Christian Camp Job Descriptions
Each summer, many children and youth go to a camp that is sponsored by a Christian organization. Christian camps include many activities that other camps offer, such as outdoor activities, art and campfires. However, Christian camps hire a staff that is also prepared to create a Christian environment and teach about Jesus throughout the week.
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Identification
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Christian camps hire a wide variety of staff people. This may include an executive director, program director, office manager, counselors, kitchen staff, life guards, a nurse, chaplain and other resource staff. Although each staff member has a unique task, they all work together to create a sense of Christian community for campers.
Responsibilities
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Camp staff must be versatile. For example, at Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp near Fort Collins, Colorado, counselors are involved in "leading daily worship and small group Bible study, day hikes, games, arts activities, peace and justice activities and providing for the care and safety of campers." At Sky Ranch, counselors also rotate into resource staff positions such as kitchen staff or ranch hands, who work with maintenance, laundry and other tasks. (see Reference 1) The executive director oversees the camp and its finances, and the chaplain plans worship and provides other Christian resources to campers.
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Time Commitment
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Many camps employ only a few key staff people throughout the year and hire additional workers in the summer. The executive director, office manager, facility manager and program director usually work all year. These people help to host local churches who use the camp for short retreats during the school year. The counselors and other resource staff people work only in the summer. During camp weeks, many camp staff people are expected to be on duty 22 to 23 hours per day, staying in cabins with campers and supervising them at all daily activities.
Qualifications
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Most camps require counselors to be at least 19 and have completed one year of college. Program directors are usually at least 21 years old and have experience as a camp counselor. Executive directors and chaplains often have completed seminary and are ordained ministers. Some positions, such as kitchen staff, facilities maintenance or camp nurse require additional specialized training. All staff must believe in the basic Christian beliefs of the camp. They must also be hard workers who relate well to children and youth.
Salary
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The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics does not keep separate data for Christian camp counselors, but the more general category of full-time recreation workers made an average of $21,960 per year in 2008. (see reference 2) Seasonal staff can expect to make much less, although camps offer free room and board to all staff. For example, Bethel Christian Camp and Retreat Center in Gaston, South Carolina, states that "Working at Bethel is a ministry, not a summer job, and we understand that by choosing to work at camp you are making a financial sacrifice." (see Reference 3) As of 2010, Bethel paid senior counselors $180 per week.
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References
- Photo Credit camp fire image by Maximilian Effgen from Fotolia.com
