Advance your career & develop your skills as you make a positive difference in the life of a child..Serve at Camp Concordia in Michigan!

Summer Ministry Staff
Camp cabin counselors, lifeguards, cooks, kitchen assistants, maintenance staff … there are many paid opportunities available with Camp Concordia! Summer staff receive 1-2 weeks of training including: lifeguard and CPR certification. Come build your resume and make a difference in the life of a child! Working at camp is tremendously rewarding, incredibly challenging, and almost always life changing. We look forward to serving alongside you!

Applicant Requirements

• A loving, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Willingness to work hard, be flexible and serve in a variety of ways.
• All applicants must be high school graduates, 18 years and older. Preference is given to applicants with a year of post-high school experience. Not a graduate of high school? High school leadership opportunities>>
• All applicants must submit a completed, signed summer staff profile to initiate the process.
• All staff participate in paid Summer Ministry Staff Training.

Positions Available
(Click for Ministry Position descriptions)

• Cabin Group Counselors 
• Program Counselors 
• Health Officer 
• Head Cook/Food Service Coordinator 
• Kitchen Assistants 
• Maintenance Staff 
• ​Waterfront Staff 

Apply Today!

Dates
What is your goal? IF you choose to be trained as a deep or shallow Water Lifeguard, you will come earlier for this paid week of training.

• May 29, 2022 - July 30, 2022 for leadership & all staff able to train as Deep or Shallow Water Lifeguards (we prefer all staff to be able to train as Lifeguards but it is not mandatory)
• June 2, 2022 - July 30, 2022 for all other staff

Additional weeks of employment are available after July 31.

Staff receive 1-2 weeks of paid ministry staff training (depending on role). You will discover the ins and outs of camp getting immersed from the get-go with classes including waterfront safety, 1st aid/CPR, camper concerns, skills for leading activities, and more. Each staff will have a background check from their home state and require 3 references.

Salary
Salary Ranges from $300-$320 a week, depending on position and experience (that's $2,400-$2,880 for 8.5-9 weeks in the summer).

All staff work two weekends each summer.

Weekend assignments are scheduled during Summer Ministry Staff Training to coordinate camp's needs with summer staff scheduled and abilities, but are subject to change.

• Summer Ministry Staff report to Craig “Doc” Oldenburg, Director of Camp Concordia

Summer Ministry Application Process
​Camp Concordia uses the NLOMA Summer Staff Profile. When you fill out the summer staff profile, select Camp Concordia as your 1st choice camp. We will contact you for an interview as soon as we receive your profile. Contact Dr. Craig "Doc" Oldenburg, Camp Concordia's Camp Director if you get stuck or have more questions.

It's never too late to apply. The earlier you apply the better, but give us a call - we very often have last minute openings.

Apply TODAY!

What I owe to [the Inklings] is incalculable. Is there any pleasure on earth as great as a circle of Christian friends by a good fire? - C. S. Lewis, remembering his encouraging friendships

Pastor Craig Bickel, Immanuel, Grand Rapids 
"...(Directors) Craig and Mary have an amazing love for kids, energy, and organizational ability..."

Sarah Hettig Weishaar, Camp Concordia Staff Alumni 
"...camp really ingrained in me the importance of child safety..."  (Director of Children's Ministry, Shepherd of the Lakes, Brighton, MI)

Health Officer 
"Yay! This job is so amazing and wonderful! Healing kids is the best!"

Top Questions from Ministry Staff

Who will train me and guide me as I develop my skills and build my resume in this PAID position?
Directors, Dr. Craig and Mary Oldenburg have earned their Bachelor's degrees in education.  Both are certified as Director's of Christian Education (DCE's) in The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, and Craig received his Masters Degree in Family Life Ministry and Doctorate of Ministry.  Together, they have over 75 years of experience working with children, youth, young adults and families.  Their experiences have been in schools, colleges, camps, and churches.  You will be training and learning from experienced professionals in the field. Come with a willing heart to learn and you will be touched as you make a positive difference in the life of a child.

How much do I get paid?
The average salary is $2,800-$3,100 for the summer + FREE room and board and a staff t-shirt.

What does FREE room and board consist of?
Your room is a bed in one of our bunk house style cabins. You may be assigned to a different cabin depending on the housing needs for campers, but you will always have a place to stay. Board is 3 meals a day, including weekends. Staff with "limited" diets will need to supplement their meals.

What are the hours worked?
This is a tricky question to answer. Working at a camp is more of a lifestyle than working a job. The reality of camp is that you are spending time with campers and you are responsible for their well being the entire time they are with you.  Where else can you develop your skills to build a resume with hands on leadership training? Where else can you make a positive difference in the life of a child at the same time?

So, you may be serving in the kitchen, sharing stories with campers at the cabin, leading games or swimming in beautiful Half-Mile Lake, tubing with campers behind a speedboat, riding horses while you encourage campers on their horses, leading songs during worship on the beach or in the woods, eating, sleeping, hiking the trails helping kids discover nature, cleaning bathrooms, teaching kids how to canoe, sail, or kayak and more throughout your work time. The straight number's answer is that you work 23 hours a day, 6 days a week.
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The truth of the matter is, you work a lot and you do put in a lot of hours, but this paid experience is one that advances your career, builds your resume and develops your skill. The experience is rewarding and life changing. Trust us, the time will fly by!

Do I work weekends?
Staff are contracted to work 2 weekends throughout the summer. In the application process, you may request specific weekends off.  The work schedule will be finalized and made available during staff training to provide as many staff the dates they have requested. 

What’s the weather like? Summers in central Michigan are incredible. June is typically in the 60’s and 70’s with chances of rain. July is in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s with a lot of sunshine to enhance your Chaco tan lines.

What is the closest city?
The closest city to Camp Concordia is Greenville, which is 10 miles away. It is a quaint town of about 9,000 people with the Flat River running through it, a network of bike trails and even a couple of challenging mountain bike trails.

Also, Grand Rapids, MI (pop. 200,000) is about 45 minutes away. It is a prosperous and growing city.

What does a typical week of camp look like?
Typically, campers arrive on a Sunday afternoon and they leave after lunch on Friday. Weekend campers often arrive on Friday evening and leave after worship on Sunday morning. Your week, depending on your skills, could be helping to lead worship, teaching swim lessons, driving a boat for kids who are tubing, working on trails, creating and directing new games, teaching canoeing, facilitating challenge course, washing dishes, belaying the zip line, making pizza, eating, mopping the dining room, building a campfire, reading the Bible, leading Bible Adventures, playing guitar, leading songs, laughing with kids, sleeping, snacking during break, mowing the lawn, leading a hike and camping out under the stars.

2020 Summer Ministry Staff Personnel Policies
Statement of Faith

Request for 2020 Staff Facebook Group