Tag: Work Camping
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Best Jobs and Careers for RVers
Folks considering becoming full time RVers or people already veterans of the lifestyle know that the primary objective is to blend adventure and freedom into their lives, but most of us aren’t independently wealthy, so we still have to work.
In this article, we explore the top 10 jobs and careers for RVers, offering remote options that support your nomadic (or soon-to-be nomadic) life – let’s dive in!Table of Contents
- Factors to consider for jobs for RVers
- Top 10 best careers and jobs for full-time RVers
- The Takeaway: Jobs for RVers are booming
Factors to consider for jobs for RVers
Tech advancements have revolutionized the way we work, making remote opportunities more accessible than ever. Combine that with an entire globe being forced temporarily into remote work during a pandemic, and the conditions for companies understanding your value as a remote worker have never been better.
With the right tools and connectivity, professionals can work from anywhere now, allowing for a new work-life balance.
That said, there are several factors to consider when looking for remote options:- Flexibility – look for roles that offer remote options, and/or flexible schedules so you can adapt. If a company says it’s a remote role, but you’ll need to report to the office every Wednesday, that makes it fairly impossible to be a full time RVer, so keep your eyes open to the language used in job listings.
- Limited resources – when considering potential careers and jobs for RVers, keep in mind that resources and equipment in an RV might be limited. One such limited resource is space, so something that requires large or specialized tools could be a complicating factor.
- Internet these days – Internet availability isn’t the biggest challenge these days, but extremely reliable internet can be tricky in some areas, even with the proper equipment. For that reason, some roles like livestreaming full time might not be a possibility, but what could work is something like “marketing coordinator” that allows for some offline work combined with online work.
The 10 best careers and jobs for full time RVers
1. Freelance & Consulting
This is the most ideal option for someone in a nomadic lifestyle, but also one of the most highly glorified and complex alternatives to corporate life. Our recommendation is to focus on this option if you already have an established skillset and at least a basic understanding of how to operate a business (from taxes to sales to time management).
This option offers the greatest autonomy, and whether you are a graphic designer, writer, web developer, or marketer, freelancing allows you to leverage your skills and work with clients remotely on your own timeframe. There are ample online platforms that offer a wide range of opportunities that align with your expertise and schedule.2. Virtual Assisting
Because more businesses are going remote, they’re relying on virtual support – a promising career path for RVers. Virtual assistants (VAs) provide technical, administrative, and/or creative assistance.
Tasks typically include scheduling appointments, managing emails, social media management, content creation, or bookkeeping.3. Digital marketing and social media management
Today, most businesses rely on social media to thrive. RVers with skills in social media management, digital marketing, content creation, or SEO can find remote job opportunities with companies without having to freelance or consult.
If you’re new to the industry, search for roles that have the word “coordinator” or “assistant” in them to get started. If you’re already entrenched in the industry, expand your focus by seeking out remote job sites you aren’t already familiar with (never stick to the big 3, they’re all just repeating each other anyhow).4. Workamping
This concept is fusion of work and camping for full time RVers, typically involving short-term or seasonal on-site jobs in picturesque locations.
Workampers handle a range of tasks, from event organizing, guest check-ins, and administrative duties to maintenance, landscaping, or cleaning. Work schedules vary, with set hours and days off.
If this sounds interesting, dig deeper into this topic in our article, “Workamping: A Day in the Life of a Work Camper” for details and how to get started.5. Online teaching and tutoring
Online education is booming and creating ample opportunities for RVers. No list of remote jobs for full time RVers is complete without mentioning this growth industry.
There are platforms that allow you to teach your native language to others, offer specialized courses, or tutoring everyone from small children to college students, and even adult learners.
This job not only offers flexibility but helps you to connect with making a positive impact by educating and inspiring others – great for mission-oriented RVers.6. Travel blogging and vlogging
If you have a passion for writing and/or creating video content, travel blogging or vlogging can be fulfilling careers for RVers. Share your adventures, insights, and tips with a growing audience and monetize your content through sponsored collaborations, affiliate marketing, or advertising.
Establishing a successful travel brand can take time and dedication, especially while building an audience from scratch, but it is an increasingly common way for full time RVers to marry their daily life with monetization of that life.7. Outdoor recreation and adventure jobs
For RVers who love the great outdoors, pursuing jobs that cater to that can be a dream come true. Consider jobs around activities like hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, wilderness exploration, or survival preparation.
Opportunities may include roles such as outdoor guides, instructors, or adventure program coordinators. Whether you lead group excursions, provide instruction on specific outdoor skills, or assist with organizing outdoor events, these jobs can tap into your nature-loving ambitions.8. Remote IT and tech jobs
Another field benefiting from the thriving remote work revolution is tech and IT. Remote tech roles include options like software development, web design, cybersecurity, data analysis or IT consulting.
