2024 SUMMER STAFF FAQs

Pretty much all the great stuff you’d need to know about the hiring process and a little bit about what working at SON-Life this summer might look like. We know it’s a lot of information, but we want you to feel confident that you know what this Summer could look like, and what the expectations are of all of our staff.

 
Our campers love to be out on the lake. That’s why we have waterfront time every afternoon! Swimming, boating, blobbing, and speedboat tubing are some of the daily water activities we have on our camp schedule.

Our campers love to be out on the lake. That’s why we have waterfront time every afternoon! Swimming, boating, blobbing, and speedboat tubing are some of the daily water activities we have on our camp schedule.

Our Day Campers hang out with us each day, which includes circle games, snack time, worship & dancing, bible time, lunch, swim time, and more! Here they are headed to Bible time at the Outdoor Chapel.

Our Day Campers hang out with us each day, which includes circle games, snack time, worship & dancing, bible time, lunch, swim time, and more! Here they are headed to Bible time at the Outdoor Chapel.

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IMPORTANT DATES

Staff Bash — May 3-4

Staff Training — June 6-15

Junior Escape 1 & Day Camp 1 (First week with campers) — June 17-21

Outpost Expedition — June 24- June 28

Please Note:

1) Summerfest is a fundraiser for the camp. We invite the community, family, and friends to come to camp for a pig roast, auction, games, and use of the waterfront.

2) Outpost Expedition includes two nights at SON-Life and two nights camping in tents away from camp, typically up north near the Ludington area.

3) Generally, only 18+yo staff are hired for Outpost Expedition & Teen Extreme.

Week off - July 1-5

Junior Escape 2 & Day Camp 2 — July 8-12

Teen Extreme - July 15-19

Junior Escape 3 & Primary Experience — July 22-26

Junior Escape 4 & Day Camp 3 — July 29-August 2

Discovery Camp- August 5-7

End of Camp Celebration Day - August 3

Post-Camp (Support Staff Only) — Aug 7-9

A Day of Camp

Every day at camp is different but here is a general overview. Staft rotate between being assigned Day Camp or Overnight Camp. Everyone gets a chance to work both.

Examples of games and quests include: dodgeball, archery, mountain boarding, capture the flag, crafts, moleball, tag, tomahawks, frisbee golf, and board game, mudpit, soccer and more.

Day Camp

7:30 Breakfast (No kids)

8:00 Check-in

8:30 Morning Games

9:00 Craft

9:30 Worship and Message

10:15 Snack

10:45 Morning Activity

12:00 Lunch

12:45 Rest Time

1:30 Swim Time

4:00 Afternoon Fame

4:30 Check Out

5:00 Dinner

*Day Camp staff have an evening break, but also help set up activities for Overnight Camps as needed

Overnight Camp

8:00 Wake up

8:45 Breakfast

9:30 Worship and Message

10:10 In the Word

10:40 Morning Game

11:00 Quest (Activity Block) Some staff have a break here

12:00 Lunch

12:45 Rest time

1:30 Waterfront

4:00 Quest: Rest of staff have their break

5:00 Dinner

5:50 Staff Meeting

6:30 Evening Game

7:50 Worship and Message

8:35 Small Group

8:45 Cabin Activity Time

9:15 Snack

9:30 Campfire

10:30 Lights Out



GET TO KNOW US A LITTLE BETTER

SON-LIFE CAMP IN A NUTSHELL
SON-Life Camp is a non-denominational camp located in Wayland, Michigan – about halfway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. We are set on 40 beautiful acres with plenty of room to have fun and enjoy God’s creation.

Our facilities include cabins, a retreat center (meeting space, bathrooms and showers, offices, game room), dining hall, recreation fields, a variety of outdoor activity areas (archery, tomahawks, gaga, moleball, volleyball, low initiatives, and more) and a waterfront area (beach, shallow and deep swim areas, blob, canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, paddleboats, & speed boat tubing) set on a beautiful lake. We can host up to 74 campers per week, and generally hire a summer staff of around 18 individuals.

With SON-Life Camp being smaller in size, we are able to give campers a more personal touch during their week of camp where no one has to worry about getting lost in the shuffle. Our summer ministry team becomes an intimate and cohesive group building friendships that last long beyond summer camp.

SON-Life Camp’s goal is to give campers a week of fun through memory-making activities while also challenging them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ. Each year, almost every camper leaves SON-Life Camp saying they have grown spiritually — making a first-time commitment to Christ, renewing a relationship that has drifted, or coming to know Him in a deeper way. SON-Life Camp’s summer camp program offers a wide variety of experiences for children as young as 6 to teens as old as 17. We strive to creatively design our summer camp programs to be relevant and reach today’s young people where they are, and help take them to where God wants them to be!

We worship twice a day — once in the morning, and once in the evening, as part of our daily activities at camp. Our campers love the worship culture we have at SON-Life and often comment that it is their favorite thing we do!

We worship twice a day — once in the morning, and once in the evening, as part of our daily activities at camp. Our campers love the worship culture we have at SON-Life and often comment that it is their favorite thing we do!


Our staff need to have a heart to love and serve our campers, stemming from a love for Christ. Our best staff are those that search out and engage in teachable moments. Whether that’s diving into a simple Bible question brought up in the cabin, or h…

Our staff need to have a heart to love and serve our campers, stemming from a love for Christ. Our best staff are those that search out and engage in teachable moments. Whether that’s diving into a simple Bible question brought up in the cabin, or helping young people grow in a life skill, or activity we run, we want our staff to have eyes ready to see opportunities, and a willingness to embrace moments like these.

WHAT WE EXPECT OF OUR STAFF

QUALITIES OF A SON-LIFE SUMMER STAFF MEMBER
Working at a camp is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it comes with its fair share of challenges. Think you’re up for it?

This is what we look for in team members: Team members should be energetic, enthusiastic followers of Jesus Christ, desiring to work with kids and make a difference in campers’ lives. They should be role models who strive to live out their faith in a way that shows integrity and maturity. Attributes of patience, responsibility, flexibility, cooperativeness, creativity, thoughtfulness, being fun-loving, selflessness, possessing energy, enthusiasm, and endurance are all needed by team members.

Because campers look up to and imitate team members, we expect our team members to be exemplary Christian role models.

WHAT WE WANT OUR SUMMER STAFF TO LOOK LIKE

  • Demonstrate a sincere, authentic faith walk

  • Maintain a Christ-like attitude

  • Possess a sincere desire to work with children

  • Be team players, seeking unity and understanding in working with groups

  • Seek ways to grow as an employee, in faith, and in character

WHAT’S EXPECTED OF ALL SUMMER STAFF

  1. As a representative of SON-Life Camp and Retreat Center, do everything to the best of your ability to promote the growth and development of the Kingdom of God through this ministry.

  2. Assist in maintaining the general security, cleanliness, and attractiveness of the camp at all times.

  3. Follow the daily routine and guide the campers in that routine, including participation in all planned activities.

  4. Make every effort to build a sense of community and understanding among all team members.

  5. Be aware of the spiritual atmosphere of camp and work toward the camp’s goals.

  6. Be able to lead a young person to Christ and seek opportunities to do so.

  7. Attend all required team meetings

  8. Be flexible when scheduling issues arise and work alongside staff to accommodate those unexpected changes.

  9. Assist with camper check-in, be friendly and greet any guests or campers, and seek to answer any questions or give directions when needed.

  10. Do everything possible to ensure the safety and well-being of all campers.

  11. Assist in tidying up camp after each weekly camp session ends.

  12. Fill out a mid-summer self-evaluation and a post-camp evaluation as directed by the camp directors.

  13. Perform any other duties as assigned by supervisor. Note: we never ask our staff to do anything we wouldn’t do ourselves!


    Combine all of the above with whatever specific role you desire below, and that’s what’s expected.


JOB DESCRIPTIONS

QUALIFICATIONS

Must be at least 18 years old, preferably with one year of college experience.

Every week, Senior Counselors are in charge of approximately 5-10 campers (occasionally more, but in that instance, working with a co-counselor or another senior counselor), and lead their cabin in activities, keeping them on the camp schedule. Senior Counselors are the primary guardian of the campers, and need to ensure safety of the campers as well as keeping a watchful eye on any health concerns that may arise. Counselors also facilitate small group discussions with the campers after each bible study session. These last for about 10-15 minutes. Senior Counselors must love kids, desire to teach the bible, share their life, participate in games and activities, make camp fun, and work well with other summer staff.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must be at least 16 years old

Must be able to serve a minimum of 3 weeks during the summer.

Every week, Co-Counselors assist Senior Counselors in leading cabins through games and activities, keeping them on the camp schedule. CCs assist Senior Counselors in ensuring health and safety of the campers. They also assist in leading small group sessions after the large group bible studies every day. We desire for the Co-Counselor role to be one of both learning and leading and we seek to find opportunities for our CCs to step into leading thing as they feel comfortable.

