Perhaps our paths will cross somewhere in this great Country in 2016 – until that time have good health, safe travels and enjoy the journey.
Month: December 2015
From Our Home to Yours
We wish you peace, prosperity, good health
and safe travels in 2016.
Build Your Bicycle RV – 1938
Throwback Thursday:
Science and Mechanics Magazine – June, 1938
and what would a good how-to magazine be without its AWESOME GADGET page!
Be sure to “Follow” us because after you build your Bicycle RV we’ll have many more old articles of possible interest for you and other RVers.
Source: Science and Mechanics June, 1938
You’ll find more interesting (we’re trying) stuff on our
Webpage – http://www.snowbirdrvtrails.com/
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/snowbirdrvtrail/
Google+ – https://plus.google.com/+JackArmstrongsnowbirdrv
…and yes we do buy, sell and collect old books, manuals and ephemera.
Ford Debuts Trailer, Toy Hauler & Camper Lines
Ford Truck customers looking to explore America’s open roads, national parks and attractions can now take the comforts of home with them with an all-new lineup of Ford licensed and approved toy haulers, travel trailers and slide-in campers.
Ford Branded Truck Camper
“Exploring America is in our customers’ DNA and recreational vehicles are part of Ford’s history, so these new camping options are great for our adventurous customers,” said Mark Bentley, Ford licensing manager, in a press release. “Ford is an industry leader in towing technology, so it was only natural for Ford to license its name and designs in this industry.”
The new Ford-branded truck campers and travel trailers are licensed and built by Indiana-based Livin’ Lite Recreational Vehicles, a subsidiary of Thor Industries Inc. Known for using strong, lightweight aluminum alloy in its products, Livin Lite’s Ford offerings will also be made out of the advanced material to save weight and offer resistance to rust and rot.
Ford slide-in truck campers will be offered for 6- and 8-foot truck beds, while the first travel trailers and toy haulers will be offered in 22- and 24-foot lengths. Additional products, including longer fifth-wheel trailers and shorter popup campers, are also planned. All products feature Livin Lite’s advanced materials and a two-year limited warranty.
“Licensing our name and design language to Livin’ Lite was an easy decision,” said Bentley. “Their use of advanced materials and innovation mindset makes them an excellent fit with the Ford brand. We are confident customers will be impressed with the unique, bold designs and comfortable features offered in the Ford RV line.”
Ford toy hauler built by Livin’ Lite
The RVs were designed by Livin’ Lite in conjunction with Ford Truck Design. The two teams worked together over the past 15 months to create several attractive recreational vehicles that are unique to Ford. A striking front nose with an F-Series-inspired front window, F-Series-style wheels and unique Ford Blue Oval side graphics are among the key exterior features distinguishing the Ford offerings from competitors.
Interior styling cues from the F-Series Lariat, including unique leathers and stitched Ford Blue Ovals in seat cushions, ensure a stylish and tough impression.
Ford Truck campers will be available through certified Livin’ Lite dealers starting in early 2016, while the travel trailers and toy haulers will be available by the second quarter of 2016.
Source: RVBusiness
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tips & trends.
Are You Looking for a Workamping Position?
12/4/2015
We have received the following
Tahoe National Forest Campground Host Opportunities
We have received the following
Tahoe National Forest Campground Host Opportunities
Hello, we have 28 host positions on 3 different Ranger districts that I’d like to mention through your site. These are all listed in detail on the Volunteer.gov site, but I have abbreviated the postings to better fit private websites. Your site offers readers a lot of great information and I’m hoping we can reach out to some of them
Feel free to contact me with any questions, John Groom
CALIFORNIA
Forest Name: Truckee Ranger District, Tahoe National Forest
Campground Name: Multiple campgrounds, 12 positions
Nearest Town: Truckee
See Volunteer.gov for site specific information
Campground Services Provided:
Minimal / varying hook-ups, $40 daily reimbursement partial uniform, Agency Volunteer pass, valid for 1 year
Host Duties:
Provide information and assistance to campers, monitor campground for Forest Service, and perform light maintenance
duties.
Ranger District Office Name and Address:
Truckee Ranger District
10811 Stockrest Springs Rd
Truckee, CA, 96161
Ranger District Contact: Mary Westmoreland
Contact Telephone No: 530-587-3558
Contact E-Mail Address: mwestmoreland@fs.fed.us
Position Availability:
May 10th through Oct 15 (2016 summer season)
Position Duration:
4-5 months
CALIFORNIA
Forest Name: Yuba Ranger District, Tahoe National Forest
Campground Name: Multiple campgrounds, 10 positions
Nearest Town: varies by campground. Camptonville, CA, Nevada City, CA, Grass Valley CA
See Volunteer.gov for site specific information
Campground Services Provided:
Minimal / varying hook-ups, $40 daily reimbursement
partial uniform, Agency Volunteer pass, valid for 1 year
Host Duties:
Provide information and assistance to campers, monitor campground for Forest Service, and perform light maintenance
duties.
