For some Smokies volunteers, campground internet hosting is the perfect life-style

Before they retired, Bob and Nancy Furlow owned and managed condominium buildings for a dwelling. Now, they don’t even personal a house – not less than, not one with out wheels. Since promoting their home seven years in the past, the 2 – each of their late 60s – have resided in a 160-square-foot Boles Aero trailer, which Bob painstakingly rebuilt to function cedar-paneled partitions, a king-sized mattress, and a full lavatory and kitchen. Four years into their new life as full-time RVers, they joined the ranks of the 5 dozen individuals who function campground hosts yearly in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“This is the way to go when you retire,” mentioned Nancy. “It’s fantastic.”

Taking up momentary residence at one of many park’s 10 frontcountry campgrounds, campground hosts carry out a wide range of duties aimed toward making the tenting expertise as secure and pleasant as doable. A pleasant and welcoming presence for campers, hosts supply steering on campground guidelines, native wildlife and outdoor safety. These volunteers are a vital hyperlink between campers and park employees, and they’re “essential” to park operations and customer expertise, mentioned Andy Sinclair, campground program coordinator for Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“By supplementing the efforts of permanent and seasonal staff, camp hosts effectively multiply the park’s capacity to serve the public and ensure that our campgrounds are preserved for the enjoyment of future generations,” he mentioned.

Serving because the campground’s ‘concierge ‘

The Furlows received concerned with camp internet hosting “quite by accident,” Nancy mentioned. Originally from Florida, the couple visited the Smokies for the primary time in 2023, after they pulled into Smokemont Campground for a similar two-week keep they deliberate at each campground they visited. They shortly seen two issues: the abundance of rhododendron bushes about to bloom and the absence of a bunch on the campground. The subsequent day, Nancy visited the ranger workplace and requested if the park was recruiting. Before they knew it, the Furlows had been onboarded as volunteers and scheduled to remain within the Smokies for greater than sufficient time to see the rhododendrons blossom.

“Normally a campground host will only stay a month, and what happened that year was, every month the campground host would cancel,” mentioned Nancy. “Being full-time RVers, we have complete freedom in our lives, so I’d just say, ‘I’ll stay.’”

The Furlows spent seven months within the Smokies that 12 months, they usually beloved it a lot they saved coming again: seven months in 2024, seven in 2025, and, if all goes as deliberate, seven in 2026 as effectively. Though their first publish was at Smokemont, they shortly developed an affinity for Deep Creek, and that’s the place they’ve been stationed ever since. For the previous two years, it’s simply been Nancy donning the brown camp host uniform, however Bob is rarely far-off, her unofficial backup. 

Though stationed at a camp chair she’d arrange outdoors the workplace whereas on responsibility one sunny summer time Wednesday morning, Nancy by no means sat down for lengthy. She popped as much as assist a pair from Tennessee plot out their day hike, chat with two locals who stroll the campground loop every day, test in a late arrival from the earlier night time, and direct a number of carfuls of disoriented guests to the trailhead parking space. These fixed alternatives to assist others are a supply of pleasure for Nancy, who defined that service has all the time been an vital a part of her life.

“I love the weather and the wildflowers,” Nancy mentioned. “I love hearing the families in the background, tubing, having a good time. I love to make everyone’s visit here a good experience. I like being that person who knows everything. It’s like being a concierge at a hotel.”

Instead of directing friends to five-star eating places or sketching out metro routes, Nancy dispenses data on bear safety, provides enter on climbing itineraries, and solutions questions on websites of excellent pure magnificence nestled throughout the 816-square-mile nationwide park. She hangs the American flag within the morning, takes it down at night time, cleans the camp workplace, and ensures campers are following food storage requirements, no matter there’s to be carried out.

“I meet a lot of great people,” Nancy mentioned. “I’ve met some really good friends here. It’s nice to be known and loved.”

Helping different campers, and the nation

Camp internet hosting is now a lifestyle for Bob and Nancy, and the identical is true for Mark and Cathy Ault, who spent three months this summer time stationed at Cosby Campground. This is the tenth 12 months since they took on their first camp internet hosting task, at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia. Since then, they’ve hosted campgrounds for the National Park Service, US Forest Service, and North Carolina state parks, touring throughout 25 states. Though it’s solely their second 12 months internet hosting within the Smokies, their connection to the place is deep; they’ve visited the park all through their lives, and 14 years in the past they even received married in Gatlinburg.

“What keeps Cathy and I going is just helping people out,” Mark mentioned.

Maintaining a house within the coastal city of Swansboro, North Carolina, the Aults, in an analogous age bracket to the Furlows, aren’t full-time RVers like Bob and Nancy – who dwell solely out of their trailer, forgoing even a storage unit – however they arrive about as shut because it will get. For 10 months out of the 12 months, the Aults journey from campground to campground with their Silvarado truck and 33-foot trailer, respectively named the White Stallion and the Covered Wagon. They go dwelling in April to do taxes and once more in December to have fun Christmas.

“We’re 70ish, and hopefully we have about another good 10 years doing this,” mentioned Mark.

Retired from the intelligence group, Mark additionally spent 23 years serving within the Marine Corps, whereas Cathy has led a multifaceted life because the proprietor of beauty and cleansing companies, an expert painter, a secretary and caretaker for her three youngsters. The calls for of labor and household throughout these busy years usually made it arduous to decelerate and respect the issues that actually matter.

“You’re not thinking about all the other elements that go into a good life: getting out in nature, exercising, building relationships, things like that. That’s what makes hosting great,” Cathy mentioned. “You’re helping your country. You’re helping the campers. You learn a lot about how things work, and you realize that if it weren’t for volunteers in America, America would be in a very difficult situation.”

So would the park. Every 12 months, greater than 1,600 folks give their time as Volunteers in Park to fill greater than 2,600 volunteer positions. Areas of service vary from litter patrol and path upkeep to useful resource training and knowledge assortment. During the final fiscal 12 months, which ended September 30, 2024, the park recorded 113,448 volunteer service hours valued at almost $3.8 million.

Campground hosts are integral members of this volunteer drive. The Smokies information greater than 300,000 in a single day stays in its campgrounds every year – 382,00 in 2024, regardless of closures from Hurricane Helene lowering fall visitation – and 12 million visits total. As the park works to serve these guests whereas defending the Smokies for future generations, volunteers just like the Aults and the Furlows are extra vital than ever.

“It’s an awesome feeling that everybody has the confidence in Cathy and I performing our duties here,” Mark mentioned. “It’s just an honor.”

To apply to grow to be a campground host or to view different volunteer alternatives in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, go to nps.gov/grsm/getinvolved/volunteer.htm.

Holly Kays is the lead author for the 29,000-member Smokies Life, a nonprofit devoted to supporting the scientific, historic, and interpretive actions of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by offering academic services and products resembling this column. Learn extra at SmokiesLife.org or attain the creator at hollyk@smokieslife.org.