summer youth camp job descriptions -...

Summer Youth Camp Job Descriptions

prairie river camp |last updated: 12/28/2012 | job descriptions

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why camp?

camping has always “worked’ in reaching lost kids. and it will always continue to “work” for the staff of prairie

river as we seek to introduce kids to the person of Jesus Christ. camp continues to loosen kids from the grip of

the daily grind by using ropes, horses, canoes, zorb balls and paintball. any kid still snoozing will snap out of it

when they first step backward down the climbing wall or first step forward off the zip-line platform. it still

works! kids still come alive at camp and with clear eyes see Jesus Christ. and Jesus looks a lot like YOU!

the best picture kids get of Christ at camp is the one they find surrounded by your frame. they hear about Him

at club, they talk about Him in cabin time, they see Him reflected in the beauty of the landscape, but they

encounter Christ in YOU! they have seen Him all year long walking around in the shoes of leaders in their

churches and YFC ministries, but now they see Him without the distractions and interruptions of daily life at

home.

our mission –

we exist to create an outdoor environment that invites God to transform the lives of young people

through shared experiences, outdoor challenges, and times of solitude that draw students to the heart

of God within the context of authentic relationships and memorable learning experiences.

our vision –

to provide an excellent experience through which Jesus Christ would forever alter the life of every

young person who comes to camp – that they, in turn would be driven to alter the lives of those

around them for Christ.

our values –

core values are the very thread of why something exists. they are what drives any organization. they

are the cause for everything that you will do. they address “who we are.” we are about:

-Jesus Christ and His message -evangelism to lost people

-experiencing God’s creation -solitude and letting God speak

-follow-up -building relationships

-developing future leaders for ministry -being relevant in a changing youth culture

-changing lives -intentional community building

-diversity among students and staff -unifying the church of southern Minnesota


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lead support team roles

camp director –

camp director leads the team and helps ensure that we are always focused on the vision of camp…to see life

change in EVERY person who attends. number one job is to love people well which is a fine balance of not losing

track of the bigger picture of what needs to be happening, while at the same time being present with people.

people look to the director as a stabilizing factor. another high priority is care extremely well for the entire lead

support team (LST) and connect personally with each one every day. the director carries the ultimate weight of

responsibility of the schedule: keeping camp running on time and efficiently.

this person is a year-round staff member with Prairie River Camp. they report to the Executive Director of

SCMYFC. among this person’s duties is to plan camp throughout the entire year, lead monthly planning meetings

with a planning committee, line up/hire summer personnel, direct staff training, and be present on site during

all summer camp events. all supplies and resources needed to execute camp are to be provided by PRC. as this

person is staff, they are paid on the payroll schedule.

site director –

site director leads the prairie river summer intern team and is the liaison between the maintenance director and

the camp director and all other summer camp staff. this person also works closely with the cook and kitchen

staff. also responsible to handle any building/facility/hospitality issues as they arise. this person knows the inner

workings of prairie river and is a valuable “behind the scenes” person.

this person is a year-round staff member with Prairie River Camp and reports to the Executive Director of

SCMYFC. this person’s duties is to hire interns, be part of the monthly planning committee, assist camp director

in any other planning and hiring of personnel, and be present on site during all summer camp events. as this

person is on staff, they are paid on the payroll schedule.

program team –

consists of 3 people. they are in charge of running the schedule. they dream and create fun ways to

communicate the Gospel through purposeful programming. they watch the clock more than anyone and make

sure things keep moving. their role is important because they also are articulating the gospel in everything they

do (sketches, activities, etc). they report directly to the camp director and are the “face” of camp.

responsibilities include: event sells // run events // meal skits // club details and flow // run-on skit // collect

costumes // create music playlists // leader meeting clubs // etc. these people are expected to arrive at camp

the evening before the first day of that week’s camp and be present on-site through the duration of the given

week and are dismissed on the last day.

compensation exists is various forms for this role. if an outside YFC employee [outside of South Central MN

chapter] is brought in for this role, they are reimbursed for their mileage. if an inside YFC employee is used for

this role, pay is negotiated by status (full-time/part-time) with the executive director. if a PRC intern is selected


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for this role, no extra compensation outside of his/her stipend is given. at this time, all others come on a

volunteer basis for this role. room & board is provided for all.

speaker /band–

they are the mouthpiece of the week. the rest of the staff go to any measure to make sure their messages are

heard. they are expected to participate in activities and events as available and engage with the kids throughout

the week inside as well as outside of the club time. responsibilities include: prepare speaking material for each

day of camp according to our theme grid // prepare music for club meetings, a mix of appropriate secular and

worship songs [to be chosen/approved with camp director] // participate in events and activities with students

throughout the day // attend cabin leader meetings. also expected to arrive the evening before that week of

camp starts and leave anytime after students are gone on last day.

