Over past years, Adventureland typically rounded out its full-time staff with younger high school and college-age employees. Quite by accident, a woman staying in the park's adjoining campground offered to exchange hours of work for a site. She initiated Adventureland's Workamper program. "We quickly discovered the advantages in an alternative employment pool of people who live and travel in RVs," Anderson states. "Through life's experiences, the majority of Workampers bring to us a broad range of abilities and a strong work ethic. Their varied personalities and backgrounds broaden public relations with our guest population. They also provide positive leadership for our younger employees."

Although Adventureland expects to hire up to 400 Workampers in 2002, the park continues to employ a number of high school and college kids. Workamper Joann Nygard, retired from retail work at Burlington Coat Factory and J.C. Penney, believes that her fellow Workampers are role models. "We all try to maintain the rules set by the company," she says. "My shift in any of the ten retail shops starts at 9:40. I am typically there by 9:30, clocked in, and ready to work. Most Workampers stay for the time they agreed upon. Many young people quit after a few days, a couple of weeks, or even one shift."

Former administrative assistant, Shirley Green enjoys working with the younger employees, but also delights in the children who visit the park. "The park needs people-oriented persons," she says, recalling that in her Workamping role as a rides operator, she gets a realistic perspective of young people's behavior, helping her stay in touch with her preteen grandchildren. In her traditional career in sales, marketing, and the education department of a computer company, she remembers the best of all worlds. "Again, I have the best of all worlds. I thoroughly enjoy it," she says, despite a "wayward grandparents" label from their own grandchildren.

"We don't need a rocket scientist to evaluate the positive impact that Workampers make on a facility the size of Adventureland," Anderson says, noting that the park goes beyond an entertainment complex to encompass overnight accommodations and food services for its guests. "Through the positive feedback on Workampers' job performance, from operation managers and guests alike, our owner is 100 percent behind increasing our Workamper population," he continues. "Our on-property campground is a major benefit in the program," he continues. "Out of 300 sites, 200 are reserved for Workampers. The campground is predominately maintained by a Workamping staff." Anderson explains that per site cost is determined by a Workamper's length of stay. Adventureland offers a $50.00 fuel allowance to employees who arrive before the park begins its weekend operations in late April. No camping fees accrue until June 1. For the months of June and July, Adventureland charges rent of $100 plus tax. Charges for August are $75.00 plus tax for Workampers who do not plan to remain until the end of the season. For those who commit to work through September, there is no rental charge for the months of August and September.

Upon departure at the end of September, Adventureland provides an additional $50.00 fuel allowance. The accommodation package figures well under $1.00 per day for a full hookup site in a spacious and impeccably groomed campground. The hours worked in the park or campground do not impact hourly wages for services rendered. The deeply discounted rate is a benefit for Adventureland Workampers. Additionally, Adventureland goes the extra mile for its Workampers with potlucks, planned activities, employee talent night, gatherings, church services, movie nights, after-hours swimming, and discounted Adventureland tickets for friends and family. After the season winds down to weekends only, excursions, such as a bus trip to Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota, are scheduled. At the Adventureland Inn, the company hosts a catered appreciation dinner for Workampers.

Word about Workamping at Adventureland gets around. While working as assistant activity director at Palmdale RV Resort in San Benito, Texas, Pat Gloyd heard positive comments from couples who had worked at the Iowa amusement park. A fulltimer for the past ten years with her husband, a veteran, Pat decided to go after her first Workamping job. "I like it!" she says, describing the games she operates in the park. "I hope I can return summer after summer. Aventureland really wants us," she continues. "They are happy to see us and they take care of us. It's a very pleasant place to work." The Gloyds applaud the Des Moines area. "I understand why people live here," Pat says. "Although it's a city, it's not so big that it poses problems getting around. People are friendly." Anderson admits that the Des Moines area lacks mountains, major lakes, and other environments that RVers typically seek for a Workamping experience. "I believe RVers choose to spend a season at Adventureland because of what and who we are," he continues. "To our guests, Adventureland represents the opportunity to escape from life for a day. We provide Workampers the opportunity to work in a fun environment and to know that they influence the guests' experience. Our Workampers can, and do, make a difference!"

Joann Nygard comments on the accommodating attitude of retail manager, Penny Madsen. "About 60 people work under her," Joann says. "She remembers every birthday. And she goes out of her way to honor requests for certain days off."

Paul and Pat Giverdon, full-timers who homebase in Florida, travel 1600 miles to work at Adventureland, an indication that they like their jobs. Although opportunities abound for sightseeing, the Giverdons go to Adventureland primarily to earn money. Six days a week, they operate different rides from 10:00 to 3:00. They stay an additional two and a half hours and work supper relief for the second shift. "Adventureland does everything in their power to make us feel comfortable," the Giverdons agree. For approximately $1.25, they eat meals in the commissary, cutting down on their expenses. The park furnishes uniforms. The campground next to their jobs allows Workampers to walk or bicycle across a picturesque wooden bridge to their workplace. "I'm a small town gal," Pat continues. "I like the location of Adventureland in Altoona because it's a small town. We can go into Des Moines for city life if we want."

Joe and Karla Lillie, and their two-year-old son, Gabriel, prove that Workampers at Adventureland come in all ages and sizes. Joe, a retired policeman from Michigan, works at the park in security and first aid. "For three seasons now, I've helped lost children find their parents, returned items to lost and found, acted as a security presence, and tended to injuries, which are few," he explains. "There's nothing that compares to Adventureland as far as working conditions," Joe continues. "The staff is super and the campground facilities are great. It's an unprecedented place to work and enjoy ourselves." For the first summer, Karla worked, as well. After Gabriel's birth, she focused on caring for him. A second baby now joins the Workamping family. "Gabriel's been adopted as the youngest Workamper at Adventureland," Joe says. "He has a uniform like his dad's and a name tag. But most importantly, he has about 100 grandmas and grandpas. He's Adventureland's baby!"

Workampers at Adventureland also come from all professions. Frank Banker, a virologist who worked on development of the hepatitis vaccine, now swaps duties with his wife, stirring Kettle Korn in a huge black pot. Jim Minick, retired as a medical doctor from the Department of Correction in Florida, challenged himself with a Workamping job totally different from his profession. Despite recuperation from the removal of his larynx and one vocal chord due to cancer, something about Adventureland's advertisement on the Workamper News website appealed to Jim. A phone interview with Anderson clinched his decision for a productive adventure. Working in the retail department of Adventureland and living in the campground, Jim counts his experiences well worth the travel time from Florida to Iowa. Since his retirement in 1999, Jim has committed to improving his writing. At Adventureland, he penned more than a dozen poems to include in a book, Poems Inspired at Adventureland. During the five months he lived in the campground, he watched a ground squirrel. His observations went into a children's fictional story about the squirrel's life cycle. "I could go on and on about the strengths our Workampers bring to Adventureland, but in a nutshell it comes down to folks who have experienced life and enjoy interaction with people," Anderson says. "In general, our Workampers have a fun-loving spirit. Through these traits, they provide valuable assets that ultimately lead to a more positive experience for our guests. And that's our bottom line. "We're a family-owned company staffed with a family of workers who cater to Midwestern families."