Workamping

[tewing]

Does anyone belong to the Workamper program? We are looking to spend the winter in TX. We spent one winter in McAllen working for the Santa Ana WLF. We would like to be a little more toward Houston? Any information is much appreciated.

[whodo]

tewing
Hopefully some of the workampers that have spent time in the Houston area will jump in and answer your questions or at least have some suggestions.

[jdensie]

Hi, we are happy workampers. At the present time we are in Montana. Can.t help you out in the TX. part since we go to FL. of the winter. We enjoy this life and are glad we took the dive. We are in our 2nd year.

[tewing]

Happy to hear of other workampers. Tell me, do you workamp in FL? We have not gone to FL for the winter but are talking about doing that next year. Where in FL is the best place to be? Have you always gone to FL for the winter?

[utmtman]

How did you like McAllen, Tewing? Thats a great job. I will winter and workamp in Arizona this year.

[tewing]

We liked the workamping job we had. We worked as canoue guides down the Rio Grande river. We worked 24 hours (Fri, Sat & Sun) and had the rest of the week off. It was good, but it was a very wet season. I understand the weather is pretty good there, we just happen to be in a wet season. We would go back.

AZ, we worked there last year. We were at a 55+ park in AZ City. AZ City is about half way between PHX and Tuson on I-10. It was a good job, but again we had wet weather. We have wintered in AZ before and we loved it.

We are not sure where we are going this winter, any suggestions?:p

[jdensie]

We have been to Florida since we started workamping.
Last year we workamped at Sun-N-Fun in Sarasota and it was a terrible job, they treat the workampers like dirt because they know they can always get people to work as they pay in the winter in Florida. Our manager would even steal the tips for the Housekeepers, she was terrible. Word of advice don't go there.
We are going to Avon Park for the winter and if we have to will work out of the park at a big box store.

[tewing]

Good information. We don't know if we are going to FL or not this year, but I will add your comments to my list of "don't go there".

It seems the workamper jobs in those 55+ parks do not have any respect for workampers. I don't think we want to work in those places. We did work at one in AZ, we did have some problems with the Manager, but most of our problems were with the other workampers. Just seems they were all complainers and so negative.:rolleyes:

[kayandbill]

For the past two years we have been volunteering with Fish and Wildlife at refuges across the country. It has been a geat experience. There is no campground hosting involved which suits us fine.
I usually work the Visitor Centers and help with educational programs and my husband does maintenance and building projects.They provide full h/up on site and "love" their volunteers.
Just go on-line to the refuge of your choice or call to see if they have a volunteer program.
Also check out volunteers@gov.gov

[utmtman]

Im going to VIP this winter at Petrified Forest NP in Az. It do get cold there but heck I about froze to death in Louisiana last winter. And that was supposed to be warm in winter.

[jndwilli]

I have been workamping sincs 1998. If you want to just work for your site you should not have a problem in Florida. I am not retired so I have to work full time and get a free site. In Florida my wife worked in the park for our site and I worked in a cabinet shop. Im going to try out west this year as my wife can no longer work because she is disabled with Multiple sclerosis. Hopefully I can find a park out there that I can work full time in.

[blueskies]

Don't know exactly where "out west" you're hoping to go, but a good friend of mine was workamping at a beautiful location on the Oregon Coast; it was called Turtle Rock at Gold Beach, Oregon. They do have workamper jobs, and you can't beat the location! Good luck!
:)

[jndwilli]

Thanks. For the winter I want to stay in the southwest. In the spring further north. With the fuel prices I will be out there for a few seasons. Also that will give us time to see more.

[pistol]

This is for the guy asking about work around Houston. If you are not picky there are abundant jopbs in the area we are just finishing our summer jobs in Katy . The trick to workamping is to remember you are not there for a career but just for a period do what you need to do to accomplish your goals!
Happy Trails;
Pistol
P.S. We"ve been at it for 8+yrs.

[tewing]

Pistol,

I agree, you must not think of it as a career. That is sometimes very hard to do, but we are getting better at it.

Do you have any suggestions on finding a job in that area. We really don't want to work more than 20 to 24 hours a week with a FHU site. We currently belong to the workamper web site and receive a daily e-mail from them. I also have several web sites I look at daily. I am hoping as we get more into fall, we will see some winter jobs open up in that area.

We are beginning our 5th year of full timing it.

[pistol]

Have not heard of any camp work jobs in this area but you might check Corpus or Rockport It seems that most of the RV parks around here use regular employees Good Luck:)

[patty27]

What do you do about family

[travelingpants1]

Howdy from upstate NY. My husband and I go to Florida in the winter, and this will be our 3 season working at Disney. We just love it. We like our summers free to come back to upstate NY, because my husband likes to fish for salmon.

[jrogers]

Where in Disney are you working? Do you stay at Fort Wilderness?