By leveraging your existing tech expertise or using newly learned or self-taught skills, you can work remotely from your RV and contribute to meaningful projects for companies around the world. Online platforms, job boards, and networking groups can help you discover relevant job openings that align with your tech interests.9. Mobile healthcare and telemedicine
RVers with healthcare backgrounds can explore mobile healthcare and telemedicine opportunities. Mobile healthcare involves providing medical services on the go, from offering vaccinations to health screenings, and even primary care consultations in rural or underserved communities.
Telemedicine, on the other hand, allows you to provide remote patient care and consultations via video from anywhere you’re traveling. Furthermore, medical billing and data entry have moved fully remote for many organizations, offering a great way to break into the industry without going through another decade of school10. Entrepreneurship
Full time RVers with a side project often consider turning that into a full time engagement, whether offering hand-made products in an e-commerce store or coaching others in your niche. Existing options can be fleshed out into a more robust business with intention and focus, turning your ideas and expertise into successful ventures.
Starting an idea from scratch can be more intimidating for a beginner, and RVers are traditionally looking for autonomy and freedom, not another massive and risky life change, so we recommend taking this path if you already have a passion project or side gig that can be fleshed out into a business.The Takeaway: Jobs for RVers are booming
The world of work has evolved to cater to the nomadic lifestyle of RVers. The 10 jobs and careers presented above offer a range of options from freelancing and virtual assistance to outdoor recreation, tech jobs, and telemedicine.
Embrace the freedom and flexibility that RV living provides while pursuing meaningful and fulfilling work.
Whether you choose to embark on remote adventures, create your own path, or work in the great outdoors, the opportunities are vast. Embark on a rewarding journey where work and travel seamlessly blend together – we’re cheering for you along the way! -
Workamping: A Day in the Life of...
Have you ever thought about hitting the road and quitting your full time job? Have you dreamt of early morning fishing on the Thousand Islands in New York and never having to commute to an office? Have you come across short social media videos with someone camping and hiking every day near a national park and wondered how they pulled it off?
Many folks are doing just this by workamping.
Never heard of it? We’ll give you everything you need to know in this blog.
A Day in the Life of a Workamper
Table of Contents
- What is workamping?
- What is a workamper?
- What is a day in the life of a workamper like?
- What are the most rewarding aspects of workamping?
- What are the biggest challenges for workampers?
- How to find workamping opportunities
What is workamping?
Workamping (also written as workcamping or work camping) is exactly what you think – work plus camping. It’s a category of job that is usually short-term or seasonal, on-site, and can often be in some of the country’s most beautiful locations.
For the purposes of this blog, the term workamping simply means living in an RV (or mobile accommodation) while working at an RV park or campground.
(The term is sometimes used more broadly to describe part time jobs done on the road, but today we’re focusing on the narrowed definition of workamping by living and working at a campground or RV park.)
Workamping is a phenomenal way to combine your love of a nomadic lifestyle with the need to make actual money, and it’s more common than you’d think.
We’ll be honest, it’s not always easy or glamorous, but neither is driving across state lines in a 40’ RV for your first time. But you did it, and you loved it! And the freedom of not having a standard desk job pairs quite nicely with an outdoor lifestyle for people opting in to a minimalist life in favor of exploration and adventure.
What is a workamper?
A workamper is a person who is choosing to work at a campsite or RV park instead of a traditional office, and you’d be surprised how diverse the workamping community is.
They come from various backgrounds and range from retirees to young couples that have young children.
Retirees often choose workamping to stay active and supplement their income, while those new to the workforce choose the option in rejection of the standard hustle and grind life.
Many come from skilled trades like carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, or maintenance, while others often come from hospitality and customer service backgrounds.
Workampers’ goals are just as diverse as the community, with some planning on remaining workampers long term, and others jump into it as a temporary phase in life to enjoy freedom and adventure before retiring or transitioning into a different lifestyle.
Regardless of where workampers come from or where they go, what all have in common is the thirst for a more free life as they discover new passions and gain new experiences. It’s not a conventional career path, but if you’ve read this far, you’re probably not a conventional person (we can relate).What does a day in the life of a workamper look like?
The average day can vary widely depending on the employer, location, and specific job duties, so let’s talk about typical scheduling scenarios, responsibilities, and work-life balance.
First up, what responsibilities might a workamper have?
Assigned tasks vary from campground maintenance, cleaning cabins or restrooms, landscaping, organizing and putting on community events, checking in guests, answering phone calls and emails, social media management for the employer, office administration, you name it. If something happens at a camp site or at an RV park, it’s something a workamper might be tasked with.
Work schedules vary, so how does that typically work?
Schedules are typically set and there are daily hours and days off. The work is sometimes full-time, and sometimes part-time, depending on the employer’s needs.
