Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > RV LIFE STYLES FORUMS > Workkamping & Volunteering
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-20-2016, 06:41 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
affreeman's Avatar
 
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Wherever I go, there I am
Posts: 574
Unreasonable Expectations?

Jut for fun and curiosity I scan workamping job ads occasionally, and I'm flabbergasted by the amount of work some places expect in return for a campsite.

I just saw one ad where they expected one person of a couple to work 8 hours a day three days per week, and the other person of the couple to work 5 hours per day three days per week. So they wanted 13 hours labor for each of three days per week, plus 2 extra days per month. That's 182 or more hours per month in exchange for a "free" campsite, which goes for $700 per month including electric. That comes out to $3.84 an hour.

Why would anybody sign up for such a deal? You'd make a much better living working at McDonald's and paying cash for the site.
affreeman is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 08-20-2016, 07:05 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
BFlinn181's Avatar
 
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
Quote:
Originally Posted by affreeman View Post
Jut for fun and curiosity I scan workamping job ads occasionally, and I'm flabbergasted by the amount of work some places expect in return for a campsite.

I just saw one ad where they expected one person of a couple to work 8 hours a day three days per week, and the other person of the couple to work 5 hours per day three days per week. So they wanted 13 hours labor for each of three days per week, plus 2 extra days per month. That's 182 or more hours per month in exchange for a "free" campsite, which goes for $700 per month including electric. That comes out to $3.84 an hour.

Why would anybody sign up for such a deal? You'd make a much better living working at McDonald's and paying cash for the site.
I think it's like teaching, being a camp councilor, etc. You do it because you love it. That work camping offer does seem a bit long on hours, but if it's in a great place, it's better than sitting in front of the TV.
__________________

Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
BFlinn181 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2016, 08:16 PM   #3
Moderator Emeritus
 
TXiceman's Avatar
 
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,945
Blog Entries: 21
We bypass the places wanting 24 hours each for a site.

Ken
__________________
Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
TXiceman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2016, 09:11 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
adamfolger's Avatar
 
Monaco Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: MotherLoad foothills approx.60 m.s east of Sacramento
Posts: 1,281
If no one takes the job the managers will have to adjust their expectations. If you have skills you can always negotiate the job requirements.
__________________
Full time since Nov 2012 RVM#41 Gary and Marian Hill 2001 Monaco Dynasty Jack 38' 370 hp ....If it ain't broke I can still fix it.
Like putting shoes on an octopuss, so are the days of our lives....
adamfolger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2016, 09:23 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,055
It's also $700 you don't need to shell out that month and often a job where you get to meet people and do something instead of getting bored after a week. I know a lot of us move on but the folks into full timing often are also climate shopping so they are looking at being in a given area for a few months at a time. With a work camping slot they also get some structure that a lot of folks seem to need in their schedule. The real issue then becomes is it 24 hours of light cleaning and counter time or 24 hours of toilets and heavy labor. The work probably counts way more than the hours for most folks.
nothermark is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2016, 09:28 PM   #6
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,007
Quote:
Originally Posted by affreeman View Post

I just saw one ad where they expected one person of a couple to work 8 hours a day three days per week, and the other person of the couple to work 5 hours per day three days per week. So they wanted 13 hours labor for each of three days per week, plus 2 extra days per month. That's 182 or more hours per month in exchange for a "free" campsite, which goes for $700 per month including electric. That comes out to $3.84 an hour.

Why would anybody sign up for such a deal? You'd make a much better living working at McDonald's and paying cash for the site.
My guess is that you have to add in the location and no commuting costs to the equation.

39 hours a week does sound like a lot for 2 people.
dexters is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2016, 11:33 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
no3putt's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Pueblo, CO
Posts: 624
My take is when it cost the same for the camp spot if one or couple is staying there but want both to work. I can see 20 hours a week per camp site, but 20 each is really pushing it. Talked to one camp host lately, no rest rooms to clean, spouse dosen't have to work and 20 hours a week to monitor the campground and pick up some. That's more reasonable in my book.
__________________
2009 Berkshire 390 QS and toad
Retired and traveling
no3putt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2016, 09:39 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Houston TX.
Posts: 2,349
We full time and like many people stay months at a time in areas we like. Have not work camped yet but will at some point to stay closer and longer in park we love(Yellowstone). We are lucky and can afford to stay where we want but some parks have limits yo length of stay. Work camping allow you to stay. Also I can see where it would be a way to reduce costs for very easy onsite work. The camp hosts at Rv parks are not killing themselves and depending on area no tax forms to file. Best part is if you do it and are unhappy nothing stops us from moving on.

