Summer Camp Staff 2012
Staff information for Summer Camp 2012
Note: At this point – our main area of need is for Camp Nurses/Health Directors (RNs and EMTs, or higher certifiactions). Please call (315)-675-3651 if you have interest in this role, or email vkcenter@vk.org
I’m sure you have a lot of options for this summer. I know – I remember deciding each year if I wanted to return as a counselor to my old summer camp! Am I ever glad I did. Working at camp gave me the confidence to do all sorts of things I never thought possible (including running a camp these years later!). The satisfaction I got from changing kids lives and helping them love themselves still sticks around today. My wife Taylor and I met at summer camp, and all but one person in our wedding party worked at camp as well! Incredible relationships with fellow staff members can’t help but come, as the outside world just doesn’t offer the opportunity for this kind of experience.
At Vanderkamp, we hope to take the summer staff experience to the next level. In case you haven’t seen them, check out our essays on what makes our camp so special. Our goal is not just to provide the campers here with a once in a lifetime experience, it’s to change the world so that children in the future can be treated more lovingly and peacefully.
Let’s face it – most of society has set the bar pretty low for how children are treated. If you are a young adult, I’m sure you have experienced the dismissive attitude that adults can tend to have toward children. At Vanderkamp, we believe that the Christian faith calls for us to radically rethink the child-adult relationship. We’re doing our best to enact that here, and create a sustainable model that other places can learn from. Our goal is to create a community where everyone lives with love and peace in their hearts, and that starts with a staff that agrees to try its best to help.
What this means for our staff is that we need people who are ready to demonstrate radical love, enthusiasm, and care for kids. It’s going to mean stripping down our preconceived notions of how authorities function in the lives of kids and rebuilding them from a Christ-centered perspective. We need staff members who are ready to give themselves fully to an incredibly important mission. It will be a lot of work, but the rewards will be amazing. If you’re ready to help us try and change the lives of children forever – and hopefully the world – then apply below.
We always need Lifeguards and people with a WSI certification, so these certifications will help a great deal. Summer camp staff positions are extremely limited, but volunteers are always welcome. Staff training begins on June 16th, and is mandatory unless otherwise negotiated (only previous staff members or LITs may miss even a portion of training). Staff will learn cutting-edge child development theory (great for people who hope to teach or work with children in the future) and a number of life skills – from better communication to fire-building.
Summer camp goes until August 11th, and a few staff members will be retained for our 4 day Family Camp.
Update: The Waterfront Director and Assistant Director positions have been filled, and we currently have more applicants for counselors than jobs available. Without personal references from people close to camp, obtaining a job will be unlikely at this point.
We still need a summer cook. Contact us with any questions, or call 315-675-3651 to discuss what the summer will look like. We hope to hear from you today!
