Volunteer Camp Staff

Camp Kindle has the most incredible summer staff who give 110% to the campers and the program! The ideal staff member will have some experience working with youth. Camp Kindle looks for individuals with a lot of energy, who are team players, role models in their homes and communities, are respectful towards all people, possess strong leadership and communication skills, love working with young people and have the ability to handle potentially new situations with maturity. Applicants must attend an in-person interview with the Camp Director unless they live out of state. Interview dates are listed below. All staff members must be able to attend staff training, unless absence is pre-approved by Camp Director. All staff members must pass a criminal background check and submit three letters of recommendation. Staff may volunteer for one camp session. Camp Kindle will help in covering the cost of travel, food and lodging while at a camp session if the staff member raises the $350 dollars that is asked. We have many different positions available, so please complete the New Volunteer Application (available January) for a full list of available positions.

Counselors

Counselors should be at least 16 years of age for the day camp, 18 for our California residential camp and 19 for the Midwest residential camp session, love working with youth and enjoy making a difference. We are looking for mature individuals ready to make a commitment to very special young people. For the day camp, staff are at a 1:1 or 1:2 ratio with a camper. At the residential camp, counselors are teamed with at least one co-counselor during any one week session and together will supervise a cabin of around 8-10 campers. Staff training is mandatory.

Medical Team

The medical team is certified to practice medicine in the state of Nebraska and/or California. Camp Kindle is looking for medical professionals with at least an RN license to help run the camp infirmary. Other medical professionals who do not have their RN license or are still in nursing school may assist in the camp infirmary. Our infirmary is usually made up of at least one Nurse Practitioner and one Registered Nurse. There is also a visiting and/or on-call Physician.

Psychosocial Team

The psychosocial team is made up of at least two members who are or have been Social Workers, Psychologists and/or other Mental Health Professionals. Many of our campers have special needs that cannot be met by our counselors. We use this component of camp to help these campers adjust to camp and the social setting it creates.

Project Leaders

Project Leaders are chosen to help plan and execute a specialization at either the day camp or the residential camp program. They will work to create a curriculum before camp begins. They will work with a small group of children during the week of camp and facilitate the project. At the end of the week the projects will be displayed or performed during an all camp showcase.

Camp Assistants

A camp assistant is any individual who is at least 16 years of age. This position was created for those individuals who can only be at camp for a fraction of the time, are interested in the administrative side of Camp Kindle or do not yet have the skills to be a full-time counselor. Camp Assistants may step-in for a counselor, help in organizing the programs, conduct activities, assist with supervision or with the camp infirmary.

Junior Counselors and Counselors in Training

These counselors participate in our Junior Counselor (JC) or Counselors In Training Program (CIT) you must be 16, 17 and 18 years of age by the first day of camp. These young people should have past leadership training and possess a desire to be a counselor one day. All potential JCs or CITs must obtain at least three letters of recommendation along with their completed application. Camp Kindle’s JCs and CITs do not have to be directly impacted by HIV/AIDS to participate in this program. During the week of camp, these individuals will work one-on-one with a cabin and two co-counselors along with the CIT Directors. By the end of the week, the JCs and CITs will have learned many of the necessary skills to one day become an effective counselor.

Interview Dates

Interviews are held via online ZOOM and conducted once application in completed.
Returning and new staff applications become available in Jan of each year. They need to be completed online.