In Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, some teenagers skip the lifeguarding and ice cream shop gigs and opt for a more unique summer job — one that involves leaping off a moving boat to deliver mail. It’s the only town in the U.S. that features this unique occupation, a tradition for over 100 years.
The role entails making 45 to 60 jumps from the boat to residents’ docks every day, often attracting hundreds of tourists who observe the jumpers’ feats during guided tours.
“We’ll carry anything that the post office gives us and figure out how to get it there,” captain Ray Ames told CNBC in 2023. And he means it: They’ve delivered items ranging from flat-screen TVs to heavy umbrella bases. Ames operates the Walworth II, Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s double-decker mail boat.
Every season, four to six jumpers, usually local teens, are chosen to join the Walworth following a competitive tryout period. The position is seen as one of the most exciting summer jobs in the town, and for many, it’s a memorable and cherished experience.
“There’s really nothing better,” long-term mail boat jumper Sid Pearl said. The then-19-year-old added: “It’s such a fun, special job that I can tell stories about for the rest of my life.”
To land such a special job, teens must participate in the annual tryouts, which were held in June this year. Around 10 hopefuls took the plunge, demonstrating their athletic skills as well as their ability to narrate information about some historic homes along the route, which is part of the experience during the 2 ½-hour guided tours.
Per the cruise line, applicants are judged 50% on athleticism, 50% on narration delivery, and 50% on enthusiasm.
“Yes, we’re looking for someone who gives 150%,” former Captain Neill Frame is quoted on the company website. “We have an important job to do — making sure lakeside residents receive their mail without a hitch while passengers get the history lesson and entertainment they signed up for.”
It can be assumed that the applicants must also be able to swim well, as the Walworth II never stops moving, and occasionally mail jumpers miss the mark, ”often ending up in the lake when they don’t get the timing just right,” according to the site.
In addition to being a story-worthy way to earn money for the summer, the job is rewarding in other aspects, too, last season’s mail jumpers told CNBC — one being the connection they get to build with residents.
“There’s one neighbor, Mrs. Phillips, who will stand out on the pier almost every morning we visit her with cookies for the jumper,” said Ethan Connelly. “Anytime we turn into the bay where her house is, I know we’re in for some homemade chocolate chip cookies and a hug, which makes the job even more fun.”
And for Marissa Torres-Raby, who worked for three summers on the boat before moving on to other opportunities after her junior year of college, the gig aided in building her self-assurance.
“It’s really helped me develop my confidence and communication skills, just having the ability to lead a tour of 100-plus strangers and do a challenging job well, even in bad weather, I’ve learned a lot,” she told the outlet.
For those who want to experience the action up close, tours run through Sept. 15 this year. Click here for reservations.
Share to:
