We accepted a job at Elma RV Park, in Elma, WA about 30 minutes from Olympia WA.
Think we needed the job just to prove to ourselves that it wasn't US at the last place!😛
It's not a park to brag about but it's fine for our purposes this summer. Its exceptionally clean. The managers seem really cool and enthusiastic and friendly. The spaces are really close here so their primary goal here is to make guests happy and it shows on their reviews. We get to explore this part of the country in hopefully great weather after the 4th of July!
We'll be working Thurs, Fri, Sat & Sunday from 4-8 and getting paid for it. Our other time is open and we're off anywhere we please.
sherry (and Jesse)
Defiant said
10:30 AM Jun 18, 2013
Congrats on the job!! Sounds like a great gig!
Lucky Mike said
12:24 PM Jun 18, 2013
I like it!!!!!!!!
congrats!!
Workinrvers said
12:34 PM Jun 18, 2013
have been following your other thread. Congrats on the new job. We also had a terrible experience at our first work camping job. Started out fine then about 1/2 way through the season the owner became very hard to work for. Seems like anything any of the work campers did was never good enough. We started out with 6 couples and he eventually drove all of us off with his behavior. We were the first to arrive and the last to leave. We tried our best to "stick it out" but could not put up with him any longer. Unfortunately we are hesitant to take another campground job because of this experience. Someday we will try it again but right now we have been exploring other work camping opportunities. This season we are working at the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota and are loving it. Sounds like you guys are on the right track, hope this new job works out well for you guys.
Phil
WestWardHo said
02:44 PM Jun 18, 2013
Thanks all, I just love hearing from you 'guys'!
Phil and Rudee,
Your first jobs sounds awful. You obviously made a commitment and kept your word but you're right to leave when it gets that bad. I'm really happy to hear you're lovin' your current work. Isn't it fun when that's the case?
We had two beautiful weather days for my granddaughters HS graduation last Friday and Saturday and it turned yesterday and rained much of the afternoon and evening but the air smells so sweet and it's nice and quiet at night and frankly most of the time around here.
We hope some Dreamers are in the area so we can get together.
Sherry PS, the cookies they give you on arrival here really are homemade and good!
bjoyce said
04:08 PM Jun 18, 2013
Enjoy the area and I hope the job works out for you. Olympia is my home town, so I know the area well.
Ann-Hank said
05:11 PM Jun 18, 2013
Congrats!! The weather will be great after the 4th as Ruth said. We just took a job at the Happy Holiday RV Resort just out side of Rapid City. Yesterday was our first day of being on the schedule and all was fun. We get what we feel are pretty good bennies. 18 hrs each per week for site with FHU, $10 cash per week for laundry (we have a washer & drier), cable, Wi-Fi, 30% discount at the store, propane and a VIP pass to all the area attractions. We'll have to look up Phil and Rudee when we go to Crazy Horse, it's only about 20 miles down the road.
Ann
CurveCarver said
11:25 PM Jun 18, 2013
Congrats! Sounds like a good show. Checked out their website and it looks like a fine spot to hang-out for awhile.
I'll try to get up to see you guys within the next week. I'm in Lake Oswego OR today visiting family and I'll be meandering
up that way over the next several days.
Good Luck with your new gig, be well.
B
Workinrvers said
11:43 PM Jun 18, 2013
Ann-Hank wrote:
Congrats!! The weather will be great after the 4th as Ruth said. We just took a job at the Happy Holiday RV Resort just out side of Rapid City. Yesterday was our first day of being on the schedule and all was fun. We get what we feel are pretty good bennies. 18 hrs each per week for site with FHU, $10 cash per week for laundry (we have a washer & drier), cable, Wi-Fi, 30% discount at the store, propane and a VIP pass to all the area attractions. We'll have to look up Phil and Rudee when we go to Crazy Horse, it's only about 20 miles down the road.
