Employers and host programs in Michigan

Lakeshore Keepers

Five-lighthouse resident and day-keeper network · Manistee, Big Sable, Ludington, Little Sable and White River

Resident lighthouse keeper · Day keeper · Visitor retail and tower host

Rechecked Oct 10, 2026: Page also says applications are accepted year-round; schedules built from November.

Lakeshore Keepers administers resident and day-keeper service at five west-coast lights. Resident volunteers receive on-site housing for assignments of at least a week; local day keepers take shorter shifts. Duties include visitor welcome, tower admissions, merchandise and light cleaning. The page publishes a 2027 tour schedule but explicitly says the application opening date will be announced, so it should not be described as already accepting the new resident intake. Membership, a background check and a resident fee are part of the process. This is one operator network, not five separate employers or five confirmed vacancies. MI31

• Pay: Volunteer; current membership required plus resident fee $30 individual/$50 couple once per season.
• Housing or RV: Resident keeper on-site accommodation; White River requires a partner and shares one bedroom with two beds.
• Hours and duties: Resident schedule approximately eight hours/day, six days/week; minimum one week. Day keepers half/full-day shifts.
• Season or dates: 2027 schedule published; resident application opening date to be announced.
• Who can apply: 18+; membership, complete application and background check; site-specific partner/access needs.
• How to apply: Monitor the 2027 application notice at https://lakeshorekeepers.org/volunteer/ ; day-keeper route is separate.
• Still to confirm: Check the announced opening date and select several possible tours after reviewing each residence.

Lakeshore Keepers 231-845-7417

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Mecosta County Park Commission

Seasonal park/office managers and operational staff · Brower, School Section Lake, Paris and Merrill-Gorrel parks

Seasonal park manager · Office manager · Grounds or custodial ranger · Activity programmer

Mecosta County provides an unusually clear paid residential management route. Its seasonal recruitment page names four main parks and differentiates management from line-level roles. Park and office managers receive seasonal housing or a seasonal campsite as additional compensation, with specified overnight on-call obligations. Other seasonal staff receive wages and a camping discount rather than the same management accommodation. The page still discusses 2026 recruitment and typical spring deadlines, so late-season display is not proof of an unfilled position. The next useful action is to request the new season’s management packet and property assignment. MI07

• Pay: Wages vary; published 10% end-of-season retention benefit for completed seasonal agreement.
• Housing or RV: Management: seasonal housing or campsite. Other seasonal staff: 50% nightly camping discount, not residence guarantee.
• Hours and duties: Park manager overnight on-call four–five nights/week; office manager two–three nights/week.
• Season or dates: Typical mid-April–early October; management applications March 31, line-level April 15; page refers to 2026.
• How to apply: Download forms and position descriptions at https://www.mecostacountyparks.com/employment.html ; submit to county parks administrative office.
• Still to confirm: Obtain 2027 wages, housing assignment and the full management/on-call agreement.

Mecosta County Park Commission 231-832-3246

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American Land & Leisure

Huron-Manistee National Forest recreation operations · Western Lower Peninsula; shoreline, Baldwin/White Cloud and Cadillac/Manistee areas

Paid campground host · Maintenance · Recreation manager

American Land & Leisure is the actual private recreation operator to approach for its Michigan forest operations. Its employment page expressly recruits seasonal and year-round staff, including campground hosts, maintenance workers and managers, and publishes a hiring telephone and email. Its separate Michigan page identifies the Huron-Manistee recreation footprint and links regional facility inventories. This combination is stronger than assuming the Forest Service directly hires every campground worker. No specific Michigan wage, free-site benefit or current job was verified on the readable pages; those terms belong to the employer’s individual offer. MI14 MI15

• Season or dates: Season not specified
• How to apply: Use the Job Openings link at https://www.americanll.com/employment ; ask specifically about Michigan assignments.
• Still to confirm: Request the current Michigan host vacancies and itemized wage/site/utility terms.

