With a blog title like this you’re probably expecting something pretty disgusting and dirty about our camp hosting job this summer. And guess what? You’re right! Oh boy do we have some dirty truths about camp hosting to dish up this week. Forgive me while I vent.

Truth #1: Camp Hosts are Under Appreciated by the General Public

It’s a safe bet to say that the average tent camper or RV guest at any private or public campground does not understand what camp hosts deal with during the summer high season. Because if they did, I’d like to think they might be a bit cleaner while camping out.

From bodily function blowouts to carelessly tossed personal care items inside (and outside of) the bathrooms, to leftover dinner bits jamming up public sinks and skanky underwear dropped on campground roads and overlooked by everyone who sees it, camp hosts are forced to confront the nasty side of human behavior almost every day.

Sorry, but we refuse to show you photos of the filth we’ve faced.

Since we signed up for this gig, there’s rarely been a day when we haven’t cringed at what campers are capable of doing when they think nobody is looking. I was SO not prepared for this level of grossness when we signed up for the gig.

When I have to confront camper messes, I want to call them out on their nasty behavior, shove a roll of anti-bacterial wipes in their hands, and make them clean up the biohazard grossness they or their bratty kids left behind.

Truth #2: ALL Camp Hosts Clean Restrooms

If you are applying for a camp host job, you WILL be forced to confront disgusting restrooms. Don’t believe anyone who says you won’t. Because even if you are told there is a cleanup crew to do the heavy lifting, you will absolutely be forced to confront the lighter side of human waste removal, which is not so light on most days.

The general public is filthy, filthy, filthy.

Even when I cleaned cabins at Vickers Ranch I never confronted such sloppy behavior by guests. What is up with public bathrooms? Why do people feel like they can trash it when nobody is looking?

You think I’m whining? Hah! On at least three occasions, we’ve stepped into restrooms with toothpaste spit onto mirrors, and flooded toilets jammed with TP by stupid kids. We’ve confronted poop smeared on the sinks, menstrual products carelessly tossed around the stalls, and poop-filled diapers left open in trash cans.

Human waste smattered around a public restroom is not a pretty sight. But like a trainwreck, can the more responsible workamper like us really ignore it?

We tried to turn away from restroom filth. But we like the awesome park managers here, so we feel obligated to do something that is within the parameters of our work-for-rent trade commitment. Some days it’s hard to draw those lines.

Knowing that the legit bathroom cleaning crew (Latino-owned, of course) shows up daily, Jim and I do what we can to lighten their burden without having to sport a biohazard suit and disinfect the entire restroom before they arrive.

So we try to help out with anti-bacterial wipes to ensure the bathrooms are not as disgusting for the public. But we especially pitch in for the real cleaners who try so hard to keep the campground restrooms spotless.

Truth #3: Despite the Downside, Workamping Has It’s Rewards

If you decide to try workamping as a camp host, and you don’t like people a whole lot, this isn’t the job for you. I’m not sure I won’t get out of this gig without losing all hope for humanity. I’m halfway there already and we still have over half of summer to go!

But, if you can find humor in observing the dumber side of human nature, you might find that the camp hosting rewards of free rent, really nice co-workers, and great scenery, make the effort a worthwhile experience.

Will we do this camp host thing again? Oh no way, NEVER! Not even if money was involved. And in case you’re wondering, it isn’t for this gig. But you can’t beat free rent in a worldwide tourist destination.

Do I regret the decision to try this camp host experience? Not at all! This has been a game changer for us. Where did we discover this incredible job learning experience? Workamper News of course!

Subscribe with Workamper News Promo Code AGRE6207

I never realized how much camp hosts have to put up with on a daily basis. What a load of shit they put up with! Literally! And as for our co-workers, they’re great. I cannot complain about them at all. They get it, and respect everyone’s off-clock hours. That’s rare.

When all is said and done, this is making me a better human. I thought I was nice to workampers before, but now I really understand what they deal with in a public setting. Now I’ll always go out of my way to be extra courteous to any campground workers. I hope that you will too!