Take care and enjoy the travels.
Trapper2022 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2016, 12:41 PM   #9
Moderator Emeritus
 
TXiceman's Avatar
 
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,945
Blog Entries: 21
Maybe we need a Host/Volunteer Union to represent our best interest.

But the more popular parks have a waiting list of people wanting to volunteer there that will accept the 25 to 30 hours each per week for a site.

Ken
__________________
Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
TXiceman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2016, 01:32 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
BFlinn181's Avatar
 
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
After further reflection on your post,

"Unreasonable Expectations?"

For who? The place posting the job is hoping to get as much work out of the folks applying as they can. They don't think they are unreasonable.

If YOU think the job description is unreasonable, you don't have to apply, or you can try to negotiate the responsibilities down a bit.

As I and others said in many ways, many people consider the job to be secondary to the location, personal interaction, etc. Those things aren't listed in a job description, they have to be learned by doing the job. I was a teacher for over 30 years, a camp councilor and worked in camp situations for many years. The pay was often lousy but the experiences were priceless. Volunteerism also pays off with NO pay, but again the experiences and the feelings are priceless.
__________________

Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
BFlinn181 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2016, 03:06 PM   #11
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,007
Quote:
Originally Posted by BFlinn181 View Post
.

As I and others said in many ways, many people consider the job to be secondary to the location, personal interaction, etc. Those things aren't listed in a job description, they have to be learned by doing the job. I was a teacher for over 30 years, a camp councilor and worked in camp situations for many years.
What did you teach?
dexters is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2016, 03:13 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
BFlinn181's Avatar
 
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
Quote:
Originally Posted by dexters View Post
What did you teach?
Math and Science, gr 6-10, also 12 years assisting with a graduate class in environmental science on a ranch in the Yellowstone ecosystem. Many of my responsibilities went beyond the classroom, I did them because they were good for kids and I enjoyed the activities.
__________________

Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
BFlinn181 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2016, 04:12 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: where ever the rv is parked today.
Posts: 629
Quote:
Originally Posted by Trapperbob11 View Post
The camp hosts at Rv parks are not killing themselves and depending on area no tax forms to file..
I have only workcamped for a year now but i noticed something right away about most who camp host or workcamp (noticed it before but a year doing it myself confirmed it)..........they are not killing themselves at all........in fact most do the bare min needed and do it slow at best. Most could never hold a real paying job........even a night shift mcjob type job. Some ( a lot) were not physically fit enough to do the job for 10 hours a week let alone 24-30. How can a person not be able to walk 100 yards, bend over to ick something up off the ground, or lift 20lbs think they can camp host, clean fire pits/bathrooms/do light yard work and such...... who hires them then complains they do not do enough work or need to long to do it?

it could be why some places have such high hours work required. Because they need to require 30 hours to get a real 15 or or so worked.

To be fair i have also noticed most who manage camground host are not really cut out to be managers but somehow ended up in those positions for whatever reason so they get what they deserve. Crappy employers tend to draw poor workers and both will complain about the other.

My last managers had no idea how to deal with camphost who really were just doing the job for fun and not money and actully tried to do the job not hide in the rv and avoid campers all day long watching dr phil or whatever a lot camp host watch on tv all day. The boss was only worried that the paperwork (money money money) was correct with not a care about what campers wanted or needed to enjoy the stay.
jbrv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2016, 10:45 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,772
Flame throwers ready.....?
__________________
Terry & Alice
2006 Bounder 38L DP
2012 GMC Terrain
firedoc is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Pricing expectations DLoy1324 Winnebago Industries Owner's Forum 37 02-26-2013 06:34 PM
Expectations of log book when purchasing motorhome johnsong3 Class A Motorhome Discussions 17 02-08-2013 06:02 AM
When It Comes to High Customer Expectations, FCCC Aims Higher DriVer RV Industry Press 0 05-23-2012 02:37 PM
Are we being unreasonable asking for an inspection? johnsong3 iRV2.com General Discussion 69 01-10-2012 09:22 PM
Calibration of Driving Experience Expectations Megsfolks Freightliner Motorhome Chassis Forum 6 04-19-2010 09:04 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 10:46 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.