American Land & Leisure [email protected] 800-342-2267

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Fort Trodd Campground

Paid part-time workcamper program · Clyde Township / southeastern Michigan

Work camper · Check-in and park support · Grounds and cleaning

Fort Trodd’s own employment page offers a free campsite plus an hourly wage for part-time work campers. Duties include bathroom cleaning, mowing, guest check-in, park security and responding to occasional after-hours emergencies. The operator requires the entire May-through-October camping season and availability on weekends and holidays. It emphasizes that the role provides limited part-time work rather than substantial earning hours. This is one of Michigan’s clearest independent campground employment leads, but the actual hourly rate, schedule and utility coverage are unpublished and should be obtained in the employment agreement. MI16

• Pay: Hourly wage, amount unstated, plus free campsite.
• Housing or RV: Free site; utility inclusions not specified.
• Hours and duties: Part-time daily chores, weekends/holidays as needed; occasional after-hours emergencies.
• Season or dates: Entire May 1–October 31 season required; standing page gives no year.
• Who can apply: Ability to perform listed outdoor and cleaning duties; operator emphasizes physical capability.
• How to apply: Send résumé or inquiry as instructed at https://forttrodd.com/employment-opportunities/ .
• Still to confirm: Request wage, expected/maximum hours, utility charges and emergency-call expectations for 2027.

Place guide: Fort Trodd Campground

Fort Trodd Campground [email protected] 810-987-4889

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Sun Outdoors

Destinations Team; Michigan resort matching including Petoskey Bay Harbor prospect · Michigan resorts; Petoskey facility verified

Work camper · Resort guest service · Activities and operations

Sun Outdoors’ national Destinations Team is a documented paid workcamper program with an explicit discounted nightly site rate. A current official Petoskey Bay Harbor property page establishes a Michigan resort to discuss with the recruitment team. These two sources do not prove that Petoskey has a vacancy or participates in every benefit for every season; matching remains an employer decision. The program is therefore the application channel and the Michigan resort is a specific placement prospect. Keep the recurring site expense visible when comparing its published hourly starting pay with free-site volunteer arrangements. MI18 MI19

• Pay: National Destinations program pay starts at $16/hour; role and eligibility conditions apply.
• Housing or RV: National program discounted site rate $20/night; Michigan property participation/availability must be confirmed.
• Season or dates: Northern resort placements described for summer; no specific Michigan vacancy confirmed.
• How to apply: Express workcamper interest through https://careers.suncommunities.com/SunOutdoors/content/Destinations-Team/?locale=en_US ; request Michigan placements.
• Still to confirm: Ask which Michigan resorts will accept Destinations Team workers and the complete expected seasonal site cost.

Place guide: Sun Outdoors Petoskey Bay Harbor

Sun Outdoors

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Northgate Resorts

Workcamper program and Leelanau Pines Campground · Cedar / Lake Leelanau; Grand Rapids headquarters

Work camper · Camp-resort operations · Guest services

Northgate’s current portfolio identifies Leelanau Pines among its managed independent campgrounds, while the property source places it at Cedar on Lake Leelanau. Northgate’s official recruiting page describes a workcamper model of regular wages, a seasonal-site discount and credit toward the site balance for hours worked. This verifies an employer program and a Michigan operating location without asserting that a local position is presently available. It also shows why “free site” would be an inaccurate shorthand: the actual balance depends on the discount, earned credit and site agreement. Apply through the operator, not only the campground’s guest booking system. MI20 MI21 MI22

• Pay: Standard wages plus site-balance credit per hour; rate and credit amount not published on overview.
• Housing or RV: Published 20% seasonal-site discount plus hourly credits; not an unconditional free site.
• Season or dates: Season not specified
• How to apply: Recruitment through https://northgateresorts.com/job-opportunities/ ; request Leelanau Pines or another verified Michigan assignment.
• Still to confirm: Confirm Leelanau Pines workcamper intake and obtain the site price, discount and hourly-credit calculation.

