Wor Camping Options

[RLM]

There has not been much discussion on the website about work camping so I decided to start the topic. I am sure that there are members of the site who do work camping and some that would like to get into it. I suspect that both categories could improve the learning curve for each other.

Some ideas to respond to:

1- Who works for only a free site and who works for the money? Why do you do either?
2- What's the best way to get started?
3- Because of the lack of work camping experience and competition for jobs, does one have to accept the first offer even if it isn't suited for you?
4- How much effort and time does it take to get the idea work camper job? What is involved?
5- Is work camping in a commercial campground preferable to a public one like a national park or forest service?
6- What is your best and worst experience?
7- For those who have work camped, what is the one (one only) valuable piece of advise you could give someone considering it?
8- For those who are just getting into the work camping thing, what's the most annoying aspect of the process?

[Nolan]

The wife and I have workamped 7 places. We started using workampernews but after two years, it never helped us to get a job, we dropped getting it. Mainly the wife uses city-data.com to find out what the climate is like and then Trailer Life Directory to make sure the sites are big enough, then calls them up asks for the owner/manager and asks if they hire workampers. If so what do they offer. What jobs are open. What you have for a RV. If they are interested send them a resume. We have a list of questions we ask. To long to put on here, so you can email me at hwyhome@yahoo.com for it if you want it. We also ask for a written agreement. We can make it out or they can. It's just that your on the same page on what your doing and what your getting. Plus how long you are going to be there. We have workamped anywhere from 3 months to 6 months. Some places want longer, but 6 months we feel is long enough. Sometimes to long.

We have found two jobs on RVnet.net Plus was workamping at another job and another workamping couple managed a park in Michigan asked if we would come work for them.

We have workamped for just the site, electric, water, sewer, use of anything in the office, laundry money, free propane. Anywhere from 10 to 11 hours each. To all I have written before that includes anywhere from $7. to $10. an hour each and the site is free. And lots of times free food. Hours for pay 25 to 40 hours each. Most of the time got anywhere from 2 to 4 days off per week. Work anywhere from 2 to 8 hours a day.

We have stayed with commerical campgrounds because the deal has always been better.

We only had one place where we had problems with the manager. We had a supervisor, but the manager would always change things on him and tell us to do things different. Almost left that place, but stuck it out. Every place else have loved it. Although where we are now have a neighbor with a barking dog. That is very annoying.

My best advice is to try to stay out of the campground politics. Also you aren't managing nor do you own the campground, so don't tell the managers and owners how to run their campground.

For us it's a great way to save money and even make a little money. Be able to travel and see more places at a younger age over working 40 plus hours a week at a job year around with only two weeks a year vacation time. Might have to go back to that some day, but for now enjoying ourselves doing this.