compensation varies and is finalized in contracts agreed upon by contracted and the camp director. these could

include reimbursement for mileage and/or honorarium. ballpark figures for music is a flat $250/week, this

amount is subject to vary and is finalized in a contract. frequency of payment is agreed upon in contract.

sound tech –

works closely with the band, speaker, and program team to coordinate sound support for each event, meal time,

and club time. this person helps create the atmosphere of camp as a fun, lively and effective place to learn.

responsibilities include having A/V equipment set up and ready before camp starts // expected to be available to

the program team // be at all club run-throughs // run sound for club, events, and meals.

this position is compensated. if a YFC employee, additional compensation and/or mileage reimbursement is

negotiated based on status (FT/PT) with the camp director and executive director.

head leaders –

the primary role of a head leader is to come alongside, serve, support, and coach our prairie river staff and

volunteers who are at camp with kids. they set the standard at camp for how we want to love and serve each

other. ideal number is 4 head leaders [2 male, 2 female]. this position carries a lot of responsibility which

includes: making each leader feel loved, supported and cared for during their stay at camp // to know the pulse

of camp – how are kids responding? how is club going? what’s happening in cabin time? // to be the ambassador

between the cabin leaders and rest of LST // be familiar with where to find pillows, blankets, linens, cleaning

supplies, etc // monitor overall details and flow of camp // communicate ideas and concerns to other head

leaders and LST // split duties of dismissing at meal time, lights out, fog horn master, cabin assignments, lost and

found, real life coach, discipline, etc.

this position is volunteer. if a YFC employee, compensation and/or mileage reimbursement is negotiated based

on status (FT/PT) with the camp director and executive director.

prayer coordinators –

they will gather prayer requests throughout the week and send them to people who are partnering with us via

an email list. they attend leader meetings, staff meetings, and all events and pray. these team members

epitomize 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.” this is their only responsibility the whole week at camp.

this position is volunteer.


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photographer –

take photos all week! take cabin group photos and make them available for campers/leaders by last day of

camp. they attend all events and are shooting from dawn until well past dusk both the photographer and

videographer play important roles on the LST – they help capture the story of camp in a creative way.

this position is contracted. if a YFC employee, additional compensation and/or mileage reimbursement is


videographer –

spend the week capturing and editing video footage to create a highlight reel for the end of the week and other

prairie river promotions and storytelling. both the photographer and videographer play important roles on the

LST – they help capture the story of camp in a creative way. responsibilities are: prepare a 12-15 min. highlight

video that captures all the elements of the week // prepare a mid-week 2-3 minute video “teaser” to show at

club on night 3 // collect stories from campers and staff alike on what Jesus is doing in their lives during the

week.

this position is contracted. if a YFC employee, additional compensation and/or mileage reimbursement is


nurse –

provide health care for our week of camps. minimum experience required is first aid training; First Responder or

RN is preferred. need to be on site for the entire week and be available to campers at all times, including during

the night. also distribute meds for students. at this time, this position is volunteer.

program work crew boss –

this person leads the work crew that is responsible for assisting the program team with event set-up and

execution. this person is in charge of approximately 5 student leaders designated to program work crew for the

week and reports directly to the program team. this person must be organized and detail oriented and able to

accurately handle a lot of information at once. this job is physically demanding but equally fun! prairie river

recruits this team and they consist of high school/college students, volunteers, YFC/prairie river staff, donors,

friends of the ministry, etc. responsibilities include: setting up each event // assist in executing each event //

clean up after each event // keeping all supplies organized and making sure we have everything we need to run

a successful program // fill in on skits at discretion of program team // help monitor students during leader

meeting club.

this person is usually selected from the prc intern crew and is not given additional compensation. if someone

other than a prc intern is selected for this job, it is a volunteer position.


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dining hall work crew boss –

this person serves in the dining hall and kitchen and leads a team of people responsible for set-up; serving food;

and cleaning after meals. this person works closely with the cook and must be organized and detail oriented and

able to accurately handle a lot of information at once. this job is physically demanding but equally fun! prairie

river recruits this team and they consist of high school/college students, volunteers, YFC/prairie river staff,

donors, friends of the ministry, etc.

this is a volunteer position.

adult guest coordinator –

this person will be aware of inner workings of camp property, program, and staff and welcome adult guests to

camp. they will be a tour guide and work with the camp director and site director to involve adult guests in the

camp schedule appropriately. follow-up the visit with a phone call and thank you card for their visit. this person

is the executive director.