QUALIFICATIONS

Possess or be willing to acquire a current ARC Lifeguard Management certificate.

Possess or be willing to acquire current CPR for the Professional Rescuer & Standard First Aid certificates.

Must be at least 18 years old, however 20+ preferred.

Every week, the Waterfront Director is responsible for supervising all beach and water activities each afternoon. They are in charge of all lifeguards and aquatic observers, making lifeguard and AO assignments, calling buddy checks, communicating directions and changes to both campers and summer staff, teaching campers waterfront protocol, and facilitating swim tests on Mondays.

QUALIFICATIONS

Possess or be willing to acquire a current American Red Cross lifeguard certification.

Possess or be willing to acquire current CPR for the Professional Rescuer & Standard First Aid certificates.

Must be at least 18 years old.

Each week, summer staff members hired as lifeguards are responsible for monitoring assigned waterfront activities, such as swimming, blobbing, boating, and speedboat tubing, under the supervision and leadership of camp’s Waterfront Director. Lifeguards ensure safety of all waterfront activities, enforce rules and policies, and perform assists and rescues when needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Have experience working at SON-Life or similar program

Prefer them to be at least 20 years old

Each week, Program Directors are the supervisor in charge of their respective camp session. Each Program Director will lead anywhere from 5-10 counselors and CCs in accomplishing a successful week of camp. Their job is to make changes to the camp schedule, communicate changes and expectations throughout the week, support and encourage their session’s summer staff, set up and lead games and activities, be energetic and enthusiastic about camp – especially around campers, facilitate dining hall programming, suggest and implement new ideas, share tips and experiences in effort to help counselors find success, and work hand-in-hand with the Director of Ministries to carry out a fun, safe, biblical camp – all in efforts to create an atmosphere of faith where campers can discover and grow towards God.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must be at least 18 years old.

At least 1 year of college preferred.

Must possess or be willing to acquire American Red Cross or equivalent American Heart Association certifications in Responding to Emergencies and CPR and First Aid for the Professional rescuer OR be a certified CNA, RN, EMT, or a 4th year Nursing Student.

Each week, the camp Health Officer reviews all health needs of both staff and campers, making note of any special concerns for the week. During the week, the Health Officer is in charge of administering medication at all mealtimes and at bedtime. They are also on call if any accidents or injuries occur, being the first responder if possible, and are summoned by two-way radio to the site of the incident. The Health Officer also keeps track of all routine and necessary health implementations, documenting them in the summer camp health log book.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must be inclined towards using and developing artistic creativity.

Each week, the camp photographer/ videographer is responsible for taking quality photos and videos of all the activities of all camp sessions. They must be creative in capturing exciting, engaging shots in efforts to gain the interest of potential campers, parents, church organizations, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS

Preferably 16 years old

Must be available to work all weeks of camp, and attend summer orientation.

Must be a self-starter, able to motivate self individually, and must operate with a servant’s heart, as modeled by Christ.

Each week, Assistant Cooks help the head cook in preparing meals, washing dishes, serving food, and cleaning the dining hall.

 

 
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Cabin Leader-In-Training

(C.I.T.)

For campers who have attended Outpost Expedition, and are at least 15 years old, who would like to serve 1-3 weeks of Summer following their own camp experience.

Interested?

Contact Ben for the C.I.T. application.

 

COMPENSATION SCALE

Assistant Cabin Leader -$115 per week

Assistant Cook - $250 per week

Photographer - $160 per week

Videographer - $160 per week

Cabin Leader - $300 per week

Health Officer - $325 per week

Waterfront Director - $325 week

Program Director - $325 week

Staff who also serve as a Lifeguard - additional $40 per week

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APPLYING AS RETURNING STAFF? PLEASE NOTE:

1) Returning Staff may receive additional $25 per week from base rate for first returning year in the same role.

2) Returning staff may receive an additional $10 per week for their third and fourth years in the same role.

APPLY NOW

Fill out the ONLINE APPLICATION. We use a online site called CampBrain to accomplish this. You will need to create a log-in, and you can save your info at any time and return to it at a later time, if need be.

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Whew! We know. That’s a lot of text!

And maybe still a tad difficult to envision exactly what the job actually really looks like.

If you have questions and want clarifications, lets connect!

If you have any questions at all please reach out. We want you to feel confident and prepared as you enter into this hiring season.

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