Midwest Bible Camp Staff
It takes a team of committed Christians serving in many different roles to make each session of Midwest Bible Camp happen. Descriptions of the different staff positions are provided below. If you're interested in serving in one of these roles at MWBC, please contact the directors of the session you're interested in. For a list of sessions and director contact information, please visit our Sessions page. Although all of our staff positions are volunteer positions, they carry great rewards with them.
Camp Directors
The Camp Directors are the planners, leaders and backbone of the camp week. Without the work that the directors do before camp even starts, the camping week would not happen. At the camp session, the Directors of the week are in charge of all aspects of the camp and, with the help of the staff, are to assure that the campers are safe, learning from the Bible, and are having fun.
The camping season begins in the fall when the Board of Directors start looking for people willing and able to take on the task of planning for the week of camp for the following summer. After the directors are chosen and approved by the Board, it becomes the director’s job, with the help of the Board, to find people willing to help at the camping session and to prepare the schedule and activities for the session. The Board will also want to approve the staffing before the session.
The Director's Handbook includes a description of what is expected from a Camp Week Director, brief descriptions of the various positions needed at camp, and a recommendation for the staff positions-to-camper ratio. There is also a list of recommended rules and regulations that effects the camp along with some resources that will help the Directors have a successful camp.
The camping season begins in the fall when the Board of Directors start looking for people willing and able to take on the task of planning for the week of camp for the following summer. After the directors are chosen and approved by the Board, it becomes the director’s job, with the help of the Board, to find people willing to help at the camping session and to prepare the schedule and activities for the session. The Board will also want to approve the staffing before the session.
The Director's Handbook includes a description of what is expected from a Camp Week Director, brief descriptions of the various positions needed at camp, and a recommendation for the staff positions-to-camper ratio. There is also a list of recommended rules and regulations that effects the camp along with some resources that will help the Directors have a successful camp.
Counselors
A high calling... the counselor is an important link in the camping program. They are primarily responsible for the overall development of each of their campers, and thus must spend as much time as possible with each in an effort to better understand and guide them. It is with the counselor that the camper lives and is most influenced.
A Counselor is a...
A Counselor is a...
- facilitator of all camp aims
- representative of the session director in achieving the objectives of the session
- representative of the board of directors in providing a spiritually upbuilding session
- model
- sharer of confidences
- giver of support
- listener
Spiritual Life Director
The Spiritual Life Director works closely with the session directors and Bible Teachers to help guide the spiritual direction of the week through class, chapel, camp fire, activity, and other time.
Bible Teachers
A Bible Teacher is someone who is able to relate to the age group campers during the week and also handles the Word in a worthy manner. Like the rest of the MWBC staff, teachers are there because they love young people, love God, and want young people to know and love God and His Son Jesus. They have determined in their hearts to help these young people to grow spiritually, physically, socially, and mentally--not as a group of young people, but as each individual person growing and maturing at his/her rate and need.
Each summer, teachers are responsible for structuring their lessons around the camp theme and curriculum provided, tailoring them specifically for their age group and dynamic.
Each summer, teachers are responsible for structuring their lessons around the camp theme and curriculum provided, tailoring them specifically for their age group and dynamic.
Sports & Activities Director
The Sports/Activities Director is in direct charge of planning the physical activities at camp. He or she is in charge of sports time and planned events or activities time, planning these with the directors and the rest of the staff. The camp directors works with the Sports Director to decide which activities to do. He or she should also have a firm plan for rainy day activities and also have a lot of different type of activities planned; not just having the same sports all of the time or the same activities as the last four years.
Lifeguards
If campers plan on swimming during the week, according to state laws a certified lifeguard must be on duty during the swimming activities. A lifeguard can also be an EMT with Water Rescue certification. The lifeguard might have other duties such as a counselor, secretary or nurse, or the lifeguard might only be scheduled for the afternoon swim time. The lifeguard is also in charge of the swim test for canoeing. This test consists of the camper swimming across and back in the swimming area and treading water for five minutes. After the camper passes the test, he or she can then go canoeing.
Craft Supervisors
Weeks with craft time scheduled need at least one head craft person and at least one helper. Directors set a budget for crafts and have the craft supervisors send in a bill for the supplies before-hand.
Nurses
A Nurse will be on duty 24 hours a day at camp during the camp session. Ideally the Nurse should be an LPN or RN, but in a pinch an experienced EMT may serve as a nurse. The main duties of the nurse is to pass out medication and keep a record of this, be available for illnesses and injuries, performing First Aid and then deciding if further actions should be taken, communicating with parents and emergency personnel about these illnesses and injuries, and be available to talk with the campers about health issues. The Nurse needs to be at the registration table to take medications and get details from the parents about specific problems and concerns from the parents. The Nurse will be the final authority concerning health issues.
Cooks
We love our cooks at MWBC!! Cooks can help the entire week or some volunteers serve as part time cooks, coming only for a day or two.
Head Cook
The Head Cook oversees the kitchen. Ideally, the Head Cook should be someone that has worked in a large kitchen before and also knows other cooks that would be willing to help. The Head Cook's job is to plan out healthy menus, order food, and to oversee the preparation and serving of the food. They should also be familiar with common safety and sanitation issues and be able to work well with people. The Cooks will be working with several commercial type stoves and ovens, an industrial style mixer and large pots and pans. The Head Cook will also be working with large quantities of food and a small food budget.
Dining Hall Supervisors
A Dining Hall Supervisor is in charge of keeping the Dining Hall area clean and organized. They also are in charge of the KP before and after each meal. The Dining Hall Supervisor also normally will go to town to get food and other needed supplies during the day.
Secretaries
The Secretary is valuable during camp startup by making up the endless list needed for the day to day operations of camp. These include such things as KP schedules, cabin list, Chapel/campfire, and camper/staff directories. They are iin charge of the day to day bookkeeping responsibilities such as the daily total of campers and staff needed by LDYC, petty cash account, food budget, and camper records. The secretary can also be in charge of taking pictures for the camp and getting them on the computer.
SALTs
The type of training that we hope to provide to you not only includes training in camp counseling, but will also include training in other areas of camp such as Bible Teacher, Dining Hall Supervisor, and Cook. Our hope is to give you a broad overview of the operation of the whole camp so that in the near future you will be equipped to help others.