Employers and host programs in Minnesota

YMCA Camp Olson

Year-round facilities director · Longville, northern Minnesota

Resident facilities director · Maintenance supervisor · Grounds and equipment management

Rechecked Oct 10, 2026: Apply to CEO John Lyon (email masked on page).

Camp Olson’s employer posting is a concrete year-round residential facilities vacancy, with resumes accepted until December 31, 2026. The director manages buildings, grounds, trails, boats, vehicles and equipment, supervises seasonal maintenance staff and contractors, and plans budgets and capital work. The published package includes salary, onsite housing with utilities and employment benefits. This is a skilled facilities-management appointment with after-hours responsibility, not an entry-level volunteer host. Its scope suits applicants with substantial construction or maintenance experience who want a permanent recreation-property role. MN08

• Pay: $48,000–$60,000 salary; health/dental, retirement contribution, vacation and development benefits listed.
• Housing or RV: Onsite housing with all utilities included.
• Hours and duties: Full-time year-round; supervise facilities and respond to after-hours needs.
• Season or dates: Resumes accepted until December 31, 2026; verify not filled before deadline.
• Who can apply: 5+ years relevant experience; carpentry/plumbing/electrical skills; required safety certifications and valid driver’s licence.
• How to apply: https://www.ymca.org/get-involved/careers/opportunities/open-positions/24416 — use listed CEO/resume contact.
• Still to confirm: Submit through the named resume route after confirming current vacancy and household housing arrangements.

Place guide: YMCA Camp Olson

See the openingYMCA of the USA / YMCA Camp Olson

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Grand Marais Art Colony

Property and guest caretaker · Grand Marais; Ella’s Inn, Studio 120 and Founders Hall

Resident caretaker · Guest lodging care · Minor repairs · Groundskeeping

Rechecked Oct 10, 2026: Apply with resume, two references and answers to posted questions to Ruth Pszwaro.

The Art Colony’s own opportunities page currently seeks a property and guest caretaker and links its detailed September 2026 description. Duties include preparing guest lodging, cleaning common areas, minor plumbing and other repairs, grounds work, snow removal and responding to guest needs. The employer’s nonprofit-board listing says open until filled with a hoped-for November start. Salary is explicitly annual in the source body and PDF, despite a conflicting automatic salary widget on the job board. Housing is charged separately, making its published cost essential to assessing the offer. MN09 MN10 MN11

• Pay: $22,000–$24,000 annually; PTO, SEP-IRA and class/store discounts listed.
• Housing or RV: $400/month, including utilities.
• Hours and duties: Approximately 20–24 hours/week plus reliable response to guest/emergency enquiries.
• Season or dates: Open until filled; hoped November 2026 start.
• Who can apply: Basic repair skills, independent work and ability to perform physical cleaning/grounds tasks.
• How to apply: https://grandmaraisartcolony.org/about/opportunities/ — follow employer application instructions and linked job description.
• Still to confirm: Confirm the vacancy, required onsite availability and exact accommodation before applying.

Place guide: Grand Marais Art Colony

See the openingGrand Marais Art Colony

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Bearskin Lodge and Resort

Guest services, housekeeping and general resort assistance · Gunflint Trail near Grand Marais

Front desk · Guest services · Housekeeping · Resort operations

Rechecked Oct 10, 2026: Other two listed roles are marked POSITION FILLED.

Bearskin’s employer page announces one remaining guest-services/housekeeping role for its 2026–2027 season, starting approximately December 15. It explicitly offers an individual small lakeside apartment and negotiable wages. Duties rotate between the front desk, housekeeping, laundry, lodge upkeep and general assistance. The outdoor/general-resort position on the same page is marked filled and should not be advertised as available. The employer requests staff who actively want a remote outdoor lifestyle and states that it does not hire international employees. Confirm the apartment charge and full season commitment before accepting. MN16

• Pay: Negotiable wages based on experience; permanent employees may qualify for health/dental benefits.
• Housing or RV: Own small lakeside apartment; cost not stated.
• Hours and duties: Mixed front desk, housekeeping, laundry and general assistance; physically active work.
• Season or dates: 2026–2027 season; approximate December 15 start, December 26–January 2 availability required.
• Who can apply: Employer states it does not hire international employees.
• How to apply: https://bearskin.com/contact/employment/ — Apply link for the available guest-services position.
• Still to confirm: Confirm the remaining vacancy and obtain apartment cost, winter schedule and end date.

