eagles are common in the refuge. Popular activities include sport fishing, canoeing, bird watching, bird dog (retriever) training, waterfowl hunting and hiking. These positions are stationed at two popular access points: Cottonwood Creek (on the west edge of the refuge) and Reflections Lake (on the east edge of the refuge off the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway).
Special Projects: Overall supervision of visitor use at undeveloped refuge access points. Greet visitors in an informal setting, provide information and answer questions, pick up litter, empty trash, light cleaning and restocking of restrooms, and provide general security.
Amenities: These are undeveloped access points and no onsite utilities or amenities are available. RV or trailer (supplied by volunteer) must be self-contained. Subsistence payment, expense allowance and cell phone are provided. All amenities are available in Wasilla (7 miles from Cottonwood Creek, 11 miles from Reflections Lake).
Season: Cottonwood Creek: July through August; Reflections Lake: June through August.
Contact: Joe Meehan
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
333 Raspberry Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99518 
phone: (907) 267-2281
fax: (907) 267-2344
email: joe.meehan@alaska.gov
website: www.wildlife.alaska.gov (follow links for “Refuges and Sanctuaries”).

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