Workamping & Volunteering As A Solo RVer
Pre-Post Note/ Thank you all for your comments, tips an encouragement in the last post! Polly is now 5-days post op and everything is looking good so far. I’ll be giving regular updates as we go along including what modifications we’ve made in the RV and what we’re doing about rehab. In the meantime here are the posts I meant to write last week.
Paul and I have been volunteering at State Parks in the Pacific Northwest (OR/WA) for over 4 years now. Our focus has always been interpretive hosting (i.e. positions that deal with education/tours/history via interaction with the public), and most of our jobs have been as tour guides at lighthouses. We looooove lighthouses, so it’s a fun pass-time that indulges our love of the history while allowing us to stay for free in beautiful state parks along the coast. We don’t host all year, but like to do it during the crazy summer months since that’s when campgrounds tend to fill up and booking/planning RV travel becomes tiresome. So, we get to “hang out” in a nice area for a while, give back to the community a little and save some $$ too. Basically it’s a win-win-win.
This year, because of everything we had going on I decided to seek out a solo volunteer job. So I figured I’d write a few posts about that. Now I should point out up front that I am by NO MEANS an expert on this, but I did work (solo) for many years before I met Paul and I’ve met/talked to many, many solo RV workampers on the road. So, I do have some experience. Here’s my take on it…
What Is Workamping?
Workamping is a term that was coined by the folks at workamper.com and it basically covers anyone who’s working for something of value (e.g. money, campsite, perks etc.) while camping (= work + camping). The work could be part-time or full-time, and the only real difference from a “regular” job is that you’re doing it while living in your RV!
There are tons of different types of workamping jobs out there from “traditional” RV-based jobs like camphosting, maintenance (at a campground) to “non-traditional” RV-based jobs like outdooor guides, oil field gate guards, property caretakers to special seasonal jobs like Christmas Tree sales, Pumpkin Patches, Sugar Beet Harvest, Amazon CamperForce etc. Some positions include a spot to park your RV, some don’t. Some are paid, some aren’t, but the possibilities are endless.
For more about workamping check out this excellent 7-part series from RV-Dreams.
What is Volunteering?
Volunteering is a type (sub-set) of workamping, the only difference being PAY. Volunteers work but don’t get paid any money, by definition. As a volunteer RVer the best you can expect is a free campsite which certainly saves some $$ (our budget usually drops by ~30-40% whenever we volunteer), but doesn’t give you any extra income.
So why would you ever volunteer?
There are many reasons including the ability to stay somewhere beautiful, to give back, to do something you’re passionate about, to learn something new, to be social, to have some fun etc. I’ve volunteered in some form or another since I was a kid (mostly with animals) and have always enjoyed it.
Many public park positions (e.g. camphosts at State Parks, National Parks, Forests etc.) are officially volunteer positions, although some (especially those run by concessionaires) do offer some pay. Most private park and non-traditional/seasonal positions are paid. Whether or not you need pay is something only you can decide. There are plenty of solo jobs for both options out there.
Related Blog Posts On Volunteering:
- Volunteering On the Road Part I – Why Do It?
- Volunteering On The Road Part II – Where To Look For Openings
- Volunteering On The Road Part III – 4 Steps To Securing Your Dream Job
Is It Harder To Find A Solo RV Job?
Almost everywhere you RV you’ll see couples doing traditional camphosting jobs. It’s an attractive proposition for the folks hiring since they’re essentially getting 2 people for the price of 1 RV site. So, if you’re a solo RVer you might wonder if there’s anything for you?
Well, I’m definitely not the first RV gal to do this…
Although traditional solo RV-based jobs are perhaps not quite as numerous as couple jobs, there are still plenty of them around. And if you look outside of traditional camphosting you’ll find even more opportunities. I know many gals & guys who’ve solo-volunteered or workamped for multiple years doing everything from volunteer camphosting to fully paid positions. Some of these folks even workamp fulltime!
