Part of the Team
How many people does it take to operate a summer camp? That’s a big question, and the answer is not simple. Our year-round staff is pretty small. There are just ten of us—three full-time, four part-time, and three volunteers. We lay a lot of the groundwork for summer camp, but we could never pull it off alone.
During the summer, our staff grows quickly to include over thirty seasonal employees and another thirty volunteers. These people work hard all summer for these kids. Some of them get up at 5:00 am every day to cook breakfast; others sit in the blazing sun all afternoon lifeguarding. The majority of them are working twenty-four hours a day to supervise, lead, and care for the campers. A few work behind the scenes, mowing grass or sweeping floors. They rarely get the acknowledgement that the cabin leaders receive, but they are no less important in our ministry. At summer camp, every piece matters; every team members counts.
However, it takes more than these to pull off summer camp. In fact, it takes about 500 more people. I’m not talking about the campers; I’m talking about our supporters. Some of them send donations every month; some give one or twice a year. Some supporters give $1,000 or more, and others give $10. Regardless of how much or how often they give, every contribution matters. In fact, most of the donations we receive are small ones, but a lot of small donations can add up to a big impact.
You could ask Zaharrie about that. He had believed in God for years, but one night at camp last summer, standing around the campfire, he had a personal encounter. During a prayer, Zaharrie lifted his hands and began crying quietly. Later, he told his cabin director, Walter, that it was the first time in his life he had ever felt the presence of the Lord. It reassured his faith that God really is there and cares about him.
Every member of our team is vital. Together, in partnership with the Lord, we will continue to make a different in the lives of campers like Zaharrie this year. If you know someone who would be interested in joining our staff this summer, applications are available HERE.
If you would like to partner with South Mountain Christian Camp in your giving, you can do so with the donate button below.
