That is the goal. It’s the task set before us each winter and spring as we look for those shining stars who could provide an awesome example for the young people that attend camp each summer. A daunting task it is, but one we embrace with excitement, passion and urgency as we seek to find those up for the challenge and equipped to succeed. ‘The Perfect Role Model’ might seem a bit lofty, but that is the aim, the mindset if you will, as we comb through applications, sit through interviews, check references and consult with our Savior for those best suited to answer the call.
They’ve got to be cool, kind, compassionate and energetic. They have to have patience and enjoy working with kids. They are teachers, they are listeners, they are leaders. They can laugh at themselves. They know how to have fun and when to be serious. They are full of spirit and enthusiasm, always doing what they can to encourage those around them. They have a servant’s heart and a passion for their Savior. That’s what we are looking for – those worthy of being professional role models.
Many have said that being a camp counselor is the hardest job that you will ever love. It is tough. There’s very little time off and hardly any time for yourself. You give and give and give and give and give and give some more. It’s demanding work, a ton of responsibility for a college student, but often the most rewarding experience of their life. In the end, the counselors are exhausted – drained physically, emotionally and spiritually, but find peace and rest in the knowledge that they planted seeds and possibly changed a life. There’s a great sense of accomplishment and a satisfaction knowing that you gave every ounce of energy you had for those kids. What a wonderful job!
As owners, we know how vital and important our summer staff are in our success as a business and a ministry. As parents, we know how critical it is to be careful about who we allow to influence our children. Couple these together and we see that selecting our summer staff is probably one of the most crucial tasks of our entire year. For those of you considering camp this summer or those already signed up, here’s a glimpse of what goes into our decision process of selecting those all important role models for our campers.
First of all, prospects must submit applications answering several questions related to their faith, their testimony, their spiritual growth, their family background and their experience working with children. From there, we filter through the apps, looking for those that really stand out. We check several references from pastors, teachers, employers and friends to see how others view them. Finally, if the applicant passes through those steps with flying colors, we extend the offer of an interview. Those face to face meetings prove most valuable as we meet with each prospect for 1 and a half to 2 hours, extracting just as much information as possible to see if they might perform well in our setting. It’s a pretty intense process, start to finish, but we take each step seriously and make decisions with the utmost care. Most importantly, we spend time in prayer, earnestly seeking wisdom from the Lord as we try to fill each slot for the coming season.
Does the Perfect Role Model actually exist? Probably not, at least not here on this earth. But that won’t stop us from searching high and low for the best possible role models we can find to work with our campers this and every summer. You can most certainly count on that!