For some good examples check out Travels With Emma (she volunteered at Wildlife Refuges for MANY years), our friend Interstellar Orchard (she’s worked at Amazon, National Parks, you-name-it), Gaelyn (she works as a paid seasonal ranger in the Grand Canyon), Lynne from Winnie Views (Wildlife Refuge volunteer), Ivan (he works as a paid seasonal fire-lookout in Canada) and Bob at Cheap RV Living (he worked as a camphost for many years). That’s not to mention the slew of solo RVers who make money in their RVs by non-traditional means (writing, editing, music, art etc.). There are TONS of possibilities out there!
Do You Have To Be Solo To Solo Workamp/Volunteer?
The short answer is NO! This may seem like an odd question, but there could be many reasons only one person (from a couple) would want to work. Perhaps you’re a travelling family with small kids and you want to be sure one person can stay home while the other works? Or, perhaps you’re in a couple where one of you is ill or physically can’t work? Or perhaps one of you already has a regular daytime job and only the other is free to work? Or maybe only one of you WANTS to work?!
If you’re a living together as a couple in your RV there is NO requirement that both of you have to offer to work. Just be upfront in your application that you’re seeking to work as a solo, and go about your job application as you would any other.
How Do You Apply For A Solo RV Job?
The research and application process for a solo RV job is exactly the same as it would be for any other job you’ve ever gotten in your entire life. Being solo (versus in a couple) does not change this process in any way whatsoever!
Depending on what you want to do you find the job by going through public park volunteer program sites, workamping sites (e.g. workamper.com, camphost.org, workersonwheels etc.), service industry sites (e.g. coolworks.com) or by directly contacting whatever place you’re interested in. Then it’s just a question of sending in your info and seeing if you get the position. If you want an edge, I also recommend trying to track down the hiring decision maker and calling to talk to them personally. Not only will that give you a chance to ask detailed questions about the job, but it’ll also give you a chance to get to know the people hiring & for them to get to know you. Phone-calls get you noticed!
Research, network, do what you can to make your application stand out, be persistent and go for it!
Are Solo RVers Treated Differently?
The jobs you can get as an RV solo are pretty much the exact same as ones you can get as a couple. Job duties, responsibilities and such are no different and are specific to the job, not the person who applies. But you may sometimes find subtle differences in hours and which jobs are open to you:
- Longer Hours -> Some jobs, especially traditional-type RV jobs require longer hours from a solo than a couple since, instead of getting 2 people working 20 hours each (say) the folks hiring you are only getting one person. So you may find positions that ask you for longer hours to make up for that difference. This is rare for volunteer position (e.g. State Parks etc.), but fairly common for paid camphosting jobs. The hours required (and what days you’ll have off) should always be one of the FIRST questions you ask about any job.
- No Solos Accepted -> Some RV-type positions simply won’t take any solos either because they want or need more than one person on-site to do the job. A good example is a 2-person tour-guide job that requires one person to man the register while another person conducts the tour (this is common in many lighthouses, for example). Another example is a private campground looking for help both at the registration desk and outdoors (e.g. in maintenance). With a couple they can cover both jobs with just a single RV site, whereas with a solo they have to hire two people and give up two RV sites.
If you find yourself being rejected in these circumstances don’t despair. There are PLENTY of solo jobs out there and if you’re persistent you WILL find your perfect match.
Do Solo RVers Have Special Needs?
When you’re applying for a job, whether as a solo or a couple, you should focus on the stuff that’s important to YOU.
- Do you need a full-hookup RV site? Or are you OK w/ partial hookups? Or perhaps you don’t need a site at all?
- Do you need internet/cellphone signal?
- Do you need a spot that’s dog-friendly?
- Do you want to be close to civilization? Or do you prefer the boonies?
- Are you OK with cleaning toilets? Or is that a no-no?
- Do you have physical limitations?
- Do you like interacting with people? Or do you prefer a non-people job?
Obviously if you’re solo and you chose a workamper job that’s out in the boonies somewhere (e.g. a small, remote national forest camphost), you’ll want to ask extra questions about safety and what happens if you’re injured or need help. As a solo you don’t have another partner to help you out, so getting clarification on this is important.
Also, as a solo it’s especially important to be crystal clear about hours required and how/when you’ll get time off. You don’t have anyone to share your household duties so you need free time to do “regular” stuff in your life like go to the laundromat, grocery shop etc. Not to mention you need the freedom to just relax, explore & have some time to yourself. So, having a job where you’re expected to be “on call” all the time doesn’t really work as a solo.
