Work Camping. We are going to spend the next couple of entries and dedicate them to this topic. The reason is that I do not want to overwhelm you with a ton of information around this subject all at one time. I also want to point out that this is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of jobs and or resources. It’s just some that Vicki and I have come across and have some knowledge about and wanted to share them with you to help you achieve your dream. So now that we have set the stage let’s jump in!

So you have made the decision to go on the road, you have sold everything or put it in storage, you purchased your RV and you are ready to hit the road. Now what?

There are a number of ways to earn a living while traveling on the road. A lot will be determined by your individual needs. In some cases you may be self-employed and you will just travel while you continue to do your work. In other cases you may have had a corporate job and now that you are retired you receive some level of income that may or may not fully support your lifestyle while traveling.

Then there are those of us that need to work at a different level In order to make this lifestyle work. Today we are going to take a closer look at the first group that need supplemental income. Next week we will look at more detailed work opportunities and along the way I’m going give you some resources to help you find what you are looking for in regards to work camp jobs. Just remember no matter what your needs are with a little research you can find a work camp job to help you achieve a great life while traveling as a full time RVer.

Supplemental income:

Campground Host

The first one that I want to talk about is directed to those that are only in need of supplemental income. This is for those who may have retired from a corporate job or from the armed services. You are receiving some level of income that for all intense purposes can just about support you but not quite. For you the perfect work camp job would be a Campground host.

As a campground host you work at a campground for usually a pre-determined length of time. Usually a campground will break their year down into a couple of different seasons and you would work for the campground based on what season you are looking to work. Now keep in mind with this type of position, First you will be in the same location for a period of time usually about 4 – 6 months.

For some individuals this is just what they are looking for, being in the same location for an extended period of time. This type of position is usually compensated in exchange for your lot rent. In other words, you won’t be making any income. They do give you discounts in their store, restaurant and sometimes even discounts on propane and a laundry allotment. You usually work something like 20 – 30 hours a week and that is divided between the couple. So in actuality you are working very little.

There are some campgrounds that will ask you to work some additional hours and will offer a very small salary or give you an hourly wage for anything worked over a certain number of hours.

Your duties are things like:

• working in the office
• grounds keeping and landscaping
• pool and bathroom cleaning
• some light handy man services
• helping new arriving guest find their site and helping them get set up at the park

When guests leave the park you are responsible for making sure the sites are ready for the next guest. This can be a great way to travel to different areas of the country and have plenty of time to check out all the local attractions without breaking the bank with fuel cost. A great resource for finding these types of jobs is a website called Workamper. They have lots of other types of jobs but a lot of campgrounds list their hosting jobs here.

Another way to find a campground host job is to just call a campground. Just because they don’t have a listing does not mean they don’t need work campers. For instance let’s say you would like to spend some time in Oklahoma. You could make some cold calls to some of the campgrounds in the area you want to visit and see if they are in need of work campers. Don’t be afraid to make your own destiny or path, you’ll never know what’s available till you ask.

Christmas tree lot managers:

This is really a great way to make some supplemental income while work camping for only a few weeks. Because it’s seasonal in nature it’s easy to plan for this type of work camp job. There are several companies out there that offer this type of position however I’m going to suggest you look into Hart-T-Tree Farms. The reason is if you are going to sell Christmas Trees and you actually want to get away from the cold what better place to do it then in South Florida.

Hart-T-Tree farms is actually located in Grassy Creek, NC and that is where the trees are grown, however they sell their Fraser Fir Christmas trees in south Florida from around Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve. The work is not entirely hard but the hours can be long. However keep in mind that you are only doing it for a few weeks and you are in south Florida and away from the cold. You receive a place to park your rig, a Full hook up and pump outs along with a very good salary for the month you are working. If you need an influx of cash to help you through the winter then this can be a great work camp job for you.

Firework lot managers:

Along the very same lines of being a Christmas tree lot manager there are a number of companies that offer full time RVers the opportunity to work one of their Firework lots. This is a great job to earn a living on the road. In most cases you are working for a week or less. They offer a very similar package of supplying you a place to park your RV along with some type of hook up. They supply the tent, product and you manage the lot and sell the fireworks for some level of commission. Again this is a great way to supplement your income in the summer time with an influx of cash. You can find these types of jobs at either Workamper or you can check out Acme Fireworks.

Resources:

Here I have listed a few additional resources for finding work camping opportunities. In addition to the resources listed here you can always type in Work Camp Jobs in Google and it will spit out a lot of websites. The ones listed below are some that we have looked into or used ourselves.

Sugar Beet Harvest– Seasonal position during the Sugar Beet Harvest
Indeed- One search all Jobs – A website that can assist with finding available jobs all over the United States.
Camp Host- Information and links on becoming a paid camp host.
Work While you Camp Jobs - Here you can place a Free Ad not only as an employer but also as a work camper looking for a work camping job.

I think this is a good place to stop for this week, the main purpose of this article was to get you thinking of first and foremost what do you need and then to give you some basic ideas of what might be out there for you. Next week we will begin talking about jobs for those of us that need to work in order to make this lifestyle work. So look out for part 2 of How to Earn a Living on the Road. Till next time – Safe Travels!

About the Bloggers: Matt and Vicki Hulbert are full time RVers who decided to begin a life on the road and enjoy the Rving lifestyle while still in their mid-40’s. With no real savings, no retirement to speak of and only a dream they took the plunge into this way of life. They like to consider their selves “21st Century Gypsies”, they figure it out as they go. It has not always been an easy road but they are living proof that with a dream, good work ethic and a little luck you too can achieve this wonderful lifestyle. Follow the adventures of Matt, Vicki and their 3 Pugs, see where their adventure takes them next. If you are one of those individuals or couples that are sitting there right now saying “one day” then maybe Matt and Vicki can help you find out that “ONE DAY” is TODAY and you too can start living the dream!

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1. Work Camping - How to Earn a Living While Traveling
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3. Road Work: How I Make a Living on the Road!