The Workamper Show Podcast

Today, we’re catching up with a Workamper who had spent five years traveling around the country with his wife before coming off the road to write a novel incorporating his experiences. Johnny Bercegeay and his wife, Tracy, started traveling when he retired early at age 44. They worked at Bowlin’s Travel Centers in Arizona, managed a restaurant at a South Dakota resort, participated in several sugar beet harvests and spent extended time guarding gates in Texas. Along the way, they experienced the COVID shutdowns, serious RV problems and a medical emergency that eventually forced them to reconsider their traveling lifestyle. But, Johnny has no regrets. In fact, he believes Workamping gave him opportunities he might never have experienced if he had waited until traditional retirement age. Today, Johnny shares some of his favorite memories, lessons learned from five years on the road and how those experiences inspired his new novel, “Breaking Camp.” Johnny and Tracy certainly accumulated an incredible collection of experiences during their five years of Workamping. From watching the roof peel off their motorhome on the way to their first assignment, to experiencing four tire blowouts within 300 miles, they certainly learned how important it is to remain flexible. Johnny recommends choosing destinations rather than limiting your search to particular jobs. Once Workampers start building relationships with other travelers and employers, they often discover opportunities that aren’t even advertised. Although health challenges eventually brought their full-time travels to an end, Johnny has turned many of their adventures into a fictional novel titled “Breaking Camp: A Journey to Self-Sufficiency.” The book is fiction; however, many of its adventures were inspired by events Johnny and Tracy actually experienced, including their RV breakdowns and medical challenges. “Breaking Camp” is available in paperback and as a Kindle ebook on Amazon. People can still find many videos documenting some of their Workamping adventures, including the sugar beet harvest, by searching for RV SWAT on YouTube. The channel is now called No Acres Homestead. You can also connect with Johnny on LinkedIn or follow No Acres Homestead on Facebook. Today’s episode is sponsored by Workamper News. Much more than just a job-listing website, when you put the tools of this professional service into action, you’ll find out just how easy it can be to turn your Workamping dreams into reality. A Workamper membership opens the door to a one-stop-shop for all-things Workamping. Being the original resource for Workamping, you’ll find the largest number of job listings, be able to connect with a community of Workampers, and view resources compiled by experts who have been enjoying the RV lifestyle for many years. If you’re serious about leading a successful and enjoyable Workamping lifestyle, then membership is for you. Join today at www.workamper.com. Embark on new adventures today with the support of Workamper News behind you! That’s all for this week’s show. Next time, I’ll have another fun interview on The Workamper Show. Thanks for listening!

Today I am speaking with some folks who oversee a government-run campground just west of Minneapolis who are looking for Workampers next spring. Baylor Regional Park is a beautiful 200-acre park near Norwood Young America, Minn. Located on Eagle Lake, the park features mature trees, an 18-hole disc golf course and opportunities for outdoor recreation. It’s also about an hour from Minneapolis, giving visitors easy access to big-city attractions. Carver County Parks is looking for a single, couple or family to serve as volunteer campground hosts for the 2027 season. It runs from the second weekend in May through the second weekend in October. Hosts greet campers, handle check-ins, operate a small campground store and help with light maintenance. They also clean restrooms and showers, replenish supplies and help keep the campground looking its best. I enjoyed speaking with Tyler Utzka and Hope Mack about what sounds like a fun opportunity to spend the summer at Baylor Regional Park in central Minnesota. Tyler and Hope are looking for a single, couple or family with friendly personalities who will enjoy helping people and take pride in maintaining the 50-site campground. Workampers need to be self-starters who recognize what needs attention without being told. Equally important is the ability to work cooperatively with the other hosts and park staff, communicate politely with guests and remain flexible when unexpected situations arise. The volunteer position requires about 30 hours of work every other week. In exchange, Workampers receive a free full-hookup RV site with Wi-Fi and laundry services as well as few free nights for use by friends and family. Applicants should be comfortable using computers, smartphones and tablets to manage reservations and complete transactions in the store. To apply, Workampers need to complete a brief application, followed by a phone or video interview. A background check is required. For more information, send an email to [email protected]. To see photos and learn more about Baylor Regional Park, visit the county’s website at carvercountymn.gov or look for CarverCountyParks on Facebook. Today’s episode was sponsored by Workamper News. Creating a resume can be a cumbersome, intimidating task, especially if you haven’t written a resume in many years. The unique Workamper News Resume Builder takes you through a step-by-step process to build a complete resume with all the information Workamper employers are looking for when reviewing applications. Once complete, your resume can be emailed to anyone, and the software tracks when and who you have sent it to.  You can print out the resume or make it into a PDF which can then be uploaded or emailed. Some employers NEVER ADVERTISE – not via Workamper.com or anywhere else. They find all of their applicants just by searching the Workamper News resume database.  If you don’t have a resume in the Workamper.com database, you will be missing out on some opportunities. To open the door to more Workamping jobs, become a Workamper member today by visiting www.workamper.com. That’s all for this week’s show. I’ll have another fun interview on the next episode of The Workamper Show. Thanks for listening!

