Yellowstone - Summer 2013

Old Faithful

I'm going to be living and working at Yellowstone this coming summer!

Don and I just returned from 2 weeks on Lake Mead - we were at Echo Bay at the RV campground. While I was there I got the good news that I'll be working at Yellowstone this coming summer.

Last spring, I applied for a job with the Delaware North Companies, the main concessionaire for the park. I thought that I could work there while Don fished - and I could use my days of for quilting and exploring the park. Teri from HR called almost immediately and asked if I could come right then (for summer 2012). When Don told her that the application was for 2013, she apologized, and said she'd be making the calls for 2013 in November. In November, I emailed her to let her know I was still interested, and she promised to make her calls in December.  So, while we were at Lake Mead, she called.  After a brief discussion about the job and a few questions about me, she offered me the job!

Here are the details:

I'll be a retail sales clerk at the General Store at Mammoth Hot Springs, near the northwest entrance to the park. I'll be rotating through various responsibilities such as stocking, cash register, customer service, ice cream and sodas, and unloading the truck. I'll work 32-40 hours a week, with 2 consecutive days off each week. The store is open from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm, so there are two shifts. I could work all morning shifts one week, and all late shifts another.  I'll be provided some black short-sleeved shirts and some khaki aprons, and I provide my blue jeans and comfortable shoes.

I will be paid $8 an hour, and will be provided a full hookup RV site for $54 a week.  That RV site will be at the Yellowstone RV Park, which is 5 miles from Mammoth in Gardiner, Montana.   The concessionaire contracts out with the RV park for sites for employees, so we know that many of our neighbors will be fellow park employees. That $54 rate for a week is a great deal, since one night at the campground is about $45.

I report to Human Resources in West Yellowstone on May 20, and will have day of training both at West Yellowstone and up at Mammoth. Don and I are thinking about going up a week early to have a little time to do some exploring together before I have to start work. My last day of work will be September 8, but if I want to step in at another location for another month I can get my name on a list.  I think we'll be ready to come home, though. 

I've done a little research, and found out that there are 2 quilt shops up the highway in Livingston, and if I want to go a little further, there are 4 or 5 in Bozeman.  I think that's more than enough to keep me busy!

I'm looking forward to this - so many people to meet, so many places to visit! 

If you're planning on visiting Yellowstone this summer, we'd love to see you!  You can get in touch with me through Facebook or here on the blog. 

Tower Falls