Summer Staff is an intensive leadership development program. Every summer the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center accepts college students to intern as Summer Staff. {Check with your degree program about getting internship credit!}

We are looking for college students with the following characteristics:

• Must be one year out of high school when the summer begins. In other words, if you graduated from high school in May 2022 or earlier, you will be eligible for Summer 2023.
• Must enjoy working with youth and want to see lives changed. That is why this camp exists, so this must be the most important motivation for any staff member.
• Must have an outstanding work ethic. The job is very demanding, so we do not tolerate any laziness.
• Must exhibit high moral character and must be a positive role model for campers. Staff are required to be someone that campers can look up to. 
• Must thrive in a team atmosphere. Staff will be in a high-stress environment with approximately 30 other college students. Teamwork is critical.
• Must have the maturity to handle the responsibility and stress of camp life. We have a massive responsibility with being entrusted with these youth.
• Must have a positive and upbeat attitude. Camp life is hard, so a positive attitude is a vital to the success of the team.
• Must want to grow and be stretched. We not only invest in the campers, but we invest in the staff. You will be challenged to grow.

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

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:

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 at www.GeorgiaFFACamp.org for more information.

Staff Training will be held during the two weeks prior to the beginning of Summer Leadership Camp.

A part of Staff Training will include specific training in select areas.
Staff will choose one of the following classes: (classes subject to change!)

• Lifeguard: Staff will have the opportunity to become a certified lifeguard.
• Low Ropes instructor: Staff will be trained as an instructor on the Center's Low Ropes Course.
• Horseback riding instructor: Staff will be trained in barn management, horse health, and learn to instruct campers for trail rides. We prefer that staff have some horse experience prior to taking this training course, but it is not mandatory as long as you are comfortable around horses.
• Shooting Sports Instructor: Staff will be trained to be an assistant instructor at the shooting range

The starting salary for first year staff who complete Staff Training is $340 per week. This is for a week - Sunday afternoon through Friday afternoon. Staff lodging and meals during the week are provided. Staff will go home on most weekends. There are many weekends that we have campers, and we will ask some staff to stay. Please plan to work at least one weekend during the summer. Salary is pro-rated for the weekends. 

No experience is necessary to be on staff. We do give first preference to those with FFA or FCCLA background or those who participated in the Wildlife Camp or Horse Camp programs. 

During the first five weeks of summer, we engage in 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 Summer 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 canteen
• Operating horseback rides
• Referee for softball and volleyball
• Lifeguard at the pool and at the blob
• 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 SLC page. 

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 serving 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 serving these groups, mostly through operating the recreational areas and food service. 

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 other staff, alcohol, drugs, inappropriate language, or any inappropriate behavior. We do not permit unprofessional 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 blob, 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!