This week I am speaking with a single mother who has been traveling around much of America and Workamping for several years with two of her sons, who are 22 and 17 years old. Holly Blake is a single mother of five children, and two of her sons have been traveling with her in an RV since 2019. They began Workamping in 2022 and have been taking seasonal jobs more regularly since returning to the road in 2024. Holly has worked at amusement parks, RV resorts and KOA campgrounds with her 22-year-old son, Joshua, and her 17-year-old son, Adam. Their responsibilities have included office administration, bookkeeping, guest activities and maintenance. The family chooses where they want to explore, then looks for Workamping opportunities nearby to help support their travels. In this episode, Holly and Joshua describe the rewards and challenges of living and working together while exploring much of the country. The Blake family has certainly experienced the highs and lows of RV living. Holly, Joshua and Adam have dealt with tire blowouts, expensive repairs, mechanical failures and challenging campground management. Yet, they have traveled through much of America, except some states in the central part of the country, while growing closer together and enjoying activities many families just dream about. Holly encourages prospective Workampers to research employers carefully, understand the compensation package and maintain emergency savings in case a job doesn’t work out. She also reminds families that unconventional circumstances don’t necessarily prevent them from finding rewarding opportunities. In fact, Holly said it’s possible to find Workamping jobs even midway through a season because situations can change. Joshua recommends that younger travelers maintain friendships, remain open to learning and look for ways to help their employers without being asked. The Blakes share the fun about their adventures, including problems they encounter along the way, on their Facebook page called Three Nomads. Today’s episode is brought to you by the featured employers at Workamper.com  These Workamper Employers have taken the extra step to share some photos and detailed information about their Workamper programs with you. Check them out today! Opportunities exist for solos, couples and families, whether they are full-time, part-time, seasonal or even long-term jobs. Some are income opportunities and others involve volunteering at locations throughout the United States.  Go to www.workamper.com/fe to meet the featured employers today. If you are an employer seeking to hire Workampers, then you can learn how to benefit from year-round recruiting by becoming a Featured Employer. Visit www.workamper.com/fedetails. That’s all for this week’s show. I will be back next time with an employer who is looking for Workampers next summer in central Minnesota. I will have that interview on the next episode of The Workamper Show. Thank you for listening!

