Summer Staff
Leadership Intern Program

Summer Staff is an intensive leadership development program. Every summer the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center accepts college students to intern as Summer Staff.

Who is eligible for Summer Staff?

We are looking for college students with the following characteristics:

• Has completed at least one year of college (when the summer begins)
• Enjoys working with youth and want to see lives changed
• Has an outstanding work ethic (in other words, works hard!)
• Exhibits high moral character and is a positive role model for campers
• Thrives in a team atmosphere
• Has the maturity to handle the responsibility and stress of camp life
• Has a positive and upbeat attitude
• Wants to grow and be stretched

We also hire male and female staff supervisors. Preference is given to former summer staff who have a college degree. The staff supervisor must be…

• Professional and responsible
  
• Able to manage college students
  
• Willing to live in the staff cabin during the summer

What does the Summer Staff do?

The primary job of the staff is to serve the campers and to set an example for them in every way. The goals of the staff program are:

1. To provide a safe and enjoyable environment for campers
2. To provide positive role models for campers
3. To provide an intensive program for the Summer Staff to grow and develop critical skills for success.

Staff are responsible for overseeing recreational areas, conducting programs, and preparing the facility for campers.

• May 6-11: Staff Training
• May 13-18: Staff Orientation
• May 21: Summer Camps Begin

When does the program end?

We will run our camp programs until July 20. We may have to release staff members before that time due to budget and actual needs for each week. There will also be a need to extend some staff beyond July 20 to help with other rental groups.

Salary and experience:

The starting salary for first year staff who complete Staff Training is $290 per week. This is for a week - Sunday afternoon through Friday afternoon. Staff lodging and all meals are included. Staff will go home on most weekends. There are some weekends that we have campers, and we will ask some staff to stay. Salary is pro-rated for the weekend. You will pay for your staff shirts, but the cost is minimal.

No experience is necessary to be on staff. We do give first preference to those with FFA or FCCLA backgrounds. Experience in working with a team and working with youth is a plus. Some assignments do require experience (ex. horse staff.) Applicants must have completed one year of college as of the beginning of the summer season. We are looking for excellent work ethic, strong morals, and great attitude.

Facility Information:

The Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center is a year-round camp facility in Covington, GA. We are located about one hour from Atlanta, Macon, and Athens. Our primary purpose is to provide services and programs for FFA and FCCLA students in Georgia. We also rent facilities to educational organizations such as YMCA, Boy Scouts, and church ministries. Our facility has meeting rooms, food service, lodging, and recreation. Visit the facility website for more information - www.Georgiaffacamp.org.

Staff Training:

For the first week of Staff Training, staff will select one of the three training courses. Staff are not paid during Staff Training week, but you must complete the training course in order to receive the full salary. First Aid and CPR training is included in all three courses. Staff will choose one of the following classes:

1. Lifeguard: Staff will have the opportunity to become a certified lifeguard.
   
2. Low Ropes instructor: Staff will be trained as an instructor on the Center's Low Ropes Course. This includes ground initiatives and low-ropes style elements.
   
3. Horseback riding instructor: Staff will be trained in barn management, horse health, and learn to instruct campers for trail rides. Staff should have some horse experience prior to taking this training course.

We will also offer optional training for the High Ropes Course. This training will be available to all staff and will be in addition to the course you choose. You may be asked to come in early or stay later during training and orientation weeks in order to complete High Ropes training.

Staff Orientation:

Staff orientation is the first paid week. This is a week that we spend preparing the camp facility and the staff for the weeks ahead. We work on program aspects and develop the staff team dynamic. We also cut grass, clean cabins, prepare recreation areas, and whatever is necessary to get ready for the summer camps.

FFA-FCCLA Summer Leadership Camp

During the first five weeks of summer, we engage in five sessions of FFA-FCCLA Summer Leadership Camp - a week long camp for FFA and FCCLA students from across Georgia. It is a leadership and recreation-based camp for middle school and high school chapters. During this camp, we provide everything - meals, lodging, recreation and program.

Campers for Leadership Camp arrive Monday morning and depart Friday morning. Staff report on Sunday afternoon and are released on Friday when the camp is clean (typically mid-afternoon).