Place guide: Leelanau Pines Campground

Northgate Resorts

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Michigan’s Adventure Park LLC — Enchanted Parks

Amusement/waterpark seasonal and maintenance employment · Muskegon

Attraction operations · Hospitality internship · Maintenance and engineering

Michigan’s Adventure now directs applicants through its Enchanted Parks website to Michigan’s Adventure Park LLC’s isolved portal. The readable October job list includes seasonal operations, hospitality and other departmental internships plus maintenance leadership and electrical roles. The park is a relevant recreation employer, but the retrieved list offers no worker housing or RV arrangement. It should therefore be presented as an attraction employment channel with accommodation unresolved. This current route also prevents an ownership error: an old Cedar Fair or Six Flags recruiting URL is not adequate evidence for the park’s present application process. MI23 MI24

• Season or dates: Official job list read October 9, 2026; individual closing dates not established.
• How to apply: Official jobs https://miadventure.enchantedparks.com/jobs/ ; embedded employer list https://miadventure.isolvedhire.com/iframe/mobile .
• Still to confirm: Check next-season frontline roles and ask whether any particular position offers staff housing or an RV arrangement.

Place guide: Michigan's Adventure

Michigan’s Adventure / Enchanted Parks 231-766-9959

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Mackinac State Historic Parks

Seasonal historic-site and park operations · Mackinac Island and Mackinaw City

Park operations · Historic-site visitor service · Grounds and building maintenance

Mackinac State Historic Parks advertises seasonal work with housing available in both Mackinaw City and on Mackinac Island. A park-operations description gives an actual grounds/maintenance role at Mackinac Island State Park and Fort Mackinac, combining mowing, restrooms, trash, painting and visitor contact. This is a paid heritage-and-recreation employment channel distinct from the statewide DNR summer-worker notice that excludes accommodation. The role description supplies a starting wage but no refresh date, so applicants should confirm the next-season rate. Housing availability, rent and sharing arrangements require a specific offer rather than assumptions from the general careers page. MI33 MI34

• Pay: Undated operations description starts at $14/hour; general seasonal-hours bonuses mentioned. Reconfirm current rate.
• Housing or RV: Housing available in Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island; rent/eligibility not stated in checked careers page.
• Hours and duties: Operations example normally 40 hours/week, 12–27 weeks, May–October; evenings/weekends/holidays possible.
• Season or dates: Careers page refers to 2026 recruitment; next-season terms not announced.
• Who can apply: Operations role requires driver’s license, outdoor work and ability to use ferry transportation; equipment experience preferred.
• How to apply: Official application and seasonal list: https://www.mackinacparks.com/employment-opportunities/ .
• Still to confirm: Obtain the 2027 wage and housing schedule for park operations or visitor-service positions.

Mackinac State Historic Parks 231-436-4100 extension 111

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Grace Outside

Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat Site Director · Dowling / southwestern Michigan

Resident site director · Retreat operations manager · Facilities and guest-services leadership

Grace Outside’s September 16, 2026 recruitment notice offers a year-round Site Director role at Wesley Woods, a camp and retreat center. It publishes a $40,000–$45,000 salary and requires residence on the property, with housing and utilities supplied. The detailed description covers guest experience, bookings, staff and volunteers, budgets, facilities and long-term development. This is a management-level live-in opportunity, not a low-hours campground-host exchange. The official notice remains readable but gives no closing date, so availability should be checked before applying. Mission alignment and substantial management experience are part of the stated qualifications. MI35 MI36

• Pay: $40,000–$45,000/year in September 16, 2026 notice; PDF describes benefits subject to eligibility.
• Housing or RV: Required residence on Wesley Woods property; housing and utilities provided.
• Hours and duties: Year-round exempt leadership; flexible evenings, weekends, holidays and occasional emergencies.
• Season or dates: Posted September 16, 2026; no closing date shown.
• Who can apply: Management, staff/volunteer supervision and budget experience; valid driver’s license; mission commitment and background check.
• How to apply: Send interest letter and résumé using the application email link at https://michiganumc.org/site-director-wesley-woods-camp-retreat/ ; full description linked there.
• Still to confirm: Confirm whether recruitment remains active and request housing details, expected workload and benefits before applying.

