Questions for: Full Timers/Work Campers Roundtable

[DQDick]

Unfortunately Suzanne and Brad have had something come up and will not be able to make the Rally. I have been asked by both them and the Wagon Masters to step in and facilitate the discussion. In order to get the most benefit from the wisdom and knowledge that will be gathered under the tent I would like to ask that folks post here the questions they would like answered by the group. At the same time I would ask that the Full Timers/Work Campers come prepared to share either one wonderful RV park they like to spend time at or one wonderful opportunity for work camping. My plan (subject to better ideas coming forward) would be to ask the questions first receiving answers from all in attendance and then go around the room letting everyone share their prepared campground or job and then with the time remaining let it be open to all and let folks group off as needed to get more detailed information from folks who presented something that they would like more detail on.

[K0LCB]

Good luck, sir! Appreciate you stepping up to the plate to pinch hit

[sola123]

Yes...Thanks for stepping up to the plate...this is one event I really want to attend and learn from the experienced...thanks again!

[subra1228]

Thank you again, Dick, for taking over ~ it's sure to be a great roundtable and an awesome rally!

[ka9vrx]

Thanks for stepping in and taking this on Dick! We appreciate you very much!!!!
Donna

[DQDick]

Heh, I appreciate the love, but let's get some ideas of what topics you'd like to learn more about from the folks who've been there and done that. Give me some questions to put to them. The only dumb questions are those that folks are too embarrassed or too shy to ask so give me a list and let me ask them for you.

[sola123]

Ok...how do you get started? What are the general options campgrounds offer? How long is the commitment generally? What types of jobs/ work do the campgrounds want you to do? Number of hours necessary to work per week? Are commercial parks better than state or national parks to work for? If not which is the best based on your experiences? Do you generally work year around or only the summer months? Winter months? What is the true cost of full timing in your Monty if you are not a work camper? Ideas on how to control cost of full timing...what do you do? I will try to think of some more questions....

[DQDick]

That's a great start! Thanks! Just thinking about those questions I'm excited. My guess would be our answers would be quite different from others so we should get you a wide variety of answers and ideas.

[PatnRich]

Thanks Dick for again stepping up. Great questions have been asked, and I have a couple in addition to those.

Is workcamping generally for site only?

If you are paid for workcamping, do they usually put you on the payroll or are you considered a 1099-self employed? Would the value of your site, if provided with one, be considered income? I ask about 1099's because in MA you would typically not be covered under workman's comp. In the event you were hurt you would be on your own.

I do understand that this may vary from campground to campground and state to state. I'm curious as to what your experiences have been.

Rich

[DQDick]

Thanks, those are good questions and I will make sure we cover them. As you suggest there are a lot of different situations and answers to those questions. Joyce and I generally work as volunteers, but there are folks who will be at the Rally who work for site and $ so we should be able to cover all the options.

[peterseidel]

Dick, We will be there to talk about our experiences with the Army Corp of Engineers Campgrounds who do both contract (Camping and pay) and Volunteer for camping.

[DQDick]

Great, our first gig was with the Corps.

[remhob]

How do you actually make the decision to full time?

[DQDick]

I'll ad that to the list. Thanks!