Summer Staff operate the recreation areas, participate in assemblies and other programs, and help the campers have a great time. Some of the assignments during Summer Leadership Camp include:

• Operating the snack shop
• Operating horseback rides
• Referee for softball and volleyball
• Lifeguard at the pool and at the canoes & paddleboats
• Ropes Course instructor
• Craft shop operator
• Food service

The days are long - a typical day starts with breakfast 7:30 AM and ends back at your cabin around midnight. Staff stay in the staff cabins, not in cabins with campers. For more information about Summer Leadership Camp, visit the Summer Camp Page.

After FFA-FCCLA Summer Leadership Camp

After Summer Leadership Camp, there are three types of camps that will be running - Wildlife Camps, Horse Camps, and rental groups.

The Wildlife Camps are week-long programs that our facility hosts to youth from the general public. For more information, visit www.Wildlifecamp.com. During these camps, some of the summer staff will be fully dedicated to the program, including staying in the cabin with the campers. Some of the staff will continue servicing the rental groups during this time, but will likely have some part to play in the Wildlife Camps.

The Horse Camps are week-long programs that are open to girls ages 10-13. Some of the staff (primarily the horseback riding program staff) will be fully dedicated to this program. These programs run during the same weeks as Wildlife Camps.

We will also rent facilities to organizations. Our largest rental groups are church youth groups and children camps. For these groups we continue offering meals, lodging, and recreation, but we do not offer programs and assemblies. Summer staff will be involved in servicing these groups, mostly through operating the recreational areas and food service.

Why work Here?

Anyone interested in being on Summer Staff must understand that this is a very challenging job!

1. Staff work long hours! They work from around 7:30 AM until around midnight. The weeks are long (Sunday afternoon through Friday afternoon.) You will be exhausted, but you have to give 100% at all times for the campers, and that is tough!
2. Staff work hard! We do whatever it takes to make the camp enjoyable for the campers. That includes lots of manual labor. It requires a great work ethic, so lazy people need not apply!
3. The salary does not match up to how many hours and how hard you work! Don't come here for the money!
4. The rules are strict, and we have high expectations! We have a very strict set of policies that the staff must follow for the protection of the campers. We do not permit dating, alcohol, drugs, inappropriate language, or any inappropriate behavior. We do not permit facial rings, tongue rings, exposed tattoos, or unkept appearances. Staff are expected to be outstanding role models at all times. Everything you do during the summer is our business (including weekends), because it impacts the campers we serve.
5. You can't escape one another! Our staff members spend a lot of time together. If someone gets on your nerves, you have to be able to work with them. We serve the campers no matter what.

So why join the Summer Staff?

1. It is a great learning experience! You will learn to work on a team, learn more about yourself, and you will be challenged in new ways. We will invest in you heavily because we want to make you more successful in whatever career you choose. Our goal is to see significant growth in you during the summer.
2. It is fun! From activities like the zip line, slip and slide, and ropes course, you will have the opportunity for new and exciting experiences!
3. You get to invest in youth! If you have a heart for youth, you will have great opportunities to be a role model for them. Our purpose is to help develop character in young people, and you can play an integral role in that.
4. It is an excellent experience for those wanting to teach or work with youth as a career!
5. You might be able to use it for college internship credit! Check with your program advisor to see if this experience qualifies as an internship for your major.
6. You can save money because room and board is free!
7. You will be working with other college students with whom you have the opportunity to build lasting friendships!
8. To steal a line from the Peace Corps, it is the toughest job you will ever love!

To apply

We recommend that you apply in January or February so that we can schedule your interview before March 15th. . The first round of hiring decisions will be made on March 15th. For the first round of hiring, we will hire former FFA and FCCLA campers, as well as former staff members. After March 15th we will begin selecting from other applicants to fill the rest of the available positions.

To apply, submit the Staff Application along with a resume and the other information that is requested on the Application.

First-Year Applicants:

Staff Application (Microsoft Word)
Staff Application (pdf)

Return-Staff Applicants:

Return Staff Application (Microsoft Word)
Return Staff Application (pdf)

Once we have received your application, we may contact you to schedule an interview. There are two scheduled interview dates that we will hold group interviews. You will only need to attend one of them. If you are not available for one of these dates, contact us to schedule an interview.

Scheduled interview dates:
February 11, 2012
March 10, 2012

Fax, email, or mail applications and resumes to:

Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center
Attn: Russel Towns
720 FFA FHA Camp Road
Covington, GA 30014
Fax: 770-786-1774
Email: RTowns@GaAgEd.org

Summer Staff Handbook

You will want to read become familiar with this information if you are hired. It is also a good resource to let you know if this is the right job for you!

Download Staff Handbook