Summer Staff Frequently Asked Questions

Below we have answered some of the more common questions we receive. If however, your question is not answered below, please contact our Recruiting Team at 1-888-883-2285 or summerstaff@campsonshine.org and we'll be glad to help you.

1. What are the minimum requirements to be a counselor?
2. Do I need to have experience with children?
3. What are the dates for camp this summer?
4. Can I work just part of the summer?
5. Are there additional opportunities to earn money at camp?
6. Do I have to be there for Welcome Saturday?
7. What are Camp Sonshine’s available housing arrangements?
8. What is Staff Orientation?
9. Will I know my position before the summer?
10. Do you all work with inner city kids?

 

What are the minimum requirements to be a counselor?

You must be 18 (or a high school graduate), be a professing Christian, and have a desire to positively impact the lives of children or youth.

Do I need to have experience with children?

Although it is beneficial to have counselors who have had previous childcare experience, prior experience with children is not necessary. Our extensive training process will equip you with just about everything you’ll need to know.

What are the dates for camp this summer?

Summer camp dates are June 9th to August 11th, which includes one week of orientation and eight weeks of camp. Staff selected for some specialty areas will need to arrive before June 9th. These staff members, who decide to accept specialty positions, will be selected well in advance of the summer and will have plenty of time to make arrangements for travel.

Can I work just part of the summer?

We try to work with staff who are available for only part of the summer. Please contact a recruiter at summerstaff@campsonshine.org to find out if we can work something out in your particular case.

Are there additional opportunities to earn money at camp?

At Camp Sonshine, we try to provide as many ways as possible to keep your expenses to a minimum. So in addition to taking care of your basic needs, like housing, transportation and food, we also provide ways for you to earn supplemental income – in addition to your salary.

For instance: If you bring your own car, you’ll not only have the convenience of having your own vehicle, but we’ll also give you a $50 BONUS to help take care of gas and maintenance costs while you’re here. Plus, we’ll reimburse your travel expenses up to $200.

Our C.A.M.P.(Committed Adult Ministry Partner) program is another way to supplement your salary. Because Camp Sonshine is a non-profit organization, people can donate money to you for your time here. Please contact a recruiter at summerstaff@campsonshine.org to find out more information on our C.A.M.P. program.

Do I have to be there for Welcome Saturday?

Welcome Saturday is June 9th. It is recommended (but not required) that you attend. With 250 staff members arriving from all over the globe, this day provides an excellent way to introduce yourself and get accustomed to the surroundings and people you’ll be working closely with over the summer. From games and skits, to meeting, greeting and feeding, Welcome Saturday will undoubtedly be one of your summer’s best experiences. June 10th, at 12 noon Staff Orientation officially begins. All staff are required to be at the camp by that time.

What are Camp Sonshine’s available housing arrangements?

There are three types of housing available at camp:

1. Host Homes: Host homes are provided by area families who have offered to house staff members in their homes for the summer. It is a great opportunity for the family to be able to give back to the counselor for his or her hard work and dedication, but it’s also a chance for the counselor to minister to the family.
2. Dorms: Each summer, Camp Sonshine rents dorm rooms from local colleges and universities to house some of our female staff members. These are typical college dorm rooms.
3. Camp Houses: Camp Houses are homes owned by our full-time staff who allow between 8 to 10 counselors to live in portions of their house.

Although we ask for housing preferences beforehand, final decisions for housing arrangements are made when you arrive.

What is Staff Orientation?

Staff Orientation is six days of training that equip our staff members with the procedures and information they’ll need to make the summer a success. From teambuilding to safety exercises, you’ll be amazed at how much can be accomplished in six days!

IMPORTANT: All Camp Sonshine counselors are required to attend Staff Orientation.

Will I know my position before the summer?

During your interview, you will tell us what position you feel you’d be best at, as well as what areas you have experience in. Our staff will take into consideration your desires, your skill set, and our current staffing needs to place you into an age group or activity area. When hired, you will be sent a contract for a General Counselor position. In some cases, you may not be placed in the original position you wanted or request, but please understand, we carefully consider each candidate and place them in the position we feel will best suit them and our campers.

Do you all work with inner city kids?

Yes and no. During the summer, we have kids from all different types of backgrounds come to Camp Sonshine: poor, middle class, and rich. The Washington D.C. area is very diverse with many different nationalities and classes of people. This diversity is evident here at camp which makes it a very interesting and rewarding place to be. We also offer a scholarship program where children who cannot afford to come to camp are given the opportunity. At the end of each summer we also scholarship a group of children from inner city Baltimore to come and experience the wonders of nature and camp.