Finding convenient places to stop while traveling in an RV can be challenging, especially when you’re driving a large motorhome or towing a trailer. Today’s guest will tell us about an app he personally designed to make it easier to find important stops. Stephen Ayers is a longtime RVer and software developer who created an iPhone app called RV Trip Pilot to make traveling easier, safer and more enjoyable. The app helps RVers locate fuel stations, restaurants, rest areas, campgrounds and overnight parking options along their routes. It can even display fuel prices, suggest interesting attractions and alert drivers to changing weather conditions ahead. RV Trip Pilot works with Apple CarPlay and Apple Watch, and it costs just $9.99 as a one-time purchase, without ongoing subscription fees. Stephen explains how his own RVing experiences inspired the app and how Workampers can use it to simplify their journeys between assignments. One thing I appreciate about RV Trip Pilot is that Stephen developed it to solve problems he encountered while traveling in his own motorhome. For Workampers heading to their next assignment or out exploring the area they are visiting, the app can help identify convenient fuel stops, compare available fuel prices and locate campgrounds near where they expect to finish driving for the day. It can also help RVers avoid unnecessary detours by finding services ahead of them rather than suggesting places they’ve already passed. The weather forecasting feature is especially useful because it shows anticipated conditions along the route when travelers expect to arrive. That gives RVers an opportunity to adjust their schedules to avoid storms. When Workampers have time off to explore, the app can suggest interesting attractions and provide fun facts about places they might otherwise overlook. RV Trip Pilot isn’t designed to replace specialized RV navigation software that accounts for vehicle height and weight restrictions. Instead, it complements those programs by making it easier to find useful stops along the way. You can learn more about RV Trip Pilot and Stephen’s other useful apps at www.drive-logic.ai, where you’ll also find links to Apple’s App Store. You can see a video of how it works at www.drive-logic.ai/rv/travel-day-preview.mp4. Today’s episode is sponsored by Workamper News. Wouldn’t it be nice if Workamping job listings for your ideal location just appeared in your email inbox? They can when you’re a Workamper News member. Join Workamper News today to start using the best toolkit for finding your next Workamping gig. When they turn on job alert emails, members can select to receive help-wanted ads for just one state or all the states they want to be in. Each email contains the full ad text so there’s no need to have to click a link, go to a website and then hunt around for the ad to see if the job even interests you. The job finding process is easier with Workamper News. Join today at www.workamper.com. That’s all for this week’s show. I will have another fun interview on the next episode of The Workamper Show. Thanks for listening and if you know other travelers who could benefit from the RV Trip Pilot app, be sure to forward this episode to them.

This week I am talking with a recently-retired couple who traded a fast-paced career transporting classic automobiles for a slower lifestyle exploring America. After years of seasonal employment, including four seasons working in Alaska, Skip and Lisa Durbin recently completed their first Workamping assignment as campground hosts at Rainbow Point, which is located near Yellowstone National Park. They spent the summer maintaining campsites, helping guests and enjoying the great outdoors while working three days on and three days off. Their compensation included hourly pay and a full-hookup RV site. Now they’re heading to Minnesota to drive trucks during the sugar beet harvest before tackling an ambitious project to build their own off-road expedition vehicle. Skip and Lisa discovered that Workamping offers more than a paycheck and a place to park an RV. It gives them opportunities to explore beautiful places, meet interesting people and enjoy a less stressful lifestyle. Their biggest advice for new RVers is to research equipment carefully and, if possible, to rent an RV before buying one. Skip and Lisa learned firsthand that even experienced travelers can purchase an RV that doesn’t fit their long-term goals. Lisa also encourages Workampers to choose assignments that match their interests and experience rather than accepting jobs simply because they offer money or a campsite. After all, enjoying the work and the location is part of the reason to embrace the Workamping lifestyle in the first place. Their first season was successful enough that they’ve been invited to return to Rainbow Point next year. You can follow their adventures through their platform, titled “Where Does That Road Go?,” which is available on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Today’s episode is sponsored by Workamper News. Much more than just a job-listing website, when you put the tools of this professional service into action, you’ll find out just how easy it can be to turn your Workamping dreams into reality. A Workamper membership opens the door to a one-stop-shop for all-things Workamping. Being the original resource for Workamping, you’ll find the largest number of job listings, be able to connect with a community of Workampers, and view resources compiled by experts who have been enjoying the RV lifestyle for many years. If you’re serious about leading a successful and enjoyable Workamping lifestyle, then membership is for you. Join today at www.workamper.com. Embark on new adventures today with the support of Workamper News behind you! That’s all for this week’s show. Next time, I will be interviewing a gentleman who created an app to make trip planning and travel days much more enjoyable. I will have that interview on the next episode of The Workamper Show. Thanks for listening!