Ann
You guys are more then welcome to look us up. We work Wed - Sunday 1-10 and are staying at Heritage Campground a mile south of Crazy Horse lot #6.
Phil
Ckerr said
12:10 AM Jun 19, 2013
Congrats! Sounds like a good place to land...
NWescapee said
05:57 AM Jun 19, 2013
Yay!! You're only about 90 minutes away from us, or at least where we are for another 8 days. If we weren't so crazy busy trying to empty out the house, we'd take a run down there and see you. Let us know if you make it north of Tacoma any time between now and the 3rd of July, we leave for Whidbey Island on either the 3rd or 4th.
July is going to be crazy with 3 art shows and traveling from Whidbey Island to the Olympic Peninsula and then a mad dash across the state to the Tri-Cities (Richland, Pasco and Kennewick) before we head to SD in the middle of August.
Ann/Hank and Phil/Rudee - maybe we can see either one or both of you as we pass through the Rapid City area to establish our domicile, we plan to arrive right after the Sturgis Rally.
Workinrvers said
03:29 PM Jun 19, 2013
NWescapee wrote:
Yay!! You're only about 90 minutes away from us, or at least where we are for another 8 days. If we weren't so crazy busy trying to empty out the house, we'd take a run down there and see you. Let us know if you make it north of Tacoma any time between now and the 3rd of July, we leave for Whidbey Island on either the 3rd or 4th.
July is going to be crazy with 3 art shows and traveling from Whidbey Island to the Olympic Peninsula and then a mad dash across the state to the Tri-Cities (Richland, Pasco and Kennewick) before we head to SD in the middle of August.
Ann/Hank and Phil/Rudee - maybe we can see either one or both of you as we pass through the Rapid City area to establish our domicile, we plan to arrive right after the Sturgis Rally.
sounds good to us. PM me when you are headed this way and we'll give it a try.
Phil
WestWardHo said
01:33 PM Jun 24, 2013
This place has turned out to be great! Every day a camper comes in to say, "Thank you, we had a great stay here, we'll be back!" Unusual in our limited experience. Guests get homemade cookies on check in and some wander back each day for more Which may have something to do with it. The managers here, Rea and Jerry, are just terrific, smart, straightforward, friendly and hard workers can't say enough about them (and they don't know about this site 😄).
So if anyone is looking for 2014 in the NW try Elma RV Park in Elma, WA. Warning it rains a LOT here! 😝 Waiting for July 5th!
Sherry
-- Edited by WestWardHo on Monday 24th of June 2013 01:35:11 PM
bjoyce said
08:42 PM Jun 24, 2013
Come on, Sherry. Look at the drama you are missing not staying by Crater Lake. Instead you get happy campers and happy workcampers.
WestWardHo said
09:22 PM Jun 24, 2013
Bill,
Totally. Not missing that thanks. Love the happy workers and happy campers.
Sherry
NWescapee said
06:27 AM Jun 25, 2013
So glad it's working out for you guys!! Do yourselves a favor on your day off and take a day trip to Westport. Buy some fresh crab and some Northwest smoked salmon and have a feast! Oh, the Westport Winery isn't a bad stop either!! And the beach is wonderful, of course.
WestWardHo said
03:37 PM Jun 25, 2013
Soon, Ruth, as soon as we get back from AZ. Are you all packed up and totally exhausted?
Sherry
NWescapee said
09:02 PM Jun 25, 2013
Exhausted? Yes, all packed, NO! We're getting there, one item at a time, consignment store picked up most of our remaining furniture that hadn't sold yesterday, a charity will be here tomorrow to take the last 3 items out of the house. And there's still a few piles of "stuff" to sort through, but we're getting there.
WestWardHo said
01:17 AM Jun 26, 2013
Totally cool. Jesse said "look at that rig that just came in and it was CurveCarver. Went next door and hijacked him from the office before the poor guy even had a chance to set up! What a nice man with a beautiful custom built bus! He sat and visited with us as it poured outside.