Place guide: Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat

Grace Outside via Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church

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Michigan Department of Natural Resources

State park and rustic state-forest campground hosts · Statewide, Lower and Upper Peninsulas

Campground host · Visitor information · Light maintenance

Michigan’s formal host program explicitly covers both state parks and rustic forest campgrounds. Hosts welcome campers, answer questions, organize activities and help with light upkeep in exchange for complimentary camping. The agency publishes a park-by-month vacancy table with individual application contacts, making this a particularly actionable statewide system. The retrieved table was updated August 24, 2026, so October entries need rechecking and should not be reused as 2027 availability. Each desired location requires its own application and liability waiver; park managers screen and interview candidates. MI01 MI02

• Housing or RV: Complimentary campsite; own camping equipment, food and personal items required.
• Hours and duties: 30 hours weekly, at least five days including weekends/holidays; minimum 30 days.
• Season or dates: Program April–October; vacancy report updated August 24, 2026.
• Who can apply: 18+; individuals/couples; background check; DNR employees excluded; new hosts attend required two-day training within first two years.
• How to apply: Review https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/get-involved/host/campground-host-vacancy-report ; send application/waiver to each park listed.
• Still to confirm: Obtain the next-season vacancy table and confirm amenities at the selected rustic or modern campground.

Michigan DNR [email protected] 517-899-5211

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Newaygo County Parks and Recreation Commission

Sandy Beach, Henning, White Cloud and Diamond Lake hosts · Newaygo County / west-central Michigan

Campground host · Visitor service · Maintenance and janitorial support

Newaygo County publishes a detailed host program for four named county campgrounds, independent of Michigan DNR recruitment. Duties vary with the park and may include guest information, after-hours arrivals, fee collection, interpretation and maintenance. A full-hookup RV site, utilities and annual park vehicle pass are provided during the placement, and the volunteer must reside in the park. The county distinguishes individual and couple workloads rather than leaving the hours-per-site question ambiguous. Applications go directly to the county parks contact. No wages or guarantee of a particular campground’s availability is stated. MI05

• Housing or RV: Full-hookup RV site, utilities and annual vehicle pass; residence in park required.
• Hours and duties: 24 hours/week individual; 32 hours/week shared by couple; up to 24 weeks.
• Season or dates: Season not specified
• Who can apply: 18+; acceptable driver’s license/record; background and drug screening; related customer/custodial experience preferred.
• How to apply: Application instructions: https://www.newaygocountymi.gov/departments/parks/volunteer-opportunities/ .
• Still to confirm: Confirm which campground and term remain available and which utility services are included.

Newaygo County Parks [email protected] 231-689-7340

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Alpena County Parks and Recreation Commission

Beaver Lake, Long Lake, Sunken Lake and Fairgrounds host program · Alpena County / northeastern Lower Peninsula

Live-in campground host · Fairgrounds campground host · Light maintenance

The county’s 2025 host packet includes three lake parks and the fairgrounds on the same application. Hosts provide camper information and light upkeep under a park manager. The benefit is a discounted campsite, not a complimentary site, and volunteers provide their own equipment. The packet describes a long seasonal residency, scheduled service and additional on-call expectations. Because the document is labelled 2025 and contains inconsistent May start dates, applicants need an updated agreement. This is nevertheless direct evidence of a county and fairgrounds host system, with an explicit application rather than a generic campground contact. MI06

• Housing or RV: Discounted manager-assigned campsite; own camping unit. Discount and utilities not quantified.
• Hours and duties: Packet: 20–40 hours/week, four–five days including weekends/holidays; additional on-call language.
• Season or dates: 2025 packet primarily says May 1–October 15; application mentions May 15. Current dates require clarification.
• Who can apply: County volunteer requirements and annual background check.
• How to apply: Download https://alpenacounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/1913/Camp-Host-Packet-2025-PDF ; send to Parks & Recreation Commission, 720 Chisholm Street, Suite 7, Alpena, MI 49707.
• Still to confirm: Request current site price, exact dates and limits on overnight/on-call expectations, including fairgrounds placements.

