The Workamper Show Podcast

In this episode, Jody describes the myriad of short-term jobs that are available to workampers. They can be part time or full time. Some last just a couple of weeks, some an entire season, and some until the workampers opt to move on to something else. Some involve working with people while others require workampers to work with animals or completely on their own. Some Workampers operate their own businesses from the road, while others simply work as independent contractors for other companies. The bottom line is that there is a lot of opportunity for people to enjoy the RV and travel lifestyle now, and get paid for it.

Evada Cooper’s story may have unfolded in an unusual way, but it was clearly divine inspiration that led her to make some life-changing decisions that would eventually help thousands of other people to follow her path. She faced several challenges in life, but rather than sulk about her situation, she stepped into the unknown guided by her faith and just followed doors as they opened in front of her. Even unfortunate experiences that she faced later proved to be springboards for helping people avoid those same situations and save money in the process.

After COVID-19 disrupted their plans for teaching tech classes at the National RV Training Academy, Texas RV Professor Terry Cooper came up with an idea for hybrid training which combines live two-way online classes with prerecorded videos and the workbooks used for their popular home-study course. It proved to be tremendously successful and attracted even more students than they had anticipated. So, Cooper expanded the hybrid model to include all the advanced training classes as well. It creates an easier way to learn to fix your own RV or make money repairing or inspecting RVs for others.

Hart-T-Trees operates more than a dozen Florida tree lots in cooperation with local businesses, charities and churches. For workampers, it is almost like having a turn-key, short-term business, where they partner with Hart-T-Tree farms to sell their harvest of trees. Workampers are guaranteed a minimum income, but they earn additional money based on the number of trees they sell.

Located at the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park, Ruby’s Inn has grown into a destination itself. It now involves 800 hotel rooms spread over three properties as well as a 150-site, full hook-up RV park. Gift Shop Manager Lu Syrett is still looking for workampers to work a variety of jobs for the family-owned business this summer and fall. Ruby's Inn is right in the middle of Utah's picturesque Monument Valley.

Angie Rardon and her husband, Kevin, are from Temecula, Calif. They decided to retire from their jobs as a quality auditor and engineering tech at age 55 to pursue a dream of RV travel. In the process of winding down their careers and selling their home, they opted to get physicals before hitting the road. While Angie passed without a problem, Kevin was diagnosed with an early form of cancer. She talks about contending with that problem and describes all the places they have lived and the workamping jobs she has worked.

Today we are going to talk with an experienced Workamper who believes embracing that challenge actually saved her husband.

Angie Rardon and her husband, Kevin, are from Temecula, Calif. They decided to retire from their jobs as a quality auditor and engineering tech at age 55 to pursue a dream of RV travel.

Through the process of winding down their careers and selling their home, they both had physical examinations to make sure they would be okay to travel. They wanted to get that done before they lost their employer-sponsored health insurance.

While Angie passed without a problem, Kevin was diagnosed with an early form of cancer.

While he was receiving treatment at a cancer hospital in Loma Linda, Calif., Angie got a job as a dorm supervisor at Yellowstone National Park. From there, she was promoted to a personnel manager.

Kevin eventually needed chemotherapy, and he was transferred to another hospital in Utah, which was closer to one of their daughters. Eventually, he joined Angie in Yellowstone, but they had to leave when his own mother came down with cancer.

Angie secured a long-term leave of absence to help handle the situation, and now they are back to Workamping again.

They live in a 35-foot fifth wheel, which works well for them because it has different living zones to allow Kevin to rest while she can do other things.

Angie describes all the places they have lived and the Workamping jobs she has worked.

Angie Rardon certainly has enjoyed some fantastic experiences as a full-time RVer and Workamper. Whether it was working in a dorm at Yellowstone, or fulfilling orders for Amazon or working as a volunteer ranger, her experiences are quite varied.

She took advantage of opportunities to enjoy some free tours and even took free classes to improve her skills. She also got to see a lot of things that other people may never get to experience, and she met some interesting people along the way.

All of those work to create some lasting memories. I appreciate Angie sharing her interesting story with us.

It is unfortunate that Kevin was diagnosed with cancer before they even got started, but it was good that their pre-Workamping physicals uncovered it early enough to successfully treat the problem.

Angie also proves that it is possible to get healthcare on the road as a full-time RVer, even for extreme situations.

That is a situation which has improved over the past five to 10 years. So, don’t let health challenges or the fear of finding good medical care dissuade you from exploring the RV and Workamping lifestyle. There is often a workaround to any obstacle.

Workamper News can help you get started in the RV lifestyle the right way and by connecting you to short-term jobs around the country.

Whether you are an experienced RVer, a newbie or even just dreaming about the lifestyle, Workamper News can give you information to help plan a course to live your own dream and get you on the road faster than you thought possible.

For more information about opportunities to live, work and play in your RV, visit www.workampernews.com.

Levi and Natalie Henley started RVing about six years ago and accepted their first workamping job in 2015. Their experiences led them to write a book about their time on the road titled Seasonal Workamping for a Living. In it, they talk about how to find and apply for jobs, and what to expect when they arrive. They offer some tips on how to get started in the mobile lifestyle as well as how to make the most of workamping and travel experiences.

Glenn Tucker is the owner of Coastal Kayaking Tours and Acadia Bike in Bar Harbor, Maine, which is the gateway to Acadia National Park. The firm maintains a fleet of bicycles to rent so people can peddle on the car-free carriage roads of the national park. His team also takes people on guided kayaking tours along Frenchman Bay where they paddle among the Porcupine Islands.

Bob Brammer, the president of RV supplier firm Stromberg Carlson, is unique in that he actually owns and uses RVs, and has for most of his life. That gives him a wonderful perspective in creating products to address problems RVers commonly experience. The company also produces products that just make RVing more fun, practical and safer.