Hope we get to see him again before we leave for AZ tomorrow.
Love meeting up with you rv-dreamers, what a great group of people, so do let us know when you're in the area!
Sherry
Two Pickles said
06:47 PM Jul 16, 2013
Congratulations on your job. It really sounds nice and you're having a great summer. My DW told me about your post and suggested we look into it. Can you give me some info about where you are, jobs you do. How many workampers do they hire each season etc. We've been workamping of sorts for the past 2years @ a county park in Phoenix and loving it. No pay but but we get site, sewer, water, electric, ice, laundry, propane and a truck to drive when working. As I said we've been here 2 years--starting the end of July 2011 and had to leave briefly for two months due to health but we're back now. We work at the front gate collecting $6 fees for entrance. The regular people there are great to work with. We will be leaving here in October when the regular hosts come back They usually hire 12 to 14 host couples every fall for anyone wanting to head down here to Maricopa County area. It is absolutely beautiful here in the Fall - early Spring. Then it gets hot really hot. Then we go from our air conditioned house to the AC gate house to our AC trailer unless you really like the heat, We don't like the heat so we're hoping to find something likw where you are so we can cool off some. Oh BTW if you send some of that rain down here to Surprise AZ we really appreciate it. Happy Workamping this summer. Tom Hallock
-- Edited by Two Pickles on Tuesday 16th of July 2013 06:55:12 PM
WestWardHo said
08:38 PM Jul 16, 2013
Hey Tom,
We're most recently from Cottonwood and were there just a few weeks ago and you're even hotter! So we know what you're going thru.
Elma RV Park was built in the 80's as a home for campers for workers building a nearby nuclear power plant. The state never let the project get completed, at least that's our understanding. Current owner bought the property for a song and has done continual improvements. The current managers have been here for about 5 years and are terrific, fun people and very hard workers. The do not take advantage of work campers! We love them and they love us. Their attitude is that they are inviting people (guests and hosts) into their home so they treat them accordingly. The park is all 90 degree angles so awkward to get in and out of some sites when we're full but it all works out. Sites are mostly back ins and back up to each other, all FHU's. Not very wide sites but we have triple slides with awning extending off one and we have room and are not touching our neighbors. Not a state park but probably the friendliest private you'll find anywhere. We also have a fair amount of tent (bike and motorcycle) campers. About 1/2 the park is permanents and they're not always gorgeous but our nightly spots and weekly are decent. There are two large grassy areas within the park and a huge neighboring lot that we maintain and use for pet play and walks. The showers and laundry room are kept immaculate as is the activity room. This immediate area is nothing to get excited about but exploring the Olympic Peninsula on our off days is fun!
I work in the office, registrations, propane receipts, selling ice, etc. it's pretty busy. When it's not If dust, empty dishwasher, vacuum activity room whatever I can find to do. Although I am a little rusty in Excel and Word as I've been using my iPad for 5 years but I do those for them as I am the one here with the strongest processing skills.
DH does light maintenance: mowing, weed burning, painting rails, etch. Shifts are 4 hours for four days but we're paid for 5 (to cover late checking etc.). Same days/hours on and off. Free hookups, free, wifi, laundry, electric, and cable in addition to pay.
They have one other couple and a solo maintenance. I believe other couple is year round. We've been invited back but will be east next summer So they will need help. The weather is outstanding (once the sun a came out). One solo that we replaced was a great worker but couldn't handle the continual rain so he had to leave in late spring. Very, very comfortable.
You could call the manager, Rea, for more info or PM me.
Sherry
edit: the only negative from our Point of view, well, maybe two. Nothing interesting to us going on in Elma, no good restaurants, no good shopping, entertainment, etc. Second our work schedule: Thur., Fri., Sat. and Sunday doesn't leave us off to take advantage of fairs around the state. Would have liked the Lavender Fair in Sequim and the Bear Festival, etc. originally we thought, great, no weekend crowds, but we're missing fun stuff we like too do. Just something else for workampers too consider. What works for YOU.