Alpena County Parks and Recreation Commission

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National Park Service — Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Hurricane River/Twelve Mile Beach hosts and Au Sable Light Station volunteers · Upper Peninsula / Lake Superior

Rustic campground host · Lighthouse interpretation volunteer

Pictured Rocks publishes two particularly relevant summer roles. Campground hosts serve month-long assignments at Hurricane River or Twelve Mile Beach in rustic conditions; Au Sable Light Station volunteers support tours and museum questions with shared housing. The campground description explicitly limits utility expectations and excludes money handling and restroom cleaning from host duties. These are recurring programs on a page updated November 2025, not a newly dated vacancy list. Because the two placements provide very different living arrangements, applicants should choose the appropriate track and verify a current Volunteer.gov assignment. MI11

• Housing or RV: Campgrounds: rustic, central water and small solar battery-charging panel. Au Sable: shared housing provided.
• Hours and duties: Campground host: month minimum, five days and at least 20 hours/week. Lighthouse: minimum month.
• Season or dates: Recurring summer programs; source updated November 19, 2025.
• How to apply: Official descriptions and contact link: https://www.nps.gov/piro/getinvolved/volunteer.htm ; current assignments through Volunteer.gov.
• Still to confirm: Confirm next-season vacancies and select rustic RV hosting versus shared lighthouse housing.

Place guide: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

National Park Service 906-387-3700

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National Park Service — Sleeping Bear Dunes

Campground, museum and island-host volunteering · Empire, Glen Haven and Manitou Islands

Campground host · Museum docent · Island lighthouse keeper · Visitor-center assistant

Sleeping Bear Dunes’ August 2026 volunteer page identifies D.H. Day and Platte River campground hosts, Glen Haven museum interpretation and resident island assignments. South Manitou lighthouse keepers and North Manitou Cottage Row volunteers stay on the islands for two to six weeks. The page says camping space may be available for certain museum volunteers who bring equipment; that conditional wording should not become a universal free-site promise. This program supports both mainland campground hosting and more remote heritage interpretation. Current opportunities are directed to Volunteer.gov or the park’s volunteer contact rather than campground reservations. MI12

• Housing or RV: Island roles reside on island; exact lodging terms not stated. Campground space may be available for specified mainland volunteers with own equipment.
• Hours and duties: Island interpretation assignments two–six weeks; other hours depend on position.
• Season or dates: Mostly summer, some year-round; source updated August 18, 2026.
• How to apply: Use https://www.nps.gov/slbe/getinvolved/volunteer.htm and its volunteer email link; search Sleeping Bear Dunes on Volunteer.gov.
• Still to confirm: Request the exact assignment’s lodging, transport, supply and weekly duty requirements.

Place guide: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

National Park Service 231-326-4700

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — Seney National Wildlife Refuge

Resident and visitor-services volunteers · Seney / central Upper Peninsula

Resident refuge volunteer · Visitor-center host · Maintenance support

Seney expressly recruits resident volunteers who spend weeks or months helping the refuge in exchange for a place to park their RV or camper. Duties include visitor-center shifts, recycling, maintenance and other needed support. The page says trailer pads with hookups may be available and expects resident volunteers to be self-sufficient. It also offers shorter local visitor-service volunteering, which should remain a separate accommodation assumption. Although the program description is readable, adjacent sections contain older internship information, so the page is best treated as a standing channel pending confirmation of an actual seasonal placement. MI13

• Housing or RV: RV/camper parking exchange; hooked-up trailer pads may be available, subject to confirmation.
• Hours and duties: Resident volunteers 20–40 hours/week for several weeks or months.
• Season or dates: Season not specified
• Who can apply: Resident volunteers expected to be relatively self-sufficient and handle their own facility maintenance.
• How to apply: Resident application through Volunteer.gov as linked at https://www.fws.gov/refuge/seney/get-involved ; visitor-services contact below.
• Still to confirm: Confirm pad availability, utilities and the next resident volunteer season.

