Unexpected leads

In the Denver Post-News classified section, an article mentioned several companies looking for seasonal entertainers and other workers.

One is Elitch Gardens (formerly a Six Flags theme park). They hire 2,500 seasonal employees. Entertainment is only one of several job categories. They welcome the senior worker too. At their website, they note they'll hire seniors for one or two days a week. They offer lots of perks too.

Ski resorts offer other programs in the summer. Copper Mountain hires summer workers, but is also looking for volunteers for summer events in exchange for winter lift tickets. Check the event calendar under "Things to do" for activities you'd like to be involved in. Or click on "Jobs" to find out paid seasonal jobs.

The Borrillo Entertainment company does hire entertainers: living statues, celebrity look-alikes, strolling magicians, stilt walkers plus others to provide atmosphere or walk-about entertainment.

Keep your eyes and ears open. You never know where a lead will turn up and a different kind of work opportunity will appear! Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

Free houseboat vacation — for a little trash

Take a 5 to 7 day houseboat vacation on Lake Powell — free! There is a catch. You'll be picking up trash along the shores.

The Trash Tracker, a short-term volunteer gig, is away to see Lake Powell by boat while helping Glen Canyon National Recreation keep up with trash pickup along its lake shores and along the Escalante River and San Juan River Arms. Some leave from Wahweap (Page, AZ), while others leave from Bull Frog, UT. You bring your own personal gear, breakfast and lunch food, plus provide one dinner on the trip. Some of the trips are fairly leisurely, others are hard work. Back in 1996, when I was working at the Bull Frog marina as a seasonal NPS worker, we were sent out to cut up and drag a huge beached pontoon from a houseboat to the current waterline. The Trash Tracker loaded it on their houseboat and hauled it away. Other times, the workload is lighter.

With 1,960 miles of shoreline, there are plenty of new places to see and trash to pick up. Out along the shores of the lake while working there, we saw plastic bags, golf balls, aluminum chairs, cans and bottles, and even a refrigerator!

To find out more information and the schedule, check their Web site, or call 928-608-6404. Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

Connecting to the Internet

It's a double-anchor day in Hanksville, Utah. The wind is blowing and gusting. After our satellite Internet dish was blown over and cracked while we were near Great Basin National Park in Nevada, George fashioned a tie down for the dish. (The red strap is connected to a stake, which is pounded into the ground.) He was able to repair the cracks with epoxy and it still works. However, on days like today, we like double insurance so added a few gallons of water as weight.

Prior to staying in Big Bend for a winter, I used a Verizon Aircard to stay connected. Aircards work very well for some RVers - if you have a digital cell signal. Here in Southeast Utah, cell coverage has been spotty with none in Hanksville. When we in Big Bend, we had no digital signal at all. We ended up with a land line but in the evening, when the kids got on the Internet, we often could not connect. A health food/coffee shop in Terlingua - 40 miles away - had WiFi, which I used to upload and download big files. Before we left, we purchased a satellite Internet system that we set up manually when we camp for the night. It usually takes George about 10 minutes.

For me, a reliable Internet connection is essential to do my job. Yet even with the satellite Internet, there are times we supplement it with WiFi picked up in an RV park or along the road. Sometimes we don't set up our satellite dish due to weather conditions or because the view to the satellite is blocked. And, very occasionally, in desperation I use a dialup connection or have used the computer in an RV park or a coffee shop!

It is sure convenient for RV workers to have an Internet connection. You can research employers, and then make initial contacts and send resumes to those with potential. You can participate in forums. Workamper Plus subscribers (Workamper News) can also get the daily hotline update, check employer ratings, update their Awesome Applicant resumes.

Your choice will depend on your budget, where you travel, and how often you need or want to connect. You can spend upwards of $6000 for a MotoSat Internet system where the satellite automatically finds the signal. The Hughes Internet system like we have is about $1500. An Aircard is around $150 or you can connect using your cell phone with a Mobile Office Kit for around $40-50. Newer computers have built-in WiFi so no equipment is needed. (You can purchase a card for an older computer.)

Then, of course, you have monthly fees. They range from about $40 to $80 or more. You can pick up WiFi as you travel, however for each provider you could have a fee, unless you find a free network. T-Mobile does not get you access at a Flying J, which has their own system, so fees can add up for WiFi if you rely on that heavily. You may end up like us, using more than one method to connect.

In the meantime, if you choose a portable satellite system like ours, be prepared to anchor it firmly or take it down if the wind blows too hard. Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

Gateway cities: more opportunities for working near national parks

Susan Chittam is only a stone's throw away from Bryce Canyon National Park. She is working at Ruby's Inn just outside the park. Businesses in gateway cities or clusters of tourist services outside a national park or other major attraction hire more employees during the busy tourist season.