Place guide: Bearskin Lodge

See the openingBearskin Lodge and Resort

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Camp UniStar

Island camp waterfront, grounds, repairs and support staff · Cass Lake island camp, northern Minnesota

Grounds and repairs · Waterfront staff · Food service · Program support

Rechecked Oct 10, 2026: Contact [email protected].

Camp UniStar explicitly closes its 2026 applications and announces that summer 2027 applications will be available in December 2026. It seeks kitchen, waterfront, grounds and routine building-repair staff, plus shorter fill-in coverage. Employees live at this boat-access island camp, usually in private rooms, and receive scheduled time off. The program therefore provides a useful maintenance and visitor-support route beyond conventional campground hosts. Prospective staff should be comfortable with island logistics and rustic communal life; published lodging does not establish an RV site or a specific accommodation charge. MN13

• Pay: Paid employment; rate not stated on checked page; certain safety certifications reimbursed.
• Housing or RV: Staff live at island camp; most but not all have private rooms. Charge not stated.
• Hours and duties: Generally early June–Labor Day, one day off weekly and two additional paid days; fill-in terms vary.
• Season or dates: 2027 applications announced for December 2026; 2026 closed.
• Who can apply: 18+; comfortable living in rustic environment and working in a team.
• How to apply: https://www.campunistar.org/jobs/ — official CampBrain staff application when next intake opens.
• Still to confirm: Check the December 2026 intake for grounds/maintenance or waterfront roles and request the wage schedule.

Place guide: Camp UniStar

Camp UniStar [email protected]

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Camp Minnesota / Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church

Koronis Ministries, Northern Pines and KoWaKan staff · Multiple Minnesota camp locations

Cabin leader · Program leader · Support staff · Health-care staff

Camp Minnesota’s recruitment page names three United Methodist camp operations and hires cabin leaders, program leaders, integration specialists, support and healthcare staff. Its residential recruitment package includes salary, onsite housing and meals for applicants at least 18. It separately notes possible local commuter hourly jobs for ages 16 and above. That distinction prevents a reader from assuming every position is residential. This is a faith-based youth and family camp system, so applicants should assess the camp mission and the actual duties rather than expecting a low-intensity RV exchange. MN12

• Pay: Competitive salary stated; dollar amounts vary/not published in general page.
• Housing or RV: Onsite housing and meals for advertised residential positions; commuter roles live offsite.
• Season or dates: Season not specified
• Who can apply: Residential applicants 18+; some commuter roles 16+.
• How to apply: https://www.campminnesota.org/employment — official application and current-openings links.
• Still to confirm: Identify the particular camp’s support or operations vacancy and obtain its pay and housing package.

Camp Minnesota / Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church 855-622-1973

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Golden Eagle Lodge

Dock/grounds and housekeeping/front desk · Gunflint Trail, Grand Marais area

Dock attendant · Grounds maintenance · Campground upkeep · Housekeeping · Front desk

Golden Eagle’s own employment page supplies unusually specific living and work terms. Its roles include dock and boat-rental duties, grounds work, campsite/fire-ring cleaning, cabin housekeeping and front-desk service. A typical schedule is five eight-hour days with two consecutive days off. Staff housing has private bedrooms and bathrooms inside a shared building and costs a published daily amount, with utilities included. The undated page lists available position categories but does not prove the next season’s vacancies, so applicants should confirm timing and wage rate through the direct employer application. MN17

• Pay: Wage not stated; page lists paid major holidays, PTO and simple IRA benefits.
• Housing or RV: $5/day staff housing, utilities/internet included; private bedroom/bath, shared common rooms. Laundry charges separately stated.
• Hours and duties: Typical 5 × 8-hour days/week, 2 consecutive days off.
• Season or dates: Season not specified
• Who can apply: Dock/grounds role physically demanding; boat/motor experience preferred.
• How to apply: https://www.golden-eagle.com/contact-us/employment/ — employer online application.
• Still to confirm: Ask which dock/grounds or housekeeping term is recruiting and obtain the hourly wage.