Place guide: Seney National Wildlife Refuge

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [email protected] 906-586-9851

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Peninsula Township — Mission Point Lighthouse

Resident volunteer lighthouse keeper · Old Mission Peninsula / Traverse City

Resident lighthouse keeper · Visitor and gift-shop host · Light maintenance

Mission Point offers a genuine resident volunteer keeper assignment with visitor retail, daily cleaning and light property work. Volunteers stay inside the lighthouse and must normally apply with an adult partner. The program charges a weekly participation fee, so it is a heritage volunteer experience rather than paid employment or a free lodging offer. It also expressly prohibits camping or motorhome use at the lighthouse. Its manager schedules the following season in late fall and winter, making early inquiry useful. The township-owned site has its own application and handbook; another lighthouse’s approval does not transfer here. MI25 MI26 MI27

• Pay: No wages; participant fee $200/week or $370 for two qualifying consecutive weeks, as published.
• Housing or RV: Furnished lighthouse quarters; own linens/food; no motorhome/camping use. Must sleep on site.
• Hours and duties: Normally Tuesday–Tuesday, Wednesday off; retail, cleaning and basic grounds tasks.
• Season or dates: Main program May–October; limited off-season stays for repeat keepers; next season scheduled late fall/winter.
• Who can apply: 18+; in-season partner required; no overnight children/pets; ability to climb 37 steps.
• How to apply: Read handbook and use application linked at https://www.missionpointlighthouse.com/keeper-program.html .
• Still to confirm: Confirm next-season fee and open weeks before submitting a complete partner application.

Place guide: Mission Point Lighthouse

Mission Point Lighthouse 231-645-0759

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Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum

Resident keeper program · Northport / Leelanau State Park

Resident lighthouse keeper · Museum admission and gift-shop host · Grounds support

This nonprofit museum operates the historic lighthouse under a state lease and runs its own resident keeper program. Keepers share former assistant-keeper quarters while staffing visitor admissions, museum areas and the gift shop, with some maintenance and security presence. The linked 2026 application explicitly states there is no compensation and sets participant fees. Unlike Mission Point, it can match an individual applicant with another keeper. The housing is part of a fee-paying volunteer assignment, not a salaried caretaker job. Use the current application and resolve the differing off-season fee descriptions before reserving dates. MI29 MI30

• Pay: 2026 main season $200/person/week paid by volunteer; $50 non-refundable new-applicant fee/balance process. Confirm off-season charges.
• Housing or RV: Shared furnished lighthouse apartment, up to four adults; own food/pillow; no overnight guests.
• Hours and duties: Main season week-long service, up to eight hours daily with one day off; mandatory online orientation.
• Season or dates: 2026 materials; main season April–October and off-season options. Future dates/rates require confirmation.
• Who can apply: 18+; stairs/public contact; interview, references and required orientation; no pets.
• How to apply: Application and handbook at https://www.grandtraverselighthouse.com/get-involved/keeper-program/ .
• Still to confirm: Obtain the next-year application and clarify total fees, matching and off-season schedule.

Place guide: Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum [email protected] 231-386-7195

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Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association

Cheboygan River Front Range Light keeper program · Cheboygan

Resident lighthouse keeper · Gift-shop and tour host · Light grounds maintenance

GLLKA’s Cheboygan program places volunteer keepers in a downtown riverfront lighthouse with access to its bedrooms. Keepers work in pairs, dividing visitor tours and gift-shop duties and undertaking routine cleaning, grounds care and projects matched to their skills. The organization requires membership and a participation fee, with the amount to be confirmed through its office or keeper manual. Its official page includes the application and public contact, and separately states the 2026 visitor operating schedule. This is a residential heritage volunteer program; accommodation does not imply wages or unrestricted personal use of the building. MI32

• Pay: Volunteer participation fee plus GLLKA membership; current fee amount not stated on page.
• Housing or RV: Access to three lighthouse bedrooms while serving; terms through keeper manual.
• Hours and duties: Pairs share shop, tours, building and grounds support; exact hours depend on session.
• Season or dates: Summer/fall sessions; 2026 visitor hours shown, future vacancies unverified.
• Who can apply: GLLKA membership; paired service; other requirements in manual.
• How to apply: Read keeper manual and submit official application linked at https://www.gllka.org/cheboygan-river-front-range-light .
• Still to confirm: Request available keeper sessions, current fees and the overnight occupancy rules.

