serve and laugh and lead and love...
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CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF SUMMER CAMP? Time to EXPLODE with exciting growth! Have you been a Camp Concordia camper before? Then you could be eligible to serve as a Jr. Staff alongside a college age Summer Ministry Staff.
As a Jr. Staff, you will spend 5-12 days (depending on session) volunteering as a Jr. Counselor, Jr. Kitchen, Jr. Lifeguard or Jr. Maintenance and support summer ministry staff in other aspects of camp life as well. These days will be some of the hardest and best days of your life. You will serve and laugh and lead and love. Kids will think you are the coolest person in the world, and you'll get to share in their life and their faith. You'll be mentored by our summer ministry staff and encouraged in your walk with Jesus Christ. . .and you'll get to be part of an unforgettable community.
You must currently be a freshman in high school or older to apply to be a Junior Staff (past campers are given preference). Two references are requested in the online application process, one from your pastor or youth leader and one from a teacher or coach. Application Process Step One: Look at Roles & Choose a Session - Look over the Session dates with your family and decide which dates you are available. You will be asked to mark the sessions you are available during the application process and the roles you are willing to take on during your time as a young volunteer. You may apply for more than one session and more than one role. Step Two: Send for References - Choose a pastor/youth leader & a teacher/coach to serve as your references and at the end of your online application you will be asked to provide their emails and will be given the opportunity to send them a note requesting the reference. Step Three: Fill out the 2023 Junior Staff Application.
Application Timeline
Jr. Counselors learn camper's names and guide them in making good behavioral choices. They enjoy playing games with campers and become "cool" mentors.
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Gain experience engaging campers in a variety of activities
Program Information
The session dates for 2023 are as follows:
Session 2: July 5-July 14 (Wednesday start) Session 3: July 16-28 Session 4: July 30-August 3 (5-day Session) Your time at Camp Concordia will primarily be spent serving. In addition, you will spend time training, growing as a community, building your faith, and helping serve Camp Concordia through a variety of different cleaning assignments, kitchen dish room and serving support, and work projects. Selection Information
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time do I get off during my JS session? You don't. You play, supervise and serve every day - all day. Serving as a Junior Staff is a marathon run. Once you have achieved it you will realize you have had a great success. On the weekend of Session 3, there will be a Family Explorer Camp (Grades 1-3) to help with. If I've never been to Camp Concordia before can I still be a JS? Absolutely! But note: It can be hard for some who do not know the Camp Concordia culture. We welcome any high school students looking to grow in their leadership and faith to apply for one or more of the roles of a JS. Be patient and jump in. Ask questions. Plus, the training we provide will get you up to speed, but most of our experience will depend on your initiative. The session dates I'm available for have changed. How do I let you know? PLEASE let us know immediately if there is a change to the available dates that you indicated on your application. You may call the camp office or email us at office@campconcordia.org with the changes. Can I do laundry while I'm at Camp Concordia? You should make every attempt possible to bring clothes for your entire stay. If necessary, on the weekend of a 2-week session, there may be time for you to do laundry using camp's facilities (but remember, summer ministry staff will be trying to do their laundry also). Am I allowed to have my phone during my JS session? No. In order to encourage our Junior Staff to be intentional about community building and to remain focused on their campers, we do not allow Junior Counselors to have their phone with them during the week. There will be time set aside on the weekend for you to check your phone, touch base with family/friends, etc. However, we want to encourage you to be present during your experience here, and limiting technology use is a part of this. Should you need to call home, or if your family needs to get in touch with you, Camp Concordia staff will be the mediators of this process. More questions? Email Office@CampConcordia.org. Why do you hope to be a Junior Staff at Camp Concordia? (What one Jr. Counselor has to say...) "Summer camp has been a huge part of my life since I was in elementary school . . . It's been a great place for me especially to just kind of reset and refocus on what's important, something I realized as a Venture camper. Concordia has also played a huge part in discovering my passion for youth ministry. It's a place I feel comfortable being myself and I've found that it truly helps build faith and friendships. I loved being a camper and experiencing that 'summer camp magic', and the last couple years serving as a JC (Jr. Counselor) I got to help and watch others experience that same magic, which was just amazing and something I'd like to do a million times again." |
