You just don’t know when you’ll encounter a unique work opportunity. This place hasn’t hired workampers yet but it could be a fun place to work.

Driving on Route 66 in Missouri we saw items in tourist brochures and billboards about the Precious Moments Inspiration Park and Chapel in Carthage. Who hasn’t seen the teardrop-eyed children figurines and greeting cards? Then I saw a help wanted ad for several part-time seasonal positions. We decided to make a quick stop at the park. For the enterprising workamper this might be an interesting opportunity for work some season.

Sam Butcher is the artist who draws these well-known figures. His first Precious Moments drawing was in 1974. In 1975 he started a line of greeting cards with a partner. Then, Eugene Freedman, Enesco president, approached him and the first figurine resulted. An initial 21 were introduced and that number has grown to more than 1500. In 1989 the Precious Moments Inspiration Park opened in Carthage, Missouri. Each year approximately 400,000 people visit

The Park has a number of attractions. The Chapel is open for tours. On the grounds there is also an RV park. Food is served in their restaurant and a variety music show provides entertainment. Tours are given of the Precious Moments Wedding Island surrounded by a 40-acre lake with a Victorian mansion that has a wedding chapel and honeymoon suites. Of course there is a gift shop with cards, figurines, toys, books, music and more. A number of special events are held too.

At the time we stopped there were no full-time openings (over 32 hours/week). There were 18 part-time (less than 32 hours/week) openings in retail, housekeeping, front desk clerk, hospitality services reps/costume characters, hospitality service reps, food server/cashier, food service bus person, groundskeeper.

All positions require weekend availability, strong customer service focus and are subject to seasonal layoff. Two positions (groundskeeper and costume characters) require a driver’s license, and the other hospitality service reps must have or be willing to get a CDL with passenger endorsement.

In corresponding with Sarah Wells, in human resources, I found out they have almost no turnover in the RV park, which is open from April through October or November. Positions in other departments run from April through December. They hire people for the entire season because they do not want to have to train two or three different people over the course of the season.

While they have never hired workampers before, I imagine if you had a place to stay within driving distance, and committed to the full season, you just might get hired.