Today I will be speaking with a couple who actually met while he was RVing and she retired to join him on the road after getting married. Matt and Kiersten Buote traded conventional careers for the freedom of traveling the country in their RV. Matt started RVing in 2019 after owning a commercial fitness equipment business in New England. Kiersten worked in the golf industry and was an assistant general manager at a club in Sedona, Ariz., before deciding she was ready for a change. After getting married and living in an RV for about a year, they hit the road in search of new adventures. They actually stumbled into Workamping when Kiersten found a recreation manager position at a New Hampshire campground. Since then, she has handled activities, reservations and retail duties, while Matt has put his maintenance background to work doing groundskeeping, repairs and helping guests get their RVs into campsites. In this episode, Matt and Kiersten talk about what they enjoy about Workamping, where their travels have taken them and why they value the freedom to choose where they work and how much time they take off between assignments. Their experience shows how Workamping can provide something a traditional vacation often cannot. That is enough time in one location to really experience the area and become part of the local community. The couple offered some practical advice. Kiersten noted that every Workamping arrangement is different, so couples need to decide whether they want a site in exchange for hours, paid employment or some combination that works for their financial situation. Matt recommends becoming as debt-free as possible before hitting the road because campground jobs generally aren’t going to make anyone rich. Keeping expenses low gives Workampers more freedom to enjoy the lifestyle rather than worrying about earning enough to make payments. Kiersten offered perhaps the best encouragement for people still wondering whether they should take the leap. She described embracing the RV lifestyle as one of the best decisions of her life and she highly recommends it to anyone who already feels drawn toward the adventure. People can connect with Matt and Kiersten or follow their travels on Facebook. Today’s episode is sponsored by Workamper News. Much more than just a job-listing website, when you put the tools of this professional service into action, you’ll find out just how easy it can be to turn your Workamping dreams into reality. A Workamper membership opens the door to a one-stop-shop for all-things Workamping. Being the original resource for Workamping, you’ll find the largest number of job listings, be able to connect with a community of Workampers, and view resources compiled by experts who have been enjoying the RV lifestyle for many years. If you’re serious about leading a successful and enjoyable Workamping lifestyle, then membership is for you. Join today at www.workamper.com. Embark on new adventures today with the support of Workamper News behind you! That’s all for this week’s show. Next time, I will be interviewing a couple who just completed their first-ever Workamping job. They’ll describe what they liked and what surprised them about the experience on the next episode of The Workamper Show. Thanks for listening!

Today I’ll be talking with a woman who has been RVing and Workamping with her husband and three children for nearly five years. Hailey Warner got the idea to start RVing after she saw a video reminding parents they get only 18 summers with their children. She decided she wanted to make the most of those years by selling nearly everything, buying an RV and hitting the road. Workamping helped to make the adventure possible by making it more affordable. Since then, Hailey and her family have worked at an amusement park in Kentucky, campgrounds in Wisconsin and Tennessee, the sugar beet harvest and a Jellystone Park in Texas. She has handled everything from front desk and housekeeping duties to bartending and leading some activities. Today, Hailey is an activities director, and her older children are getting some Workamping experience of their own. Hailey’s story shows families do not need an expensive RV or a perfect plan to start Workamping. In fact, she advises people not to overcomplicate it. Start small, upgrade when you can and connect with other Workamping families who can offer advice about jobs, roadschooling and life on the road. Workamping has allowed Hailey’s family to explore the country while creating memories together. It has also helped her develop new skills and move into a management position that could open doors to future opportunities. Hailey said that if she could do anything differently when beginning this adventure, she would have started Workamping sooner. To follow the family’s adventures, look for Magikal Peach on TikTok and Instagram. Today’s episode was sponsored by Workamper News. Creating a resume can be a cumbersome, intimidating task, especially if you haven’t written a resume in many years. The unique Workamper News Resume Builder takes you through a step-by-step process to build a complete resume with all the information Workamper employers are looking for when reviewing applications. Once complete, your resume can be emailed to anyone, and the software tracks when and who you have sent it to.  You can print out the resume or make it into a PDF which can then be uploaded or emailed. Some employers NEVER ADVERTISE – not via Workamper.com or anywhere else. They find all of their applicants just by searching the Workamper News resume database.  If you don’t have a resume in the Workamper.com database, you will be missing out on some opportunities. To open the door to more Workamping jobs, become a Workamper member today by visiting www.workamper.com. That’s all for this week’s show. Next time, I will be speaking with another Workamping couple who actually met when he was already living in an RV and encouraged her to join him after they were married. I will have that interview on the next episode of The Workamper show. Thanks for listening!

