Principles for Recruiting Camp Staff

Recruiting Tips

Recruiting Ideas That Work
Today, more than ever before, it is difficult to find qualified, caring staff for church camps. Camp directors compete with hundreds of small businesses for teens and college student employees. Even pastors have difficulty making time for camps. What's a camp director to do? We asked camp directors for their tips on recruiting camp workers. Here's what they told us about their most demanding responsibility.

I start by recruiting team leaders for specific areas; for example, kitchen, sports, Dean of Men and Dean of Women. These team leaders are in charge of recruiting the workers they will need in their areas.— Charles Russ

I keep names and addresses of all workers who have helped me in the past. Each year at camp I pass a paper for all workers to tell me what they would like to do to help next year and to give me new names of people they know.—Janet Ritter

Appreciate past workers, and they'll return. Send thank you notes to past workers. Write letters to prospects. Provide them with good training to give them the confidence they need.—Donald Darsch

I like to have workers from every church that sends campers, but this doesn't always happen. I have learned which workers I want to come, and I usually ask them to come back. I like being able to choose my staff.—Susanne Murray

Our camp coordinator travels to as many churches as possible during the year promoting camps.—Greg Chambers

I recruit workers very carefully. I do not send out a general call for workers. You may get someone you don't want. I contact pastors personally and talk about workers who would like to share in a camp experience and have something special to give to the campers. I emphasize it is not a vacation to get away. It is a ministry to children.—Judi Amerson

This is hard to do, and it is getting harder as we find more people working. We give discounts to the children of our workers and staff T-shirts to all who serve. We send letters to each person who served the year before. We send camp posters to all churches. I pray a lot. —Jim Slaughter

Keep in touch with your "regular" workers throughout the year by way of letters, announcements, and greeting cards at Christmas. This way, camp is reinforced each time they hear from you. Also, we have many parents of "first-time" campers come and observe. Many times, these parents will enjoy the experience and volunteer to stay all week! We rely heavily on local children's directors reminding their congregations abut camp and "pushing" their children to attend. We also require each church that sends five or more children to camp to send an adult, too.—Glen & Dee Plummer

Who Will Work at Camp?
"Who will work in our camp?" This is an important question facing every camp director. The personnel who form the camp staff will have a profound impact on every aspect of camp. It is important to find just the right people. Each person must be selected on the basis of his own maturity, spiritual sensitivity, energy level, health, and other personal characteristics. However, examining the advantages and disadvantages of groups from which potential staffers may be drawn, can be useful in expanding your vision to answer the question "Who will work in our camp?"

Pastors
Advantages	Disadvantages
May be expected to be involved in at least one camp. Why not yours?	May be working in camp only because it is expected.
Are usually available, even though their schedules are heavy.	May have to leave mid-camp in an emergency arises.
Are committed to camp ministry.	May not be skilled in working with children.
May have worked in camp before.	May be tempted to visit with other pastors and neglect campers.
Are able to work comfortably with spiritual matters.	May not have the stamina necessary to work with children.
Senior Citizens
May be willing volunteers and have flexible schedules.	May tire easily.
May be mature Christians.	May not be used t o working with children 24 hours a day.
May find camp to be a meaningful avenue of ministry.	May become impatient with campers' immaturity.
May be good models for children, especially those who do not see their grandparents often.	May be unable to endure the physical rigors of camp.
Teens
May be willing to work and have flexible schedules	May be immature and unable to assume responsibility to properly care for campers.
May be idealistic and enthusiastic Christians.	May be more interested in visiting with other teens at camp than working with the children.
May be models for campers who often look up to teenagers and want to be like them.	May have unrealistic expectations of the their campers.
Maybe energetic and able to keep up with the campers.	May be impatient with campers.
May grow spiritually at camp.	May be tempted to be the campers' buddy rather than their leader.
College Students
May have the summers off from college and be available to work in camp.	May need to work in the summers to earn money for college.
Are more mature than high school teens.	May be unfamiliar with campers' characteristics and unrealistic in their expectations.
May have had courses in Bible or religion if they attend a Christian college.	May be tempted to be the campers' buddy rather than their leader.
May use some of their college-learned skills (especially those majoring in education, religion, religious education, or psychology).	May be more interested in being with teens or adults rather than the children.
Still have a high level of energy to commit to camp.	May be unsure how to handle spiritual matters.
Parents
May be able and willing to take time off of work in serve in camp. (Public school educators may have the summer off.)	May be inclined to focus narrowly on their own children and neglect others.
May be familiar with campers' characteristics.	May expect too much from their own children.
May be an opportunity for ministry and spiritual growth.	May not allow their children an opportunity to "be out on their own." If their parents are at camp, this valuable experience is diminished.
May have opportunity for quality time with their children.	May be uncomfortable providing spiritual leadership.
May provide lay Christian role models for campers.	Maybe more interested in being with other adults than working with the children.

Winning Combinations in Camp Staffing
Sometimes the most effective staffs are those that are made up of the right balance from all the groups mentioned above. Here are some suggestions for putting together a winning combination at your camp:


If you want to download a PDF copy of the Camp Worker's List, click here.