Every summer, WCYC needs more than 200 selfless servant-volunteers to make our seven weeks of youth camp awesome! If you would like a way to serve God, to bless young people, and to be part of 75 years of ministry, continue reading.

Volunteer for Work Days

Before camp sessions even start in June, we need dozens of volunteers to prepare the facilities and grounds. This massive effort includes cleaning cabins, restoring fire circles, repairing run-off damage, clearing brush, removing fallen branches, and un-winterizing the kitchen.

We typically schedule two work days in the spring and at least one in the fall. We would LOVE to have you (and a van-load of friends) join us for this critical volunteer activity! Our scheduled work days are listed at Upcoming Events. Contact operations@wcyc.org for details.

Volunteer at the Camp Sessions

By far, the largest realm of activity for our volunteers happens at the summer camp session. Each camp session needs 15 to 25 people to do all manner of critical, daily tasks. In the space below, we have captured a list of the most common roles, along with brief explanations of what they entail.

The Bible tells us that we all have gifts, and that those gifts come together to make a Whole. Come find your place.

Cabin Counselors
The role of cabin counselor is one of the most important and essential to make a session successful. Counselors stay in the cabin with the campers and are responsible for their supervision, safety and well-being. They know the whereabouts of campers and regularly take attendance, ensuring campers are accounted for. They are also aware of what’s happening in the cabin and are responsive to situations that arise. Counselors set the tone by creating a positive and supportive environment, serving as role models to the campers. They oversee campers schedules and ensure they are meeting their responsibilities. There is always more than one counselor in a cabin, so teamwork and good communication is essential. It’s an around the clock, but ultimately very rewarding position.

Associate Counselors
The two younger camp sessions (Middle and Junior) occasionally recruit what we call “associate counselors”. These are 15-year old (or older) campers who would like to help out during Junior or Middle Camp. There is a lot to this role; it’s not just a time to hang out. Much will be expected of you. But, it is a great way to serve WCYC, while blessing the younger campers, and learning a little bit about yourself.

Bible Teachers
WCYC is a Bible camp. In addition to daily devotional times as a whole group, we also provide for small-group Bible studies. These are more spiritually intimate opportunities, where the Bible Teacher has the attention (occasionally) of the campers, and, ultimately, can share scripture and some portion of their personal faith story to inspire spiritual growth in the camper. This is not time to lecture; it is time to discuss, and ask questions that will get the camper thinking about deep(er) things in life.

Nature Class
The good news about leading nature class at WCYC is that you are surrounded by it!  You can make class your own; you can have a conversation and look at some of the fossils and other objects in the nature cabin, or sit on a log and talk about the types of animals and tracks you may come across.  You can take a nature walk observing the flora and fauna on your way, or you can wade in Robinson creek and feel the cold rushing water and take in the sandstone cliffs. The main thing is to connect nature all around the campers with the Creator.  In order to keep their attention it’s best to keep it interactive & fun. During class you are in charge of the campers whereabouts and well-being, so plan ahead and see if you can get a helper or two for the more elaborate excursions.

Crafts Coordinator
This is a truly rewarding (and challenging) role.  It provides an opportunity for campers to express their spirituality and creativity.  The crafts teacher works closely with other staff helpers to provide both structure and flexibility, allowing campers to absorb the theme/teachings of the session through a specially designed craft.  If you are looking for an opportunity to meld your classroom management skills with your creativity, this would be a wonderful role for you.

Sports & Recreation Coordinator
Body, Mind and Soul… we humans are complex beings. At camp, WCYC holds Bible studies for the mind, and we have devotionals and discussions for the soul. We DEFINITELY need some “body” time: sports, contests, running, jumping, learning something new, playing and burning energy, learning good sportsmanship and teamwork. Everyday, our campers need to get on their feet and “do”! If you are high-energy, you have command of some physical activities, and can enthuse the campers, we need you!

Nurse
The state of Wisconsin requires WCYC to have a registered nurse on the camp grounds at all times for a summer camp session to be held. Largely, the services required are pretty non-exciting: managing medications, removing ticks, dealing with bumps and bruises and sunburns, and treating stomach aches. But, with 50 young people running and playing and jumping, we do need trained, steady nurses. Please, if you are a nurse — or, you know of a nurse! — let us know, and we will gladly bring you up to speed about the whole process.

