Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer workamper at Greeter Falls Campground! We welcome all applicants, regardless of age, relationship status, type of living accommodations or accompanying furry friends. Many workampers stay with us for multiple seasons while others are only with us a few months.
We have dedicated a three acre section (Area E) within our campground for exclusive occupancy by our workampers and extended stay guests with only 12 Sites: Ten RV sites, Two Furnished RVs for housing and our camp managers cabin. We call this designated area, “ABRI”, meaning a shelter or place of refuge. Area E has its own private bathhouse/laundry facility, a community gazebo as well as its own high speed fiber WiFi.
If you are new to the Workamping life Style, please read over this page in order to better acquaint yourself. If it synchronizes with your intentions, please complete the application following.
What is Workamping?
Here’s a good definition from one adventurous couple. ” Workamping or work camping is broadly defined as a combination of working and camping at the same location for a short-term or seasonal period. Workampers usually receive more than one type of compensation, ranging from a free or discounted campsite to free utilities to fully paid wages. Work camping is usually offered at established campgrounds and RV parks, but some state and national parks will offer volunteer exchanges. This means that RVers can do simple, unpaid volunteer work (trash pick-up, trail maintenance, monitoring live camera, etc.) in exchange for things like free propane, utilities, firewood, or unlimited access to the park.”
Each workamping venue/opportunity is unique as are the workampers who seek them out. By and large, most opportunities are seasonal in nature and require workampers to have a late model RV. Traditionally, workampers are non-paid volunteers who are required to work an average of 20 hours a week in exchange for an RV site and amenities. Typically, duties include cleaning the bathrooms and facilities, picking-up trash and debris, putting out reservation tickets along with general landscaping and site maintenance. Obviously, larger venues require greater specialization and an expanded workforce. Some offer full-time work and pay accordingly.
In general, workamping is more a life style than it is a job. As the name implies, it combines working and camping. If you are not a real fan of both working and camping, it really is NOT the life for you. Honestly, you can probably make more money with less effort at a desk job in the city or in a restaurant. So ask yourself: Do you like physically challenging labor, spartan living, being in nature and hanging around other kindred adventurers? Then, maybe it’s something worth considering. Remember, you gotta LOVE working AND camping or you’re bound to get disenchanted and disgruntled very quickly.
It’s good to set your expectations alright before embarking on the workamping lifestyle. It’s important to be honest and clear (with yourself and the prospective venue) about your skills, preferences and limitations. Deciding on the general region you are interested in can help narrow the options. Do you prefer rural or urban? Rustic or refined? Are you adverse to cleaning bathrooms? Do you hate bugs and can’t stand dirt? The next biggest piece of advice is: Get Completely Debt Free Prior. If you’re be shackled with expensive monthly RV and Truck payments as well as a host of other financial obligations, you’ll not only severely limit your workamping options but there’s a very good chance the experience will not go well.
Workamping at Greeter Falls Campground
We are a relatively small, privately-owned, rustic retreat set in the Cumberland plateau of Southeastern Tennessee between Nashville and Chattanooga. Our 90 site campground is located at the western trailhead to the Savage Gulf State Park near Altamont TN within Grundy County.
At Greeter Falls Campground, our volunteer Workampers are provided a no-cost site/shelter (usually in the form of a free RV hook-up, utilities and access to amenities), utilities and amenities in exchange for part-time responsibilities around the campground such as landscaping, maintenance, cleaning and hospitality.
General Workamper Duties
Volunteers are required to work 20 hours a week. On occasion, a workamping couple will work together to cumulatively fulfill their responsibilities. Other times, one member will fulfill the work requirements. Some of our workamping families home school their kids and/or work remotely and thus alternate their workamper responsibilities. We try to respect the individual needs and preferences of each member within our workamping community. But we also expect everyone to pull their own weight and contribute equitably.
The most fundamental needs of the campground always include:
- Making sure the bathhouses and facilities are clean and stocked at all times
- Ensuring that grounds and campsites are properly landscaped and maintained
- Trash is picked up and reservation tickets are delivered/picked-up
- Serve campers needs and requests – in polite, orderly fashion
Based upon the occupancy/needs of the campground, size and respective skills of workamper force and seasonal projects undertaken, some of our workampers put in more than their required 20 hours a week. In such cases, a weekly stipend equivalent to $10-15 per hour (max $200 -$300 per week for up to 20 additional hours) is allotted. Additional paid hours must be approved by management in advance.
Please note: Workamping is generally NOT a paid position. We do not offer workman’s comp, medical insurance or participation in a retirement program.
Please fill out this brief volunteer form. We will look forward to talking with you soon.