Work Campers

Work Campers Wanted March thru October 2026

What we do:

Located in the Western Cascade foothills about an hour from Portland or Salem, Oregon, Camp Dakota is a beautiful 45 acre forested campground and adventure park.  We are open to the public (by reservation) year round for camping and a wide variety of fun activities for all ages.  Camping options include yurt rentals, RV sites, tent sites, tee pee rentals, cabin tents, and group camping sites.

Activities available include zip lines, high ropes challenge course, paintball, gellyball, a rock climbing wall, high adventure programs, team building programs, gold panning, treasure hunting, and an 18 hole disc golf course. Onsite amenities include hot showers, firewood sales, ice, hot coffee & espresso, pizza delivery, snacks, camping gear, and souvenirs.

What’s included with your RV / camping site:

We do not charge our work campers rent or utilities!
Water, 30 amp electric, septic, 80 GB monthly internet is all included for free
We also have a small space for Work Campers who lack an RV
We can only accommodate up to 32’ RVs / trailers. Anything larger will not fit into the spaces available.
What we pay:

$15.85 per hour worked + another 20% on top of that as an end-of-season bonus
Employees also receive tips that have averaged another $1.00 per hour
Lead Adventure Guides receive $10 per zipline tour (paid out with the end of season bonus)
Guides In-Training / Sending Guides receive $5 per zipline tour (paid out with the end of season bonus)

So combined compensation with wages and tips and bonus averages around $20 per hour for first year work campers who successfully complete the season.

Returning work campers will will see an increase in their bonus to 25%
Work campers who accept a management position can expect to earn more per hour.

Expected work hours:

You will be scheduled between 20 and 40 hours during the spring, 35 – 40 hours during the summer and then back to 20 – 40 hours in September / October – all depending on customer bookings and special projects.

So what will I actually be doing?

Life for a new Camp Dakota work camper typically starts with a combination of training and menial chores. You may spend your first few weeks cleaning, learning the archery range, helping maintain the camp, learning how to be a zipline guide, learning how to do daily inspections, emptying garbage, cooking pizza, learning to referee paintball or gellyball, and so on. We do a lot of things, and we want you to learn as much as possible. The spring time at Camp Dakota can be cold and wet, so you should be prepared for that. As we move into the late spring, you will be working with guests more frequently. We aim to train all of our work campers to do any position needed. So one day you may be on the zip lines, and the next day you may be at the archery range the entire day. Flexibility and a positive attitude is the key to success!

As we get into the summer busy season, you will often find yourself working with local students who we hire as summer help. This means you will likely be teaching a teenager how to do all the things you just learned how to do. For some of these teens, this is their first job so you will need to be an example to them.

Will I get days off?

Yes. We try and schedule our work campers to have at least 2 consecutive days off each week. You may occasionally be asked to work overtime

During the peak summer months, most of our work campers will work three or four 10 hour days. Sometimes you will be scheduled a ½ day and once per week you may be scheduled for evening “security shift” where you will drive the camp to address quiet hours and make sure everything is locked up.

Requirements:

Must have a valid drivers license and a reliable vehicle
Must pass a background check and drug test
Must be physically able to perform menial labor
Must be willing to work most weekends and all summer holidays (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day)
Must be comfortable working at height. We provide all the proper safety equipment and training and we will train anyone who is mentally & physically able to do the job.
Must have some outdoor work experience
Must be willing and able to work a 10 hour shift during the peak season.

We are looking for people who will be a good fit to become a part of our camp family. If you have all of the requirements, please apply so we can see where you can fit into our organization. The ability to get along with co-workers and provide excellent customer service is critical to our mission which is to provide a fun family atmosphere for our guests.

​How to apply:

Send us an email with as much information as you can. If we think you might be a good fit, we will contact you for zoom interview. Please be sure to include information regarding your RV, any relevant past experience, etc.

​Send emails to info@campdakota.com

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Tagged as: Couples / Duos, Pay/Wages, Single / Solo, SPRING '26