Today we have a great show planned. I will be talking with Jody Anderson-Duquette about finding the ideal Workamping job. She is the executive director of Workamper News and one of the owners of the business. She literally grew up in the Workamping industry and has a lot of experience connecting people to short-term jobs. She has identified 12 steps …
Christian Resort Ministries matches volunteer chaplains to more than 40 RV resorts in Arizona, Texas and Florida every winter. Not only are the chaplains leading weekly worship services, they are also leading Bible studies or hosting family activities, like movie nights, at the park. Sometimes they organize potluck gatherings while other times they may be visiting people in hospitals or running errands for those who need some help. Occasionally, chaplains will officiate at weddings and even memorial services. What makes Christian Resort Ministries so unique is that when they match a chaplain to an RV park, it is expected that the same chaplain will return to the same resort every year for three to five years. That allows chaplains to really get to know people in the campground and develop relationships with them.
Aramark contracts with a number state and national parks to provide hospitality services at Olympic National Park in Washington, Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, South Lake Tahoe in California, and Lake Powell National Recreation Area at the Arizona/Utah border. Some resorts hire people to work at the front desk, provide concierge services or do housekeeping jobs. Other sites hire workers to engage guests in various activities or to lead tours. Some resorts need Workampers in the food and beverage operations, while others serve as campground hosts and in retail centers, like gift shops and grocery stores. There are a few jobs available for bus drivers and experienced boat captains, and all the locations need some type of maintenance help.
Austin Faught is the founder and president of RV Park Management, a company located near San Antonio. His firm owns two RV parks in Texas and one in Florida. However, his company also manages RV parks for people who buy campgrounds, but don’t want to manage the day-do-day operations of the business. Austin likes to hire Workampers because they understand what customers expect and they’re really tuned in to what it takes to deliver first-class service.
Greg and Bonnie Dixon are from Vancouver, British Columbia. They have been RVing since October 2017. In fact, they have put on 18,000 miles traveling between what they call the alligator line and the snow line. At their last Workamping gig, they met a woman who introduced the Dixons to the multi-level marketing company LifeWave, a firm selling products that employ phototherapy and acupressure to help people heal and maintain their health. Enjoying success in that business, the Dixons launched the Healthy Wealthy Camper website.
Janice Brea is a recruiter with eScribers and Dena Farbman is a Workamper who has been supporting her travel lifestyle by doing legal transcriptions for quite some time. There is an unlimited amount of work available, so people can work as little as three hours a day, eight hours a day or as long as they’d like because the transcribers are independent contractors. That means, they are self-employed in their own businesses, which entitles them to enjoy a variety of tax deductions, too.
Ed Bridgman is the owner and developer of Homestead RV Community, which is about 20 miles south of Mobile, Ala., and less than two miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Using a high-speed fiber optic network, the RV park offers the fastest internet service available and monitors water and electricity consumption at every site from a remote location. If people want to buy firewood or anything from the store, it is all done online and Workampers deliver it to the customer’s campsite a few minutes later. All communications are preformed virtually, including making reservations, payments, checking in and checking out. However, Workampers still provide personal attention by escorting guests to their sites, helping them connect to services and even hosting campwide events like movie nights, tournaments and special meals.
Jeff is looking for a Workamping solo or couple who is experienced in managing a campground or RV park. They may also be tasked with managing the on-site apartments and retail space, too. Compensation is set up differently than most other Workamping jobs in that the manager will receive a percentage of the gross income of the RV park. Jeff hopes that will be a big incentive to a prospective manager to help fill the park.
Workampers serve as park attendants, which mean they greet visitors to the park, help them check in to their campsites, clean up the bathrooms, and help with clerical duties at the office. The volunteers are expected to donate 24 hours of time per couple in exchange for a full-hookup RV site very close to the Washington/Idaho border. The project has enough volunteers for the 2021 season, but Andrew is looking for Workampers in 2022, at which time he will be transitioning two more campgrounds over to volunteer attendants. He estimates he will need nine sets of volunteers next year.
Cherry Republic operates six retail stores throughout Michigan, but hires 10 Workampers for its headquarters campus which is also home to the packing and distribution center. Workampers are utilized in the retail store, but also to serve samples or full glasses of wine to guests. In the distribution center, they assemble and label products before packing them for shipping. The paid jobs start at $10 per hour plus a free RV site.
Jim Nelson and Rene Agredano jumped in to the RV lifestyle as a favor for their German shepherd, Jerry G. Dawg, who lost a leg to cancer. They wanted to give him an adventure of his lifetime, but the experience changed them to the point they continue traveling in their RV to encourage others to “be more dog.” Since 2007, they have logged 170,000 miles working various Workamping jobs, but also developed multiple income streams to support their nomadic lifestyle. They founded several successful online groups including Tripawds, for pet owners caring for three-legged animals, and Live. Work. Dream. to encourage others to embrace their travel dreams.
Last year, with everyone stuck inside for COVID, Denise Fuller saw an opportunity to encourage others to try quilting. She started a business she could run out of her RV to create kits that people can buy online. Designed specifically for RVers and others who live in confined quarters, the kits come with patterns, batting and other supplies to complete smaller quilting projects. She also describes the RVing adventures she has enjoyed with her husband, Mark, since 2012.
