Volunteer Staff

Volunteer Staff are literally the most important people we have.

In all, each summer 40 to 60 people give of their time and talent to help us in a variety of areas of our summer ministries. In fact, without volunteers it simply would not be possible for us to run the program.

If you are considering playing a role in one of our summer ministries, take a few moments to look over the list of goals we have to make each camp come together. then prayerfully, fill out an application to begin a journey that may just change your life.

To help, I will organize our volunteer goals by the week. In this way, you might be able to consider your gift of time from a variety of perspectives:

Volunteer Needs for Grace Camp: June 17 – 22, 2012

Drivers: Each summer we have rented three vans and run three routes to pick up and then drop off youth who participate in our Grace Camp Program. Camp covers the cost of the vehicle, gas & meals for the volunteers. Also volunteers are encouaged to stay with us during the week, either helping as a second staff person in a cabin or as a program resource person. Typically we have one of three routes to choose from:

  • Billings: Team of two adult drivers/chaperones – This route follows 90 to three forks, Butte and finally Missoula then, North on 93 to Camp Marshall
  • Helena: Team of two adult drivers/chaperon’s- This route begins in Helena, up to Great Falls to Lincoln & then to Camp Marshall.
  • Browning Route (or Northwestern Montana) depending on Demand. Typically, Browning to Kalispell then down to Camp Marshall

Volunteer Program Staff: Our goal is to have

  • 2 Clergy (Positions Filled)
  • 1 Camp Nurse/EMT
  • 6 Adult Drivers / Available to drive different routes described above.
  • 3 – 4 adult Program Volunteers who can work along side of our Program Staff (This might include media, Music, Arts and Crafts, Fishing etc….
  • 10 Volunteer Counselors: We must have two mature staff in each of our cabins. Here, if we have a full compliment of staff we are better able to serve more campers. With fewer volunteers we run fewer cabins. To be specific, Each summer I look to hire 10 counseling staff or (five cabins) with two staff per-cabin. Currently, we keep our ratio of Grace Campers to staff fixed at 2 – 4 or two staff for every four campers. Five cabins of 4 takes us to 20 participants. If we added – lets say 10 additional adults who are willing to serve as a counselor, we would then be able to serve 40 grace campers.

Volunteer Needs for Jr. Middler One: June 24 – 30

  • 1 Clergy (Position Filled)
  • 1 Camp Nurse/EMT
  • 3 – 4 adult Program Volunteers who can work along side of our Program Staff (This might include media, Music, Arts and Crafts, Fishing etc….
  • 8 Volunteer Counselors: Our goal is to have two mature staff in each of our cabins.  When we meet this goal, it enhances every aspect of the camp.  Stronger staffing, more program choices for campers, are just two of the benefits.  We really do need the help so please consider serving as a volunteer for at least one program week.

Jr. Middler Two: July 8 – 14

  • 1 Clergy (Position Filled)
  • 1 Camp Nurse/EMT
  • 3 – 4 adult Program Volunteers who can work along side of our Program Staff (This might include media, Music, Arts and Crafts, Fishing etc….
  • 8 Volunteer Counselors: Our goal is to have two mature staff in each of our cabins.  When we meet this goal, it enhances every aspect of the camp.  Stronger staffing, more program choices for campers, are just two of the benefits.  We really do need the help so please consider serving as a volunteer for at least one program week.

and Sr. High: July 22 – 28

  • 2 Clergy (Positions Filled)
  • 1 Camp Nurse/EMT
  • 3 – 4 adult Program Volunteers who can work along side of our Program Staff (This might include media, Music, Arts and Crafts, Fishing etc….
  • 8 Volunteer Counselors: Our goal is to have two mature staff in each of our cabins.  When we meet this goal, it enhances every aspect of the camp.  Stronger staffing, more program choices for campers, are just two of the benefits.  We really do need the help so please consider serving as a volunteer for at least one program week.

Family Camp One: July 1 – 7  These are great weeks at Camp Marshall and our need for Volunteers is lightest during this time. If you have a specific skill or talent that you can only put to use during these weeks please let us know.

  • 1 Clergy (Position Filled)
  • 3 – 4 adult Program Volunteers who can work along side of our Program Staff (This might include media, Music, Arts and Crafts, Fishing etc….

Family Camp Two: July 15 – 21

These are great weeks at Camp Marshall and our need for Volunteers is lightest during this time. If you have a specific skill or talent that you can only put to use during these weeks please let us know.

  • 1 Clergy (Position Filled)
  • 3 – 4 adult Program Volunteers who can work along side of our Program Staff (This might include media, Music, Arts and Crafts, Fishing etc….

Programming Note:  If, as a volunteer you have the desire/ability to lead a program skill area you will need to let us know what skill area you would like to lead and be patient. Typically, it is difficult to develop or design program specifics prior to staff meeting together for the first time at staff training which beings in early June. For us, it is helpful if a volunteer works a summer with an eye looking ahead to the next program year. In this way, we may have a better sense of how an activity might fit into the week. Other areas where we always need help is in the Kitchen or just physical labor around the camp facility.

Volunteer Counselors: We need 8 volunteer counselors each week or specifically, 4 male and 4 female staff. This makes it possible for us to have two adult staff in each cabin at all times. Congregations hoping to grow a youth program are STRONGLY encouraged to raise up and send potential adult leaders to any of these summer programs. By attending camp with youth from your area you have a great chance to really get to know your students. In fact, I would suggest Clergy and Vestry consider this as part of an overall strategy of growing relationships and programs.

Volunteer Program Staff: We typically hire a staff of three to four staff to run our kitchen for the entire summer. During a typical week of camp (if we are running at full capacity) it works out to about 225 meals per-day. While it is never glamorous, Adult help in the kitchen, even if it is just running dishes makes a huge difference to the operation of a camp week. Of course, there is always maintenance, and work around the facility that needs to be done. So if you have specific labor skills we may be able to put you to work.