Today I am speaking with the director of operations for a small investment group that owns and manages campgrounds in Indiana and Pennsylvania. Pinecone Resorts manages Manapogo RV Campground in Orland, Ind., which is a 302-site park on a lake with a marina, boat slips and plenty of activities. The company also operates Benner’s Meadow Run Campground in Farmington, Penn., which is a 168-site RV park with 12 deluxe cabins, a pool, mini golf and access to plenty of outdoor recreation. Operations Manager Stacey Huck said Workampers play an important role at both properties. Pinecone Resorts hires Workampers for maintenance, housekeeping, front desk work and activity positions. The company is also looking for a general manager for its Indiana campground. The company pays Workampers for every hour they work while also providing a free RV site. Most Workampers are expected to work full-time, or about 40 hours per week. In this episode, Stacey explains why Pinecone Resorts relies on Workampers, the qualities she looks for when hiring and why personality can sometimes be more important than specific campground experience. I appreciated Stacey’s perspective on what it takes to succeed as a Workamper because she recognizes that campground jobs can be demanding. There will be busy weekends, unexpected maintenance problems and occasionally a guest who is having a bad day. But, Stacey encourages her employees to look beyond those challenges and notice the families laughing, playing and making memories around the campground. She believes helping create those experiences is one of the most rewarding aspects of working in outdoor hospitality. Pinecone Resorts is looking for Workampers in 2027 for a variety of positions, including maintenance, housekeeping, front desk and activities. Stacey said experience with plumbing, electrical work, construction or other maintenance skills can be especially valuable because a campground is like a small city where something always seems to need attention. However, she added that applicants shouldn’t assume they need to know everything before applying. Stacey said she can train people in many skills, but she can’t train personality. She wants applicants to be honest about their strengths and pursue positions that fit them, whether that means interacting with guests at the front desk or working more independently in housekeeping or maintenance. If you’re interested in working for Manapogo RV Campground in Orland, Ind., or Benner’s Meadow Run Campground in Farmington, Penn., Workampers can email a resume to [email protected]. You can also find Pinecone Resorts opportunities advertised through Workamper News. To learn more about the campgrounds themselves, visit Manapogo.com or BennersMeadowRun.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by Workamper News. Much more than just a job-listing website, when you put the tools of this professional service into action, you’ll find out just how easy it can be to turn your Workamping dreams into reality. A Workamper membership opens the door to a one-stop-shop for all-things Workamping. Being the original resource for Workamping, you’ll find the largest number of job listings, be able to connect with a community of Workampers, and view resources compiled by experts who have been enjoying the RV lifestyle for many years. If you’re serious about leading a successful and enjoyable Workamping lifestyle, then membership is for you. Join today at www.workamper.com. Embark on new adventures today with the support of Workamper News behind you! That’s all for this week’s show. Next time I will be speaking with a Workamper who has been traveling and working with her family of five. Even the teens work for the campgrounds, too. I will have that interview on the next episode of The Workamper Show. Thank you for listening!

Today, I am speaking with a retired couple who have spent about 11 years Workamping as a way to explore the country while enjoying extended stays in some pretty spectacular places. Liz and Mike Cress started their Workamping adventure with a big leap. For their very first assignment, they drove their RV all the way to Alaska, where they spent more than four months working at a hotel and campground. The couple wanted the freedom to travel throughout the United States, explore cities, states and national parks, meet interesting people and work enough hours to help support the RV lifestyle without allowing work to interfere with the adventure. Liz and Mike spend their winters at home in Florida and use the summer months to go Workamping in places they want to explore. This summer, they were working at Off Road RV Resort near Hanksville, Utah. The location gives them easy access to many of Utah’s incredible parks and scenic areas, which is exactly what they were looking for when they accepted the position. Over the years, Liz and Mike have learned quite a bit about finding the right Workamping jobs, asking the right questions and making sure expectations are clear before arriving. They also discovered why Workamping can be an ideal lifestyle for people who enjoy traveling, meeting others and having plenty of time to explore. Liz and Mike have traveled throughout the United States, visited Alaska and experienced everything from national parks and scenic highways to a black bear wandering around their RV in the middle of the night. One of the most important lessons they learned is that people should research Workamping opportunities carefully rather than simply accepting the first job they are offered. Liz recommends looking closely at the hours you will work, the time off you will have, compensation, site arrangements and other benefits. For couples, she also