I thought I'd add a little information about work camping since I have discussed it in the main body of the current High Road to Taos Blog. Our experience is limited but I can make a few comments for those who are considering it or just would like to know. Our experience is limited to Picacho Peak State Park and what some of our friends, who do it as part of their full time RV lifestyle, have said. We have an RV but also a home and that is by choice. I personally need a home base, a place to call my own and a place to return to when I finish traveling.
We discovered work camping through our friends as they obtained positions in different places and we would visit. They worked hard but always had a positive attitude and seemed to be having a ball! Carol and I discussed it and decided to give it a try. One of the things we noticed is that most campgrounds like to have couples, not that a single person is excluded, because they are not. I suspect they get more work hours per RV space from couples than with singles, but that is just my speculation. We had to fill out an application, do fingerprints and undergo a background check. The whole process was relatively easy and as long as you do not have any negative history you are fine. We did need references and if you have previous work camper references then the better it is. In our case we could only provide references from friends and family as well as a solid work history prior to retirement. The other part of this is health. The majority of people I worked with were over 60 and old bones tend to be less resilient than young ones. The work was divided between Park Maintenance, Camp Host and the Office. I worked in Maintenance and Carol worked in the Office. When we arrived we were given a couple days to settle in and then it was off to work, Carol having a learning curve with computer programs and me learning to work with my hands having never done it for a living. Carol caught some sort of bug and began coughing a lot but would not take a day. The Staff finally ran her out of the Office and told her to see a doctor. The message we got was that the Staff cared about their people and the message they got was she has an excellent work ethic. My work involved cleaning up group campsites, which could be pretty nasty depending on the visitors and involved lifting heavy items. In addition to our regular tasks we had a project list when time allowed, so there was never a dull moment nor idle hands. Carol became pretty good with the computers, checking people in and Office operation in general. Two months into our five month stint she broke her ankle and ended up with a cast for the next two months. She continued to work in the Office as soon as she could despite the injury. We felt we were a part of a team. When I was away the two other Maintenance men had to pick up my work and it was the same in the Office with Carol. The Park hosts the Picacho Peak Civil War Reenactment in which period specific actors wage a mock battle for a couple days and we were asked to work longer hours to accommodate the event. The event was at the end of our stay and if you are in the area I would encourage attending. We were asked to stay through Easter, something we had not planned on, but did so. The Staff hosted an end of season party for the volunteers, recognized our hours and thanked us for our efforts. We were asked back for the following season which we felt honored to be considered.
That is about it based on our limited experience. It does give you a glimpse into the life of a work camper and what it entails. Working till the end of the season is important as replacing people is hard to do especially at the end of a season. It also influences a work camping resume as each job you have makes you more desirable for the next position.
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