Responsibilities & Requirements

Each member of our staff works as both a cabin counselor and activity specialist. Counselors must be 18, having completed their freshman year of college, and demonstrate a living faith in Jesus Christ.

After arriving for staff training, counselors remain at camp until the end of the second session in August. They are expected to be on call at all times except when off-duty two nights a week.

Staff Training

Waterfront, canoeing, horseback riding, riflery, archery, and climbing staff arrive early to receive specialized training in their activities as well as certifications from their respective associations – including the American Red Cross, the American Canoe Association, the Certified Horsemanship Association, the Civilian Marksmanship Program, the National Archery Development Association, and the Association for Challenge Course Technology. They are then joined by the rest of the staff for 10 days of general staff training.

We take staff training very seriously. We involve the entire staff in fun team building exercises. Our head nurse goes over health and safety procedures. All staff receive CPR and First Aid certification. Each day opens with an intensive Bible study, and continues with seminars from nationally renowned child psychologists, camp parents, and veteran counselors. Finally, before the start of camp, director Glenn Breazeale sits down with each counselor to go over every member of his cabin for the summer.

With hard work, long hours, and plenty of fun activities thrown in, staff finish training with a heightened reliance upon God's grace, complete trust in their fellow counselors, and an understanding of the boys who will be under their care for the summer.

General Expectations

As Mr. O pointed out, there's no such thing as an exhaustive job description. Anything can happen and usually does.

Counselors live in a cabin with one other counselor and 7-8 campers. They set with them for meals, lead them to morning devotions, conduct evening devotions, lead camping expeditions, join their cabins on hiking and rafting trips, and generally look out for their cabin during their summer at Alpine.

Activity specialists lead or assist in an activity of their choosing. Any required certification is paid and provided for by the camp. During staff training, they join the head counselors to plan their respective activities for the summer and develop the skills required to implement their curricula.

In addition to these general responsibilities, every member of the staff holds himself in readiness for whatever the summer brings along. It may be an encouraging word after a hard loss on the athletic field. Or wrestling through difficult issues raised during evening devotions. Or persuading a reluctant camper to ask a girl to dance at Camp DeSoto. Whatever the demand, you'll experience tremendous personal growth and satisfaction as you pour your life into your campers.