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Today I am interviewing a couple from Maine who just took over the campground which has been in their family for years. Workampers play a big role in serving guests at the campground and helping to ensure it runs smoothly.
Sarah and Pip Bell are the new owners of Dixon’s Campground, which is a small family-owned facility with 125 sites located near Cape Neddick, Maine. It is only 12 miles from the New Hampshire border.
Sarah’s parents owned the campground for more than 25 years before retiring. So she and Pip just completed their first year at the helm of the business.
Workampers play a huge role at the campground because Sarah works full-time as a teacher and Pip works for a local HVAC company. This year, they relied on four sets of Workampers to help serve guests staying at the campground.
Typically, Workampers help inside the office by greeting guests and taking reservations. They also guide guests to their sites, maintain the pool and ensure restrooms are super clean.
The season starts in early May and continues through early October.
There is one catch, the campground sites can only accommodate RVs that are no longer than 36 feet.
Workampers generally work between 20 and 25 hours per week. All hours are paid at Maine’s minimum wage, which is $14.65 per hour. However, Workampers receive a free RV site with water and electricity.
The campground maintains its own honey wagon service, which pumps tanks for guests once a week. However, Workampers can use the wagon to pump out their own tanks more often, if necessary.
Other than having some computer skills to manage reservations, there are no special traits or qualifications needed to work at Dixon’s Campground.
Sarah and Pip like to employ Workampers who have upbeat attitudes and a general willingness to help. It helps if the Workampers have an eye for detail when it comes to cleanliness and landscaping.
Typically, the campground starts looking for Workampers in the middle of August and has commitments for the next year wrapped up by mid-September.
Because the campground is rather small, Workampers really need to honor their commitments because no-shows and early departures can create a real bind for Sarah and Pip.
The campground is right off Hwy. 1, but close enough to ocean activities, like surfing and just enjoying the beach. There is plenty of nightlife in communities like Kennebunkport, Maine, or Portsmouth, N.H., which are less than 25 minutes away.
For people who like to hike, the White Mountains of New Hampshire are about two hours away, and Acadia National Park is a four-hour drive.
History buffs can head to Boston, which is about 90 minutes away. The entire eastern seaboard is a fascinating place with quaint little villages and many historical sites, especially for events related to the Revolutionary War era.
For more information, check out the website at www.dixonscampground.com where people can get a good overview of the campground and it’s amenities. The bottom of the page provides contact information for emailing a resume or calling Sarah and Pip.
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That’s all for this week’s show. Next time I will be speaking with a Workamping couple about their adventures. Tune in next week for another fun episode of The Workamper Show. Thanks for listening!