That’s about all I can think of for my solo RV intro post. Are you a solo workamper or volunteer? Do you have tips to share? DO feel free to comment below!
Coming next -> Details of my solo job at Cape D State Park. Stay tuned….
Excellent post Nina!
One perspective to add from the couple’s point of view – is sometimes you end up volunteering for a site, working & living along side solo volunteers who are seemingly getting the same benefits for 1/2 the total hours worked.
It may not seem fair at first, but ‘let it go’ 🙂 After all, for us anyway, it’s about the joys of volunteering. That we don’t have to also pay to stay close by is just icing on the cake.
Yup that certainly can happen, especially in volunteer positions.
Our job at Cape Blanco we all worked ~18 hours/week (each) for our site. The one person who was solo-volunteering there worked the same number of hours (~18 total, as a solo) for their site. So, basically half of what we were putting in. That’s what I’m doing, in reverse, at my current job too. There’s a couple here who are sharing the museum job together with me (I do half the week, they do the other half). They’re putting in ~15-20 hours as a couple (each), while I’m only putting in a single ~15-20 hours as a solo.
Nina
In that case the couple is getting the deal, each working half the hours you work. Same hours per site, they just split it. Guess I can see Cherie’s point if they each had to work 25 hours. That would be twice the solo. Hours per site seems more fair. I’m with Lynne.
Sorry, I may not have explained it properly. For positions that have a set number of hours per site you can certainly split hours if you’re a couple. However many volunteer positions (especially the interpretive type that we have done) are a set number of hours per person. So, in that case couples really do work twice the hours. That’s the case in my current job, for example. I’m currently working half the hours (~15-20 hrs total) of my neighbors (a couple, working 15-20 hrs each, or 30-40 hrs total) for the same site.
It’s a mix. I do agree that a set numbers of hours per site makes the most sense.
Nina
My husband & I have workkamped for 2 yrs at campgrounds & even sold Christmas trees. His health declined so we didn’t work for 2 yrs before he died last Fall. I’ve been volunteering in the office for 3 months now at Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary, south of Gallup NM, just for electricity – & love the sense of helping, not trying to make a living. The Sanctuary can always use more volunteers.
So very, very sorry for your loss. Can’t even imagine how hard it is to continue RVing after the loss of a loved one. I admire you for it.
I love wolves and I’ve always wanted to visit that Sanctuary. It’s definitely on my list for one day.
Nina
Thanks for the shout-out Nina, great post! Volunteering feeds my soul and gives me purpose. I’ve met so many wonderful people in the short time I’ve been doing this– fellow volunteers, refuge staff, and visitors. Being still in one place, and working in a fun team environment, is a nice change of pace from a solo RVer’s more typical solitary nomadic travels.
As a rule, if a place requires solos to work longer hours than couples, it’s typically not a place I’ll wish to apply. It either means they’ll only have 1 or 2 volunteer RVs (I prefer locations with larger, more social volunteer teams), or they have a warped idea that a solo in a smaller RV uses the same amount of utilities and resources as a couple in a much larger RV!
Hope you are still able to enjoy your solo volunteer gig a bit (despite all the challenges your family has faced this summer). Hugs to sweet Polly!
Totally agree with how you feel about the process! I’ve been volunteering in some form or another since I was 10 years old (I started in school) and I’ve always felt the call to continue to do so. I really love the purpose and interaction I get while volunteering. Plus in the RV I get the bonus of staying in beautiful places and learning some history too.
Cheers for adding your thoughts.
Nina
Great post.. We missed you and Paul “Again”.. We were broke down in Portland and drove by you many times going back and forth from the repair shop to our Hotel, and side trips to IKEA by the Air Port… I swear one day we will shake hands and sit and have a Adult Beverage…..
We came real close to getting a Hosting Job in Yosemite for August but it didn’t work out.. Maybe next year..
We are home in Modesto for awhile….
