CAMP CONCORDIA
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serve and laugh and lead and love...
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. 
  • Jr. Counselor (JC): Serve primarily with the main cabin group counselor and some behind the scenes projects. Imagine leading campers through their week at camp as part of a team led by our summer staff
  • Jr. Kitchen (JK): Want to be a chef some day? Maybe you would like to learn how a crazy kitchen runs at a summer camp. Sweat with the best of them.
  • Jr. Lifeguard (JL): Have a Lifeguard certification? Spend time supporting the waterfront staff in keeping the waterfront safe and build your resume by assisting with swim lessons.
  • Jr. Maintenance (JM): Primarily help with hands-on projects during the day that help make camp safer and better for campers. 
​Housing depends on camp size, availability of bunks in camper's cabins, and your role. All Jr. Staff positions help in areas such as dish room and they also gather for Bible study and prayer each day.

You must currently be a freshman in high school or older to apply to be a Junior Staff. 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. 
  • You will be invited to contribute at the end of the application. We recommend $100 to help cover food and supplies. (You do not need to contribute in order to be considered.)
2023 Junior Staff Application
Application Timeline
  • The Junior Staff application for Summer 2023 will be available January 12, 2023. 
  • Completed applications, including references, are due as soon as possible and prioritized on a first-come, first-serve basis and final decisions are made by March 31, 2023. It's never too late to apply. We may need additional Junior Staff depending on summer registrations.
  • If you have questions about applying to be a Junior Staff at Camp Concordia this summer, please contact us at this email.
Junior Counselors take on a supervised role of leading activities depending on their abilities
A Jr. Waterfront can assist a Summer Ministry Staff with swim lessons
Jr. Maintenance could assist counselors in helping campers who want to do a clean up project.
Jr Staff help wash cooking pans and camper dishes after each meal.
Jr Counselors assist the counselor. During the second week they may lead under the supervision of the counselor.
Jr Staff are graduates of 9th grade - heading into 10-12 grade in the fall. Most become good friends.
Jr Counselors need to help facilitate campers at the meal table - making sure they eat what they take and helping to coach them during clean-up.
All Jr. Staff (JC, JM, JK, JW) support in behind the scenes help like cleaning bathrooms, etc. These are incredible teams.
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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:
  • Check-in at 12:45 pm on the first day
  • Check-out at 12:45 pm on the last day
Session 1: June 11-23 
Session 2: July 5-July 14 (Wednesday start)
Session 3: July 16-28
Session 4: July 30-August 3 (5-day Session)
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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
  • Camp Concordia will select up to 23 Jr. Staff to serve this summer. Each JS session may be filled with about 3-5 Jr. Counselors, 2 Jr. Lifeguards, 2 Jr. Kitchen and 2 Jr. Maintenance. 
  • Junior Staff selections are made based on a variety of different factors, including strength of your application and references; as well as summer availability. 
  • If you have served as a Junior Counselor/Jr. Staff a previous summer, you are still requested to go through the application process.​​
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. 
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More questions? Email Office@CampConcordia.org.
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2023 ESSENTIAL CAMP INFORMATION

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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."
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Camp Concordia
13400 Pinewood St. NE
Gowen, MI 49326

​Office: 616.754.3785
General Inquiries: office@campconcordia.org
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  • Home
  • Summer Camp
    • Summer Overview
    • Explorer (Grades 1-3)
    • Journey (Grades 3-5)
    • Quest (Grades 5-6)
    • Trails (Grades 6-8)
    • Venture (Grades 8-10)
    • Junior Staff (Grades 10-12)
    • 2023 Mission Event (6-8, 9-12)
    • Registration Information
    • Summer Confirmation Camp Option
  • Family Camps
    • Family Camp (Jun 30-Jul 3)
    • Family Camps Overview
    • Family Explorer (Jul 21-23)
  • Summer Staff
  • Retreats
    • Retreats Overview
    • Build Your Own Retreat >
      • Base Camp Retreat Facilities
    • Fall Confirmation Retreat
  • Support
    • Support Overview
    • Donate Online Now
    • PayPal Giving Fund
    • eBay for Charity
    • Amazon Wish List
    • Amazon Smile
    • Thrivent Choice Dollars
    • Thrivent Action Teams
  • About
    • Mission
    • Faith Statement
    • Staff
    • Location
    • News
    • Terms and Conditions