If this is discussed in a job posting it is zapped by the moderator, so let’s have a separate thread. (And rightfully so according to the rules) 1. If the “employer” is offering a full hook up site in exchange for work hours, generally what total hours for the site, do you deem acceptable?For us, 20-24 hours per week is our range. Any more than that I want to be paid, or have other amenities thrown in. We have worked 40 hours for a free site, but that was too much for us. If I am going to work that many hours, I will return to my previous profession and make a heck of a lot more money. 2. What type of “jobs” do you enjoy or not? We like hosting, greeting, helping campers enjoy the park, light maintenance, and presenting short educational classes. Although we did so for 5 years, we are too old/tired to be cleaning restrooms or fire pits. What say you?

We do not mind working 40 hours for our site. Don't mind cleaning restrooms and fire pits. If the position does not appeal, then don't accept it.

harold1946 wrote:We do not mind working 40 hours for our site. Don't mind cleaning restrooms and fire pits. If the position does not appeal, then don't accept it.I agree. We don't accept. I was curious as to what other work campers are doing. Thanks for posting.

It usually depends on location, nearby activities, and my personal financial situation at the time. If I really need to conserve cash, I might consider working exorbitant hours.If I don't need the money, I won't work more than 20 hrs/wk for the site. Even that is stretching it some. Has to be a very nice park - pool, nice sites, reliable wifi, etc.If the park is within a couple miles of a prime paddling spot or near my grandkids, I'll consider working more as long as I still have enough time to enjoy myself.Personally, I've turned down some trashy parks that wanted 25 hrs/wk just for site.

We work 24 hrs (12 each) for a full hookup site in AZ. Have also worked 40 hr and 30 hr jobs but didn't return the following year. This is our 4th year at this location.

If it is in an area I really want to be, more hours are no problem. 40 hours in yellowstone or yosemite? Definitely. But then, chances are, I would not take a job in a place I really didn't want to be. I volunteer because I love the place, the park, the people, etc., not because I expect to be paid or make money. I don't look at the work/volunteering as payment for the site; the site is a perk for volunteering. I guess it is based on your priorities. If you are doing it just to have a place to live, doing less work makes sense. If you are doing it for the experience, the amount of work doesn't make a difference.

Hours for Site? | Good Sam Community

Jayco-noslide
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
Seems like a personal decision. For us, I doubt we would want to work any more that 15 or 20 total hours and even then it would have to be a place we would want to be anyway. If I'm going to do something at all close to "a job" in time and effort, I want paid and many positions are available or at least they were. Also, watch out for positions that have you work 20 hours as a couple because that's really 40 labor hours to me. It seems thats what ntional parks want.
stickdog
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
We have only volunteered, USFS, USACE, USF&W, and state parks in Illinois and Florida with 20-24 hours normal except for Illinois that wanted one of us on site from 10 am -10 pm for 3 days one week 4 days the next, we didn't do anything but write permits and answer questions.

All of our positions have been in areas we want to explore and have no complaints but have found we most enjoy USF&W refuges. Plenty of maintenance projects to keep me busy and interpretative jobs and wildlife to keep DW happy.

We do not take positions without full hookups.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
doxiemom11 wrote:
We have been camp hosts as volunteers and were required to work 20 hrs each per week for site, utilities including propane, a small freezer, washer & dryer. We however spent a lot of those 20 hours just being available to campers and not really doing any type of labor. Visiting and getting to know people is a pleasant way to put in your time. We would not consider anything that required much more than that, especially where some parks expect "physical" labor for that many hours and you have a set schedule to work. We prefer a more laid back and relaxed atmosphere. We have cleaned restrooms/showers, picked up trash, cleaned the beach, sold wood & ice, checked in campers and collected fees and a multitude of other things voluntarily. We are not opposed to labor, just not labor that makes us want to go back to our old jobs!

You upon a important point with us. Schedules. We prefer to work our hours when we want. That is a nice perk. Not a deal breaker, but nice.
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Nov 11, 2013
We have been camp hosts as volunteers and were required to work 20 hrs each per week for site, utilities including propane, a small freezer, washer & dryer. We however spent a lot of those 20 hours just being available to campers and not really doing any type of labor. Visiting and getting to know people is a pleasant way to put in your time. We would not consider anything that required much more than that, especially where some parks expect "physical" labor for that many hours and you have a set schedule to work. We prefer a more laid back and relaxed atmosphere. We have cleaned restrooms/showers, picked up trash, cleaned the beach, sold wood & ice, checked in campers and collected fees and a multitude of other things voluntarily. We are not opposed to labor, just not labor that makes us want to go back to our old jobs!
dahkota
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
If it is in an area I really want to be, more hours are no problem. 40 hours in yellowstone or yosemite? Definitely. But then, chances are, I would not take a job in a place I really didn't want to be.

I volunteer because I love the place, the park, the people, etc., not because I expect to be paid or make money. I don't look at the work/volunteering as payment for the site; the site is a perk for volunteering. I guess it is based on your priorities. If you are doing it just to have a place to live, doing less work makes sense. If you are doing it for the experience, the amount of work doesn't make a difference.
thgoodman
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
We work 24 hrs (12 each) for a full hookup site in AZ. Have also worked 40 hr and 30 hr jobs but didn't return the following year. This is our 4th year at this location.
HappyKayakers
Explorer III
Nov 11, 2013
It usually depends on location, nearby activities, and my personal financial situation at the time. If I really need to conserve cash, I might consider working exorbitant hours.
If I don't need the money, I won't work more than 20 hrs/wk for the site. Even that is stretching it some. Has to be a very nice park - pool, nice sites, reliable wifi, etc.
If the park is within a couple miles of a prime paddling spot or near my grandkids, I'll consider working more as long as I still have enough time to enjoy myself.
Personally, I've turned down some trashy parks that wanted 25 hrs/wk just for site.
Dog_Folks
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
harold1946 wrote:
We do not mind working 40 hours for our site. Don't mind cleaning restrooms and fire pits. If the position does not appeal, then don't accept it.

I agree. We don't accept. I was curious as to what other work campers are doing. Thanks for posting.
harold1946
Explorer
Nov 11, 2013
We do not mind working 40 hours for our site. Don't mind cleaning restrooms and fire pits. If the position does not appeal, then don't accept it.

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