It is common for a workamper to work five days a week, but sometimes the arrangement will be working longer shifts for several days in a row, then having consecutive days off.
Workampers traditionally live on-site and are dedicated for a certain period of time to that site, regardless of responsibilities. Many employers expect that their workampers will attend any social community events and be interactive in the community when possible, even if organizing them is not in the workamper’s purview.What are the most rewarding aspects of workamping?
Personal circumstances are different for every single human, and we all bring different backgrounds and goals to the table, but let’s talk about the aspects of workamping that people absolutely love.
1. First up is freedom. Freedom and flexibility is why people choose a mobile lifestyle to begin with, and workamping offers just that. Sitting at a desk from 9-5 with a two-hour commute each way is a lifestyle more and more people are walking away from, realizing that watching the sunrise in a gorgeous setting doesn’t have to be restricted to vacation days.
Workampers can be nomadic, so some employers offer a long-term arrangement, while others know you might be ready to bop over to another site for another experience altogether.
2. The second most rewarding aspect of workamping is cost savings. Compensation can include a campsite, utilities, as well as pay, which is especially advantageous when looking to minimize costs of living.
3. Next, let’s talk about camaraderie. Workampers typically choose to join the local community of long-term residents mixed in with vacationers and workampers. Not only are there ample online communities to join, but sites often have community events to take part in, and of course, the Escapees RV Club, a well-known and well-loved RV membership organization that is one of the oldest and largest in the world, providing a comprehensive support network for all RVers.4. Quality of life is a tremendous reward for workampers, with ample opportunity to enjoy nature and recreational activities while still getting to be a valued member of society and interact with humans (so we don’t become completely feral). Living a slower pace of life is a huge draw for many, so workamping is becoming a popular option.
What are the biggest challenges for workampers?
Workamping is wildly rewarding, but it is not free from challenges. There are four primary difficulties some people may encounter:
1. Safety and physical demands are the biggest challenge. Many workamping opportunities include physical labor which may sound great, but if done without local knowledge can quickly become unsafe. For example, if you’ve never been in a West Texas desert and you don’t hydrate properly because you don’t feel thirsty, you might be in for a nasty heat stroke. Further, campsites don’t do background checks, so you don’t always know who is enjoying the space with you. Basic safety awareness is recommended for folks new to the lifestyle.
2. Secondly, much of the work is seasonal and not always promised. It’s not always as stable as a conventional office job, and if a site is not seeing enough visitors, they may choose to end a workamper’s contract. Additionally, the most readily available roles are the temporary or short-term workamper opportunities. That is not to say that a full time or long-term opportunity is impossible to find, it’s just more rare since they are snapped up so quickly today.3. Another challenge some have to overcome is potential social isolation. The transient nature of workamping can lead to feelings of isolation in some folks, especially in more remote locations, which can impact social connections. While some sites have social events, and there are ample online communities and offline events (like Xscapers Convergence), that is not always enough for extreme extroverts. Many people travel with a partner and even share workamping responsibilities and shifts, but even that still feels too isolating to some people.
4. Shifting environments is a challenge for some workampers. Living in a smaller RV necessitates creative space optimizations and resource management, which can be cumbersome to someone who is new to the experience. There is an adjustment period. Further, moving between different RV parks and campgrounds requires adjusting to new environments, new supervisors, and new coworkers. None of this is impossible or a dealbreaker, but something to consider if you don’t like change.
How to find workamping opportunities
As you research, there are five primary ways to find workamping opportunities:
1. Online job boards: There are websites that cater specifically to workamping opportunities and provide job listings and resources. For example, RVer Job Exchange has a feature dedicated specifically to workampers.2. Campground and RV park websites: If you’ve narrowed down where you want to start workamping geographically, you can start visiting the specific sites’ websites and look for sections like “employment,” “workamping,” or “careers” for info on positions.
3. Direct contact: Some workampers may take the initiative to directly contact campgrounds or RV parks they are interested in working at, reaching out by phone or email. This approach might not work for larger organizations (they’ll just point you to their website), but can be helpful for small, independent sites that might not even post workamp opportunities anywhere online.
4. RVing and workamping forums and groups: Whatever your favorite social network, there are niche groups for workampers. For example, there are tons of Facebook Groups, one of the largest being Workampers where employers post open opportunities and individuals post what they are looking for next as they all expand their nomadic networks. One of the best known forums is the Escapees RV Network, and you’ll find great groups on LinkedIn, endless conversations on Twitter if you search the hashtag #workamp or #workamping. You get the gist.5. Networking and word-of-mouth: Networking within the workamping community is hugely beneficial, so attend RVer gatherings and connect with fellow enthusiasts when you can. Build relationships and engage in conversations offline and online, as it makes finding your next opportunity infinitely easier. The community is tight, but welcoming, so join in as soon as possible.
