Volunteer astronomers

We have been visiting several national parks in the Four Corners area. Our latest stop was Chaco Canyon. I heard through a subscriber to my newsletter that frends of hers were volunteering at Chaco and were in the campground as hosts. On the way out we stopped to meet them.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park holds the ruins of several large pueblos that was the center of the Anasazi (ancestral Puebloans) culture for about 300 years. Unlike most Anasazi ruins, these are on the valley floor rather than high in alcoves on the canyon walls. There is evidence the people had markers for the solstices.

There are actually three campground host couples. They each work three days then are off for six. Jim and Jan on their "days off" also volunteer for the park archaeologist and had just gotten back from a site survey. Some days they might work in the visitor center.

The main draw for Jim and for one of the other couples was to assist with the night sky program that Chaco does three nights a week. After a talk on how the Chacoans used astronomy, they offer viewing on the park telescope and also on telescopes that the volunteer astronomers bring and set up. Unfortunately the day of our visit it was cloudy and rainy. There would be no viewing of the night sky.

Both couples we talked to were there for two months, then moving on to other assignments. For amateur astronomers, Chaco Canyon would be an excellent place to be. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

Volunteer stint: Eat chocolate!

Too bad we aren't in England. British researchers are looking for a particular kind of volunteer to eat a chocolate bar a day for a year!

You must be a woman with Type 2 diabetes. Half the women in the year-long study will eat a super-charged chocolate bar containing 30 grams of flavonoids found in soy, cocoa and other fruits and vegetables. The others will get chocolate without the active compounds. The researchers will look at whether the compounds help reduce blood pressure, cut cholesterol levels and improve the condition of arteries.

You never know when an unusual opportunity might appear. Maybe they'll do the study in the U.S. On second thought, I'd probably be in the control group. That's no fun. Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak

Temporary home includes 43,000 acres of marshes and prairies

This past winter, Glenn and Ann Moore lived at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf Coast of Texas. The refuge contains 43,000 acres of marshes and prairies. They traveled for more than a year before finding the refuge and deciding to volunteer. They are profiled at a news site, UpstateToday.com.

As volunteers they have been involved in several interesting wildlife projects plus some hard work. Fishing kept Glenn happy and provided many meals for the couple.

They'll be volunteering at refuges in North Carolina and New Hampshire this summer and return to Anahuac in the fall.

They decided to do this now rather than wait. What a life! Jaimie Hall-Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

A fun place to volunteer

Tuesday we went to Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior, Arizona on a trip to see wildflowers. This is Arizona's oldest and largest botantical garden, encompassing 323 acres in scenic Queen Creek Canyon. It was founded in the 1920s by mining magnate Col. William Boyce Thompson to improve the use of plant resources.

I had last been there once before, in 1995, so it has been a long time. I love to see all the unusual species of cacti from all over the world, as well as walks through several habitats found in Arizona. It was early for cacti to be blooming but we did see a number of flowers, including Mexican poppies and desert marigolds. Giant yuccas were in full bloom. Their most unusual plant, the Boojum, native to Mexico, had green leafy growth and towered over other plants.

On the way out, I met Laura Carroll, a volunteer in the visitor center. As she rang up my purchases, I asked if she was an RVer. She was. She and husband Danny had seen an advertisement in Workamper News and have been here since January. They will leave next month for a job at Parry Lodge in Kanab, UT, also found through WN. Laura will work at the front desk, Danny will dress in cowboy regalia and greet customers, plus count money. Danny collected our money in the kiosk as we entered the arboretum parking lot. With his handlebar mustache, we can easily imagine him a perfect cowboy!



What Laura and Danny like best about volunteering at the arboretum is the fun staff they work with. Though they have vowed never to work in the same location twice - they want to see more of the country - they may make an exception for the arboretum and return.

Laura and Danny make their own fun wherever they go. So far their travels have taken them to Workamping assignments in two Florida state parks, one near Indpendence, KS where they are originally from and Admiralty RV Resort in San Antonio, TX. After talking with them, George and I can see why they are successful Workampers. They are upbeat and positive, two traits highly prized in this lifestyle. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak (photos by George Bruzenak)

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

Nomads - another way to volunteer

The Nomads are an RV volunteer group much like the RV Care-A-Vanners of Habitat for Humanity. NOMADS is a mission outreach ministry of the United Methodist Church. The NOMADS program is specific to individuals and couples with RVs wishing to be involved in Christian service. They can have projects in churchs, camps, outreach facilities, and retirementhomes.