Ranger District Office Name and Address:
Yuba River Ranger District
631 Coyote St
Nevada City, CA, 95959
Ranger District Contact: Cory Richardson
Contact Telephone No: 530-288-3231
Contact E-Mail Address: corybrichardson@fs.fed.us
Position Availability:
May 10th through Oct 15 (2016 summer season)
Position Duration:
4-5 months
CALIFORNIA
Forest Name: American River Ranger District, Tahoe National Forest
Campground Name: Multiple campgrounds, 4 positions
Nearest Town: Forest Hill, CA
See Volunteer.gov for site specific information
Campground Services Provided:
Minimal / varying hook-ups, $40 daily reimbursement partial uniform, Agency Volunteer pass, valid for 1 year
Host Duties:
Provide information and assistance to campers, monitor campground for Forest Service, and perform light maintenance
duties.
Ranger District Office Name and Address:
American River Ranger District
22830 Foresthill Road
Foresthill, CA 95631
Ranger District Contact: Dave Sheehan
Contact Telephone No: 530-367-2224
Contact E-Mail Address: dsheehan@fs.fed.us
Position Availability:
May 10th through Oct 15 (2016 summer season)
Position Duration:
4-5 months
Our detailed information can be found here
Volunteering on the Tahoe National Forest
Welcome to the Tahoe National Forest located in the Northern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. This diverse landscape offers 850,000 acres of forests, meadows, lakes, rivers and snowcapped peaks, stretching from the Foothills east of Sacramento at an elevation of 1500ft, over the Pacific Crest at 9000ft and down to the Nevada state line near Reno.
The unique scenic, historic and recreation opportunities of the Tahoe National Forest, combined with its close proximity to multiple, major metropolitan areas attracts over six million visitors a year and creates one of the most popular National Forests in the country.
As a Campground Host you will often be the first Forest representative the visiting public encounters and the first person they will consider for information regarding the area and their National Forest. Volunteer Campground Host’s are an integral part of the Forest recreation program and are critical in achieving the Forest service mission of “caring for the Land and Serving the people” as such, we are seeking individuals who can represent the Tahoe National Forest in a professional and courteous manner.
Campground Hosts are expected to be available from mid-May to mid-October, five days a week with two consecutive days off per week. Longer breaks may be considered with prior approval. Hosts are requested to be available for public interaction the majority of the day and expected to make full campground rounds early in the morning and evening. Hosts are not expected to contact visitors after daylight hours or to participate in law enforcement activities.
Excellent volunteer candidates for these positions will have the following strengths:
Outgoing personality with strong verbal communication skills
Ability to perform light maintenance work in outdoor conditions
Ability to maintain daily written logs
Ability to interact with diverse visitors while maintaining a positive, helpful and non-confrontational attitude
Host Duties will include the following:
· Welcoming visitors and providing appropriate Forest information
· Informing visitors of Forest Regulations and campground Courtesy Rules
· Encouraging fee compliance and Courtesy Rule adherence
· Tracking daily arrivals and posting incoming reservations
· Performing light landscape and bathroom maintenance.
· Reporting emergencies and providing District Recreation staff with pertinent daily information
· Setting a positive camping example for other forest visitors, keeping a clean, presentable and welcoming campsite and encouraging common courtesy throughout the campground.
Requirements of the positions
Pass a minimal background check and possess a valid state driver’s license.
Volunteer 4 hours a day / 20 hours weekly and be available other times for public interactions
Provide your own personal RV accommodations maintained to be welcoming and approachable by the public.
Local Recreation Staff will provide full training and support in duties. Hosts perform daily responsibilities independently without direct supervision. Forest Recreation employees will make near daily contact to provide support, heavy maintenance and regulatory compliance. On the Tahoe National Forest you will be working individually in your designated campground, but also as part of a larger Forest wide campground host program with up to 35 other volunteer hosts. Specific campsite conditions vary greatly from low elevation riverside campgrounds to higher elevation, mountain, lakeside settings. The majority of Hosts sites have minimal services. Some may have electricity, some may have water and some have waste holding tanks.