Lifeguard
To enjoy tubing on the falls of Robinson Creek, state law requires the presence of a licensed, Red Cross-certified lifeguard. This is traditionally one of the hardest positions to fill. BUT… to the campers, on hot days, with the prospects of a refreshing tube ride down the falls… this is one of the MOST IMPORTANT positions to fill. If you are certified, and you would like to serve camp, THIS IS THE BEST WAY! Please, contact us ASAP.

Kitchen

Our campers and volunteers need good tasting and nutritious food. Food and beverage must be planned, ordered, prepared, served, and cleaned up. All the while, during hot summer days, young campers need serious hydration — water, juices, Kool-Aid, milk, and more water!

These are mission-critical tasks. Why? State health inspectors make frequent visits to ensure we are complying with standard safety measures.

The kitchen can be demanding. Volunteering in the kitchen can be hours each day on your feet and depending on weather, quite warm. Here is what a day looks like. The kitchen starts before the campers awake so the team can provide a hot breakfast. After a 30–60-minute break lunch preparations are underway. Afternoon leaves time for a longer break. Some spend time interacting with our wonderful campers, reading a book or relaxing. Once dinner prep is underway the kitchen team is in the homestretch. After dinner, some cleanup is needed to prepare for the next day.

The teamwork in the kitchen, interacting with every camper and volunteer makes the experience fantastically rewarding. It all goes towards making the dining hall a bit of an escape from the rustic outdoors.

Here is a peek into the roles in our state certified kitchen.

Head and Assistant Cook – Kids are not typically very demanding when it comes to food, WCYC still prides itself in providing delicious, healthy and varied meals to our young campers. Some campers have allergies or dietary requirements. Our cooks must keep this in mind when preparing meals and alternative menu items. If you have hands for service or experience in large-group food preparation, your skills have a place at WCYC!

Salad Bar – Proper washing, handling and preparation of salad elements, condiments and all those little things that make the meal complete.

Desserts – Dessert is a highlight of the meal. Preparing fun, delicious, nutritional desserts, baked or cold, ends a meal with smiles.

Drinks – Man, do these campers drink! And, the hotter outside, the more important it is keeping them hydrated, in easy reach of water coolers and other drinks during the day.

Dishwashers – It may not sound glamorous. Every meal creates dirty pots and pans. Washing and scouring is an integral part of the kitchen operation. No pots, no pans, no food.

Dining Hall Prep – Before the meal drinks, salt & pepper, etc. are set out. After the meal the campers do most of the pickup and cleanup. When the campers finish there are some remaining tasks to complete allowing the campers to return to the great outdoors.

Special Activities Classes
At the discretion of the session directors, WCYC usually offers some “special” classes to the campers. (These are more common with the older camp sessions.) These “special” classes will run for 45-minutes a day, every day of the week. They can be faith-focused discussions on, say, prayer, or grace, or applying Christian principles. They can be fun or energetic, like improv comedy, or nature hiking, or board games. They can be craft-centered, like art, making walking sticks, or learning to weave. The point is… you (the adult) bring a skill or passion into the camp, and share it with the young campers. Again, these are some of the best memories the young people will take away from camp.

Miscellaneous
(The following three items are new-ish. They are not too demanding by themselves. So, we need to either bundle them together, or scatter them out across other staffing positions.)

Canteen Manager
“Canteen” is our on-campus snack shop. We sell some basic fun-food for an afternoon snack. But, the campers are purchasing out of their own “canteen” account. And, someone needs to track the money.

Photographer
Each camp sessions needs a “Photographer”. We are trying to get photo albums on our website. It begins with someone taking the pictures, gleaning through them, picking out the best (total of 250 per two-week session), then storing them in a particular spot for easy upload.

Mail-Call Manager
Finally, “Mail Call” is the daily distribution of mail to our campers. For decades, “Mail Call” involved letters and packages received through the US Postal Service. We have modernized, and now have a Camp Computer to receive messages sent to “mailcall@wcyc.org”. The “Mail Call” manager would print out email messages, daily, right before lunch, to distribute to the kids.

To Serve at Camp sessions, You Must Apply

Before serving at a WCYC summer camp session, you need to complete our online application. That application will involve a thorough background check.

Click here to submit your volunteer application! If you have any questions, please contact us at communications@wcyc.org.

Of course, since we are a Christian organization, it is preferable that you are an active, devoted Christian.

If serving at camp (during the youth sessions) is not your passion, or, if it is not feasible, please, consider other ways you can contribute your time and energies by reviewing all WCYC volunteer opportunities.