Larry and Lucille recently participated in a NOMAD project where Lucille's parents live: Magnolia Manor, an independent living facility near Savanah, GA, a ministry of the United Methodist Church.

According to the NOMADs Web site, each project lasts three weeks, working four days a week - Monday through Thursday. Each workday begins with devotions followed by a quick meeting to plan the day’s tasks. Host agencies provide all materials for the projects, as well as parking space with water and electrical hookups and a sewage connection or dump nearby. NOMADS furnish their own tools and meals. Some host agencies offer housing for those who don’t own an RV. NOMADS do whatever the agency requests, including maintenance, repair, office work, sewing, painting and gardening. Construction skills are helpful, but all that is really required is a willing heart. Evening and weekend fun are team highlights.

Larry and Lucille worked with three other couples and parked their RV at Fort McAllister, a GA State Historical Park. Besides the two of them, the team included Jim and Mary Jo, from Marietta, Georgia, their leaders; Bonnie and Darwin from Rockford, Illinois, and John and Eileen, fulltime RVers who had just come from leading their own NOMADS project in Jacksonville, Florida.

According to Lucille, "The primary project Rich, the Manor's director, had us doing was painting most of the common areas on all three floors. And boy, did we paint – by the end of the three weeks, we had used at least 50 gallons of paint among the eight of us, most of which ended up on the walls."

It was a huge undertaking, particularly the 3rd floor common areas. There was more wall space and they couldn't work in the dining rooms at mealtimes. They also did a number of repairs and odd jobs. Prior teams had only gotten the first two floors painted. But Larry and Lucille's team were not only younger, but worked well together even though they had never met.

Said Lucille, "The staff and residents were so friendly and so appreciative of our work there. When we first arrived there, each couple received a huge gift bag of goodies (snacks, drinks, personal items) – we raided the bags during our breaks. One resident made us homemade butterscotch cookies; another invited us to her apartment for our morning break – Miss Teeny laid out a selection of warm coffeecake, cheese, crackers and other munchies as well as several juices; Mona, head of housekeeping, twice brought us desserts. The Manor’s director, Rich, invited us to his home for dinner one evening; every Wednesday evening we were guests of Richmond Hill United Methodist Church for their weekly supper and program; and the day before we finished our work, the Manor hosted a thank you reception for us in their parlor with over 50 residents and staff members attending.It is hard to describe the outpouring of gratitude and appreciativeness we experienced every day there."

Being appreciated is certainly one reward of volunteering. Knowing you are helping those who could not do it themselves is another. Lucille and Larry also made good friends here. Though they hadn't met before, those friendships will continue. Perhaps they'll even meet up on another NOMADs project again. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For more information on volunteering see Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com.

Photos provided by Bonnie Bearrows.Top left: Larry & Lu, Darwin & Bonnie, Eileen & John, Mary Jo & Jim (leaders). Right top: Jim taping baseboards. Lower left: Larry and Lucille. Lower right: Mary Jo.

Animal lovers provide help

For workers on the RV road who can afford to volunteer at least part of the time and who love animals, a number of animal sanctuaries would love your help for even short periods of time. A recent article focused on volunteering at a big cat sanctuary, Keepers of the Wild, in Valentine, AZ but mentioned many other opportunities as well. Some are overseas and cost money, however many U.S. sanctuaries do need help.

Another sanctuary mentioned is Best Friends in Kanab, UT. Besides helping out with pet chores and giving the animals attention, they also need animal transporters and virtual volunteers.

Candy Kitchen, a wolf rescue operation in New Mexico, is one I have visited. Their animals range from small to large percentage of wolf. Volunteers receive training in the feeding and care of those with wolf characteristics as their behavior and food is different than dogs.

Not all sanctuaries or rescue operations have spots for RVs so clarify that before making a commitment. Desert Haven in New Mexico does seek volunteers for longer time periods and has RV camping. (see photos)

Check the Association of Sanctuaries for accredited wild animal sanctuaries and their contact information. For dog and cat rescue work, nearly any humane society would welcome your help if you are in the area. A search should turn up many rescue operations that could use your help.

We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. Immanuel Kant, German philosopher

For information many types of volunteering as well as paid positions, see Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, at RVBookstore.com.

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.