The Tahoe National Forest is recruiting 28 volunteer host positions for the 2016 summer camping season. Specific campground settings can be viewed via the following links
Truckee District Camp Host Opportunities, 12 positions available
Contact: Mary Westmoreland –mwestmoreland@fs.fed.us
Logger Campground (Large Reservoir Setting) (6 Hosts needed)
Emigrant Group (Large Reservoir Setting)
Boca Rest Campground (Large Reservoir Setting)
Boca Campground (Large Reservoir Setting)
Granite Flat Campground (River Setting)
Silver Creek Campground (River Setting)
Goose Meadow Campground (River Setting)
Prosser Campground (Forest / Large Reservoir Setting)
Lakeside Campground (Large Reservoir Setting)
Yuba River District Camp Host Opportunities, 10 positions available
Contact: Cory Richardson, corybrichardson@fs.fed.us
North Fork Campground (Forest/River Setting)
Hampshire Rocks (Forest/River Setting)
Indian Springs (Forest/River Setting)
White Cloud Campground (Forest Setting)
Cal Ida Campground (Forest/River Setting)
Indian Valley Campground (Forest/River Setting)
Loganville Campground (Forest/River Setting)
Wild Plum Campground (Forest/River Setting)
Salmon Campground (Forest/Creek Setting)
http://www.recreation.gov/camping/salmon-creek/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=75430
Sardine Campground (Forest/Creek Setting)
http://www.recreation.gov/camping/sardine-lake/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=75429
American River District Camp Host Opportunities, 4 positions available
Contact: Dave Sheehan, dsheehan@fs.fed.us
Giant Gap Campground (Forest/Mountain Reservoir Setting)
Shirttail Creek Campground (Forest/Mountain Reservoir Setting)
French Meadows Campground (Forest/Mountain Reservoir Setting)
Lewis at French Meadows Campground (Forest/Mountain Reservoir Setting)
Volunteer recognition and reimbursement
With varying and possibly minimal site services in mind, the Tahoe National Forest reimburses Volunteer Hosts $40 daily for “on duty” days. This reimbursement is intended to cover out of pocket expenses related to transportation, subsistence, propane and generator fuel that are necessary, reasonable and arise as a result of voluntary work. In order to receive this reimbursement, Hosts must be US citizens or international volunteers holding J-1, F-1or B-1 Visa’s. In addition to Reimbursement, volunteer campground hosts will be provided a complimentary campsite for the season, uniform components and personal protective equipment for assigned duties. Certain sites may be provided a government golf cart or utility vehicle to perform official duties. Volunteer hosts who complete a full season in good standing will receive an Interagency Volunteer Pass, valid 12 months from the date of issue. This pass grants the holder / signee and up to 3 accompanying adult’s access to Federal Recreation sites, including BLM, FWS, NPS and USFS sites that charge standard entrance fees, (overnight camping excluded)
For additional information, please email the program contacts listed at the top of the individual listings.
Becoming a Volunteer Host in one of the nation’s premier Forests can be competitive and these positions may fill quickly. Please be ready to provide a brief resume and reference. We anticipate making selections and seasonal agreements by January 2016.
Thank you for your help in broadcasting these opportunities, we look forward to hearing from your readers
Please feel free to contact me with any questions, John Groom
John Groom
Recreation
Forest Service
Tahoe National Forest, Truckee Ranger District
p: 530-587-3558 x275
f: 530-587-6914
jgroom@fs.fed.us
10811 Stockrest Springs Rd
Truckee, CA 96161
http://www.fs.fed.us
Find many more camp job (Workamping) sources on our website at http://www.snowbirdrvtrails.com/workamping.htm
Holiday Light Displays and Festivals at Florida State Parks
December in Florida is a special time of the year. The atmosphere and sights at our 174 award-winning state parks, trails and historic sites are no exception. Throughout December, Florida’s state parks offer a variety of exciting holiday-themed events for the family to enjoy.
In December, cooler temperatures make outdoor activities very enjoyable. Whether you partake in the sight of manatees migrating to a freshwater spring or enjoy the light shows at various Florida state parks, we’ve thought of everyone on your holiday list.
While many places across the state will be closed for the holiday, most of Florida’s 174 state parks, trails and historic sites will be open 8 a.m. to sunset on Friday, Dec. 25.
Here are just a few events being offered at Florida’s state parks:
Fri. Dec. 4 to Dec. 31 – Festival of Lights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs
Fri. Dec. 4 – 26th Annual Camellia Christmas from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park in Tallahassee
Sat. Dec. 5 – Christmas on the Florida Frontier from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell
Fri. Dec. 11 & Sat. Dec. 12 – The Candlelight Experience from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Fort Foster State Historic Site in Thonotosassa
Sat. Dec. 19 to Sat. Dec. 26 – Celebration of Lights from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Homosassa
Source: FL State Parks Newsletter
Hop Aboard as we visit new places, find friendly faces & enjoy life along the Snowbird RV Routes 