-- Edited by WestWardHo on Wednesday 17th of July 2013 08:16:19 AM
-- Edited by WestWardHo on Thursday 18th of July 2013 10:15:19 PM
bjoyce said
04:30 AM Jul 17, 2013
I was lucky enough to work on construction of the only nuclear power plant of the 5 under construction that was actually completed and is up and running, WPPSS #2, which is now "Columbia Generating Station" just north of Richland, WA. "Lucky" because if I was working on one of the other 4 I would have been laid off since they were not completed. A bit of history, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Northwest, and, http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=5482 will give you some prospective of one of the biggest bond defaults in history.
Since the first iPad was released on April 3, 2010, it hasn't been 5 years. But maybe it seems that long. Just giving you trouble.
congrats!!
Sounds like you guys are on the right track, hope this new job works out well for you guys.
Phil
Phil and Rudee,
Your first jobs sounds awful. You obviously made a commitment and kept your word but you're right to leave when it gets that bad. I'm really happy to hear you're lovin' your current work. Isn't it fun when that's the case?
We had two beautiful weather days for my granddaughters HS graduation last Friday and Saturday and it turned yesterday and rained much of the afternoon and evening but the air smells so sweet and it's nice and quiet at night and frankly most of the time around here.
We hope some Dreamers are in the area so we can get together.
Sherry
PS, the cookies they give you on arrival here really are homemade and good!
We'll have to look up Phil and Rudee when we go to Crazy Horse, it's only about 20 miles down the road.
Ann
Congrats! Sounds like a good show. Checked out their website and it looks like a fine spot to hang-out for awhile.
I'll try to get up to see you guys within the next week. I'm in Lake Oswego OR today visiting family and I'll be meandering
up that way over the next several days.
Good Luck with your new gig, be well.
B
You guys are more then welcome to look us up. We work Wed - Sunday 1-10 and are staying at Heritage Campground a mile south of Crazy Horse lot #6.
Phil
July is going to be crazy with 3 art shows and traveling from Whidbey Island to the Olympic Peninsula and then a mad dash across the state to the Tri-Cities (Richland, Pasco and Kennewick) before we head to SD in the middle of August.
Ann/Hank and Phil/Rudee - maybe we can see either one or both of you as we pass through the Rapid City area to establish our domicile, we plan to arrive right after the Sturgis Rally.
sounds good to us. PM me when you are headed this way and we'll give it a try.
Phil
This place has turned out to be great! Every day a camper comes in to say, "Thank you, we had a great stay here, we'll be back!" Unusual in our limited experience. Guests get homemade cookies on check in and some wander back each day for more Which may have something to do with it. The managers here, Rea and Jerry, are just terrific, smart, straightforward, friendly and hard workers can't say enough about them (and they don't know about this site 😄).
So if anyone is looking for 2014 in the NW try Elma RV Park in Elma, WA. Warning it rains a LOT here! 😝 Waiting for July 5th!
Sherry
-- Edited by WestWardHo on Monday 24th of June 2013 01:35:11 PM
Totally. Not missing that thanks. Love the happy workers and happy campers.
Sherry
Sherry
Hope we get to see him again before we leave for AZ tomorrow.
Love meeting up with you rv-dreamers, what a great group of people, so do let us know when you're in the area!
