Volunteer Camping Information

Camping privileges are provided for established chairmen, co-chairmen, and volunteers who work a minimum of 4 days or at least an equivalent of 24 hours during the convention. Camping privileges are provided to volunteers who have met the above criteria based on previous volunteer work history.  First-time volunteers pay their initial camping fees in their “rookie” year.

DO NOT REQUEST CAMPING FOR A VOLUNTEER UNLESS THEY HAVE CONFIRMED THEY ARE VOLUNTEERING FOR THE CURRENT YEAR!

There are two Campground Passes for Volunteers, East and West. The East Volunteer Camping Permit will allow camping in the East Campground south of 8/26 (Paradise City), aircraft camping, Light Plane Electric, and ERT Compound. The West Volunteer Campground permit allows for camping in the West Campground, Raiders, 24-Hour Generator and Airside RV Camping (West). One of these permits is required to be on the volunteer’s camper while onsite.

Please advise your chairman of your requested campground area, so the proper campground credential may be issued.

Chairmen are required to provide SUN ‘n FUN a record of service for each volunteer working in their area. Volunteer cards may be used to collect hours for the volunteers in your area, but hours must be entered into the Volunteer Credential and Equipment website after the current event for volunteers to qualify for future camping and years-of-service pins.  Only volunteers reflecting hours in the system will be on next year’s roster and be considered for camping. Volunteers working 8 or more hours are presented with an annual volunteer service patch.

The information below includes information for the West Campground, Overflow Campground and the Airside RV Campground.

• Dry Camping only – No hook-up permitted
• Volunteers are NOT permitted to camp along the north airside fence line (unless you choose to pay for camping).
• 24-Hour Generator camping will be located in the southern half of the overflow camping area and in the former General Aircraft Camping area.
• The electric camp spaces along Rocky Rd. are reserved spaces for Expo guests – Reservation only!
• Handicap Camping spaces will be marked (Special permit required)
• Ropes will NOT be permitted to define your camp space. Camp spaces will be striped and you will be required to stake your volunteer camping permit within the striped space (20 x 40). All ropes will be removed.
• A Volunteer is required to set up their camp space within the striped camp space that has been credentialed. Please stay within the boundary lines.
• Approved volunteer camping permits will be available for pick up at Camper Registration on Hamilton Field Rd. starting Tuesday, March 25.

• The East Campground is located south of Light Plane Runway 8/26.  Access to this campground will be available on Saturday, March 29.  Light Plane and Volunteer Kitchen setup volunteers may arrive beginning on Friday, March 28 (approval for access must be received from the airport).
• Camping on the Light Plane Field is no longer available.
• Once you have acquired your permit you will need to proceed to Lakeland Airside Center (off Pipkin Rd.) and follow signs for East Campground using the east convention access route (check back for detailed location and directions) and follow signs to East Campground. (DO NOT PROCEED WEST)
• Only Volunteers and Light Plane Exhibitors are permitted to camp in the East Campground. East Campground Permit is required.
• Dry Camping & 24 Hour Generator camping only – No hook-ups available.
• Approved volunteer camping permits will be available for pick up at Camper Registration on Drane Field Rd. starting Tuesday, March 25, and the Lindbergh Lot Ticket & Camping Registration Building beginning Monday, March 31.

• A Chairman must submit all Volunteer Camping requests through the Credential & Equipment Request website. Camping may only be requested for those volunteers who have confirmed their need for camping for the current year. Do not request camping unless the volunteer has confirmed their need.
• Please make one camper permit request per unit/volunteer couple (i.e. do not request camping for husband and wife or individuals who are camping together).
• Volunteer Camping is provided in the Convention Campground or in an area designated by the Chairman and approved by the Convention Chairman. Campground areas are primitive with facilities nearby.
• Volunteer campers will be allowed to camp anywhere in the convention campground except for designated locations (Volunteer camping is prohibited along the north fence line in the convention campground, the first two rows near the taxiway ”Papa” are reserved for paying guests or in any unapproved electric spaces. These are reserved for guests with ADA requirements.
• The electric camp spaces along Rocky Rd. are reserved spaces for Expo guests – Reservation only!
• Volunteer campers who wish to camp along the north fence line or in the electric camping area, if available will be required to pay for camping.
• Volunteers who require a permit to AUTO PARK ONLY in the Campground should request a Zone A Permit. DO NOT REQUEST A CAMPING PERMIT FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO ONLY NEED AUTO PARKING IN THE CAMPGROUND.  PLEASE INSTRUCT YOUR VOLUNTEER TO PARK WHERE CAMPING SPACES WILL NOT BE IMPACTED.
• Camp space in Camp Duffy must be requested by nomination and must be requested through the Credential & Equipment Request by a Chairman once the volunteer has been approved. Space approval will be based on qualification, availability and need. Current Camp Duffy resident volunteers are required to confirm their full-week volunteer schedule and arrival date if they intend to camp in Camp Duffy. Once these confirmations have been received, spaces are filled based on eligibility and availability

