What are Summer Camp Missionaries?
Summer Camp Missionaries are high school youth incoming grades 11-12 that offer a period of their time during the summer to volunteer at Camp River Ridge for the evangelization of younger campers.
Camp Missionaries may come from all over the country and serve for one or more missionary sessions each summer. Usually, they have attended summer camps, retreats, and clubs, and may even be a part of an ECYD team. While it is helpful to have prior experience, no prior experience is strictly needed.
As Summer Camp Missionaries, you will
Interested? Keep scrolling...
Camp Missionaries may come from all over the country and serve for one or more missionary sessions each summer. Usually, they have attended summer camps, retreats, and clubs, and may even be a part of an ECYD team. While it is helpful to have prior experience, no prior experience is strictly needed.
As Summer Camp Missionaries, you will
- Experience a transforming life of grace through prayer, sacraments, team life, and spiritual guidance,
- Lead summer camps and parent-child campouts,
- Be loved and remembered by fellow missionaries and dozens of younger campers,
- Work a demanding schedule that will help you with good habits of work and service,
- have a very unique experience of summer fun away from home with awesome people,
- have an insight into what it's like to be camp staff, and,
- be invited to help lead future camps!
Interested? Keep scrolling...
Testimonies from the Summer Camp Missionaries of 2019!
Summer Camp Missionary Profile
Every year a select group of young men and women that exhibit the necessary qualities are encouraged to be summer camp missionaries. Note that this is the ideal profile of a Summer Camp Missionary. We understand that every young person is growing in their maturity and experience.
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Positions Available
All Summer Camp Missionaries will do the following:
- Participate in the training they need to complete their mission.
- Fully participate in camp prayer and sacraments.
- Fulfill a specific role at camp under the direction of an adult mentor.
- Help with work projects workdays or clean up after activities.
- Meet daily with their mentors and also with the Camp Director during camp sessions.
- Participate in a group evaluation at the end of the session.
Summer Camp Missionaries will help with one or more of the following:
- Emceeing the group - Help direct the overall camp schedule, ice breakers, points competition or virtue campaign, meals, evening bonfire activities, and ending awards ceremony.
- Running activities - Help run the morning skill-building stations, the lake activities, and various camp games.
- Act in the camp theme - Help act as a character in the reenactments, and help lead the theme-related stations. And attend the evening bonfire for the high school missionaries.
- Sacristy - Help run the morning prayers, prepare for Mass and adoration, run various dynamics for adoration, help with Gospel reflections and prayers, and organize processions.
- Media- Photography, film and make short video recaps or video testimonies, and post on social media.
- Service - Lawn care, maintenance, cleaning and organizing camp spaces, help with kitchen service, and bonfire making.
Session Dates
The Summer Camp Missionary experience is divided up into sessions. The precise dates of those sessions are available at our Camp Calendar. Summer Camp Missionaries may do as many sessions as they'd like.
Coming from afar? Stay for the Intermission Period.
The Young Men's Summer Camp Missionaries can opt to stay in between 2 or 3 sessions during the intermission period. They will have time to rest, do laundry, have some fun, and also maintain the spirit of prayer and service. Let us know if you're interested in the intermission program by email at campriverridge@gmail.com.
Coming from afar? Stay for the Intermission Period.
The Young Men's Summer Camp Missionaries can opt to stay in between 2 or 3 sessions during the intermission period. They will have time to rest, do laundry, have some fun, and also maintain the spirit of prayer and service. Let us know if you're interested in the intermission program by email at campriverridge@gmail.com.
Spiritual Formation
The Summer Camp Missionary program is an opportunity for young people to grow apostolically, but also spiritually. It is an opportunity for them to reestablish the habit of prayer as they continue to develop their relationship with Christ past the summer camps.
To foster this growth in the spiritual life, they will have morning and night prayers, daily Mass and adoration, as well as a directed prayer based on the Scriptures, Gospel reflections, prayers before and after meals, talks and catechesis on pertinent themes, and a daily decade of the rosary (if not the whole rosary).
They will do an Encounter with Christ (Gospel reflection and reflection on a pertinent theme) and a final “Highs and Lows” (a team feedback session on high points and ways each person can improve).
Spiritual direction at least once will be required, and the sacrament of confession will be readily available to them and encouraged.
To foster this growth in the spiritual life, they will have morning and night prayers, daily Mass and adoration, as well as a directed prayer based on the Scriptures, Gospel reflections, prayers before and after meals, talks and catechesis on pertinent themes, and a daily decade of the rosary (if not the whole rosary).
They will do an Encounter with Christ (Gospel reflection and reflection on a pertinent theme) and a final “Highs and Lows” (a team feedback session on high points and ways each person can improve).
Spiritual direction at least once will be required, and the sacrament of confession will be readily available to them and encouraged.
A Summer Adventure!
The goal of a Summer Camp Missionary is to be an example and leader to the younger campers at all times. But that doesn't mean they don't enjoy their summer! These are some of the activities they might do:
- Outings for horseback riding and/or canoeing
- Archery tag, regular archery, and/or laser tag
- Dodgeball, capture the flag, basketball, Gaga ball, and other field/gym sports
- Swimming, slip 'n slide, war mattress, fishing
- Participation in the historical reenactments (includes battles), firing cannons
- Hanging out by the hammock circle and bonfire with s'mores and fireworks
- Crafts and skill-building stations
- Great food and whatever else you do in your free time
General Guidelines
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Other Pertinent Info
- The upcoming summer calendar: Camp Calendar.
- Ideas on what to bring: What to Bring List.
- Photos or videos of what camp is like: Photo Tour or Video Tour.
- Click here for directions: Directions to Camp.
- Camp social media: Camp Facebook, Camp YouTube, Camp Instagram, or Camp LinkedIn.
Need more info?
Contact us at campriverridge@gmail.com to receive the full set of guidelines.
Summer Fee and Fundraising
Why a Fee?
Why is there a fee if the young person is there to serve and to help?
Basically, it's still a summer camp! And being a summer camp missionary should be seen as a leadership training program.
The fee helps us to cover their shelter, food, insurance, materials, polo and t-shirts, outing, formation, and other costs. It is not possible for us at camp to assume these costs.
See the Dates and Rates page for specific fees.
Fundraising:
Future Summer Camp Missionaries are welcome to fundraise on their own to offset the fee. This is completely legitimate since they are truly missionaries!
Why is there a fee if the young person is there to serve and to help?
Basically, it's still a summer camp! And being a summer camp missionary should be seen as a leadership training program.
The fee helps us to cover their shelter, food, insurance, materials, polo and t-shirts, outing, formation, and other costs. It is not possible for us at camp to assume these costs.
See the Dates and Rates page for specific fees.
Fundraising:
Future Summer Camp Missionaries are welcome to fundraise on their own to offset the fee. This is completely legitimate since they are truly missionaries!

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Application Process
Note that the Summer Camp Missionary sessions are available on a first come basis. Spots are limited and that is not just a marketing ploy!
- Invitation: Normally, your son or daughter will receive an invitation from the camp by email and phone.
- OR, if you have not been invited, you may inquire about being accepted as a summer camp missionary by emailing us at campriverridge@gmail.com.
- Enrollment: When ready, parents will enroll their son or daughter in one or more of the sessions. Keep in mind we invite more young people than there are spots available!
Questions?
If you have any questions whatsoever about the Summer Camp Missionary program, please contact us at campriverridge@gmail.com. Thank you!