SS – Definition, Purpose & Roles of Summer Staff

Definition

In every camp situation there are jobs to be done. They are different at each camp, but they range from driving campers around, delivering morning and afternoon tea, working in a canteen, doing the camp administration, running the outdoor activities and simply being available to help out the camp when necessary to make it a great week.

But summer staff is more than that. The summer staff is comprised of university aged students, adults and interested people who have usually been at the receiving end of a great camp and have received the greatest gift of all, starting a relationship with Jesus Christ. Because of this experience they want to give to other young people so that they too can come to know Jesus for themselves. Summer staff is a great opportunity to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ.

Summer staff is living and working in community with other Christians providing role models for campers and work crew. It’s studying and learning from God’s word. It’s praying for all aspects of camp. It’s learning to share your faith with other young people.

Summer staff is a great time of fun, work and friendship.

Purpose

The Summer Staff team, along with the Work Crew, is the living representatives of Jesus Christ. How the team members act, respond and work can affect how others see Christ. The purpose of the summer staff is to run camp activities and support the program team to ensure that the leaders are free to spend all their time with campers. Their job is to aid in the smooth running of the camp in any way possible.

Summer Staff is not only responsible for the extra activities around camp, but may also serve in a supervisory role working in their areas of expertise. They often have jobs which include responsibility for camper safety.

Roles:

• They work to provide a first‑class platform for the Gospel.
• They sell with enthusiasm everything that happens at camp from club to mixers, to competition, to food.
• They ensure that campers are safe at the different camp activities.
• They pray for little things, for each other, for campers, for leaders, for the speaker and for big things to happen in the lives of campers.
• They live as total persons who reflect the message of Christ.

The Summer Staff is just one of the many critical elements that go into making a successful camp work, you are important, but you are also part of a greater body working to ensure that the campers get the best opportunity to see Jesus Christ up close.

Col. 3:15‑17, 22‑23, Eph 4:1, Eph 5:1‑2.