By Shannon L. Cheesman KATU.com Producer/Reporter
MOUNT ST. HELENS — A retired couple serving as campground hosts in Olympic National Forest have received high honors from the U.S. Forest Service.
Bob and Karen Pauly, who have been volunteering at Seal Rock Campground in Quilcene for three years, were named Volunteer Campground Hosts of the Year for their hard work.
They got certificates and new camping items at a ceremony last week.
“It’s quite an honor and a very humbling experience,” Karen said.
“It’s exciting because we love being campground hosts.
“People come to have a good time, and we like to do whatever we can to ensure they have that good weekend or overnight or even a week’s stay.”
“Our greatest time is when the campground is totally filled,” Bob said. “That’s 41 units and a lot of kids, usually. We love it.”
About 4,000 people visit Seal Rock Campground each year.
The destination, on a peninsula of the Hood Canal, features a beach with oyster harvesting and a lush forest setting.
For the Paulys, it’s a great place to spend their retirement years.
“It’s a blessing to live in the forest,” Karen said. “We’ve come to love that.”
Bob added: “It’s a wonderful place. I wish everyone would come visit it at least once.”
________
KATU is based in Portland, Ore.