Take Care and Have a Safe Summer….. Lee and Shelia
Sorry we missed ya…one day for sure! Yosemite could have been an interesting spot. In fact any National Park would be fun IMHO. They get crazy busy in the summer, but they’re all in such beautiful locations. We have friends of ours (Rick and JoAnne, http://www.rjrvtravels.com/2012/08/behind-scenes-on-being-volunteer-camp.html) who’ve volunteered at Glacier NP as campground hosts for years. They loved it.
Nina
Thanks for another great post. We’ve only been keeping up with you two for a couple of months (since we decided that we’re going to go full-time RV retirement in four years) and your blog is already a favorite with its wealth of info. It’s also nice to see you local to us this time of year, and we hope to see you in action in person later this month at Cape D!
Well so happy you like the blog! If you’re close-by feel free to drop by the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center while I’m working (Mon-Wed, except next week the center is closed).
Nina
good article …good info….we have worked camp at several jobs but aways as a couple…but all for money as at the time we needed it…one place we had to pay minimal for a full hook up spot, once where we got reimbursed for up to a certain amount of money and another for a free spot….
You guys have some some very interesting, alternative-type jobs from your RV over the years. You’re a testament to the fact that you CAN cover your living expenses with it, if you approach it the right way.
Nina
Nina,
Reading your posts over the years had always given me foundation on things we should consider full-timing. One are that has been on my heart for my Wife and I has been the RV-Care-A-Vanners Program at Habitat for Humanity (http://www.habitat.org/rv). What a cool concept. They provide you a place for 2 weeks while you volunteer help building a house for someone who needs it. How cool! This is now on our list.
Thanks for the update on solocamping. I always wondered how that would work. There may be times that I would like to volunteer while my wife works part time at her old job
I volunteered for Habitat For Humanity back in my pre-RV days and it was really fun. We haven’t done it in the RV through Care-A-Vanners, but I imagine it would be both interesting and fulfilling. Hope you get to try it!
Nina
Thanks for a great post. This will be my first year as a solo interpretive host at a lighthouse for July. I’ve also volunteered throughout my adult life and look forward to a month in one place where I can (hopefully) serve and make some RV friends. I didn’t dare ask much about the position because I was afraid they’d reject me as too high maintenance. I wish I’d have had your post handy when I applied!
Sending good wishes to Polly! It’s tough when fur family gets sick! You’ve had more than your share! I think surgery which promises an active dog after recovery was the best choice. Pets for Polly and catpanion, Taggert.
Oh awesome!! Hope you enjoy your first volunteer stint (I can’t imagine you won’t), and that you find it both fulfilling and interesting! We’ve always found volunteering to be a great social connector. We connect with our fellow volunteers, folks camping at the park, the Rangers etc. it’s such a great little community.
Nina
Glad (and not surprised) to hear Polly is doing well. It’s especially fortunate that you had planned to solo work this month, leaving Paul to care for the fur kids. Great, informative post.
Totally! When all this first happened with Polly I was feeling pretty bummed, but then I started to look at how lucky we’d been. We were near a good vet when it happened, we immediately got a recommendation for a great surgeon (saved hours/days of research) and the fact that I had a solo job allowed us to take care of it right away. Some positive luck in-between all that stress.
Nina
Thanks for adding me to your list. Although I’ve worked as a paid summer seasonal Interpretive Park Ranger 23 years there’s been volunteer gigs in between some of those and before. I’ve found you can volunteer into some jobs you’d never be hired for and learn new things. Feels good to give back. No matter your interests I’d encourage asking almost anywhere you’d like to volunteer.
Scratches for Polly.
Good input! Yes, just asking around about volunteering is a great idea. You never know what kinds of interesting jobs you might find, or what connections you might make.
Whenever we RV somewhere we both really like we always ask other volunteers about their job, and (if we’re able) we talk to local volunteer coordinator too so we can contact them directly in the future. We’ve built up quite a network of contacts like that over the years.
Nina
Not only enjoy do I look forward to your posts for the info, but also your excellent writing and photos. Truly outstanding.
When I viewed the photo of your dog at the beach, my laptop screen was tilted a little away from me – the pic was awesome! It removed much of the brightness and the dog just popped out.
Thanks so much for sharing yourself with me.
