Expectations of Summer Staff

“Basic Expectations of Staff” (below) is a list of things not to do or a list of ways to loose your job. 

The following is what you should do.

-The obvious answer is to do your job:  do what you have been asked to do on time. 

-A broader answer is to love others and love God.  Love can be shown through serving others.  Service can be shown through:

• Putting others before ourselves
• Assisting before we are asked.
• Looking for ways to make the camper’s experience better.

Be about the Campers.  A good staff person gets involved with camper’s lives, does activities with the camper, plays games with the camper and help them win.

Be a friend and mentor, not a babysitter.  Parents send their children to Camp because they value having a mentoring relationship with their child

• Play with the campers
• Listen to the camper’s story
• Affirm the campers (and everyone else)
• Put the camper before your self

Be intentional about your spiritual growth.  Don’t assume that you will grow spiritually just because you are at camp. 

• Take time, on your breaks or at night, to personally read the Bible and pray. 
• When other staff share prayer requests at staff worship, write them down and pray for them the next day. 
• During Campfire messages, pray for the campers and for the speaker.
• Use your weekends and breaks to get closer to God.

Basic Expectations of Staff

1.      Camp life is fun and tiring. To meet the challenges of the day and to stay in good health it is important that all staff be well rested.   Everyone is expected to retire for the night before the curfew given by the person in charge.  Usually this is 11 or 11:30 p.m.  Counseling staff are to retire with their campers unless other arrangements have been made with the Director.

2.  Use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs are forbidden. Use or possession of weapons, firearms, paint ball guns on the grounds are forbidden. 

3.  In the interest of safety, no one is to be inside the pool fence unless the gate is unlocked and the lifeguard is present.

4.  All staff are expected to attend and be on time to staff meetings that apply to them. Staff who are chronically late will be written up according to the “corrective behavior” procedure.

5.  Supervisory personnel have their jobs by virtue of experience, gifts, and age.  Full cooperation with the requests or instructions of your supervisor is expected.  If you are sick, let them know.  If you are having trouble or don’t understand, ask for help.

6.  Supervisors are expected to treat their staff with kindness and respect, considering suggestions, seeking opinions and answering questions.

7.  Camp Deerpark is an extension of the body Christ. Staff are expected to demonstrate Christian faith in word and deed to each other and to the campers.  As living reflections of Christ’s light, we are how campers first see Jesus.

8.  Camp Deerpark is a co-ed working environment.  In an attempt to be above reproach no staff are allowed in the sleeping quarters of members of the opposite sex at any time, for any reason, ever, even if you are siblings!, unless accompanied by the Program Director or Summer Camp Director.  Even if you were just borrowing something, someone could think otherwise.  We will conduct ourselves in a way that is above reproach.

9.  In an effort to preserve the integrity of the Camp Deerpark ministry, the administration strongly discourages exclusive or romantic relationships between staff members.  If staff members believe they have found their “true love” at Camp Deerpark, the administration is confident they will be able to wait until the end of the summer.  While any relationship of this nature is grounds for dismissal, relationships that happen in ways which are noticeable to other staff and campers are considered to undermine the integrity of the program and will draw the swiftest dismissal.  Male and female public display of affection (PDA) is not allowed on camp grounds.  This includes:  hand holding, kissing, sitting very close in the living room late at night, or anything else that campers wouldn’t be allowed to do.

10.  Staff are expected to model Godly male/female relationships.  Treating and speaking about the opposite gender in respectful and non-objectifying ways is expected.  “Ladies First” is our motto at meals, you may extend that to all male/female interactions.

11.  Staff are expected to refrain from course joking and obscene language. (did I really need to say that?)

12.  Electronics may be used in accordance with the section on “Electronics”.  Generally speaking, leave them at home.  If you did bring them, don’t use them publicly. 

13.  Summer Staff will be responsible to coordinate with the Summer Camp Director regarding their breaks. 

14.  Internet services and computers provided by Camp Deerpark must be used in a way that reflects the values of Christ and Camp Deerpark.  Inappropriate use will not be tolerated.  

Related Entries

• Camper Behavioral Correction Guideline
• Camper Discipline
• General Supervision of Campers
• Summer Camp Dress Code
• Summer Camp Electronics Policy