Working at Montlure

Working at Montlure is both like racing in a sprint relay race, as well as running a marathon. It requires a huge commitment, tons of work, and creates lifelong memories. It means putting yourself aside for a handful of weeks and elevating the needs of others. The experience of growing as an individual, while also seeing campers grow, thrive, and have a week they’ll never forget, makes the hard work totally worth it! It is both hard, AND awesome!!

Read on to discover a little bit of what working at Camp is really like. And if you have any questions, let us know!

Working at Montlure

Read on to discover a little bit of what working at Camp is really like. And if you have any questions, let us know!

Take the job at Montlure

if you want to …

Find a radical sense of community
Be treated like family both on and off the clock
Discover space to go deeper in your own faith journey
See the joy on campers’ faces when they discover they “belong”
Feel overwhelmed by the way God uses Montlure to touch lives
Have immeasurable fun and shenanigans all summer long

Do not take the job

if you …

Can’t give 120% every day
Are not willing to bring energy and positivity to every moment and situation
Can’t handle being on your feet all day
Can’t handle having crazy sleep schedules or sleeping in odd places
Don’t like kids
Tend to make excuses
Don’t like getting your hands dirty (literally)

What’s so hard about camp?

One of the hardest parts about working at Montlure is balance. Balancing the different roles you are required to be while also finding ways to connect and partner with campers. Balancing (and elevating) the needs of campers while also keeping yourself healthy. Balancing multiple personalities while living in community. Balancing getting enough sleep/restoration while also fulfilling the needs camp requires. We will help you find the right balance, but it is hard work!

The largest part of your job at camp is to build authentic relationships with campers while not being condescending, controlling, or coercive. The other piece of your role is to help campers acclimate to the new space they are living in, tell them it’s time to brush their teeth, and be a general caretaker. These two roles can seem at odds. The key is to be honest, explain why, and treat campers like people.

What, really, is the job description?

We hope you have already read the job description by this point. If not, please start by reviewing it here. However, the job description lists functions of the job. Not everything can be explained by simple bullet points. And in reality, every single summer, the job looks just a little bit different as welcome new and changed campers each and every year. Continue reading below to start envisioning what being part of Montlure Summer Staff really looks like.

As a staff member at camp you have a million roles and those roles vary from week to week. They tend to all fall on some continuum between leader and follower.

In any given day, you might need to help a camper with their skinned knee, lead an awesome activity, be a shoulder to cry on, plunge a toilet, make up a skit, help mediate conflict, and wash some dishes. Most of the specific tasks aren’t in and of themselves super complicated, but being able to seamlessly switch from comforting an upset camper to dancing in the rain can be overwhelming if you’re not prepared.

On top of that, at camp we strive to truly walk alongside our campers, and not be a source of dictatorship and power above them.

To create a mutual partnership with our campers, we start by being candid about what we think is possible for them to achieve or do, and then we brainstorm with them on how we might move forward or solve potential problems.

We try to find authentic ways to share our wisdom while intensely listening to the wisdom of each camper. We aren’t perfect, but we are constantly striving for balance, while not being a dictator or a doormat. (Don’t worry, we discuss this in depth at staff training!)

Roles

As a staff member, you will continually be borrowing from multiple roles of equal parts Caretaker, Facilitator, Playworker, and Supporter.

Caretaker

You are always the adult when you are taking care of your campers. This means constantly looking out for safety, both emotionally and physically, supervising campers, and remembering that we are here to do a job. Camp only works if campers and staff are safe. So while we want to empower our campers to make healthy and safe decisions, it is important and vital to remember that at the end of the day, you are the adult and need to foresee what needs/needs not to be done.

As a caretaker, you are also a nurturer; Caring for the unique needs of each individual at camp. Whether this is being comforting company, an ear willing to listen, or simply helping to stop a bloody nose, we do these things with incredible compassion and care. Some campers need more nurturing than others, but it is our job to make sure every camper is radically cared for.

Facilitator

Often you are called upon to be the catalyst for fun so the Facilitator could also be called the Entertainer. This is the role for when you are leading activities, doing skits, starting dance parties to the tune of your own beats, or just sitting in the cabin telling jokes. As the Entertainer, you are leading and facilitating activities that invite inclusivity and a bond between campers. From the simple ways while walking from activity to activity, to being the one front-and-center leading a group activity. Our campers look to staff to know what to do.

In addition, you will be the facilitator of a small group and cabin time discussions as well as deeper discussion that never occur in a “planned” or set apart time. You should constantly be finding ways to go deeper into relationship with your campers, or to encourage your campers to go deeper in their faith journey and in the way they see the world around them. This doesn’t mean you have to be an expert or have all the answers. But it does mean that you aren’t afraid to ask the hard questions and/or help your campers find some answers or direction to their hard questions. (These are things we discuss in-depth at staff training!)