ALL VOLUNTEER CAMPGROUND CREDENTIALS ARE TO BE PICKED UP AT CAMPER REGISTRATION OFF HAMILTON RD STARTING TUESDAY, MARCH 25 OR AT THE EAST TICKET BOOTH LOCATION STARTING MONDAY, MARCH 31 UNLESS YOU HAVE FILLED OUT THE FORM BELOW AND FOLLOWED THE EARLY PICK-UP INSTRUCTIONS ABOVE.

THIS FORM IS NOT REQUIRED UNLESS YOU ARE PLANNING TO PLACE YOUR CAMPER OR MARK OFF SPACE STARTING MARCH 8 THROUGH MARCH 24, 2025. Beginning Tuesday, March 25, volunteer camping passes will be available at Camper Registration on Hamilton. Be sure to tell us if you are aircraft camping or camping in the East Campground on Airside as your credential pickup location may change.

Volunteers with approved camping are permitted to bring their camping unit on-site starting Saturday, March 8. Volunteers who request an early campground permit must confirm with their chairman that a credential and camping have been requested for them or a permit will not be issued. The Volunteer must pick up their permit in person as a signature is required for the camper permit’s liability statement. 

Starting on Saturday, March 8 (after the volunteer meeting) you will be able to pick up pre-requested approved volunteer camping permits (see form below).  Starting on Monday, March 10, campground permits can be picked up in Laura’s office any weekday during business hours. PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST AN EARLY PERMIT UNLESS YOU INTEND TO BRING YOUR RIG EARLY OR STAKE YOUR SPACE OFF A CAMP SPACE between March 8 – March 24. (See Early Camping Permit Form below. All volunteer camping permits will be issued from Camper Registration starting Tuesday, March 25 and the East Registration booth beginning Monday, March 31.

All Camping units or credential-staked spaces must be stay withing the 20 x 40 striped camp space and must display a copy of your camping permit. Any rig or staked-off space not properly displaying camping credentials will be removed. EARLY CAMPING REQUESTS WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR EAST CAMPGROUND PERMITS, AS THE AIRFIELD WILL NOT BE ACCESSIBLE UNTIL FRIDAY, MARCH 28.

Volunteer Camper Drop-off Requirements

• A Volunteer must request an Early Volunteer Campground Permit.
• All Camping permits must be displayed on the camper or posted on the ground with a stake.
  • All campsites will be striped-off, all campers must adhere to the striped lines for each campsite and set up within their boundaries.
• No roping-off spaces will be permitted. All ropes and tape marking campsite boundaries will be removed, especially those marking spaces different than the striped lines.
• Any volunteer-permitted campsite that remains unoccupied by Wednesday, April 2 will be reassigned. You will not be permitted to hold space after that date.
• PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST AN EARLY CAMPING PERMIT UNLESS YOU INTEND TO BRING YOUR RIG IN OR NEED YOUR PERMIT TO STAKE OFF YOUR SPACE BEFORE TUESDAY, MARCH 25.
• Volunteers may begin picking up their approved camping permits at Camper Registration on Hamilton Rd., starting Tuesday, March 25 (one week before the show).
• The 24-hour generator area is located on the southern half of the overflow campground (aka Miss Betty’s). We also have a 24-hour generator area located just south of the west approach on airside, formerly General Aircraft Camping.
• Please check the Volunteer Camping Information page for additional camping information as we get closer to the Expo. Several updates still need to be made to this information for 2025.
• Volunteer Camping along the north airside fence line in the main campground is still restricted and reserved for guests attending the event only!