Seasonal Jobs: What I Learned from My Summer at Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch
I’ve only got one under my belt, but I’ve got to say: seasonal jobs are rad. I’ve definitely been spoiled by Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch for future seasonal employment (i.e.: incredible management, a relatively drama-free summer, and great accommodations), but it was an experience I won’t forget—summer of 2021 is one to remember.
Staff at the start of the 2021 summer season at Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch.
Seasonal jobs allow you to save up money (by reducing costs if you find one with free room and board), get paid to live in a place where tourists pay big money to explore, find lots of new adventure, and meet some amazing people. While I mainly went out there so I could teach yoga, I also worked as a server and a housekeeper. In no particular order or level of seriousness, here are ten things I learned from my summer seasonal job:
1. There are other ways to live.
Some people see seasonal jobs as a stepping stone of in betweens—in between high school and college, in between semesters at college, in between college and careers. Certainly, some employees also take this approach. But there are also a great deal of people out there who chose to make seasonal jobs a way of living, working two seasons out of the year and playing or traveling in the off times. Redefine your definition of success: if you love what you’re doing, that’s what matters.
2. There is no such thing as a secret when you live/work/play together.
Privacy at a seasonal job? It pretty much doesn’t exist. At IRMR, we were a small staff of about 25 people. The only way to keep a secret is to keep it to yourself! Luckily, I’m a pretty open person, so this didn’t really bother me. And it was nice to know (for safety purposes) that everyone always knew where you were and what you were doing. If you went out on a hike or overnight trip, there was always someone checking to make sure you made it back safely. And sometimes, you would try to regale stories of your adventure and discover they had already heard about it from someone else!
3. We’re all testing things out together, so don’t worry about getting it “right” the first time around.
I think we changed the layout of our place settings in the dining room every two weeks this summer. Eventually, something stuck. Pick something, see how it works, and change as you go. Don’t stress about getting it perfect the first time around.
4. Some friendships are temporary, and that’s okay.
The unique thing about seasonal jobs is that the employees come from all over the country, so you can learn a lot from getting to know lots of different people. A few weeks before the end of the season, I started having this weird realization that I had spent my whole summer getting to know my friends: people who I’d probably never see again in my life. It’s funny how quickly you can create a bond with people and how quickly that bond fades. The trick is appreciating people for the time you have with them.
5. But, also, separation anxiety.
Like I said, we got close, fast. We spent every meal, every shift, every afternoon, and every evening out together. When someone takes a couple days away, their absence is felt strongly. Shout-out to our friend Sydney who traveled to too many weddings this summer and constantly had us sweeping floors and sighing, “I miss Sydney” (despite her being gone only 2 days).
6. Nobody knows what a party store is.
Michiganders, raise your hand! I spent a humorous amount of time trying to explain to my coworkers—who came from states across the country—what a party store is. For those of you non-Michigan folk, it’s not Party City or a store where you get party decorations for a kid’s birthday party. It’s a store with everything you’d need for an adult party—think of a convenience store that also sells every kind of alcohol. Happy to keep up this banter, so message me if you’re still confused.
7. How to fold a fitted sheet.
Invite me over sometime, and I’ll fold all your sheets properly and undo and remake all your beds. Trust me, you’re probably doing it wrong.
All hands on deck for folding sheets! Note: this was a rarity. We never had this many people so I had to take a picture!
8. How to Dance Footloose
One of my favorite parts about Stanley, Idaho is that if a song comes on that you can swing dance to, you bet someone is going to be swing dancing. (True story, I did a swing to Phantom of the Opera playing on Spotify at a bar this summer.) And if they don’t have a swing partner? Line dancing! I really enjoyed learning the footwork to Footloose and practicing it every night we went out. It’s now my new favorite party trick.
Each week, Stanley hosted the street dance when they would close off the street and have a live band. Lots of swing and line dancing!
9. There is no need for television.
About halfway through the summer, we went out to a bar that we had never been to (despite the fact the town only had three), and I was in sensory overload because this bar had not one but three TVs! I realized that I hadn’t even seen a television in months. With great wifi, we could still watch streaming services from our laptops at the ranch, but I rarely found myself even doing this. When there is so much adventure out your back door, why sit inside?
10. Seasonal jobs allow you to experience a place in a whole new way.
What I found most valuable is getting to travel and experience a beautiful place not as a tourist, but as a local.—or at least as local as you can get without moving there. It allows you the chance to really get to know the area, find your favorite places to go, run into people in town that you now know, and discover the secret hotsprings and best hammock spots—plus get that local discount ;)
Pettit Lake was always my favorite spot! I went there weekly and took a million pictures just like this one.
So if I could work a seasonal job again, would I? The answer is yes, and probably sooner than you’ll realize. Details are still in the works, but watch my instagram for an announcement of where I’m going next!
Interested in trying out a seasonal job? Here are some helpful resources:
Coolworks.com (how I found my job)
Parkies Facebook group (great place to see job postings and ask questions)
USAjobs.gov (I don’t have experience with this one, but you can get some jobs at parks this way)
