Summer Camp Team Leaders

What are Team Leaders?

Team Leaders are high school youth that lead and accompany a small group of campers for the duration of a camp. Team leaders may serve at summer camps, campouts, or weekend retreats.

A team leader:

First and foremost seeks to grow in their own formation and be a model to younger campers,
Gets to know the younger campers on their team very well,
Fosters true friendship among the campers in the team,
Prays for each camper in the team and leads the team in prayer,
Actively participates in or helps organize various camp activities for the team,
Helps the team to maintain order and cleanliness in their cabin,
Shows enthusiasm and joy even in adverse circumstances,
Is the first one to enjoy all the camp fun activities alongside the campers on the team!

Team Leader Profile

Every year a select group of high school boys and girls that exhibit the necessary qualities are invited to be a team leader for a retreat or summer camp. Note that this is the ideal profile of a team leader. We understand that high school students are also growing in their own maturity and experience.

Capacity for natural relationships with others with a maturity proper to their age.
Physical health to carry out a demanding schedule and tasks.
Psychologically balanced and without serious learning disabilities.
A servant leader, with the passion to learn to lead younger peers.

A desire to be an apostle, with the desire to carry out great undertakings.
A friend of Jesus Christ who wants to know and love him more.
An enthusiastic and joyful demeanor that motivates others to do their best.
A courageous witness who wants to make a difference with their actions, testimony and aware that their lives can make a positive (or negative) impact on others.
Preferably prior experience as a camper at Camp River Ridge.
Preferably a member of ECYD, sharing their faith and values with other young people.

Dates and Ages

AGES:

Boys: Incoming or currently in 9-12th grade.
Girls: Incoming or currently in 10-12th grade.

DATES:
Team leaders follow the general schedule of each of the long summer camps or weekend retreats.

For Summer Camps:
Team leaders will need to arrive to camp a few hours early or a day or two early to receive personalized training and preparation for their role. The purpose of this training is to familiarize upcoming team leaders with:

the use and care of the facilities,
how to lead a small group,
training in teamwork,
preparing for the Gospel reflections,
and growth in the understanding of prayer and apostolate in ECYD.

For Weekend Retreats:
In general, team leaders will need to arrive at least at the same time as the start of the weekend retreat, or maybe an hour or two early. This information is provided when invitations to be a team leader go out.

Spiritual Formation

Team leading is an opportunity for high school youth to take the first steps in camp leadership. But it is also a chance to grow further spiritually. It’s an opportunity for them to develop the habit of prayer so that 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 occasional Encounter with Christ (Gospel reflection and reflection on a pertinent theme) and an occasional “Highs and Lows” (a team feedback session on high points and ways each person can improve).

Spiritual direction and the sacrament of confession will also be readily available to them and encouraged.

An Adventure Awaits!

Being a team leader also means an awesome summer camp or weekend retreat to enjoy! Check it out the various activities a team leader might get to do:

Outings for horseback riding or canoeing
Archery tag, regular archery, and laser tag
Dodgeball, capture the flag, basketball, or other field/gym sports
Swimming, slip 'n slide, war mattress, fishing
Participation in the adventure reenactments (includes battles), firing cannons
Hanging out by the hammock circle or bonfire with s'mores and fireworks
Crafts, Legos, and hands-on skill building activities like axe throwing, fire starting, etc.
And of course great food! And more...!

General Guidelines

Moved by the mission, team leaders focus on what is best for their campers and how to bring them to an encounter with Christ.
Team leaders take particular care to practice charity with the Staff and fellow team leaders, and be a model Catholic for the youth they are leading.
Team leaders will need to arrive and depart on time to the start of their mission summer.
Team leaders should be ready to be away from home and have very limited contact with family for an extended period of time.
Team leaders should make sure that their appearance and demeanor is always dignified and becoming of an apostle of Jesus Christ. The dress code is available upon request.

Team leaders need to place any dating relationships on hold while on camp.
Team leaders should be physically healthy to manage the demands of their duties.
Music publicly listened to will need to be dignified and elevate the soul with its lyrics, harmony, and talent.
There is no Wi-Fi at camp. Cell phones are permitted, but must not become a detriment to the fulfillment of duties. Team leaders are encouraged to leave their cell phones at home.
Team leaders will need to bring their own toiletries, clothing, and spending money.

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?

Summer Fee and Fundraising

Summer Camp Team Leader Fee:
All team leaders pay a corresponding summer camp fee to cover their shelter, food, insurance, materials, shirts, formation, and other costs. All team leaders are expected to take care of their own toiletries and clothing. Camp t-shirts will be provided for them.

The fee varies between $150-$400, depending on the summer camp.

Fundraising:
Team leaders can fundraise for their camp expenses. Donations should be made out to Camp River Ridge with mention of who it is for. More information on how to fundraise can be provided upon request at campriverridge@gmail.com. You may find various ways to donate to camp on our website: Donations to Camp.

Application Process for Summer Camps

Note that the team leader 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. If you have not been invited, you may inquire about your child being accepted as a summer camp team leader by emailing us at campriverridge@gmail.com.
Enrollment: When ready, parents will enroll their son or daughter in the corresponding summer camp(s). Keep in mind we invite more young people than there are spots available!
Fundraising: Parents may pay the full amount, or partial, or nothing up front. That gives the young person a chance to fundraise for the summer camp. Credits will be added to their parents' camp account as the donations come in.

Application Process for Weekend Retreats