Place guide: Golden Eagle Lodge

Golden Eagle Lodge [email protected] 218-388-2203

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Valleyfair LLC / Enchanted Parks

Attraction operations and maintenance · Shakopee

Ride operations · Ride mechanic · Maintenance management · Food and beverage

Valleyfair’s current park site directs applicants to an employer recruitment system listing ride operations, ride mechanic, maintenance/construction director and food/beverage roles. The opened ride-operations listing shows a $17 hourly rate and seasonal designation, although only limited job-description content rendered. This is a verified amusement-park employment channel under the current Enchanted Parks site. No accommodation benefit was established in these checked sources; older Cedar Fair or exchange-student housing descriptions should not be carried forward without the present employer’s confirmation. MN18 MN19 MN20

• Pay: Opened ride-operations listing: $17/hour; other jobs require individual review.
• Season or dates: Current ATS channel; exact seasonal start/end dates not established.
• How to apply: https://valleyfair.enchantedparks.com/jobs/ and https://valleyfair.isolvedhire.com/iframe/mobile/.
• Still to confirm: Open the chosen current position and ask whether this employer offers eligible staff accommodation.

Place guide: Valleyfair

Valleyfair / Enchanted Parks

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Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

State park and state forest campground hosts · Statewide

Campground host · Visitor assistance · Light maintenance

Minnesota expressly includes both state parks and state forest campgrounds in its host program. Volunteers serve at least four weeks, generally four or five days weekly including weekends and holidays, in exchange for a free host campsite. The current page links a map and individual monthly opportunities rather than presenting every campground as vacant. Applications should arrive at least 30 days before the desired start and involve a background check. Primitive forest hosting can differ substantially from a busy developed park, so select the actual property before evaluating duties and utilities. MN01

• Pay: Volunteer; free designated host campsite.
• Housing or RV: Host campsite; utility provision depends on selected property.
• Hours and duties: Minimum 4 weeks; 4–5 duty days/week, including weekends/holidays.
• Season or dates: Applications throughout camping season, at least 30 days before desired start.
• Who can apply: Background check.
• How to apply: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteering/stateparks/campgroundhost.html — use linked availability viewer and Better Impact application.
• Still to confirm: Use the opening viewer to request a specific next-season month and property.

Minnesota DNR

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National Park Service

Voyageurs visitor services and facility volunteers · International Falls, Rainy Lake, Kabetogama and other park locations

Visitor-center volunteer · Facility maintenance · Events support · Administrative volunteer

Voyageurs volunteers help keep visitor centers open, maintain facilities, support research and assist events, administration and park information work. Its volunteer page states that selected applicants from outside the local area can receive cabins or RV pads with hookups when serving at least 32 hours weekly. This is especially useful for people interested in a national-park residence without a conventional roadside campground-host job. The standing page is older, so confirm the exact assignment and current housing inventory through the linked Volunteer.gov recruitment rather than assuming every role has lodging. MN02

• Pay: Volunteer; no wage advertised.
• Housing or RV: Selected non-local volunteers may receive cabin or RV pad with hookups.
• Hours and duties: At least 32 hours/week for the described housing eligibility.
• Season or dates: Season not specified
• How to apply: https://www.nps.gov/voya/getinvolved/volunteer.htm — follow the position links and https://www.volunteer.gov.
• Still to confirm: Ask which visitor-center or maintenance assignments have confirmed accommodation for the next season.

