Huge cedar trees, some twisted and gnarled but all displaying ice blue berries this time of year, mingle with mature Ponderosa pines at Big Arm State Park on the southwest shore of Flathead. The park is a favorite place to camp on the shore of Flathead Lake, with shade and access for swimming and fishing.

Through the summer, two pairs of volunteer camp hosts staffed the park three days on and three days off. Bringing their own campers or RVs, the camp hosts lived on site, coordinating with folks who operate the check-in booth and a recreational technician. They use walkie-talkies or their cell phones to communicate.

Anne and Clay Overlien were serving their fifth year as camp hosts. The couple lives in Las Vegas in the wintertime and then pulls their large camper up to Big Arm for the summer season.

“I love the weather up here,” Anne said, noting that air conditioning isn’t really needed when the cool breeze rolls up from the lake. 

“I love Montana,” she added, spreading her arms wide.

Angie Davis and Allen Nutter were the other two camp hosts, and 2024 was their first year at Big Arm. They are from North Dakota, but winter in Arizona.

The park’s reservation system ended on Sept. 15 and then every site became a walk-up. Clay and Anne departed Sept. 23 and Angie and Allen left Sept.30.

Bruce and JoAnne Christophe, who oversaw Wild Horse Island, Cedar Island and Bird Island, were also camp hosts this year, and had prior stints in Washington, Oregon and San Diego.

During their five years at Big Arm, Anne and Clay have welcomed campers from 48 states and international travelers from Canada, Germany, Spain, France and Ukraine, and both said that's their favorite aspect of the job.

Angie enjoyed the campers also, plus she has relatives in the area she visited for day trips. Her husband is an avid angler and appreciated “the fishing people” who gave him tips and hints and sometimes shared secrets.

The 217-acre state park has 16 tenting sites in Loop A and 22 camper or RV sites In Loop B plus three tent sites. Three yurts are available for rent at the top of the park.

The park is open for camping from April through October, although day use is available year-around. Running water is turned off in September.

Daily tasks for camp hosts are varied. About 6:30 p.m. and again at 9-ish, they load up the side-by-side ‘Gator with firewood, ice, shower tokens, and dog bones for canine campers and drive around Loops A and B to see if campers need any of the items they’re selling and to answer questions. If a visitor doesn’t like their camp site, the camp hosts try to help, although many times during the summer months all the places are full.

Allen and Clay also monitor parking by the boat ramp. Despite big signs that say “Pickup and Boat Trailer Parking Only,” Clay said many times an RV or a car park in those spots, and he and Allen would suggest other parking spots and guide overflow pickups and boat trailers up to the gravel parking lot near the camp-host trailers.

Campers were appreciative, and often commented on how clean the park is kept. The rec techs kept the bathrooms and showers clean, but it was a team effort to keep the park picked up.

As they made their ‘Gator rounds, the camp hosts would pick up micro trash, check that the bathrooms were supplied with paper products, and buzz across Hwy. 93 to check on the archery site.

“We’re sort of the chamber of commerce here,” Anne said.

They often fielded questions about how to get to Glacier Park, the Bison Range, Selis Ksanka Qlispe Dam or to the alpine slide near Lakeside, or looking for good restaurants in the vicinity.

It wasn't all work though. The camp hosts celebrated birthdays with doughnuts, played cards or games together, enjoyed day trips on days off, and had hobbies to pursue.

People who are interested in being a volunteer camp host or working at FWP park jobs are encouraged to visit fwp.mt.gov and navigate to the state parks site. According to Amy Grout, the Fish, Wildlife and Parks manager for Big Arm State Park, FWP begins looking for next season’s camp hosts and seasonal employees in October.

    Bigarm State Park Camp Hosts Angie David and Allen Nutter take the'gator to check campsites and make sure campers have everything they need. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)