We traveled up to Bryce Canyon after our visit to Zion, where I met Susan. Susan is a solo woman RVer in her first year on the road. She worked last winter at Fountain of Youth Spa in Niland, CA (near Palm Springs) and loved it. This is her second job working on the RV road, both found through Workamper News. She is selling jewelry in the General Store. Ruby's Inn includes a hotel, gas station, restaurants, an RV park, Old Bryce Town shops, plus excursions so they hire locals, Workampers, and foreigners to meet their employee needs. Employes can stay in one of two employee RV parks at $75/month or in dorms.

Susan has been guaranteed three days off — at least two in a row. Ruby's offers a number of perks. She can purchase a meal card for meals that cost $1.02 each or she can eat at the buffet for 50% off on her work days. She gets a generous discount in the store and discounts on horseback riding, the scenic helicopter ride and other tours that Ruby's offers.

This area is quite a ways from major shopping. Cedar City, with a Wal-Mart Supercenter, is 80 miles away, though Susan prefers the small town of Panguitch 25 miles away because of its history.

Because college kids are often a labor source for tourist-related businesses, there are opportunities for more mature workers (or those without a fixed schedule) to pick up work. Before the main season and after Labor Day are good times to get short-term jobs in these locations. They could need people any time, however; turnover can be high.

When my late husband, Bill, was offered a job at Rocky Mountain National Park I did not have a job. However, when we arrived in early June many businesses in Estes Park had helped wanted signs in their window or were advertising in the local paper. I quickly found a job. Several years later when I worked in Skagway, Alaska for the national park service, Bill was able to find jobs in town too after we arrived.

For singles particularly, working in gateway cities as well as for concessionaires opens up many more jobs and experiences. Most businesses hire each person on their own merits rather than as a couple. Plus, in a busy place like Ruby's Inn, you meet all kinds of people. One of the things Susan loves about her job is meeting people from all over the world. She is working on picking up a few phrases in other languages so she can communicate with her customers. And they appreciate her efforts.


Bryce Canyon is a gorgeous park with colorful hoodoos left standing after years of erosion and you can hike down into an ampitheater full of them. Besides the usual deer, Bryce has a prairie dog town just off the scenic drive. We were able to get close enough to pronghorn antelope to photograph them. It is tempting to find a job and stay while! Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

Speaking of concessionaires

Yesterday we visited Zion National Park. Xanterra is the concessionaire here and at Bryce Canyon where we will visit next. Xanterra claims that it is the largest national and state park concessionaire in the U.S.

We rode the free shuttle along the scenic drive. The shuttle system was instituted to reduce traffic in the park. You can get off and on at any of the stops and reboard when another comes by- during the middle of the day that is every 5-7 minutes. They hire lots of shuttle bus drivers, however it is not a tipped position. Still you are looking at that beautiful scenery all day and may see wildlife, typically deer and wild turkeys.

We stopped in the lodge. The folks on duty who we saw (mostly older) lived in employee dormitory housing except who one lived in nearby Springdale. They do have 17 or 18 RV sites; we could see RVs through the trees when we drove by.

Looking at Xanterra's job site on the Web, I discovered that many of their parks will hire people with a minimum commitment of two to three months. In Utah, however, overtime pay is not paid until after you have worked 48 hours in a week. The work week is 40-48 hours.

Working for a concessionaire has its drawbacks, but there are benefits. Housing and meal costs are low - $11/day for both at Zion. You have plenty of time to hike and explore the park and surrounding areas. Several other national parks are nearby. And Xanterra does offer health insurance to seasonals who meet certain requirements.

Southeast Utah has outstanding beauty. Working at Zion, Bryce or the even the North Rim of the Grand Canyon is one way to have a base to fully explore the area. Jaimie

Workamper News often has listings for concessionaires. For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

Will a South American take your job?

We are in Cedar City, UT for a couple of days- shopping and doing a couple of repairs. In last Sunday's Salt Lake Tribune, an article (available for 30 days) described how ski resorts are relying on South American students on summer vacation for their winter seasonal work force. The Universal Student Exchange agency interviews students to make sure their English is adequate. Most are hired with a J-1 student visa. This costs the employer nothing but the visa is limited to four months and the season can be longer. Or, they can hire someone with an H-2B teporary worker visa for the full season, but then pay a fee. Students pay the agency about $1000 to participate in the program.

While workers on the RV road aren't rushing to work in winter ski resorts, more and more summer seasonal employers are hiring students from Europe to fill positions during their summer vacations. This is especially true of concessionaires in national parks where they hire hundreds of people. According to the article in the Tribune, employers pay foreign students the same rate of pay as locals. They obviously cannot find enough employees through hiring U.S. college students and RVers.

