What is Workamping

Posted by 153177 on 11/19/2015

When we coined the word Workamper and made it our trademark in 1987, we had no idea that 28 years later it would be so widely used.

Nearly all RVers have at least heard the word, and most know what it means...or think they know. However, there are a few misconceptions about who Workampers are and what Workamping is.

The most common misconceptions are that Workampers are retirees who work in campgrounds, and that Workamping just means trading work for a place to park an RV.

First of all, not all Workampers are retired. In fact, less than half of all Workampers consider themselves retired. With the median age being 53, it is obvious that the majority of Workampers are not drawing a pension and cannot subsist on rent-free camping alone.

Secondly, Workamping includes any activity that involves the exchange of man/woman hours for anything of value.

While you won't find the word Workamper in Webster's dictionary - yet - you will find it in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The official definition goes as follows:

Workampers are adventuresome individuals, couples and families who have chosen a wonderful lifestyle that combines ANY kind of part-time or full-time work with RV camping. If you work as an employee, operate a business, or donate your time as a volunteer, AND you sleep in an RV (or on-site housing), you are a Workamper!

"WorkCamper" with a "C", also our registered trademark, and is another way to spell this unique term.

Please note that the definition says nothing about "retirement" or "campgrounds". If you sleep in an RV at night and you conduct any activity in exchange for anything of value, you are a Workamper! While this definition could technically include such wide-ranging occupations as construction workers and race-car drivers, you probably won't hear Dale Earnhart, Jr. referred to as a Workamper! When we use the word Workamper, we are realistically referring to people whose activities relate primarily to the outdoor hospitality industry.

Regular readers of Workamper News magazine know that the majority of Workampers share their talents and experience in campgrounds, resorts, guest ranches, theme parks, marinas, wildlife preserves, plus state, national and regional parks and forests. However, many other Workampers choose less traveled paths to Workamping bliss, via less stationary jobs such as utility inspectors, field reps, carnival/circus crew members, ad sales, NASCAR ushers, souvenir vendors, etc., etc., etc. And yet, other Workampers operate businesses on wheels, such as flea market/craft vendors, cell phone/satellite sales, mobile food service, mobile RV repair/service, you-name-it. Some Workampers are in the enviable position of managing their business back home, via cell phones and the internet, while they are traveling. Literally any kind of business can and is being conducted from the road. Because of their entrepreneurial spirit, we sometimes call these folks Workamprenuers.

So, the bottom line is that Workamping can be anything you want it to be. The following list of job titles is a sampling of job titles pulled from past issues of Workamper News and Workamper.com. Maybe you'll see something that intrigues you. If not, use your imagination, and consider taking advantage of member tools like Situations Wanted ads and the Awesome Applicants Resume Database to find the job that fits your particular needs.

Campgrounds & RV Parks (commercial & government):