Now that you know how workamping functions, the risks and rewards, and how to get going, what are you waiting for? Get started now, friends!
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38 State Parks for Camp Hosting &...
Camp Hosting is one of the most famous types of jobs for RVers!
Working and living on-site while helping to take care fo the day-to-day operations fo the campground is an important highly sought after position! It also allows you to lower you travel expenses and sometimes brings in a little extra cash to help fuel future trips.
We’ve compiled a list of 38 state parks where camp hosting and seasonal jobs are plentiful! Use the list below to find opportunities in the state parks you would like to spend time in!
38 State Parks for Camp Hosting & Seasonal Jobs
ALABAMA STATE PARKS
ALASKA STATE PARKS
https://www.nps.gov/anch/getinvolved/volunteer.htm
ARIZONA STATE PARKS
www.azstateparks.com/employment
www.azstateparks.com/volunteer
ARKANSAS STATE PARKS
www.arkansasstateparks.com/about/employment
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
CONNECTICUT STATE PARKS
DELAWARE STATE PARKS
www.destateparks.com/Volunteer/VolunteerHosting
FLORIDA STATE PARKS
https://www.floridastateparks.org/get-involved
GEORGIA STATE PARKS
http://explore.gastateparks.org/volunteer
IDAHO STATE PARKS
www.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/activities/volunteering
ILLINOIS STATE PARKS
www.dnr.illinois.gov/outreach/Volunteer
INDIANA STATE PARKS
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/Volunteer-Opportunities
KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS
MAINE STATE PARKS
www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/get_involved/volunteer.shtml
MARYLAND STATE PARKS
www.dnr.maryland.gov/Pages/volunteer.aspx
MASSACHUSETTS DIVISION OF FORESTS & PARKS
www.mass.gov/service-details/volunteers-in-the-parks
MICHIGAN STATE PARKS
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteering
MISSISSIPPI STATE PARKS
www.mdwfp.com/museum/see-visit/volunteer/
MONTANA STATE PARKS
www.stateparks.mt.gov/volunteer/
NEBRASKA GAME & PARKS COMMISSION
www.outdoornebraska.gov/volunteer/
NEVADA STATE PARKS
http://parks.nv.gov/about/volunteer-and-support
NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE PARKS
www.nhstateparks.org/about-us/support/volunteer.aspx
NEW JERSEY PARKS & FORESTRY
www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/volunteers.html
www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/parks/jobs.html
NEW MEXICO STATE PARKS
http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/Volunteering.html
NEW YORK STATE PARKS
https://parks.ny.gov/employment/
NORTH CAROLINA STATE PARKS
OHIO STATE PARKS
http://ohiodnr.gov/contact/volunteer-with-odnr
PENNSYLVANIA STATE PARKS
RHODE ISLAND STATE PARKS
www.riparks.com/Employment.html
SOUTH DAKOTA PARKS & RECREATION
TENNESSEE STATE PARKS AND RECREATION
https://tnstateparks.com/get-involved/volunteering
TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/help-parks/
UTAH PARKS AND RECREATION
https://stateparks.utah.gov/resources/volunteer/
https://naturalresources.utah.gov/seasonal-employment
VERMONT STATE PARKS
https://vtstateparks.com/volunteering.html
VIRGINIA STATE PARKS
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/camp-host
WASHINGTON STATE PARKS
http://parks.state.wa.us/262/Volunteer-Program
http://parks.state.wa.us/774/Jobs
You can download a PDF copy of this list to keep handy for reference by clicking below!
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20 Questions to Ask Work Camping Employers
Work Camping jobs are a little different and by those same standards, interviewing with Work Camping Employers is also a little different than what you might experience in a traditional job interview.
When you live and work on-site at facilities like campgrounds, as well as state and national parks, you’ll find that there are some things you need to know upfront to make sure your stay is comfortable and the job is as expected.
20 Questions To Ask Work Camping Employers
- What are the required dates for this position?
- What are the required job duties of this position?
- Do you have any positions for solo workers?
- What types of hookups are available?
- Can you describe a typical day?
- What is the dress code? Are uniforms provided?
- Are the employee sites mixed in with daily/monthly guests?
- Is cleaning bathrooms part of the job?
- Can you provide a written work agreement?
- Do you have a schedule already in place?
- What days and times are required?
- Are there any on-call hours?
- Are the same shifts available for couples?
- Can we have the same days off?
- Do you require a set number of hours in exchange for the site?
- Are additional hours, outside those required for the site available for pay?
- How many days before and after my employment dates can I occupy the site?
- What is the hourly wage you are offering?
- Is there a completion bonus?
- How many RVers do you hire each year and how many return?
We recommend you download a copy of these interview questions and keep them close for each interview you complete!