The best job you’ll ever have

I spent every summer from ages 18 to 24 working at summer camps. Those long weeks hold some of my favorite memories; a matchless sense of shared purpose and camaraderie, powerful friendships, heartfelt belly laughs, and personal growth. Those were summers full of extraordinary challenges and even greater successes.

My unsolicited opinion: the number of “summers” available to most people is small. Internships and work experiences have real value, but most professional lives are full of cubicles and computers and rush hour commutes, and the skills learned at camp are real and deep and transferable. There are only so many opportunities to spend 10 weeks doing mission-centered work in a beautiful setting with a phenomenal group of peers. I hope you’ve considered spending a summer changing lives at camp, and that you’ll support those in your family and network who might be considering that honorable calling (related: if you’ve already waved goodbye to 3 month summers, volunteering for a week is the best way to take a break from your routine [and it changes lives]!).

Staff reflecting on the dock at the end of a busy day

In a few weeks, the application to join Wanakee’s 2017 summer staff will open (12/1 for returning staff, 12/15 for new staff). Every hiring manager tackles this process in their own way, and I want to offer a bit of context on how I think about this critical piece of my role. Perhaps no set of tasks is of greater importance to ensure that Wanakee is achieving its mission than securing the top talent required to maximize Wanakee’s impact. The people who give 10 weeks of their year to camp are the individuals most directly entrusted with making Wanakee magic happen for campers of all ages. Without further ado, here’s what we’re looking for -

Application (Substance): What experiences and skills does the applicant have that will make them a great counselor? Maybe they coached a sport or taught Sunday School, or they play guitar or braid the greatest French Braids, or they attended LIT. Does this person know how to be a great team member? Maybe they play sports or participate in scouts. How do we know they will be a great role model to campers and peers alike? What do their references say about them? Will they bring a servant mindset to Wanakee? Do they volunteer or take care of their siblings? What is driving this person’s desire to spend their summer at Wanakee?

Application (Style): My last organization was a job training and education program, with one of our most critical metrics being job placements. As a student advisor, my role included holding program participants to high standards of professionalism and coaching them on “best practices” when applying to any job. I am looking for these same things in applications to camp. Does the applicant take the process seriously? Is their application robust and thoughtful (with minimal typos)? Did they honor deadlines? Was their communication professional and consistent?

Advocacy: Does this individual advocate for Wanakee in their non-camp lives? Do they invite friends or family to join them as a camper or volunteer? Have they energized their church/home communities about camp, or attended a work day with their Youth Group, or brought a group of college friends to help out on a random Tuesday morning? (these actions prove an applicant is committed to and excited about Wanakee’s mission!)

X Factors: Is the staff loaded with enthusiastic extroverts? Then we might need someone more reserved to ensure that our staff are more indicative of the diverse campers we serve. Do we have enough staff 21 and older? (you have to be 21 to drive campers). Do we have enough young staff who may work at camp throughout college, ensuring continuity and knowledge transfer? (AKA bench strength). How might this person’s skills and perspectives support the creation of a team that is diverse in all ways?

One more technical note - whenever possible, it is Wanakee’s goal to hire only individuals who are 18 and older. Though I have no doubt that there are many high schoolers who would add a lot to staff, there are a range of legal complexities that come along with hiring minors. This goal also helps to ensure that the staff is as mature as possible. 16 and 17 year olds are welcome to apply since we may not be able to achieve this goal every summer, but please go into the process with eyes wide open.

In 2016, 12 individuals applied to camp but weren’t offered employment at Wanakee. This abundance of applications is healthy for Wanakee institutionally, but challenging individually. It is likely that some people with a deep love of this place won’t be the right fit in 2017. I am humbled by those who have continued to dedicate time and talents to camp in spite of not being selected to join Wanakee’s staff, whether in 1985 or 2016. Those are individuals who recognize that hiring is complicated and situational, that one of the greatest gifts that can be given is the gift of a life-changing week at camp for a child, and that support for our 400+ summer campers takes a variety of forms.

Thank you in advance for understanding how complex it is to assemble a summer staff. Know that Wanakee is home to all. Know that if 2017 isn’t your year, 2018 could be. Know that campers will always need your support, engagement, and prayers. Know that the difficult decisions ahead won’t change any of that.

Grace and Peace,

James Tresner, Executive Director