Concessionaires are still hiring RV workers. However, if you work for a concessionaire, you may very well be working with students from all over the world. It could open up opportunities for RV workers wanting to work for a couple of months before the season starts or at the end. Or employers may look less to U.S. workers and more towards foreign students who will stay the full time of their commitment. Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

A job for a hermit

Our friend, Rob Brownell, has found the perfect job for someone who prefers a more solitary job. He mans a fire tower during the summer. This summer, like last, he'll be at Mount Ord in Arizona, north of Phoenix. He hauls his RV to the top of the peak (with a little help from the Forest Service) and has stunning views of the Mogollon Rim to the north and of the Sierra Estrellas and White Tank Mountains west of Phoenix. Pam, his wife, accepts short term assignments with the Forest Service so comes and goes. Rob was recently profiled in the East Valley Tribune. (You can see a slide show there too.)

You can find lookout jobs by going to the USDA Forest Service Web site and click on "Centralized Temporary Vacancy Announcements." You'll need to register, then do a search. On the search parameters, choose grades 3-9, series 0462, job - Forestry Technician (Lookout). To get a quick list of job openings, search at USAJOBS site run by OPM. Type in Forestry Technician (lookout).

If Rob sees more than a couple of hikers in a day, he feels swamped! He loves being in remote areas with few visitors. If you're like this or would like a change of pace, check out these types of jobs. Jaimie

For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

The importance of a signed work agreement

Karen and her husband worked at a great RV park last summer, or so they thought. However, when it came time to collect the promised $.50/hr bonus for completing their season, they had a heck of a fight. They called numerous times. Promises, but no check came. After talking to three other couples who worked with them at this park, they found out that no one had received their bonus. One couple suggested they compare their last pay stub with the W-2 they received. The W-2 was for the amount they would have earned had they received their bonus.

To make a long story short, after getting no help from the state, Karen turned to the IRS. The employer had filed a fraudulent W-2. Within a week, they had their bonus check, which had been "misplaced."

What got them their bonus money, besides persistence, was Karen's record keeping and a signed agreement by the employer spelling out the bonus. In fact, another couple who had worked for this same employer in a previous year and been promised a bonus had only a verbal agreement. He never did get his bonus because the owners said he was mistaken; it was his word against theirs.

Some workers on the RV road think a handshake and your word is good enough. Sometimes it is. But when you encounter an employer who deliberately tries to cheat you out of money you have earned, then you need written documentation. Getting that bonus could mean an extra $800-1000 for a couple.

Karen had kept

1. a copy of the ad from Workamper News.
2. the signed agreement detailing the job including compensation & bonus.
3. a spreadsheet documenting the hours they had worked.
4. copies of her paystubs and W-2s.

I'd also advise keeping copies of any other written correspondence including e-mails.

A written agreement is a protection - for both you and the employer. It spells everything out so you are both on the same page. And, if you by chance run into a situation like this, you have the documentation to take action and get all the money you earned.

See Workamper.com for a sample work agreement. For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

Bikes keep this RVer afloat

George Bennett was fired from his job and hasn't found a new one so he set up his old RV on a dusty lot in Scottsdale, Arizona and sells mountain bikes and portable generators. He started his "business" with a $1500 RV and a supply of Mongoose bikes from a wholesaler. Customers in BMWs stop by for his deals.

RVers can make money by selling products and services. Some have magnetic signs attached to their tow or toad vehicle and generate business that way. A fellow who sells Amsoil said he has had people call him on their cell phones as he is driving and ask him to pull off at the next exit so they can purchase some!

To set up a business may take more than pulling your RV off into an empty lot and hanging up a shingle. Bennett has already been run off one location. Most cities require a sales permit and state and local jurisdictions usually require sales tax collection. If you conduct business in an RV park you should have permission; there may be liability issues or the owner may not want such activity.

The nice thing about being an RV entrepreneur is you can work when and where you want, plus you'll have some tax deductions.

Read the entire article here. For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.

RV techs in demand

The record shipments of RVs the past five years from manufacturers to dealers has created an abundance of job openings within the industry from sales to service to administration. Not all fit the mobile RV lifestyle, but RVers working on the road have found seasonal work at dealerships and repair facilities as RV techs, giving walk-throughs to new buyers and assisting in the dealer prep of new RVs.

Training to become an RV tech is available through the National Recreation Vehicle Technical Institute. Their program is taught in seven schools. Long-distance training is also available. Check the RV Learning Center for training opportunities, certification programs and learning guides.

Ardith and Page have worked several summers for an RV dealership in Anchorage, AK. They park their RV onsite. Jack and Sylvia have worked for a dealership in Yuma, Arizona during the winter. A mobile repair service is another possibility. I've seen them do a brisk business at an RV rally. Jaimie

See RVIA's press release on the topic. For information on Jaimie Hall's recently revised book, Support Your RV LIfestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, 2nd ed., see RVBookstore.com.