Here are a few frequently asked questions about what is expected of volunteers while at camp, as well as many of our basic policies and procedures.
As a Camp Sunshine volunteer counselor you are expected to act in a professional manner to provide our guests a quality and memorable stay while they are at camp.
Camp Sunshine is proud to be a fully accredited member of the American Camp Association. Part of the accreditation process is to have a new application and medical form for volunteers each year, so while you may have attended in November and you now want to volunteer for March the following year, you still have to fill out new forms.
Many school and church groups make yearly pilgrimages to volunteer at camp. In order for Camp Sunshine to accommodate your group, please make sure you follow our criteria. Volunteers 16 or 17 must have a chaperone 21 or older volunteering with them. The ratio of 16 and 17 year olds to chaperones cannot exceed 5 to 1. The maximum size of a group is capped at 12, which includes 2 chaperones. All chaperones are expected to be the point person and guardian for those that are under 18 in their group, while also seeing to their volunteer duties.
Each night has a special activity or show for the entire camp. During a full length session we will have the following entertainment: Evening entertainer,Talent Show, Parent's Night, and Celebration Show. Shorter sessions will have some of these nights or combine two into one night.
The first night of camp we bring in an entertainer, such as a magician, to bring smiles to faces. Following that is a bonfire to roast marshmallows on.
The second night is the Talent show where the children step onto the stage and dazzle the audience with their performances.
The next night is our Parent's night, and is the only night when it's mandatory for volunteers to be on duty. We treat the parents to an evening to themselves while volunteers take the children to evening activities. On this night the 9 to 12 year-olds get the unique opportunity to camp out for the night in our yurt village nestled in the woods. The night includes a cookout and a bonfire for making smores. The 6 to 8 children and older tot lot'ers have a special evening entertainer and the teens have an evening swim and volley ball game under the lights.
The last night is the Celebration Show. Each age group goes on stage with a performance as we close out the week with style.
Volunteers must be 16 on the first day of camp.
The Nursery
The nursery takes care of our youngest campers while the parents are enjoying their own activities. The nursery has a camper to volunteer counselor ratio of one to one. Nursery counselors can expect to help with diaper changes, story time, and stroller walks. For more information, please click here (pdf).
The Tot Lot (3 to 5 year olds)
The tot lot counselors care for the toddlers and provide a fun atmosphere with age appropriate games and activities. The tot lot has an outdoor play area where young campers can run around and enjoy the playground equipment. As with our nursery counselors, tot lot counselors can also expect to help with diaper changes. For more information, please click here (pdf).
The 6 to 8 Group
The 6 to 8 group hosts some of our more active children, engaging in games such as parachute play, enjoying our waterfront, and mini golf. For more information, please click here (pdf).
The 9 to 12 Group
The 9 to 12 age group not only engages in traditional camp activities such as arts and crafts, waterfront, or kickball, but they also are able to scale the climbing wall, participate in the high and low ropes course, and try their skills at archery. The 9 to 12 group also participates in the overnight sleepout. If you are assigned to be a 9 to 12 volunteer counselor, you are expected to camp out with the children. If you do not have a sleeping bag, Camp will provide one for you. For more information, please click here (pdf).
The Teens
The teen group includes our oldest children, 13 to 18 years of age. Even though teens can be fairly independent and motivated, we still provide a group structure in which they can enjoy the program. Activities not only include the high and low ropes course, archery, waterfront and mini golf, but teens also get the opportunity to compete against the parents in the Super Dooper Blooper games for Camp Sunshine's coveted love cup trophy. For more information, please click here (pdf).
The Adult Group
Adult volunteer counselors work with our parents to make sure that they have the supplies they need for their activities when they are scheduled in the program. They also provide administrative support to our Psychosocial Director when the parents have their group discussions. For more information, please click here (pdf).
One-to-One Volunteer Counselor
A one-on-one volunteer counselor is someone assigned to a camper who may need a little extra help to navigate around camp and various camp activities. The goal of a one-to-one counselor is to stay within the age group the child is assigned to, and encourage the child to engage in the program with the group. For more information, please click here (pdf).
Food Service
A food service volunteer is responsible for helping camp food service staff finish prepping the food for serving, serving food to the camp, and help with clean up. Closed toed shoes (no flip flops!) and hats/head covering are required by state law. For more information, please click here (pdf).
Arts & Crafts
Arts and Crafts volunteer counselors prepare supplies for the children when they have arts and crafts scheduled and assist them with their crafts. Each session children work on their wish boats, center pieces for the dining tables on parent's night, as well as other creative crafts. For more information, please click here (pdf).
The Marina
During each day of programming, the marina volunteers unlock and set up the boats at the waterfront, groom the beach, and help the children and adults into various watercraft. At the end of the day marina volunteers make sure to lock up the boats and put equipment away for the night. For more information, please click here (pdf).
Volunteer Lifeguard
All lifeguards must be certified by an accredited organization (e.g. American Red Cross, YMCA, etc). Duties include guarding either our pool/waterfront, reviewing rules of the pool/waterfront with the children, organizing a quick swim test the first time a group goes swimming, and keeping the deck of the pool clean, safe, and organized. For more information, please click here (pdf).
Photographer
The camp photographer takes photos throughout the session. Parents don't see everything their children are doing during program time, so the photos are a nice way for them to see their children having fun. For more information, please click here (pdf).
Activities Window
The activities window volunteer oversees the distribution of equipment to the different camp groups throughout the day. Duties also include maintaining records of equipment usage and keeping the activities window organized. For more information, please click here (pdf).
Fitness Room Volunteer
Volunteers assigned to the fitness room are responsible for overseeing the use of the fitness room, ensuring the safety of our guests when equipment is being utilized, and keeping things organized and neat. For more information, please click here (pdf).
Landscaping / Maintenance
Landscaping / Maintenance volunteers work closely with our maintenance staff to work on a variety of projects on our campus. Projects can include campus beautification, landscaping, and other outdoor work. For more information, please click here (pdf).