The Workamper Show Podcast

Ann Marie and Jim Fulton have worked many different positions and currently have two Workamping jobs. Jim does nighttime security work at a Dollywood campground three nights a week, and they also drive a tram taking people from the parking lot to the Dollywood front entrance 12 to 14 hours a week. One job provides a free campsite and the other gives them spending money. They describe some of the duties they perform and explain why they really like Workamping. They have so much experience now that whenever they update their resumes at Workamper.com, they frequently get calls right away from prospective employers.

Workamper News editor Jody Anderson Duquette about how employers can find the best Workampers for jobs they are looking to fill. This episode just isn’t for employers, Workampers themselves will learn more about what type of people employers are hoping to find. Communication is super critical for a successful experience for employers and Workampers alike. Once a hiring decision has been made, it’s really important for employers to prepare work agreements that cover things like starting and ending dates, the number of hours to work, expected days off, what is included in compensation, etc. Putting everything in writing helps to ensure there are no misunderstandings later in the season.

Dr. Lynne Swanson is a retired veterinarian who founded Safe Harbor Farms, a canine rescue and rehabilitation center in coastal North Carolina. She grew up living with around 20 dogs at a time and has invested three decades – more than half her life – working with large groups of dogs. She calls them the best teachers because, once you learn their language, they can tell you everything you need to know about what they are thinking or experiencing. There are two things that pet owners can do with dogs to make their lives better. The first is to create positive associations with RV travel and the second is to introduce dogs to new environments, people and situations in ways that reflect a canine culture instead of human culture.

This summer, Nina is working at the Georgia Veterans State Park where she works as a host aboard the SAM Shortline Excursion Train. Nina gets to hand out brochures, sell tickets and answer questions passengers may have. She also works in the commissary car, which means she gets to fix and serve lunch as well as prepare snacks. A former kindergarten teacher and principal, Nina started Workamping in 2019 at the urging of several friends who had been camping for many years. So, she bought a 22-foot travel trailer and headed to Texas for her first assignment.

Pastor and author John Stange makes a great point that regardless of how much time we may spend speaking with other people, we spend much more time every day talking to ourselves. John says we all tend to preach messages to our hearts that are unhealthy and discouraging. Many times we allow thoughts of one discouragement after another to replay on an endless loop through our minds. We also subject ourselves to a litany of unhealthy self-criticism that if we allow ourselves to dwell on those ideas, it can rob us of peace and joy. John encourages people to “Dwell on These Things” instead.

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.