Volunteer Story: Gulpha Gorge Campground Hosts

There’s never a dull moment at Gulpha Gorge Campground in Hot Springs National Park (HOSP). Trees fall, RV sites malfunction, campers experience medical emergencies, and so on. Without fail, first on the scene of any issue, displaying poise and confidence, are our incomparable volunteer campground hosts. Campground hosts at Gulpha Gorge act as the park’s front line and form a critical connection between the campground and National Park Service (NPS) staff. They are visitor service rangers, maintenance extraordinaries, and expert problem solvers – combined to create incredibly dedicated and passionate NPS volunteers!

Meet your current campground hosts!

NPS Photo/T. Monroe

Al and Eileen Brown

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Start of HOSP volunteer service: April 2023

Favorite part about being a host at Gulpha Gorge: Eileen immediately answered that their love of meeting new people and hearing their stories inspires their volunteer service. While Al said that working with the other volunteers brings a lot of joy and humor to the job. They both agreed that working outside is a huge bonus and keeps them coming back for more!

The Browns are seasoned campground host volunteers having worked at other sites before they made their way to Hot Springs. We are lucky to have their knowledge, experience, and passion on our volunteer team!

All our volunteers agreed they enjoy and value the comradery at the park. When push comes to shove, volunteers and park staff come together to fix a problem, ensure public safety, and create a positive environment for all visitors.

We are incredibly lucky to have such dedicated, wonderful volunteers in our ranks at HOSP!