Place guide: Cheboygan River Front Range Light

Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association [email protected] 231-436-5580

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Whispering Surf Campground

Owner-operated workcamping team · Pentwater / Lake Michigan

Work camper · Office and guest service · Outside/grounds support

Whispering Surf’s April 2026 staff introduction documents an established workcamping team, including office and outside duties plus guest-event support. This is useful evidence of a real independent campground staffing model rather than a generic RV park that might hire someday. The article introduces people already selected for Summer 2026; it is not a job advertisement. It gives no wages, site exchange, required hours or future intake dates. Retain the owner/operator contact for the next season and ask about replacement or additional roles without representing the filled team as current vacancies. MI17

• Season or dates: April 1, 2026 introduction of selected Summer 2026 team.
• How to apply: Public operator inquiry via https://whisperingsurfcampground.com/news-and-information/meet-the-whispering-surf-team-summer-2026 ; no application form verified.
• Still to confirm: Ask when 2027 workcamper selection begins and request the compensation/site agreement.

Whispering Surf Campground [email protected] 231-869-5050

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Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Summer Park Worker paid recruitment · State parks, boating facilities and forest campgrounds statewide

Park worker · Camper registration · Grounds and building maintenance

The 2026 Summer Park Worker bulletin demonstrates a separate paid route for visitor registration, questions, cleaning, mowing and trails across parks, boating facilities and forest campgrounds. It explicitly says that lodging and camping accommodation are not provided. This is an important distinction from the volunteer host program even when the workplace is the same campground. The application closed September 30, 2026, before the research date. Use it as a verified seasonal recruitment model and wage benchmark while monitoring the next cycle, rather than presenting it as a live opening. MI03

• Pay: 2026 range $15.50–$16.50/hour; starting $15.50 from January 4, 2026.
• Housing or RV: Explicitly no lodging or camping accommodations provided.
• Hours and duties: Part/full time; up to 1,040 hours April–October 2026; nights/weekends/holidays possible.
• Season or dates: Opened December 16, 2025; closed September 30, 2026.
• Who can apply: Valid driver’s license and pre-employment screening; age 18 or high-school completion preferred.
• How to apply: Historical bulletin https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/michigan/jobs/newprint/5172808 ; use https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/careers/park-workers for the next intake.
• Still to confirm: Watch for the 2027 announcement and budget separately for accommodation.

Michigan DNR 517-284-5014

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Antrim County Parks and Recreation

Barnes Park Volunteer Camp Host · Eastport / Antrim County

Campground host · Visitor assistance · Activity support

Antrim County’s official Barnes Park host page is indexed as recruiting for summer 2025. The indexed description identifies practical duties such as directing arrivals, explaining fees, helping with activities and answering visitor questions. It also explicitly offers a campsite, electricity and water-fill/dump-station access without charge while volunteering. Full page access returned a block, and a new season’s intake was not established. This entry preserves a real local government host program with known historical benefits while avoiding a false current opening. Applicants should obtain the current county form and utility description before making plans. MI08

• Housing or RV: 2025 indexed notice: free campsite/electricity and water-fill/dump access; not described as full hookups.
• Season or dates: Summer 2025 notice; later intake unverified.
• How to apply: Historical official program page: https://www.antrimcountymi.gov/departments___services_/parks___recreation/parks/barnes_park_campground/camp_host.php ; request current parks host intake.
• Still to confirm: Confirm whether Barnes Park is recruiting for 2027 and request hours, term and host-site details.

