Summer Staff at Forest Springs
It's More Than a Job... It's Ministry!
If you are looking for a significant way to serve God this summer, prayerfully consider working at Forest Springs. Serving is hard work, but has many rewards. The interaction with guests and fellow staff encourages spiritual growth and lasting friendships.
We're looking for all kinds of people to serve in these positions
COUNSELORS
PROGRAM STAFF
FOOD SERVICE
ADVENTURE STAFF
SUPPORT STAFF
CLICK THE + TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH POSITION
serve Memorial Day through Mid-July
Being a camp counselor means you have the opportunity to changes lives at camp! We are looking for fun, faith-filled, college-aged applicants who are ready to serve God as counselors.
No experience is necessary because being a counselor means being a part of our Counselor Training Institute (CTI), which includes two weeks of training prior to five weeks of counseling. Each counselor is responsible for a cabin group of six to eight campers.
The seven-week counseling Institute qualifies for many college internship requirements, and provides a salary, housing, and meals. In addition, some students earn up to eight additional hours of college credit. Additional employment opportunities are available starting in late July through the month of August.
serve in a number of different areas around camp, including:
- Handcraft
- Air Rifles
- Archery
- Paintball
- Climbing Wall
- Waterfront
- Director (lifeguard experience and certification*)
- Lifeguards (lifeguard certification*)
- Mini-Farm
- Program Assistants
help to lead our canoe trips, backpacking trips, whitewater kayaking trips, and top-rope rock climbing trips. Often, trip staff have previously served as counselors at Forest Springs. We generally expect adventure trip staff to be 21 years old or older. The qualifications that are needed are received during the three weeks of training. These include First Responder training, river swimming, swift-water rescue, facilitation of group dynamics, evangelism and Bible instruction, and much more. Adventure trip staff are not expected to facilitate rock climbing or whitewater kayaking.
Adventure trip staff are usually hired in December and January for the upcoming trip season which runs from late May through mid-August. Contact Dan Jacobson with any questions.
help serve our campers safety and medical needs. We look for a minimum of two positions for the summer, but serving for the whole summer is not necessary. We often have volunteers come to help out in this area. Necessary experience or certification includes: advanced CPR/First Aid, First Responder or nursing experience, and certification in dispensing medication to minors.
Responsibilities include dispensing those medications, responding to incidents and treating illness or injuries, and keeping accurate records of incidents, medications, and treatments provided.
staff serve in our kitchen, preparing and providing meals for our camps. We hire multiple levels of food service staff, including head cooks (large group cooking experience preferred), assistant cooks, and allergen specialists.
No experience is necessary for our entry-level positions, but is preferred for our leadership positions.
serve in our three camp stores: the Lodge Cafe, the Gift Shop, and the Bear Den Coffee Shop. No experience is necessary.
work around camp in different "crews" that maintain and serve in the following areas:
- Housekeeping
- Dishroom
- Program Area Assistants
serves around camp as photographers and videographers, creating content for both campers and our ministry engagement team. Experience is preferred, but not necessary.
QUESTIONS?
Great question! For every one of our summer staff, we're looking for the following:
- A sincere love for the Lord and a desire to see guests come to know and grow in Him
- An eagerness to learn, loves guests, and gives evidence of a consistent walk with God
- A willingness to forego personal rights for the common good of the ministry and guests
- Flexibility and an ability to work with guests and other staff
That's great! For all our positions, we offer training in both the skills and mindset needed. All you have to do is be teachable!
The minimum age to work at camp is 15 years old, and may require a work permit to serve. If that's necessary for you, don't worry - we'll help guide you through that process. For those under 16, only volunteer positions are available. Paid positions are available, but not guaranteed, for 16 years and older.
Each paid staff member, upon being hired, will be asked to submit 20 names of friends, family members, and churches who might be interested in supporting them financially. The support that the ministry receives for each staff will be put into an account to help pay for all of the salaried summer staff positions. Your help and involvement in this process are a significant blessing to the overall ministry of Forest Springs.
How will it work?
Simply go online to enter 20 names and addresses of the individuals that you would like to ask and we will do the rest. We will take care of sending a letter inviting people to partner with you and Forest Springs for the summer. If you have any questions concerning this process, please contact Larry Hoffert.
If you have any questions regarding summer ministry at Forest Springs or would like to know what service options are currently available, please contact Larry Hoffert, HR Adminstrator, at 715.436.7378 or [email protected].
Summer Overview
Summer Camps are divided into three parts:
Part 1 - CTI & Resident Youth Camps
Counselor Training Institute — An extensive two-week training program is designed to prepare counselors for their responsibilities. It is a balanced training/work experience with an emphasis on spiritual growth and development.
Resident Youth Camps — The four and 1/2 weeks of youth camps (for age 8 through 12th grade consecutively) will each start on a Sunday and end on the following Saturday. Each week will include about 200 campers.
Part 2 - Resident Family Camps
There are six different family camp events. The pace is different from youth camps, but the opportunity to serve is the same.
Part 3 - Wilderness Trips
Forest Springs also operates week-long canoe and kayak trips on Wisconsin's Flambeau and Brule rivers; rock climbing trips to Devil's Lake State Park or Interstate Park; and backpack trips in Upper Michigan's Porcupine Mountains and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.
