Shorter Workkamping Assignments? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Shorter Workkamping Assignments?

NorCal Dan · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have seen a few job ads that are for shorter lengths of time. They are rare. What I see more often is an ad where the hosts left early and they need someone to finish out the season. Most of them right now are looking for workers to work August and September just to finish out the summer season. I recommend joining workamper.com as they have the largest number of job listings.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

We don't work camp as such, but occasionally look for volunteer positions that give us a free site with fullhookups. We've volunteered at 2 animal shelters and 2 state/ federal parks and all of these positions have been for either a few weeks, or less than 2 months.

These times were our choosing, they all wanted us to stay longer. The ads for these positions all asked for longer commitments, but we just called and said this is what we can offer, are you interested?

For positions requiring a lot of training, they will most likely not be interested, but for easy positions, having someone for a short period is better than not having any help at all.

It doesn't hurt to ask, the worst they do is say no.

Good luck,

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

That's the 2nd time someone has suggested joining workkamping.com. After last night's conversation it looks like we'll aim to hit the road sometime March-May 2011. A bit of a large window, but depends on what's happenning with outages and real estate.

Thanks Fred. We're sort of looking at more the volunteering route too. Just looking to have FHU covered. Wondering... Are you able to do plan ahead with your tactic? Say we'd like to be in Florida next June and July. If I contact folks looking for someone for the season now, how likely are they to say okay?

Trying to find the balance of planning and winging it!

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Here are a couple of sites to start looking.

http://www.volunteer.gov/Gov/index.cfm

http://www.happyvagabonds.com/Jobs/volunteer_camping_opportunities.htm

Some opportunities are listed far out and others are for now, but as I said earlier, it doesn't hurt to ask. Opportunities in popular winter destinations are harder to find, unless there's been a sudden cancellation. However, finding a spot in Florida for the summer will be very easy, you're the first person I ever heard of that wants to go to Florida in the summer.

As for us, we don't plan anything far out, we are total butterflies, so I can't comment if this volunteering works with long term planning, but it might. We've met a number of volunteers that come back to the same place year after year.

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Fred. The reason for Florida in the summer is that we have an infield spot for the July Nascar race at Daytona. We have to decide if we should give up the spot. If not, we don't want to be in Idaho when it's time for the race in July!

TXRVr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ckerr wrote:
Is it possible to find shorter assignments?

It differs by state, but many hire camp hosts for a shorter period. We just finished up our third one-month-each assignment.

It's easier to do with volunteer jobs. There is no harm in asking for a shorter time frame even if the posted period is longer. You might get lucky.

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

We belong to NOMADS. Their projects are three weeks. Only work Mon-Thurs about 6 hours a day in exchange for site. Sometimes the agency provides meals. We worked at a 2 year college in Texas. All meals were provided at the student center.

NOMADS is a mission of the United Methodist Church but there is no requirement that volunteers be Methodist.

They post projects twice a year and members sign up for those they would have an interest in. Projects are all over the country.

For info: www.nomadsumc.org

We like this also because we do not want to commit to long periods at a time.

Jake62 · RV-Dreams Family Member

phyllen wrote:

We belong to NOMADS. Their projects are three weeks. Only work Mon-Thurs about 6 hours a day in exchange for site. Sometimes the agency provides meals. We worked at a 2 year college in Texas. All meals were provided at the student center.

NOMADS is a mission of the United Methodist Church but there is no requirement that volunteers be Methodist.

They post projects twice a year and members sign up for those they would have an interest in. Projects are all over the country.

For info: www.nomadsumc.org

We like this also because we do not want to commit to long periods at a time.

I've seen NOMADS on other internet sites. Looks like a very worth-while mission. Have you done any work on Habitat sites under the RV Care-A-Vanners?

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

No, but we have friends that do. They have traveled all over country this past year.

Happytrails · RV-Dreams Family Member

I was going to mention camp hosting positions in state parks. I know we just finished a camp host position for two months. We went online and applied for the time we wanted to volunteer.
We have found the same thing you are saying....folks want 4 to 6 month commitments and we aren't comfortable with that long a period.
The NWR ask for a three month commitment but we did two months with one in Texas a year ago.
I think Fred is right....call and tell them what you can do. You have nothing to loose.
Good luck!!

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks everyone. I should clarify -- We're probably more interested in the volunteer type positions. Just looking to cover the full hook ups while we stay someplace. We figure that adds $300-$500 back to the budget for the month... Enough to cover golf! smile

For those of you doing the volunteer things -- is the length of your RV an issue? We currently have a 40ft 5th wheel and are looking at going with a motorhome. Don't think we would be comfortable with less than 40ft, but need to know if we should avoid things longer. We keep finding that we really like the 42 ft motorhomes -- which are more like 43 ft in actual length...

-- Edited by Ckerr on Friday 13th of August 2010 08:59:11 AM

Jake62 · RV-Dreams Family Member

Ckerr wrote:

Thanks everyone. I should clarify -- We're probably more interested in the volunteer type positions. Just looking to cover the full hook ups while we stay someplace. We figure that adds $300-$500 back to the budget for the month... Enough to cover golf!

For those of you doing the volunteer things -- is the length of your RV an issue? We currently have a 40ft 5th wheel and are looking at going with a motorhome. Don't think we would be comfortable with less than 40ft, but need to know if we should avoid things longer. We keep finding that we really like the 42 ft motorhomes -- which are more like 43 ft in actual length...

-- Edited by Ckerr on Friday 13th of August 2010 08:59:11 AM

Sorry I can't furnish you information on future length of your motorhome regarding volunteer activities; however, I am interested in your rationale to switch from the 5th Wheel to a 40'+ MH. I know this question is "off-topic" so I'd be happy to switch to another topic posting if applicable.

-- Edited by Jake62 on Friday 13th of August 2010 11:56:42 AM

Ckerr · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi Tim,

We have a 40ft toyhauler. It's great for camping trips and vacation because we can take the motorcycle with us and I think we have one of the most liveable toyhaulers out there.

We're thinking about switching to a MH because:

1) Johnny is 100% disabled due to rhuematiod arthritis. He's had both knees replaced (1 twice) and an ankle fused. Getting up the stairs into the rv is sometimes a challenge. Then add steps inside and it gets to be a pain for him. Besides the steps, we think set up will be a bit easier with a MH than our current toyhauler.

2) Because our 5th wheel is a toyhauler, it just doesn't have the living space and inside storage that a comparable non-toyhauler 5th wheel would have. We considered a regular 5th wheel, but that would not allow us to take the motorcycle with. We can put a motorcycle lift on the back of a MH and still tow a vehicle.

3) Finally, a MH would give us more basement storage which we consider important for our fulltiming needs.

phyllen · RV-Dreams Family Member

We've had both and agree a MH is easier, quicker set up. We prefer a fiver at this time but can sure see the logic to having a MH.