Summer camp volunteers are such a special part of the Camp Bear Creek ministry. Not everyone can commit to working an entire summer at camp – and we totally understand! Volunteering is another great way to join the camp community (even if it’s only for a week) and have a positive impact on Bear Creek campers.
Summer camp volunteers generally fill in as camp counselors. Don’t worry! Even if you’ve never been to camp before, you’re still able to volunteer. We’ll pair you with experienced staff who can walk you through everything you’ll need to know. All you need is a love for kids, a servant mindset, and an adventurous spirit! Volunteers can earn 120 volunteer hours in a week of camp and must be graduating high school juniors or older to apply.
Giving up a week of your time is a big commitment! Get all the answers to your questions here! Still looking for more information? Reach out to Jake, our Program Director, at jake@bearcreek.camp or call (563) 488-3893.
All of our volunteers stay with their campers in cabins. The cabins have eight bunk beds (sleeping sixteen people), private changing rooms, and air-conditioning. Bathrooms are a short walk away at a nearby lodge. Come prepared to spend the whole week! Staff, volunteers, and campers arrive Sunday and leave on Friday.
Each week of camp is different. We pair volunteers based on the needs of the campers and skillset of the staff and volunteers for that week. For that reason, we do not allow volunteers to request a particular program. You can absolutely share preferences (especially about a specific age you think you work best with) and we will keep that in mind when assigning volunteer placements.
We need volunteers the weeks of June 16-21, June 23-28, July 7-12, July 14-19, and July 21-26. Please indicate on your volunteer application which weeks you’ll be free to volunteer. Volunteer spots are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, so if you have a specific week you’d like to come, be sure to apply early!
After you apply, you’ll receive more information about camp and everything you’ll need.
Reach out to Jake, our Program Director, at jake@bearcreek.camp or (563) 488-3893. He can talk with you about your availability and if we have any partial-week spots to fit your needs.
The best part of the camp experience is living in the moment. Our technological devices tend to pull our attention away from the space and people around us and focus them solidly on the glowing screen in front of us. We want to be immersed in the beauty of our world, in conversations with friends, and in all of the fun happening every day at camp. For this reason, we ask campers to come to camp without these items. You are more than welcome to have them and use them on your time off, but when you are with campers, we ask that these devices stay put away and out of sight.