Fairbanks, 118 miles north, and Anchorage, 245 miles south, are the closest major shopping and city entertainment hubs. Workampers at Denali RV Park schedule shopping trips to Fairbanks, planning ahead to stock supplies for a length of time. Having Denali for a summer’s backyard appeals to folks like Greg and Cindy Langevin from Florida and C.J. and Monie Mouton from Louisiana. The solitude of the National Park and its majestic mountains, gurgling streams, and abundant wildlife are mere minutes away. An occasional peek at North America’s highest peak is a bonus. In exchange for 40 hours work each week at Denali RV Park and Motel, Workampers receive an hourly wage, plus site, hookups, showers, and laundry. Perks include complimentary tickets to area attractions and events such as white water rafting, horseback riding, dinner shows, flight-seeing trips to Ruth Glacier at Mount McKinley, and Riverboat Discovery and the El Dorado Mine in Fairbanks.

Workampers take reservations and register travelers at the RV Park or the adjoining motel. They act as clerks for the gift shop, and sell tours for flight tours or water rafting trips. Shifts are 7:30-3:30 and 3:30-10:00. Couples have the same two days off.

“We work and play as a team, often getting together for meals with the other two Workamping couples,” says Monie Mouton.

“Ken is a relaxed, hands-on manager, filling in for employees who have emergencies—or need to alter schedules,” she continues. “He’s agreeable to Workampers switching shifts to accommodate day trips for the complimentary tours.

“On a ladder rating employers, I would add another rung and put Ken on the top,” Monie states. “He goes out of his way to make our stay pleasant. He’s fair and friendly and goes the extra mile to help his Workampers keep their commitments.”

C.J. and Monie have worked at Denali RV Park for five seasons, typically arriving before May 1 to help open the park, and staying until September 15 to close. The Moutons have been RVing for about 35 years. Although they maintain a home in New Orleans, they worked for ten years as wagon masters for Tracks to Adventure. Over six different trips to Alaska leading a caravan, they met Ken Engels. He welcomed them to try working for a summer at Denali RV Park.

The remote outdoors area matches the Moutons’ interests in riding ATVs, hiking, and observing wildlife. For weeks during their off-hours, they watched a beaver build his mound. They consider their participation in the community an added bonus.

“Denali feels like home. This is one advantage of returning to the same place for several seasons,” Monie says, noting that as a member of a local quilters’ group, she contributed her skills to a large decorative banner on display at the Nenana River Wildwater Festival. “We attend church, go to the library, and make friends with the locals. C.J. plays cards regularly with some of his friends.

“Workamping allows people to reinvent themselves—go to different places and take up different careers,” Monie adds.

C.J. reinvented himself, leaving a job in nuclear medicine to start seeing the country from the driver’s seat of their motorhome. Monie, a professional seamstress who sews costumes for Mardi Gras parades, continues to work from November to February. She explains that a costumer cuts out 25-30 outfits for those riding on floats and farms out the sewing to individuals to sew in their homes. With a couple of industrial sewing machines, Monie stitches braid and trimming onto the fabric. After C.J. no longer worked in nuclear medicine, he became her helper. She carries a sewing machine with her wherever they travel. While in Alaska, she makes potholders and mosquito head nets—all bearing a “Made in Alaska” tag. Her items are sold in the gift shop at Denali RV Park.

Unlike the Moutons, Greg and Cindy Langevin were first time Workampers and first time travelers to Alaska in 2006. Considered part time at the park, they arrived at Denali RV Park on May 10th and ended their stint on August 10th, giving them time to tour other parts of Alaska before the snow flew. They helped to run the office, typically taking the 3:30-10:00 p.m. shift. Additionally, they cleaned restrooms and the laundry.

Also reinventing careers, Greg worked as a tool and dye technician for Ford Motor Company. His experience as an electrician came in handy with maintenance at the park. He retired as a truck driver for Public Supermarkets in Florida. In life prior to retirement, Cindy worked as a banker. Her hobbies include reading, making jewelry from Swarovski crystals, and walking her dog, Keota. While Workamping at Denali RV Park, she sold her jewelry at the gift shop and in other outlets in the Denali area.

Although Greg and Cindy had been RVing since 2002, they sold their house to their son in 2005 and moved into their 40-foot motorhome. They tow a 30-foot trailer that carries their Jeep, two motorcycles, and Greg’s workshop to accommodate his hobby in woodworking.

“We decided that Workamping in Alaska would give us a more affordable way to see the state,” Cindy says. “ I searched the Internet, utilizing Workamper News and its Hotline, for the jobs at Denali RV Park and Motel. We had many talks with Ken before we decided that the job was right for us.

A bulletin board behind the registration desk revealed part of the Langevins’ Alaskan discovery in photographs of wildlife that Greg shot on the first fifteen miles of roadway into Denali National Park. His pictures encouraged guests to drive into the Park. ‘When folks came back from Denali Park after sighting wildlife, their enthusiasm spread like wildfire,” Greg says. “I enjoyed making the stay memorable for other people.”

He assimilated himself well to the Alaskan environment and to duties at the RV park, although he had never worked retail. However, Greg’s outgoing personality pumped up guests and made up for any apprehension he first had about the job.

A flight-seeing trip over Mount McKinley and a landing on the Ruth Glacier highlighted the summer for Cindy and Greg. “After the trip, I sold four plane rides to guests in the park. They were hesitant, at first, thinking it was too much money to spend,” Greg says, sharing his enthusiasm for the flight. “Later, they came in the office showing thumbs up, and thanking me for telling them about the trip. That made my Workamping job for me!”

Sighting a moose in the neighborhood, beavers on the pond, bears on the roadway, and an occasional glance at the elusive Mount McKinley are common occurrences for Workampers at Denali RV Park and Motel.

“We wanted a quieter environment—close to nature and the outdoors,” Cindy Langevin states. “We found the best of these worlds at Denali.”