recommends making sure both people have the same days off so they can actually enjoy exploring the area together. Mike strongly recommends having a written agreement outlining what the Workampers will do and what the employer will provide. That gives both sides a clear understanding of expectations and helps prevent misunderstandings later in the season.. Liz and Mike also encourage prospective Workampers to ask plenty of questions during interviews. Employers are not bothered by questions. In fact, the couple believes asking questions increases the likelihood that an assignment will be successful because Workampers know exactly what they are getting into before they arrive. Perhaps the biggest lesson the Cress’ learned is to just give Workamping a try. Their attitude from the beginning was let’s go have some fun and they did. Today, Liz and Mike remain enthusiastic ambassadors for Workamping and are happy to answer questions from people considering the lifestyle. You can connect with them on Facebook. Today’s episode is sponsored by Workamper News. Much more than just a job-listing website, when you put the tools of this professional service into action, you’ll find out just how easy it can be to turn your Workamping dreams into reality. A Workamper membership opens the door to a one-stop-shop for all-things Workamping. Being the original resource for Workamping, you’ll find the largest number of job listings, be able to connect with a community of Workampers, and view resources compiled by experts who have been enjoying the RV lifestyle for many years. If you’re serious about leading a successful and enjoyable Workamping lifestyle, then membership is for you. Join today at www.workamper.com. Embark on new adventures today with the support of Workamper News behind you! That’s all for this week’s show. If you know someone who is contemplating jumping into the RV lifestyle, please forward this interview to them. Thanks for listening!

Today, I am speaking with a couple who decided they didn’t want to keep waiting for “someday” to begin traveling. They have been fulltime RVing for five years. Donny Benedict spent his career in furniture retail management, while his wife, Tammy, was a teacher. They started RVing about eight years ago and even lived in their RV for three years while Tammy was still teaching. When she retired, they were finally free to embrace full-time travel and Workamping. Because they retired in their 50s, Workamping offered a way to stretch their budget while seeing parts of the country they had always wanted to explore. They have worked for a large resort in North Carolina’s Outer Banks, at a retail position near Traverse City, Mich., and, most recently, at a small, family-owned campground in Maine. Tammy typically works in the office handling reservations and checking in guests. Donny spends more time outside escorting campers to their sites, cleaning facilities, helping with the pool and handling light maintenance. Along the way, they also developed a strategy for finding positions that allow them to explore new places without feeling like they are simply working another full-time job. In this episode, Donny and Tammy explain how they select Workamping jobs, what they look for before accepting a position and why asking plenty of questions during an interview can prevent problems later. The couple offered some practical advice for people who are contemplating Workamping or full-time RVing. First, don’t be afraid to ask questions before accepting a Workamping position. Tammy recommends having a list of questions ready so you understand exactly what the employer expects from you and what you can expect in return. The couple also recommends planning carefully and testing the RV lifestyle before making a full-time commitment. Before hitting the road permanently, they parked their RV at a campground close to home and lived in it for a month. They did that to identify potential problems and determine whether they really enjoyed living in an RV. Donny and Tammy also learned not to panic when something goes wrong. RVing inevitably brings unexpected problems, but Tammy said their biggest lesson has been remembering that things will be OK because there is usually a solution. When searching for Workamping jobs, Donny and Tammy start with where they want to go rather than simply looking for available positions. This year, they narrowed their choices to Maine or Colorado, then searched for positions offering the combination they wanted, which was an RV site plus an hourly wage. After leaving Maine, they plan to spend some time exploring New England before heading to Virginia for their first volunteer position with Virginia State Parks. That assignment will also put them close to their grandchildren for a month. To follow Donny and Tammy’s adventures, look for @2Benedicts on Facebook and Instagram. You can also visit 2benedicts.com, where you can sign up for their seasonal newsletter featuring updates about their travels along with occasional RVing tips. That’s all for this week’s show. If you had an interesting summer experience, we’d enjoy hearing all about it and invite you to be a guest on a future episode. You can help other people considering whether the RVing and Workamping lifestyle is worthwhile by sharing what you like or dislike about your experiences. Whether you are a seasoned Workamper or new to RVing, we would enjoy hearing what attracted you to the lifestyle and what remains on your bucket list of places to visit. Go to workampershow.com. You can find a link to schedule an interview near the bottom of the homepage. Thanks for listening! If you like these interviews, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.