Place guide: Voyageurs National Park

National Park Service

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge resident volunteers · Detroit Lakes area, northwestern Minnesota

Resident volunteer · Visitor-center host · Environmental education · Grounds maintenance

Tamarac’s official page combines public-facing visitor-center hosting and environmental education with grounds, survey and research support. It separately describes a resident volunteer program for the May–October field season: participants commit two months and work 24 hours per week in exchange for a campsite. The reference to two resident sites describes program capacity, not two confirmed vacancies on the research date. This is a strong refuge alternative to campground hosting, with the practical next step being to match one’s skills and RV needs to a specific seasonal project. MN03

• Pay: Volunteer with campsite exchange.
• Housing or RV: Resident campsite; full utility configuration not stated.
• Hours and duties: 2-month commitment; 24 hours/week.
• Season or dates: Field season May–October; placement availability requires confirmation.
• How to apply: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/tamarac/get-involved — ask refuge visitor services about resident-volunteer recruitment.
• Still to confirm: Confirm the next vacant two-month placement, assigned tasks and campsite hookups.

Place guide: Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service [email protected] 218-844-1757

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Washington County Parks

Volunteer camp hosts · Washington County, eastern Twin Cities area

Campground host · Custodial support · Visitor services

Washington County publishes a detailed resident-host program with a full-hookup site and a demanding alternating-week arrangement. Hosts help maintain facilities, assist visitors and communicate safety issues to staff. The normal pattern is seven consecutive working days followed by seven off, with an eight-week minimum appointment and possible responses outside scheduled hours. Applicants must supply an approved hard-sided RV. Its hours should not be confused with a light daily information-desk shift; the official application is the appropriate starting point for negotiating availability and learning which campground needs coverage. MN04

• Pay: Volunteer; full-hookup host site at no cost during assigned service.
• Housing or RV: Own hard-sided RV required and subject to approval.
• Hours and duties: Published 30–40 hours/week; typically 7 days on/7 off; availability 8 a.m.–10 p.m. on scheduled days.
• Season or dates: Late April–mid-October; minimum 8 weeks unless exception approved.
• Who can apply: Background check; RV photo/description approval.
• How to apply: https://www.washingtoncountymn.gov/3626/Camp-Host — complete county volunteer application.
• Still to confirm: Confirm how campsite occupancy works during the alternate off week and the assigned campground.

Washington County Parks [email protected]

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Swift County Parks

Swift Falls Park volunteer host · Swift Falls, west-central Minnesota

Campground host

Swift County has a facility-specific application for hosting at Swift Falls Park. It requires at least four weeks of availability, records the applicant’s camping-unit dimensions and requests references. Other adults who plan to help with duties must also complete the volunteer paperwork and background-check consent. Applications must arrive 30 days before the desired start. The checked form establishes a genuine local host route but does not specify a wage, utility package or complete duty schedule; those terms must be obtained from the parks office before treating it as a particular exchange offer. MN05

• Housing or RV: Applicant’s own camping unit contemplated; campsite utility/fee terms not stated in application.
• Hours and duties: Minimum 4 weeks; daily schedule not stated.
• Season or dates: Application at least 30 days before desired start.
• Who can apply: References; participating additional adults need volunteer agreement/background check.
• How to apply: Submit the official application to [email protected]; PDF at the county URL in MN05.
• Still to confirm: Request the current Swift Falls host agreement, duties and campsite benefits.

Place guide: Swift Falls Park

Swift County [email protected] 320-843-5341

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Three Rivers Park District

Park ambassadors, patrol and visitor-service volunteering · Twin Cities regional parks and trails

Park ambassador · Park patrol · Event visitor assistance

Three Rivers provides a substantial day-use alternative to resident hosting. Park ambassadors welcome visitors, answer questions and explain trail etiquette and park rules; park patrol adds basic first-aid support and required training. The district also recruits event and community-outreach volunteers. The ambassador program describes a one-year commitment with a modest annual minimum, which is a different fit from seasonal residence. No housing or RV benefit is established. Use the district’s role-specific interest form instead of treating the entire regional park inventory as campground employment. MN07

• Pay: Volunteer.
• Hours and duties: Ambassadors: one-year commitment, minimum 10 hours annually; patrol training separately required.
• Season or dates: Season not specified
• Who can apply: Ambassadors/patrol generally 16+; special riding-without-adult condition 18+.
• How to apply: https://www.threeriversparks.org/volunteering/volunteer-interests — Submit Interest for Park Ambassadors or patrol route.
• Still to confirm: Choose a park-ambassador or patrol assignment near the intended base and confirm orientation dates.

