Why serve at Camp Friedenswald?
- Make a difference in the lives of youth by serving as a mentor
- Gain valuable leadership experience
- Build your resume with job skills that are relevant to any/all career paths
- Help foster in campers a love of God and the natural environment
- Create lasting friendships among peers
- Live in the peaceful woods – a restorative place in Creation
- Experience the joy of a polar bear plunge and an evening campfire in Mosquito Hollow.
Positions available:
- Leadership Staff including:
- Waterfront Director
- Program Assistant
- Worship Leader
- Communications Coordinator
- Activities Coordinator
- Arts and Crafts Coordinator
- (please contact our Program Director for more information about any of the leadership positions)
- Camp Counselor/Rotational Staff (see job description below)
Camp Counselor / Rotational Staff Job Description:
Facilitate the summer camp program experience for children, youth and family campers.
Unless otherwise assigned as part of the hiring process, all summer staff are hired as a camp counselor who will serve, on average, three out of four weeks of youth camps as a counselor. Other jobs will be assigned as needed to support the running of camp, including kitchen assistant, land stewardship assistant, or waterfront assistant. If you have a strong preference for one assignment or another please discuss this as part of your interview process. We strive to place staff in the role where they most wish to serve.
Counseling Responsibilities:
- Provide a Christ-centered child-first atmosphere where all campers feel valued and loved.
- Care for and tend to campers’ needs (physical, emotional, spiritual), seeking help where needed.
- Walk with campers on their journey of faith.
- Lead and supervise a group of 8-10 campers (on average) alongside a peer “co-counselor.” Tasks include guiding campers through rhythms of daily camp life, engaging campers in conversation, managing mealtime and cabin clean-up duties, leading activities, and actively participating in all aspects of camp life.
- Guide cabin groups in age-appropriate thoughtful discussion and sharing during “cabin quest” and evening devotions; participate in worship and provide prayer, story, song, etc. as needed.
- Instill in campers an appreciation for the natural environment and a sense of stewardship, modeling respectful use of resources throughout the course of daily camp life.
Other Responsibilities:
- Seek to live out Camp Friedenswald’s Core Values and mission
- Implement policies and procedures outlined during staff orientation, including adherence and compliance with all COVID-19 precautions.
- Care for and help clean cabins (daily) and other camp facilities at the close of a week. This includes participation in “all camp clean up” after campers depart at the end of a week.
- Attend staff orientation and daily staff meetings, including a final “wrap-up” meeting at the conclusion of the week.
- Engage in thoughtful evaluation and reflection on how the week(s) are going, sharing any concerns with your supervisor.
- Participate in the life of the staff community. While optional, we strongly encourage summer staff to use their time off on the weekends to build authentic relationships with one another.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- On a journey of Christian faith
- Appreciates and understands Mennonite/Anabaptist beliefs and practices
- Ability to work cooperatively as a team member
- Genuine interest in working with and caring for youth (and people of all ages)
- Responsible and flexible to changing circumstances
- Good listening and communication skills
- Appreciates nature
- Willingness to serve in whatever capacity is most needed
- Authentic commitment to reflective learning of new skills and information
- Enthusiastic engagement in daily camp life
- 18 years or older to work with youth
2023 Schedule
Summer Staff Orientation – June 4-9
Youth Camps – June 11- July 7
Family Camps – July 10-28
Band/Other Camps – July 30 – Aug 19
*Not all staff are needed/required to serve the entirety of the summer schedule. Please note your availability during the application process and dates will be confirmed as part of the contract process.
Application process
- Apply: Submit a completed application form (new summer staff or returning summer staff) online
- References: Provide names of three references on your application that camp will contact to complete a reference form for you.
- Interview: Camp will schedule an interview (via Zoom) to learn more about you and your interest in working at Camp Friedenswald.
Once your application, references and interview are complete, camp is then able to make a hiring decision. Decisions will be made on a case by case basis. If offered a position, each staff member will need to provide information for a background check. Please be aware that information obtained from the background check may disqualify you from employment. Once the background check is completed, you will receive a contract to review and sign.
Benefits & Pay
The rewards of working at camp are more than the money, but we know that college (or other endeavors) require financial resources. Camp Friedenswald provides housing, food, and a weekly stipend. Health insurance is not available through camp. Weekly stipend includes:
- Counselors and Rotational Staff: $250 per week
- Leadership positions: $300 per week
- Anyone staying through the end of band camps (Aug 19): $500 end of summer bonus!
Questions before you apply? We’d love to hear from you! You can contact our Program Director or give us a call at 269-476-9744. If not, apply today!
Hiring Policy
Camp Friedenswald recruits, hires and promotes persons in all job titles without regard to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or any other legally protected status.
Welcome & Inclusion
At Camp Friedenswald we hire people who are the best qualified candidates (see list of qualifications above) and resonate with our core values and mission. We wholeheartedly affirm the full participation of LGBTQ+ people at Camp as we seek to authentically live into our mission and core values. We are on a journey of learning how we might better provide genuine hospitality to LGBTQ+ staff, campers, and guests. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff for further conversation of what this means at Camp Friedenswald.
Camp Friedenswald is a partner of Central District Conference (of Mennonite Church USA) and affirms the Conference’s discernment around inclusion and welcome of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the church.