Author: Jolene MacFadden

Semi-Retired former Full-Time RVer, published author, handcrafted bead and wire jewelry maker, who has started another side businesses helping self-publishing authors publish the books and marketing as well.

Getting Ready for Active Summer of Bad Weather

May 25, 2018 Jolene MacFadden

For those of us sticking around this summer in sunny Florida and are Full-Time RVers we have to be prepared to bug out at a moments notice from any public land areas we happen to be volunteering in or just camping in. County, State and National Parks, Forests and Wildlife Refuges are required to evacuate any guests and personnel staying in the area during a major weather event. Now our normal summer storms don’t count and really only those “Named” storms are really required by some authorities as worthy of closing down services within the public lands themselves. Of course, once someone declares the on-coming storm as any level of a Hurricane you are going to relocate elsewhere anyway. Heavy Class A RVs are okay to stay in during a storm so long as you not under a canopy of trees. Both those thin walls travel trailers not so much.

Holidays in the Parks, Lessons in Camping, RV and Campers, Weather Challenges, Workamping

Summer Camping Or Wait Till Fall

May 14, 2018 Jolene MacFadden

Are you going to camping in Florida this summer or wait until the weather cools off a bit in the Fall? Normally, most of the full-time RVers have already left Florida for cooler places in the mountains of the Smokies, the Rockies and the really lucky ones are headed to Alaska for the summer month there. We really don’t blame everyone from leaving the southern part of Florida and even here in the Northeast part for the really hot months that are already here. We should be starting with our every afternoon rain/thunderstorms real soon. Which will be a little relief during the days and help the nights to be a little cooler. But, of course, then we will get a platoon of mosquitoes out of the bargain. And, of course, there is the whole, Oh, No! a hurricane is coming where should we go?

Fun for RVers, Volunteer At A Florida State Park, Workamping

Weird Weather We Are Having

April 21, 2018 Jolene MacFadden

Florida like the rest of the U.S. is really having a weird batch of weather the last couple of months. Generally, by now we should be in the groove of bright, warm days, medium cool nights and occasional showers. But mother nature seems to have a touch of Alzheimer’s or something. One day bright and sunny and the next no sun and cooling temperatures like it’s trying to be winter again. I can’t imagine what we are going to have this summer. We have even already had severe thunderstorms this past week. The only good thing about that is that the attendance in the park slacks off a little during the rain storms. Yes, there are those who refuse to leave and just hang out for a while to see if it really means to stay.

Campground Host Experiences, Holidays in the Parks, Weather Challenges, Workamping, Working While RVing

Environmental Students Volunteering This Summer

April 20, 2018March 14, 2020 Jolene MacFadden

Summer is fast approaching and there are lots of opportunities out there for environmental science students of all kinds to get a little bit of experience in their chosen field in a more laid-back atmosphere than your regular internships. There are a couple internships posted in the National Forest/Wildlife Refuge/Parks in Florida for the summer that might include housing and a little money to help you get through. Those are, generally, heavily competed for but there is an alternative you might want to consider.

Florida State Parks, Workamping for Students

Butts Bottles and Bags

March 15, 2018 Jolene MacFadden

Butts, Bottles, and Bags. Yep, I have been trying to remember to write this post for a couple of months now. It’s pretty much the majority of what we do as volunteer workampers in almost every single assignment. We pick up a lot of water bottles, those plastic bags floating around the picnic areas and cigarette butts. Don’t get me wrong I have nothing against people smoking outdoors, to each his own, and all of that but please use one of those portable ashtrays with the lids on them, people! They keep your butts in one place, comes with a lid you can open and dump the contents into the trash, helps put out the cigarette and keeps the still lit cigarette from catching stuff on fire when tossed into dry leaves. Not that that happens very often, especially right now, when everything is still so damp from all the rains we have had and the cold winter. But still, it’s a pain to pick them all up even in the fire pits.

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Campground Host Experiences, Volunteer At A Florida State Park, Workamping

Workamping at Lafayette Blue Springs SP

March 5, 2018March 14, 2020 Jolene MacFadden

We received an email last month we thought we would share with our readers.

Dear Florida Park Service Friend and Volunteer,

Thank you for your assistance to the Florida Park Service and the hard work, continued support and hours of dedication to caring for and protecting our resources.

My name is JoAnna Lemmon and I am the volunteer coordinator at Lafayette Blue Springs State Park located in Mayo, Florida. I am a native Floridian and a native of Lafayette County so my excitement for this park and ability to work here grows with each experience. My goal is to build a great resource of volunteers for Lafayette Blue Springs State Park so long lasting work relations and an appreciation for the park remains at the center of every project.

Florida State Parks