Thoughts Experiences with KOA Workamper Program

We have worked two KOA's and have chosen to do our workcamping with Amazon now. Our reasons for switching: 1. We got tired of working during the prime time for visiting places. For example, we were in the Boston area for the famous Boston 4th of July, but we were working a KOA and watched it on TV because we couldn't get off that night since it was a huge holiday for that campground. With Amazon we are working from September to December when many of the main tourist attractions are closed for the season. 2. Amazon pretty much guarantees you a 40 or more hour week so you can count on a reliable income. The KOA's are notorious for cutting hours at the beginning of the season and toward the end when fewer campers are coming in. There were times that although we were supposed to get 30 to 35 hours, we got only 15 to 20. 3. KOA's come in two types, corporate and franchise. We worked at one of each. One we had a manager who micromanaged every minute of our shift, the other expected us to find work to do that needed doing. Neither of these campground stuck to the job description we thought we had hired on for. "Some housekeeping" meant cleaning the toilets at least twice a day every day. "Light maintenance" meant weed eating and mowing much of the time. 4. Amazon provides a free site with full hookup utilities in some places and all but electric in others. KOA's charge you a reduced but still significant rate for your site. At times we were concerned that our hours wouldn't be sufficient to even cover our site much less provide any income over and above that. KOA gave us an opportunity to get into the workcamping world and for that we will be eternally grateful. Now, however, we have found a better situation to meet our needs.

We have never worked at KOA but still belong to their koa work campers just for information.

It appears to me that there is a general trend on the KOA site that most of them are getting away from paying money and going towards work for site. That is just my opinion.

KOA work camper job site is pretty good. It post all availible jobs. We have gotten jobs form it. I think KOA in general are the same as other parks. We have had good and bad experience at KOA and non-franchise parks. It all depends on the mamagment.

Working at a KOA is as much a cr@p shoot as any non-franchise campground. Your experience will depend on the franchise owner. There are good and bad out there.

After 2 bad experiences, I will no longer work at a KOA. Others will only work at KOA.

We paid the yearly dues to be members of KOA & Workamper. In the end, we always did better contacting a campground direct and not waiting for them to advertise for help. Start your searches in Sept for next summers positions. Many campgrounds know by Sept who is returning and who isn't. Choose a location you would like to be in and locate all the campgrounds in that area....send a quick note "Do you have a need for workampers next season, May to Sept." Make it short and simple. Include a small picture of yourself along with email address and phone number. Many want to know right away what someone looks like before getting into a resume & compensation packages. Never be afraid to set limits..."We do not want a housekeeping position" also ask for perks...laundry, propane, completion bonus and paid for all hours worked.