Paid to scoop poop?!!
We are heading through Michigan on our way to Elkhart Indiana. We took a day to explore Mackinac Island in Lake Huron. Most famous for the Grand Hotel and summer homes of the wealthy, most of the island is actually a state park.
We saw one state park worker with a draft horse and wagon, scooping up horse poop along the road that runs around the perimeter of the island. It looked like a pretty laid-back job if you don't mind what you are doing. Her horse enjoyed munching the grass while she scooped. We biked past another fellow on Market Street. He had a scoop and bag and was walking.
Mostly college-aged students work on the island because housing is limited and shared. No RVs are allowed out here. You might find a campground in St. Ignace or Mackinaw City and commute, though. Regular jet boat ferry service runs between the mainland and the island. There are dozens of retail shops, restaurants, hotels, bike rental places and horse-driven carriage rides.
The Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau website offers links to employers seeking workers. Check for openings at the Department of Natural Resources since state parks also hire seasonal workers. The ferries are another possibility. We rode the Star Line ferry—the one with the rooster tail in back—and saw they too hire more workers in the summer. The other lines undoubtedly do also.
What's unique about the island is that no motorized vehicles are allowed. Transportation is by foot, bicycle or by horse. With nearly a million visitors each year, lots of seasonal workers are needed. And— with more than 600 horses on the island during the summer months— workers are hired to pick up after the horses!
We saw one state park worker with a draft horse and wagon, scooping up horse poop along the road that runs around the perimeter of the island. It looked like a pretty laid-back job if you don't mind what you are doing. Her horse enjoyed munching the grass while she scooped. We biked past another fellow on Market Street. He had a scoop and bag and was walking.
Mostly college-aged students work on the island because housing is limited and shared. No RVs are allowed out here. You might find a campground in St. Ignace or Mackinaw City and commute, though. Regular jet boat ferry service runs between the mainland and the island. There are dozens of retail shops, restaurants, hotels, bike rental places and horse-driven carriage rides. The Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau website offers links to employers seeking workers. Check for openings at the Department of Natural Resources since state parks also hire seasonal workers. The ferries are another possibility. We rode the Star Line ferry—the one with the rooster tail in back—and saw they too hire more workers in the summer. The other lines undoubtedly do also.
When you visit Mackinac Island, it is a little like stepping back in time. Once you leave the main street with its tourist shops, it is suddenly quieter and a slower pace. If you're looking for a unique experience, this could be the place. 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.
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.
Labels: Mackinaw Island, Michigan, MIchigan state parks employment
posted by Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak at
12:39 PM
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