Workamping is doing any kind of work while RV camping.
When we coined the word “Workamper” and made it our trademark in the 1980s, we had no idea that so many years later it would be so widely used.
Nearly all RVers have at least heard the word, and most know what it means...or think they know. However, there are a few misconceptions about who Workampers are and what Workamping is.
The most common misconceptions are that Workampers are just retirees who work in campgrounds, and that Workamping means trading work for a place to park an RV.
Actually, Workampers range in age from 14-80+ traveling as solos, two-person teams, and families with (young or adult) children. And, technically, Workamping includes any activity that involves the exchange of man/woman hours for anything of value.
While you won't find the word “Workamper” or “Workcamper” in Webster's dictionary, you will find it in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The official definition goes as follows:
Workampers are adventuresome individuals, couples and families who have chosen a wonderful lifestyle that combines ANY kind of part-time or full-time work with RV camping.
If you work as an employee, operate a business, or donate your time as a volunteer, AND you sleep in an RV, you are a Workamper!
The definition says nothing about “retirement” or “campgrounds”. If you eat and sleep in an RV and you conduct any activity in exchange for anything of value, you are a Workamper!
While this definition could technically include such wide-ranging occupations as construction workers and race-car drivers, you probably won’t hear Dale Earnhart, Jr. referred to as a Workamper! When we use the word Workamper, we are realistically referring to people whose activities relate primarily to the outdoor hospitality industry.
Here are some of the business types that recruit Workampers:
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Commercial RV parks
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State parks
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County parks
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Federal government parks & rec areas
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US Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds and rec areas
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Hotel/Motel/Inns
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Lodge/Resort/Spas
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Private property owners
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Commercial ranches
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Tour companies
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Amusement parks
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Carnivals/circuses
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Travel centers
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Retail operations
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Wineries/Breweries
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Employment agencies
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Short-term events like festivals and rodeos
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Historical societies
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Museums
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Animal sanctuaries
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Tax preparation services
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Golf courses
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Christmas tree sales lot
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Fireworks sales tents
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Fulfillment centers
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Fulfillment centers
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Farms
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Gun ranges
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RV transport services
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Children & family camps
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Utility companies
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Self-storage companies
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Gate guard companies
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Campground reservation platforms
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RV sales websites
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Publication companies
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and more!
And yet, other Workampers operate businesses on wheels, such as flea market/craft vendors, mobile food service, mobile RV repair/service, RV inspections, web development, social media management, graphic design, photography, you-name-it.
Some Workampers have transitioned their career to their on-the-road life, managing their duties or their business via the internet wherever they go.
So, the bottom line is that Workamping can be anything you want it to be.