We love volunteers!   Who can be a volunteer?   What can volunteers do?    How do you choose volunteers?  How do I become a volunteer?

WE LOVE VOLUNTEERS!  Volunteer are a welcome and necessary component of our work at Camp Gifford.  Providing such an inexpensive camping experience to so many children and teens becomes a real financial trick and volunteers are invaluable in their efforts to help us.  Many of our volunteers have come back from year to year to spend a week or more helping with the kids.  They have built relationships with campers that continue from season to season and become summer mentors to the campers as they help them develop socially and spiritually over time.   (back to top)

WHO CAN BE A VOLUNTEER?  Volunteers come in every shape and size and each one brings with them unique abilities and talents.   Volunteers must be 13 years of age or older - must not have a history of child abuse or molestation - must be willing to submit to a background check - need to fill out Volunteer Paperwork (with references) and be interrogate..er, interviewed by the Camp Administrator.   Volunteers are normally asked to work a maximum of three non-consecutive weeks during our summer season.  In many cases volunteers are able to work consecutive weeks and/or for longer periods of time.  Volunteers are requested to work for an entire week at a time to enable us to schedule them into the weeks events and programming at camp.  Volunteers are required to attend our Orientation Week at the beginning of summer to learn about the camp, our program, our rules and policies and to get to know the rest of the volunteers and staff.  Food, Lodging and a little free candy (whoo-hoo) is  provided for volunteers while they are helping out at camp.   (back to top)

WHAT CAN VOLUNTEERS DO?  Volunteers are able to participate in many areas of camp program, support and maintenance.  Some factors we consider are:  What does the volunteer WANT to do?;  Do we have any missing staff to replace during that particular week;  Are there projects that need to be done?;  Does the volunteer have special talents or abilities that we can make use of? and etc.  A large part of our decision is based on what the volunteer desires to do and what we learn or discuss during our interview with the volunteer.  If there is a specific job you'd like to volunteer for, just ask, and we'll try to work that out!   Volunteers are asked to come for a week at a time.  Food and Lodging is   provided for volunteers while they are helping out at camp.  (back to top)

HOW DO WE CHOOSE VOLUNTEERS?  Choosing volunteers is almost like choosing staff, primarily because the integrity of our program and the safety of the children is at stake.  Once a volunteer contacts us they are sent a Volunteer Packet (to request a Volunteer Packet click "here").  When the Volunteer Packet is received at camp the applicant is called and an interview is set up (if the applicant if non-local a phone interview is done.  During the interview the Camp Administrator will talk with the applicant about preferred jobs, training or certificates that may be required for certain jobs (e.g., Health Cards for kitchen workers).  He will also ask whether the applicant is available for Staff Orientation Week and list the weekend/s that the applicant would prefer to volunteer.  References are checked and a background check is done.  The volunteer is then contacted and told whether or not they have been approved as a volunteer and, if yes, they are sent a packet of information regarding Orientation Week and the Summer Program.   (back to top)

HOW DO I BECOME A VOLUNTEER?  Begin the process of becoming a volunteer by filling out our on-line Application Form.  Thanks for showing an interest in helping us change lives!

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