Summer Staff & Volunteers
JOIN OUR TEAM THIS SUMMER!
Every year we rely on incredible program staff and volunteers to serve campers and invest in the lives of the hundreds of children and youth who come to Circle Square Ranch.
Summer Volunteer & Staff Opportunities
More than 100 staff and volunteers join our team each summer to help make Circle Square Ranch an exciting, fun, and safe camping experience for the campers who attend our programs.
As a staff member you can expect to work hard, make great friends, and see God work both in your own life and in the lives of children and young people in a powerful way. Our staff team is made up of:
The Impact Team – which is made up of Canadian and International volunteers, Parent Volunteers, Community volunteers, and Jr. Volunteers who serve in a variety of roles throughout the summer (i.e. counselors, group leaders, maintenance and kitchen staff, program staff, etc.)
The Core Team – which is made up of Canadian and International staff with specific job roles during the summer (i.e lifeguard, photographer, adventure co-ordinators, day camp director assistants, wranglers, etc.), as well as our interns.
The Senior Leadership Team – which is made up of Canadian and International staff who are responsible for directing their department and staff team and providing care to the rest of the staff team (i.e. Camp Directors, Staff Co-ordinator, Program Directors, etc.)
Please read below for more information.
Impact Team – Volunteer Opportunities
There are a few different ways to join our volunteer team this summer, depending on your age and the type of involvement you would like to have. Please choose from the drop down menus to find out more information on how to apply!
We love and appreciate having adult volunteers work alongside us to make camp happen! Camper Parents who are interested in volunteering in the kitchen or as group leaders while their child is attending camp can apply as a Parent Volunteer. Click here for additional details.
Adults from the community who are interested in volunteering in the kitchen during the day on occasion throughout the summer should complete a Community Volunteer Application. In addition to the application, we require 2 references and a police check.
Adults from the community who are interested in volunteering in a more direct role working with children should fill out our regular Summer Volunteer Application. In addition to the application, we require 3 references, an interview, police check, and attending in-person or online training.
Teens and Young Adults on our Impact Team make a crucial difference in the lives of campers each year. Some members of the Impact Team volunteer for one or two weeks during the summer, while others spend all or most of their summer at the Ranch serving in a variety of roles. Some of these roles include: counselors, group leaders, program staff, kitchen staff, horse staff, adventure staff, maintenance, and more! Most of the volunteers on our impact team will have the chance to try out a variety of roles throughout the summer if they are here for more than one week.
Click here to complete the online application.
Our Summer Volunteers are paid an honorarium and if they are Canadian, they also have the option to participate in our Summer Missions Program to raise support for their work. Click here for more information about the honorarium and here for more information about summer missions.
The application process for our Summer Volunteers includes completing the online application, references, interview, and police check. We host a fun and interactive training week at the end of June for all accepted volunteers. If you are unable to attend the training week, you can complete the online training instead.
LIT: Teens who won’t be 16 before the end December but are interested in volunteering at camp and staying overnight during the week will first need to complete our LIT Program. LIT is for ages 15-16, but 14 year olds can apply if they will be 15 by the end of December. Click here for more information about LIT.
Junior Volunteer Program: The Jr. Volunteer Program is for teens ages 13-15 who are interested in serving at camp, learning new things, developing work skills, and being a day-time helper at Circle Square Ranch. Applicants should live locally as they will need to commute and cannot stay overnight as a Junior Volunteer. While helping out at camp, we hope to help you to grow as a Christian leader throughout the summer as you prepare to be a part of our LIT and volunteer team in the future. Additional details and the application can be found here.
Core Team and Senior Leadership Team Opportunities
Each summer we hire enthusiastic young adults to join our Core Team and Senior Leadership Team in a variety of different paid positions. All of these positions require a full summer commitment, with some having the opportunity for a start date during our Spring Season.
The Core Team is made up of Canadian and International staff with specific job roles during the summer (i.e lifeguard, photographer, adventure co-ordinators, day camp director assistants, wranglers, etc.), as well as our interns.