Hi Nina,
Thanks for the great info. Do you have any information about the red tape involved? Would a volunteer who only gets an RV site for free (no pay involved) need a social security number? As a foreigner and a tourist, I would not be allowed to have a job, but just doing volunteer work might be a possibility. Apart from not being paid, there might still be issues with insurance and other paperwork. Can you shed some light on this?
Thanks. And many hugs and good wishes to Polly!
Koos
If you’re not a US Citizen or legal resident alien (i.e. You’re an international non-resident) it’s much more complicated to find traditional RV volunteer jobs in the US. But it’s not totally impossible!
Most State Parks require background checks (which does requires a SSN) and/or they might require you to apply for a temp visa such as a J1 or B2 (e.g. For CA State Parks see this document, page 5: http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/735/files/camp%20and%20park%20host%20handbooklow032112.pdf). So, for State Parks it’s not trivial.
National Parks will take on international volunteers, but only if they are part of an official Exchange Visitor Program.
See this link #17: https://www.volunteer.gov/faq.cfm
And this link: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/internationalcooperation/ivip.htm
So, for NPS there’s a specific application process to go through. Complicated, but not impossible.
Some other volunteer organizations, especially smaller/local organizations will be fine taking on international (non-resident) volunteers. For example we volunteered at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, UT our first year on the road (pure volunteering, no RV site) and they didn’t require anything special from us. Also non-profits like Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity etc. may also allow international volunteers.
Of course if you’re Canadian you can look at volunteer sites up in Canada too. The national and provincial parks in Canada all have great camphost opportunities open to Canadian residents.
Nina
Thanks, Nina for your clear and elaborate answer and the links. That is very helpful.
Koos
Great info!
Are you required to show the cash value of volunteer compensation (normal cost of RV site, etc.) as income for tax purposes? Just curious…
Nope. The value of the site is not considered or reported for tax purposes.
Nina
Nina;
I’ve been following you for a year or so, consider you a very valuable resource, and extremely fortunate to have discovered you.
Getting use to RV’ing by living in my (tag along trailer) for the last 6 mos. in an RV park here in Southern California. Will be going full time the end of July, and intend to boondock and look for volunteering opportunities. I like to hike, bike, and explore, so I’m really looking forward to getting out there. Will focus on the seven western states for the foreseeable future, then decide where to go from there, God willing.
After following and studying you’re four part solar series, I made the leap, and did the full solar setup, similar to yours, but on a smaller scale with “Mr. Marvelous” over in Casa Grande several months ago.
That’s my 22’ Artic Fox on his web site. When I hit the road, I’ll head to higher ground at Prescott or Flagstaff, AZ for the balance of the summer, which will give me a good opportunity to really test out the system. It’s been unseasonably hot here in So. Cal, so I’ve had to continually supplement with shore power.
Looking forward to the follow up postings on your system. By the way, what did you decide on the soft start for the AC and the fan to cool your system?
Next, I intend to follow Paul’s investing blog and hopefully learn as much there.
Thanks again for being so giving,
Larry
Sweeet! So glad you took the leap and you’re enjoying your new solar system. We have NOT YET added a soft start on the AC, but it IS on the list of modifications we want to do. We just haven’t gotten around to it yet! The AC starts fine without it, but we do get a momentary error on our inverter on start-up, so I would prefer the soft-start just to moderate that.
Happy Travels to you!
Nina
Thanks for the solo information and resources. My husband passed away 8 months ago and I sold our trailer as I felt it was to much to manage by myself. I am now considering a smaller set up like a class B or C. Switching from a long term we to a me is a big adjustment. I am considering solo volunteer and appreciate hearing from other single women on the road. Thanks for great posts.
I’m so sorry for your loss. If you decide to downgrade your rig and get back out there, you’ll be in great company! There’s are tons of solo ladies on the road and lots of solo volunteer opportunities. I wrote another post about Solo travel which links to many of the other solo ladies out there. They’re all super inspiring and I think you’ll find it interesting:
RVing and Traveling as a Single Lady: https://www.wheelingit.us/2014/09/26/rving-travelling-as-a-single-lady/
Hope you find your dreams and your travel! Loss is so incredibly hard, and it’s a whole new life to build. I wish you the best of everything with it.
Nina