Three Rivers Park District [email protected]

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USDA Forest Service

Superior National Forest volunteering; Chippewa host follow-up · Northern Minnesota national forests

Forest recreation volunteer · Visitor assistance · Campground host prospect

Superior National Forest’s retrieved volunteer page directs interested applicants to the forest, Volunteer.gov and Friends of the Superior National Forest. It is a valid route for forest-recreation service, but does not publish housing or specific current campground placements. Separately, Minnesota DNR’s 2022 feature documents actual hosting at Chippewa National Forest’s North Star Campground. That historical example helps identify the right forest system without claiming a present opening. Check the relevant district and actual employer at each developed campground, since a federal location alone does not establish who hires its staff. MN21 MN22

• Housing or RV: No general housing benefit verified on the current forest page.
• Season or dates: Superior standing program; Chippewa example published January–February 2022.
• How to apply: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r09/superior/working-with-us/volunteers — linked Volunteer.gov and Friends routes; contact Chippewa district for current host opportunities.
• Still to confirm: Use the forest/Volunteer.gov route to verify a dated recreation assignment and its actual administrator.

USDA Forest Service [email protected] 218-216-7060

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Le Sueur County

Lake Washington Regional Park and Campground independent caretaker · Lake Washington, south-central Minnesota

Resident caretaker · Reservations · Facility cleaning · Campground supervision

Le Sueur County’s published 2024 independent-caretaker contract combines revenue sharing with monthly payments and a completion bonus. This business arrangement covers reservations, cleaning and guest assistance rather than county employment. Its automatic-renewal clause does not establish who now holds the contract or whether a new opportunity exists. The residence wording also remains inconsistent: it requires the caretaker’s own moveable home while promising a rent-free residence. Request the current agreement before assessing either income or accommodation. MN06

• Pay: 2024: $125/month April–October; $1,500 completion bonus subject to county approval; one-third of net camping revenue, net retail sales and community-building/picnic-shelter reservation revenue.
• Housing or RV: 2024 document references own moveable home, rent-free residence and county utilities; wording requires clarification.
• Hours and duties: Reservations 8 a.m.–5 p.m. daily; emergency contact after hours; cleaning and supervision duties.
• Season or dates: Initial term April 1–October 31, 2024; automatic renewal clause, current status unverified.
• Who can apply: Historical contract requires contractor liability insurance and applicable workers’ compensation coverage.
• How to apply: Historical package https://www.lesueurcounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5953; enquire with county HR/Parks about future solicitations.
• Still to confirm: Ask whether a new caretaker solicitation is planned and request its complete compensation/residence terms.

Place guide: Lake Washington Regional Park and Campground

Le Sueur County [email protected] 507-357-8201

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Camp Fire Minnesota

Caretaker/custodian and camp employment · Excelsior/Twin Cities area

Caretaker · Custodian · Outdoor program support

Camp Fire Minnesota’s official employment page links its current ADP vacancies and a separate summer-camp route. An employer-posted nonprofit-board result specifically identifies a caretaker/custodian who keeps participant and visitor spaces clean and safe and assists with maintenance. The detailed job-board page could not be retrieved, so it supports a targeted employer enquiry without proving that position remains open. No residential benefit or pay rate was verified. This is still a useful independent nonprofit facilities lead, especially for applicants who can commute rather than requiring accommodation. MN14 MN15

• Season or dates: Season not specified
• How to apply: https://campfiremn.org/get-involved/employment/ — use View Current Openings in ADP.
• Still to confirm: Check whether caretaker/custodian appears in the live ADP inventory and obtain hours, pay and any housing terms.

Camp Fire Minnesota

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