The Workamper Show Podcast

Today’s episode will feature interviews with two companies that employ workampers. One is Whiterock Conservancy, an outdoor recreation area in Iowa, and the other is with Good Sam, a company that evaluates campgrounds and RV parks across the country.

Today’s podcast features interviews with some pretty incredible youngsters who are growing up RVing with their families. One of them now lives in an RV park managed by her parents. Fifteen-year-old Raylea Willey has been homeschooled for several years, and 10-year-old Maddie Karnes is in her first year of being roadschooled. They talk about their experiences and adjustment to the RVing lifestyle.

Jerri Burrell started RVing with her mother and stepfather in Myrtle Beach, Calif, in her late teens. She continued RVing when she moved to California 18 years ago. This summer, after her daughter graduated from high school, Jerri opted to give workamping a try. She is a trained emergency medical technician, but has been working for the Army Corps of Engineers as a volunteer campground host at a reservoir in the Sierra National Forest near Fresno, Calif.

Silver Dollar City is a theme park and water park in Branson, Mo. It offers 40 rides and attractions, 18 restaurants and 60 retail centers plus a campground, most of which are staffed with workampers. Guest Services is a contractor for several state and national parks, that is looking for workampers all over America. The firm manages the Everglades National Park in Florida as well as Lake Mead in Arizona, Big Sur in California, Mount Rainier in Washington, and several others.

Barbara Alpher has enjoyed camping much of her life, but always in tents. When her mother and son were both gone in 2013, she made a decision that changed her life. She bought a travel trailer and hit the road seeking adventure. The remarkable thing is that Barbara was 73 years old at the time.

This episode features two shorter employer interviews for Wall Drug and Aramark. Wall Drug is looking for workampers next year to work in the retail store as well as the very large 530-seat café. Anne Spotted Bear describes jobs in retail and food service. Aramark is looking for people to work at the stadium in Surprise, Ariz., during spring training month. Barry Holtcamp is looking for general utility workers, cashiers, cooks, warehouse workers and supervisors. There are more than 100 positions available to work between 25 and 35 hours per week.

A lot of people seek to become workampers when they decide to pursue the RV lifestyle. But, some people start businesses while others figure out ways to bring a current business with them. Eric and Tami Johnson opted to buy an existing business, and use that to finance their travel dreams. They explain why buying an existing business was the best choice for them because they knew it would provide cash flow from Day One. They also describe how TechnoRV.com can be a good resource for new and experienced RVers.

Southeast Publications produces guides that are distributed free to people when they check into campgrounds and RV parks. The guides often include a map of the facility, the location of various amenities, a list of rules and policies, suggestions for things to do in the local area and addresses for key business. Brian McGuinn hires people to visit a campground for a few weeks and solicit advertisements from local businesses.

Jody and Luke Duquette have been RVing together since the summer of 2012. At first, they used a fifth wheel, but recently switched to a Class C motorhome. They both work for Workamper News. Jody is the editor of the bimonthly magazine and oversees graphic design. Luke is responsible for all the technology that supports the business and the website. Jody and Luke explain some of the challenges they face working from the road, and offer tips to help others improve that experience.

Ticaboo Lodge is 72-room lodge that offers dining as well as an offshore marina and boating services in the northern Lake Powell region of Utah. The lake is massive, extending 186 miles from Arizona into Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah. It is open year-round, but the lodge is looking for full- and part-time workampers from April to October to staff retail stores, food service jobs, customer service functions as well as housekeeping and maintenance.