Playworker

On the other side of the “leader” roles (above), is the Playworker which is more of a following role. As a Playworker you are following campers lead, participating in their creations, and removing hazards while not interfering with reasonable risks. As a Playworker you are an improv companion constantly saying “Yes, and!” as campers dream up ideas. This does not mean you are not engaging with kids and letting them do what they want on their own, instead it means following their lead and playing WITH them, while also looking out for potential hazards they may not be aware of. Follow your campers! Let them have a shot at creativity, problem-solving, and leadership skills.

Supporter

Behind every successful week of camp is the idea that we all play a supportive role and are not necessarily the ones in the middle of all the action, all the time. There will be times you need to take out the trash. Without asking. There will be times you run an errand, organize supplies, sweep up the crumbs, fix something that broke, come up with ideas to solve the various problems that can never be foreseen (which will happen!). Whether your role for the week is actual Back-up staff, or you are just needed to jump in for a moment, the role of Supporter is vital and necessary to keep camp running smoothly and we need, and also expect, everyone willing to be in this role.

How do I do all this?

We do not expect our staff to know how to do all this before camp begins. And the truth of the matter is, you will still be learning how to do it at the end of the summer. What we ask for is a leap of faith to go “all in,” and we will be here to support you, help you, and guide you all summer long. However, the learning begins at Staff Training! Our training is mandatory and is where you will gain the tools needed in order to prepare and feel ready for summer to begin.

Although we do not expect our staff to know how to do everything, we do expect a willingness to learn these roles and a willingness to grow in areas where you lack. Not only is camp a journey for our campers, this summer is a journey for you, too. You will be growing and learning all summer long!

Staff Training

May 27-31, 2024

Camp begins with staff orientation and training! These 4-days are days you will never forget. We will play, connect, dig into big ideas, and work hard. Room and board is provided for staff until the start of camp.

The goal of staff training is to get everyone ready for summer and build a culture and community that will carry us through the season.

There are tons of great moments, so many inside jokes, and you make deep connections faster than you can imagine. It is incredibly fun and also full of long days as we learn and grow together. We start at 8 AM and go until 10 PM most days with a short break after lunch. You will have very little free time and while we try to make everything fun, it can also be super hard to adjust to camp life and living in community with others. Typically, we all have enough adrenaline and anticipation of the coming weeks that we hardly even notice!

Camp Schedules

During staff training, you will receive an official schedule for your weekly positions and expectations of your time. Here is a sample of what your typical day(s) will look like at both our TDC and Overnight camps.
Sample Schedules

Camp Games

During training we will learn and play all camp games, songs, and activities (as well as some just for staff). We will also learn backup and filler activities as well as have a time to create new games and develop new game ideas while sharing ideas with one another.

Curriculum

We will cover our curriculum, the heart of camp. From our schedules, to activities, to discussions, everything we do at Montlure stems from our curriculum and 5-key Sabbath practices: Hospitality, Prayer, Retreat, Storytelling, & Service.

Camp Policies

While camp is a lot of fun, behind that fun are policies and procedures that keep everyone safe. At training, we will cover everything from basic camp rules, to camper behavior, conflict-resolution ideas, and how to balance it all.

Pre-training, training

In order for staff training, and the entire summer, to go as smoothly and as efficiently as possible, there will be various pre-training tasks staff will be required to complete taking a total of 3-4 hours. Some of these tasks are simple, but take some time (like employee paperwork, background checks, etc.). Some tasks are designed for staff to have a basic understanding of our curriculum and values before arriving. And other tasks may consist of videos/questions that help us prepare for overall safety expectations. All pre-training training will have deadlines for completion which will be communicated with advanced notification. Most requirements are simply due a few days before training begins.

Why Montlure over other summer jobs?

The most useful job you could have

We believe working at Montlure Camp is one of the most useful jobs you could ever have. Truly. We understand that our staff are choosing between high powered internships, long-deserved summer vacations, starting their own business or careers, and more. However, working at Montlure is not just an opportunity for more “fun” than other jobs (which it is), but we also provide value for your long term career plans.

There are many factors that go into deciding what to do over the summer, and we will never be perfect for everyone. By working at Montlure for the campers, the community, and the impact you will be making, you will also be helping your long term career. Of course you will have work experience on your resume, but you will also gain tangible skills like leadership, creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, conflict-resolution, communication, and more. These are skill-sets that any employer desires in an applicant and quite frankly, often lack in the workplace today. At Montlure, you will become the ideal candidate for a future employer, and, you’ll most likely receive a killer recommendation letter.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us! camp@montlure.org

Montlure
Camp

Office Address:
6659 E University Dr
Mesa, AZ 85205

Camp Location:
1 Co Rd 1121
Greer, AZ 85927
Link to Map

Phone: 520 369 2199
E-mail: camp@montlure.org