The Senior Leadership Team made up of Canadian and International staff who are responsible for directing their department and staff team and providing care to the rest of the staff team (i.e. Camp Directors, Staff Co-ordinator, Program Directors, etc.)
Applicants are required to have strong leadership skills, previous camp experience, and have a desire to see the lives of children and youth transformed by Christ. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and are selected through a thorough hiring process including an online application, references, interview and police check. Once hired, all staff members are required to participate in training prior to their time at camp.
Hired staff will be placed on either the Core Team or the Senior Leadership Team, depending on their skills and previous leadership experience.
Listed below is an overview of the different positions we hire for each year. Please contact the office to inquire about positions we currently have available as some may already be filled.
These roles require pre-camp training from Adventure Works. Adventure Coordinators are responsible for running program and managing campers and staff in our Adventure area which includes the climbing tower, initiative course, high ropes and the zip line. Adventure coordinators also participate in many other aspects of camp throughout the evening.
The Food Service positions will help with managing the Ranch kitchen, staff, and food services. They will help with meal prep, Dining Hall set up, staff management, and dish pit management. They will also help provide a Christ centered atmosphere at camp and be a Christian example to those around them.
The Horsemanship Coordinators are part of a leadership team responsible for implementing lesson programs, barn management, and camper safety in our riding program. The Horsemanship Coordinator positions require strong leadership skills, horsemanship experience, a good work ethic, and the ability to be a team player. They are also responsible for upholding a positive Christ centered atmosphere at camp.
Lifeguards are responsible for staff and camper supervision at the pool. The Senior Lifeguards look after the care and maintenance of the pool and surrounding area. They also help with programming and participate in all areas of camp in the evening.
The nurse works closely with the director to manage camper and staff care. They are responsible for daily check ins with the campers, managing and handing out all medications, helping with daily 1st aid. The nurse also assists with office administration when time allows.
The photographer and social media content creator is responsible for taking daily photos at camp and uploading them to our online photo program. This role is also responsible for making social media posts throughout the summer and creating content to be posted in the off season as well.
The Leadership Camps Director will be responsible for leading our 252 Crew Camp, Route 4:13, and Leaders in Training programs. This position requires strong leadership skills, conflict resolution skills, patience, flexibility, enthusiasm, and previous experience with youth ministry. The Leadership Camps Director will be required to do large amounts of teaching, evaluating, and goal setting with campers in the leadership programs. They will also be responsible for upholding a positive Christ centered atmosphere at camp.
The Maintenance Coordinator is part of a leadership team responsible for keeping the Ranch clean and in good condition. They are required to help with all cleaning routines, small repairs, and helping with many other aspects of camp. The Maintenance Coordinator position requires strong leadership skills, a good work ethic, and the ability to be a team player. They are also responsible for upholding a positive Christ centered atmosphere at camp.
The Daycamp Coordinator is responsible for planning and implementing program for our Daycampers, ages 6-9 or 10-13. They are responsible for managing campers and staff within our two Daycamp programs, and ensuring that everyone is having fun! Daycamp coordinators also participate in many other aspects of camp throughout the evening and will be responsible for upholding a positive Christ centered atmosphere at camp.
Resources
After you have submitted your Staff Application, we require references to be submitted on your behalf. It is your responsibility to make sure that the individuals you have selected to be your references complete the forms below.
Please direct your references to the appropriate forms:
Does this sound like you?
Teachable, helpful, friendly, hard-working, maintain a positive attitude, reliable, flexible, and a team player
A faithful witness of Jesus Christ in word and action; in a committed relationship with Him; having a mature, growing faith and the freedom to share the same
A leader who has the flexibility and willingness to help out wherever help is needed
A leader who has an understanding of and caring for children
The ability to live and work in a camp environment
The ability to work with other staff in a spirit of co-operation
A demonstrated willingness to participate fully in camp activities
A successful result from screening procedures such as: police record check, reference checks and verification of special training certificates