Sherry
Congratulations on your job. It really sounds nice and you're having a great summer. My DW told me about your post and suggested we look into it. Can you give me some info about where you are, jobs you do. How many workampers do they hire each season etc. We've been workamping of sorts for the past 2years @ a county park in Phoenix and loving it. No pay but but we get site, sewer, water, electric, ice, laundry, propane and a truck to drive when working. As I said we've been here 2 years--starting the end of July 2011 and had to leave briefly for two months due to health but we're back now. We work at the front gate collecting $6 fees for entrance. The regular people there are great to work with. We will be leaving here in October when the regular hosts come back They usually hire 12 to 14 host couples every fall for anyone wanting to head down here to Maricopa County area. It is absolutely beautiful here in the Fall - early Spring. Then it gets hot really hot. Then we go from our air conditioned house to the AC gate house to our AC trailer unless you really like the heat, We don't like the heat so we're hoping to find something likw where you are so we can cool off some. Oh BTW if you send some of that rain down here to Surprise AZ we really appreciate it. Happy Workamping this summer.
Tom Hallock
-- Edited by Two Pickles on Tuesday 16th of July 2013 06:55:12 PM
Hey Tom,
We're most recently from Cottonwood and were there just a few weeks ago and you're even hotter! So we know what you're going thru.
Elma RV Park was built in the 80's as a home for campers for workers building a nearby nuclear power plant. The state never let the project get completed, at least that's our understanding. Current owner bought the property for a song and has done continual improvements. The current managers have been here for about 5 years and are terrific, fun people and very hard workers. The do not take advantage of work campers! We love them and they love us. Their attitude is that they are inviting people (guests and hosts) into their home so they treat them accordingly. The park is all 90 degree angles so awkward to get in and out of some sites when we're full but it all works out. Sites are mostly back ins and back up to each other, all FHU's. Not very wide sites but we have triple slides with awning extending off one and we have room and are not touching our neighbors. Not a state park but probably the friendliest private you'll find anywhere. We also have a fair amount of tent (bike and motorcycle) campers. About 1/2 the park is permanents and they're not always gorgeous but our nightly spots and weekly are decent. There are two large grassy areas within the park and a huge neighboring lot that we maintain and use for pet play and walks. The showers and laundry room are kept immaculate as is the activity room. This immediate area is nothing to get excited about but exploring the Olympic Peninsula on our off days is fun!
I work in the office, registrations, propane receipts, selling ice, etc. it's pretty busy. When it's not If dust, empty dishwasher, vacuum activity room whatever I can find to do. Although I am a little rusty in Excel and Word as I've been using my iPad for 5 years but I do those for them as I am the one here with the strongest processing skills.
DH does light maintenance: mowing, weed burning, painting rails, etch. Shifts are 4 hours for four days but we're paid for 5 (to cover late checking etc.). Same days/hours on and off. Free hookups, free, wifi, laundry, electric, and cable in addition to pay.
They have one other couple and a solo maintenance. I believe other couple is year round. We've been invited back but will be east next summer So they will need help. The weather is outstanding (once the sun a came out). One solo that we replaced was a great worker but couldn't handle the continual rain so he had to leave in late spring. Very, very comfortable.
You could call the manager, Rea, for more info or PM me.
Sherry
edit: the only negative from our Point of view, well, maybe two. Nothing interesting to us going on in Elma, no good restaurants, no good shopping, entertainment, etc. Second our work schedule: Thur., Fri., Sat. and Sunday doesn't leave us off to take advantage of fairs around the state. Would have liked the Lavender Fair in Sequim and the Bear Festival, etc. originally we thought, great, no weekend crowds, but we're missing fun stuff we like too do. Just something else for workampers too consider. What works for YOU.
-- Edited by WestWardHo on Wednesday 17th of July 2013 08:16:19 AM
-- Edited by WestWardHo on Thursday 18th of July 2013 10:15:19 PM
I was lucky enough to work on construction of the only nuclear power plant of the 5 under construction that was actually completed and is up and running, WPPSS #2, which is now "Columbia Generating Station" just north of Richland, WA. "Lucky" because if I was working on one of the other 4 I would have been laid off since they were not completed. A bit of history, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_Northwest, and, http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=5482 will give you some prospective of one of the biggest bond defaults in history.
Since the first iPad was released on April 3, 2010, it hasn't been 5 years. But maybe it seems that long.
Just giving you trouble.