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support team roles

cabin leader –

you are the most important part of the program. you are at camp to open kid’s minds to the possibility of Jesus

Christ. the program is in place for a purpose and is NOT random. cabin leaders enter relationships with students

and do life with them for a whole week. responsibilities are: be responsible for 8-10 students for the whole week

// lead cabin time discussions // participate in EVERY event and activity with enthusiasm with your students //

attend a daily leader meeting // maintain personal boundaries with each kid // keep cabin clean // enforce lights

out // build relationships with your campers // be available for your campers in their time of need // set a Godly

example at ALL times. cabin leaders report directly to head leaders.

It is highly recommended that parents do not counsel their own children (unless there are special circumstances which must be cleared through the Program Director) to give them the full camp experience and for the benefit of other campers in the cabin. We can place you in a cabin located near your child’s cabin, there is usually plenty of opportunity to interact with your child during free time, etc.

compensation varies for this position. no additional compensation is given to prc interns serving in this role. at

this time, selected persons may be compensated via contract at discretion and strict criteria of camp director,

and all other persons are highly appreciated volunteers.

sound tech assistant –

student leaders (1-2) with aspirations and basic proficiency in sound technology whom assist the sound tech

with duties throughout the week. this person is at camp the entire week, and reports directly to the sound tech.

this position is compensated through trip scholarship funding according to your respected area director (i.e.

Albert Lea, Blue Earth, etc) if available.

work crew –

as a member of work crew, you will be assisting in one of two places. there is a program work crew that helps

assist program team with set up/execution/clean up of events and other happenings specific to the program

teams’ duties. this can also include assisting with skits and with running recreational activities (“skills”) during

specified times. dining hall work crew primarily helps set up dining hall for meals, serve meals, and clean up

after meals, and may also be asked to help during recreational activities times, too. these crew members report

directly to their specified work crew boss. this position is traditionally filled with student leaders.

this position is compensated through trip scholarship funding according to your respected area director (i.e.

Albert Lea, Blue Earth, etc) if available. this position is volunteer for all others.

cooking assistants –

two to three people, student leaders or adults, able to report directly to the cook. they will help prepare the

food for all meals and serve out of the food trailer. these people have no other responsibilities other than to


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help the cook. this position is compensated to students through trip scholarship funding according to your

respected area director (i.e. Albert Lea, Blue Earth, etc) if available. this position is volunteer for all others.

canteen supervisor –

this person is ideally an existing prairie river summer intern. this person is responsible to open and close the

canteen at the scheduled times, handle the money during check in and departure, restock items as needed, and

keep an inventory of what we have/don’t have. this person reports directly to the site director. no additional

compensation given to prc interns in this position.

prairie river interns:

this team of people are at prairie river all summer long, approximately 12 weeks. during summer youth camps

they have a specific set of duties. they are in charge of running the activities of camp during skills times (i.e.

ropes course belay; zorb balls; paintball course; archery; canoeing, etc). they also help run our camp store, help

pull off program events, and assist the site director with general cleaning duties. some may be cabin leaders as

needed. these people are selected via an internship application/interview process. all requests for this position

must go directly through Renae. stipend given.

recreational specialist –

these people are directly responsible for a separate recreational element at prairie river camp. one person each

for canoeing, paintball, zorb balls, archery, ropes course, field games, etc. the specialist will prepare and

maintain any and all equipment used and facilitate groups through the activity. these people are needed during

“Skills” time. these roles are not stand alone and will be adjacent to other roles as assigned by the camp

director. this is a volunteer position with no additional compensation for staff.


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commitment to be a role model

as a staff member, whether directly connected with kids as a cabin leader or

indirectly as a specialist/support staff, you are an important role model for

children and expected to maintain the integrity of the camp community. all staff

must be motivated, patient and flexible. applicants should know that any form

of physical or emotional abuse of children is never allowed under any

circumstances. staff must also commit themselves to not being involved with

alcoholic beverages or drugs while at camp or engaging in personal social/sexual

activities around campers.

we feel these rules are so important, that if they are not followed, immediate

dismissal would result. we also feel strongly that children at camp should not be

exposed to things that are inappropriate or that they are not ready for. this

includes such things as encouraging anti-social or sexually acting out behavior,

the use of profane and abusive language, and inappropriate dress. if any of these

limits are not reasonable for you, or you are not certain you can live within this

type of framework for a summer, Prairie River is not your best choice for a work

experience.

summer youth camp job descriptions -...

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