[gmabette]

we've been volunteering at Wildlife refuges for 2 years.. at pea island on the outer banks of n caro and last year at santa ana in rio grand valley.. going back to santa ana for one more year.. love every minute of the experience.. pea island was good until january- then got really wet and cold and windy.. we did general maintenance - vol coor was terrific... at santa ana we are tram interpreters.. we take people on the tram 3x a day and tell them all we know about the refuge - animals, birds, etc.. good fun... they're looking for another 2 couples for the feb to may shift - if anyone is interested...

[larryb]

We have workamped since 2003, and we have had seven different jobs, so at least we have some experience.

One of the best ways to learn about workamping and to find workamping jobs is to subscribe to Workamper News, a magazine published six times a year that lists workamping jobs in every state. You can also get the Workamping News Plus subscription for an extra fee. With the plus subscription you will get daily emails listing workamping jobs that are immediately available.

Two of the jobs we had just didn't work out, the other five were good to great. It all depends on the way the management treats workampers.

You generally will not get rich by workamping. You generally will get a site for a reduced price or free. If you are paid, it will generally be minimum wage or slightly above minimum wage.

The advantages of workamping are meeting people, being active, doing something worthwhile, reducing expenses, and staying in one area for several months allowing you to explore that area.

In summary, we have enjoyed workamping and intend to continue doing it.

[modine]

I work for Xanterra Parks and Resorts. They have several national park across the country. I am currently at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial Park. I park in their RV park but they do have a dorm for those that do not have an RV. I contracted with them for 4 months and looking to transfer to Death Valley for the winter months with them. I enjoy working for this company.
I have worked in the gift shop and now I drive a employee shuttle.

[utmtman]

Good luck modine in Death Valley in winter. You might just find out its a heck of a lot colder than you ever expected for a desert winter.

[lindan]

Hi! I am new and learning the site. I was surprised to hear that about Sun-N-Fun beacuse it seem s to be such a nice place at least it was in 2002.
Linda

We have been to Florida since we started workamping.Last year we workamped at Sun-N-Fun in Sarasota and it was a terrible job, they treat the workampers like dirt because they know they can always get people to work as they pay in the winter in Florida.* Our manager would even steal the tips for the Housekeepers, she was terrible.* Word of advice don't go there.We are going to Avon Park for the winter and if we have to will work out of the park at a big box store.

[potluck]

Dear Tewing..I retired a year ago and my first workamping job (volunteer) was at Aransas NWR which is about 200 miles south of Houston. Next year we will work at Anahuac NWR just outside Houston. You might try that. It's volunteer. Are you interested in volunteering or do you need a paying job?

Jan

[jgr1957]

I work for Xanterra Parks and Resorts. I contracted with them for 4 months and looking to transfer to Death Valley for the winter months with them.

You've never spend a winter in the desert, have you? As the saying goes, there's nothing between you and the Arctic wind except a three-string barbed-wire fence -- and the top wire's broken! :D

[murffdog]

I just spent this past weekend at a campground that was purchased by Morgan RV Resorts in New York. I don't know the facts but they must not take care of their employees or camp workers. The managers left, and camp workers that have been there for a few years will not return. Yesterday, the office person had no clue who will be there in a few weeks to close down the park for winter. Even if they do, he or she will have no clue about this park let alone having the help to do it.

[pat4485]

We are currently working at a 55 park in florida for the winter it is just for site. She is looking for workers for next year. We are at Leisure Days RV resort in zephyrhills. We won't be back next year because we want to go to texas. Mamager here is nice. Job is not bad. work 16hrs 1 week 12 hours next week. Hope this helps with wanting to work in Florida. There are over 200 mobile and rv parks in this area.

[murffdog]

We are currently working at a 55 park in florida for the winter it is just for site. She is looking for workers for next year. We are at Leisure Days RV resort in zephyrhills. We won't be back next year because we want to go to texas. Mamager here is nice. Job is not bad. work 16hrs 1 week 12 hours next week. Hope this helps with wanting to work in Florida. There are over 200 mobile and rv parks in this area.

Over 200 mobile & RV parks? A few weeks back, I searched that area and I find only a few RV parks, there are mobile parks at every turn.

[utmtman]

Could be they meant florida and not just that area or they have a large imagination.

[gsullco]

jdensie; We plan on workamping in Montana this summer at Johnson's Lodge in Glacier. What area are you in? How do you like the job? We are brand new to it all and have jumped in feet first. Scared and eager at the same time. Any help or suggestions are grateful.
Thanks, GregandLisa

[jdensie]

We were in SW Montana about 30 miles west of Yellowstone.
Sure is a big country, closest Wal-Mart was 106 miles, other store closer but you pay the price.
Would go back again as we loved it.
We were at the 6500 ft. level and took a while to get used to the thin air.
Went up to Glacier in June 08 but the road to the sun was not opened till July 3rd.
Night are cool and the days get hot at times.
Enjoy it.

[sideroads]

This is our first year getting into Volunteering on a large scale....

I used vol.gov site, it also has links to each state site for potential volunteer work.

I have received more offers than we have time for.

San Jacinto, Battleship Texas in Houston seems to need folks in the summer season, but an abundance of volunteer applications for the winter time.

The Texas Historic Commission also have sites available.