Place guide: Barnes Park

Antrim County

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Michigan History Center

Tawas Point Lighthouse keeper program · East Tawas / Lake Huron

Resident lighthouse keeper · Tour guide · Visitor host

The Michigan History Center administers Tawas Point’s keeper program; the Friends group supports it but does not choose participants. The official 2026 notice requires teams of four and describes visitor greeting, tours and basic facility maintenance while living in the keeper’s dwelling. Participants pay a program fee and a group application fee. The 2026 application deadline was February 28, so the visible “Apply” link is not evidence of an open October intake. This is a well-documented recurring heritage-host prospect for the next season, with its costs and team requirement clearly separated from employment. MI28

• Pay: Volunteer pays $250/person plus $10 non-refundable group application fee under 2026 notice.
• Housing or RV: Keeper dwelling with two bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom/shower and parking; not an RV site.
• Hours and duties: About 30 hours/week; tours, visitor information and cleaning.
• Season or dates: 2026 deadline February 28 at 11:45 p.m.; notification by March 31. Next intake unannounced.
• Who can apply: Teams of four, all 18+ and able to climb 85 steps; no pets.
• How to apply: Monitor https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/museums/tawas/lighthouse-keepers ; use the official online form for an announced intake.
• Still to confirm: Request the 2027 application dates, stay length and fee schedule.

Place guide: Tawas Point Lighthouse

Michigan History Center [email protected]

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Michigan DNR — Hartwick Pines State Park

Memorial Building visitor-host program · Grayling / northern Lower Peninsula

Historic-building host · Visitor interpretation · Light maintenance

Hartwick Pines offers a distinct historic-building host model in which volunteers stay in the campground while greeting visitors and supporting interpretation and basic upkeep at the Memorial Building. However, the agency explicitly paused the 2026 program for log restoration and only expresses hope for reopening in 2027. Its standing description therefore explains a future prospect, not an available assignment. It identifies an electric host site and shorter placements than the general campground program. Applicants should obtain an explicit reopening announcement before relying on the application deadline or duty schedule still displayed below the closure notice. MI04

• Housing or RV: Standing model: free electric site #2, suitable for camping units up to 40 feet; own equipment.
• Hours and duties: Standing model: one week to one month; approximately 30 hours weekly, visitor service and light cleaning.
• Season or dates: 2026 paused; hoped-for 2027 return unconfirmed.
• Who can apply: Standing model: 18+, background check, no DNR employees.
• How to apply: Monitor https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/about/get-involved/host/hp-memorial and contact program coordinator.
• Still to confirm: Verify restoration completion and whether a 2027 application period will actually open.

Michigan DNR [email protected] 989-348-2537

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Hazel Park Schools

Camp Hazelwood Caretaker · Groveland Township / Holly area

Resident camp caretaker · Facilities maintenance

An official Frontline recruitment result identifies Hazel Park Schools’ Camp Hazelwood Caretaker, JobID 13801. Indexed role details place the work in Groveland Township under a maintenance supervisor and describe compensation as residency at the camp. This is a valuable school-owned outdoor-facility channel, distinct from state parks and private RV resorts. The full posting could not be retrieved, so no current vacancy, wage supplement, weekly hours, household eligibility or tenancy provision is claimed. Treat the role as a specific verification prospect and request the complete district job and occupancy agreements before interpreting residency as adequate compensation. MI09 MI10

• Pay: Official index states compensation in the form of residency; cash compensation unverified.
• Housing or RV: Residency at camp is the published compensation model; unit, utilities and occupancy terms unverified.
• Season or dates: Season not specified
• How to apply: Official indexed posting https://www.applitrack.com/oaklandschools/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1&applitrackjobid=13801 ; contact Hazel Park Schools HR for JobID 13801, not consortium technical support.
• Still to confirm: Obtain the full posting and confirm whether the caretaker assignment is currently vacant and how the occupancy agreement works.

Hazel Park Schools via Oakland Schools Frontline consortium

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