Our first workamping gig

Me, in my uniform, at the marina

“Workamping” was coined to describe those full-time RVers who earn a living while traveling by working at the campground at which they are staying. It is kind of like the Old West where itinerant laborers would work around the ranch for room and board. I don’t know how many people do it, but there are several websites devoted to ads for campgrounds seeking workers (e.g., WorkampingJobs.com). These are generally low-pay jobs that are worthwhile only because the campsite is provided either free or at a huge discount.

Our summer at the Apple Island Resort in South Hero VT was our first workamping gig. It our case the campsite was not free, but was so inexpensive that it seemed like it was free. And electricity and cable TV were included. We also had free laundry. So our summer living expenses were very low. That part of the experience was entirely satisfactory.

I had a job at the marina. I had almost no experience in boating so I learned a lot. I even got my VT Boating Safety Certificate, which is basically a boating license which will make it easier for me to rent a boat anywhere in the US. Not that I intend to rent a lot of boats, but it is one of those good-to-have cards to carry around in my wallet, like my scuba certificate.

Jett had a job in the office. She was trained in one particular type of campground management software. That experience will be helpful in any campground office. She also got to brush up on her (already extensive) customer service skills.

So the positives from this first experience were:

• reduced living expenses
• additional income
• acquisition of new skills
• beefing up our resumes

But it wasn’t all positive. Jett’s health problems this summer really cut into whatever fun we might have had.  She also intensely disliked her supervisor, to the point where she quit her job just a month into it.  Her health problems would have prevented her from working much anyway, but that was moot as she had already quit by the time she got sick.  She was all in favor of me quitting my job as well and just leaving VT, but I felt a commitment to finish the work assignment that I had signed up for.  Besides, we had no place to go.  I am sure we could have found someplace, but leaving would have left a taste of failure in my mouth.

So we stayed. We endured. We survived. And we were damn happy to leave.

Besides Jett’s dislike of her boss, there were many other things that we disliked about this summer, only some of which were work-related.  The work-related dislikes:

• We disliked the campground.  I will go into this in detail in a separate campground review. Suffice it to say for now that it is not a place that I would recommend to anyone.  When our friends Roger and Nancy came to visit (see Burlington with friends) we directed them away from Apple Island and instead recommended that they stay at a nice state park just down the road.
• We disliked the corporation that owns the campground. It is a family corporation which, I believe, is 51% owned by one man.  He is a classic “trust baby” with more money than sense.  He is autocratic with a “my way or the highway” attitude which makes my hackles rise. As I told my boss at the start of the summer, the owner is a classic example of a guy who says all the right things and does all the wrong things.  Example: there is a policy that each workamper can have 5 and only 5 uniforms.  Because they refused to get the uniforms to us before the start of the season and because we felt uncomfortable ordering sizes without trying on the uniforms, we ordered only two uniforms initially and they did not appear until almost two weeks into the season.  We had to start the season with borrowed used uniforms! And then, due to a bookkeeping error, when we ordered the additional uniforms Jett’s order was refused.  Rather than risking sending her one additional pair of pants, the entire order was refused and she had to resubmit it.  She finally got her new uniforms about a month into the season – just in time for her to quit.  There were other policies that we found distasteful and just a whole bunch of how-stupid-can-they-be things that we observed.  But the owner was not open to suggestions.  My way or the highway.  We preferred the highway.
• We didn’t feel very close to the other workampers.  While we did make friends, we didn’t make many close friends.  Jett and I mostly hung out by ourselves, which was fine.  But closer friendships would have improved the experience.

There were also some significant negatives that were not work-related:

• We were too far from Boston.  We made several trips to Boston as a couple and Jett made a few more on her own.  It was a grueling 4+ hour trip.  Too far.
• South Hero was not close to anything other than Lake Champlain.  Every trip to get food or take out pizza was a 20-mile round trip.  We would like to be closer to shops and services.

If I had to grade the overall experience it would be in the C- or D+ range.  Jett would give it an F, for sure.  The lessons we learned, should we apply for another workamping position (and we will):

• Try to vet the place before applying.  We need to research both the campground and the area to make sure that we will enjoy spending time there. Apply to campgrounds that we have stayed at and have enjoyed, if possible.
• If working in New England, make sure we are within 2 hours of Boston.
• Try to find a 3-month assignment.  Six months is just too long if it turns out you don’t like the job.