Summer Youth Staff
Discipleship Training Program
Applications Due May 1st, 2026
A summer discipleship training program for high school students who lead in LOVE, desire to grow in their FAITH, seek belonging in COMMUNITY and want to serve with PURPOSE.
Camas Meadows Bible Camp is proud to offer a transformative summer discipleship training program for High School students, designed to equip emerging student leaders with the spiritual foundation and practical skills needed to guide and inspire others in their faith journey. This immersive youth staff program combines biblical teaching, leadership development, and hands-on ministry experience at an outdoor Bible Camp.
Program Highlights
Receive powerful Discipleship Training. You will complete a week-long training program with other youth staff. During this week-long intensive training you’ll deepen your biblical understanding, practice leading in love and service, grow your personal faith through teaching and small group discussion and disconnect from life and connect with God through the beauty of His creation, His Word and His people.
Gain job experience and skills. You will receive extensive job & ministry training, while growing in faith and serving alongside a community with believers. You’ll be equipped with practical, relational and spiritual skills that you can take into your life and communities you are a part of.
Earn volunteer & community service hours. This is a volunteer program with the goal of creating lifelong disciples of Christ. You bring the heart to serve and passion to glorify Christ and we’ll help equip you with a foundation of knowledge and skills to keep growing.
Work alongside other student leaders. Build strong, Christ-centered relationships with other students your age. Through small groups, team building activities, relationship skill building and hours of serving —together, we grow stronger in faith, rooted in Christ’s love. Memories & lifelong friendships are a very likely outcome.
All food & lodging is covered for each week you serve.
Youth Staff Roles
As part of your Discipleship Training you are asked to volunteer at 2 summer camps on staff with Camas Meadows. Whether you are a new or returning staff member you can apply to serve as a counselor or support crew.
You are never guaranteed to serve in your preferred role. Each week’s needs vary and depending on your experience and skillset you may be asked to serve in a different position.
Returning staff members will also have access to the opportunity to serve in a variety of other areas of ministry. These opportunities are limited.
-
As a counselor you would be guiding and supporting young campers throughout their stay, fostering a safe, welcoming, and spiritually enriching environment. Counselors lead daily activities, including games, group discussions, while serving as positive role models who encourage personal growth and faith development.
Responsibilities also include ensuring camper safety, managing group dynamics with kindness and patience, and collaborating with camp staff to create a fun and meaningful camp experience that reflects Christian values. This role requires a caring heart, strong relational skills, and a genuine desire to impact young lives through faith-based mentorship.
-
A support crew member at Camas Meadows Bible Camp plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth and safe operation of all camp activities. They assist with meal prep, dishes, set up camp equipment and prepare activity areas for the campers.
Their work behind the scenes allows campers and staff to focus on spiritual growth and fellowship, creating a welcoming and nurturing environment. Through their dedication and cheerful service, support crew members embody the camp’s values of kindness and community, contributing to memorable and meaningful experiences for everyone involved.
-
Staff members who are returning to the discipleship program have a variety of optional ministry opportunities. These roles will be limited.
Nursing - for those interested in the medical field you can gain experience under the camp nurse. First aid training required.
Worship / Tech - for those interested in music and sound technology you can gain experience on the worship team.
Media / Videography - for those interested in creating digital content you can work on specific projects.
Program / Activities - for those interested in leading activities will gain experience under the program lead.
Lifeguarding - for those interested in lifeguarding, training prior to summer will be required.
Support / Maintenance - for those interested in learning trade skills will gain experience under the support or maintenance lead.
Pastoral / Speaking - for those interested in gaining experience leading ministry opportunities.
Lead Counseling / Mentoring - for those interested in leading a cabin or mentoring others.
Kitchen / Cooking - for those interested in gaining experience in the kitchen with baking or cooking.
Next applications will open Fall 2026
Staff Requirements
This is a volunteer program.
Due to the rigorous nature of this discipleship program, students are required to have a high level of emotional, physical and spiritual maturity.
Not all students who apply will be accepted.
Must complete a youth staff application and pass background and reference check.
Must be entering 9th-12th grade in the Fall or with special director invitation
Must be a leader in love with a heart to serve others.
Must attend Discipleship Training. Dates: June 15-20, 2026
Must volunteer serve at a minimum of 2 summer camps as a counselor or support crew member.
If accepted into the youth staff program you will be expected to complete a variety of tasks to prepare for a summer of service.
Pay a $50 staff fee for clothing
Complete a Medical & Liability Waiver
Write and send letters to friends and family to raise support & build a prayer team (Discipleship Training cost is by donation and we ask you send letters to help fundraise the cost of the program $450)
Complete spiritual and service goals you’ve set when you applied
Read the book of Mark.
Next applications will open Fall 2026
Discipleship Program Goals
Our mission is to provide a Christ Centered camp where people can encounter Jesus Christ, through the word of God, the beauty of His creation and the community of His people.
Spiritual Goals
Know who God is. Deut. 7:9, Nehemiah 9:31, Psalm 34:8 / 71:5 / 75:1, Matt. 6:9, John 4:24, Eph 1:17, 1 Tim 4:10, James 2:23, 1 John 4:16
Know you are enough, through Jesus. Ephesians 2:10, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Galatians 5:22
Be confident in your faith.Romans 15:13,Ephesians 3:17-19, Philippians 3:8-9
Be able to share the gospel and truth through discipleship. Mark 16:15-20, Matt 28:18-20, Acts 14:21-22
Learn to make mistakes and press forward. James 1:2-4, Psalm 145:14, Phil 3:13
Community Goals
Be a leader in love and service. Mark 12:30-31, Matthew 20:26-28, 1 Peter 4:10
How to be in conflict and have resolution. Colossians 3:12-15
How to be in community with one another; serving together, sharing joys and burdens, having accountability. Phil 2:1-2, Exod. 12:47, John 17:11, Romans 12:9-16, 1 Corin. 1:10, Phil 1:3-11
Service Goals
Be able to take care of yourself. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Learn how to work and work well. Proverbs 12:25, Colossians 3:23-24
Learn how to be dependable. Luke 16:10, James 5:12
Learn how to work with others. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Galatians 6:2
Learn to do it with a good attitude. Phil 2:4, Galatians 6:9, 1 Corinthians 10:31
Are you ready to find purpose and identity through serving alongside a community of believers? Apply today!
FAQs
-
Camas Counselors are responsible for connecting and caring for their campers (ages 9-14) and showing them God’s love through outdoor activities, cabin discussion, night games and shared experiences. This is a more relationally demanding role.
-
A support crew member assists with meal prep, dishes, setting up camp equipment and preparing activity areas for the campers. This is a behind the scenes role and more physical work.
-
Youth Staff must be entering 9th grade or higher the summer they serve.
-
You must apply to be on staff and provide relevant information about your background, faith and experience.
All staff must pass a background and reference check.
All staff must attend Discipleship Training.
All staff must serve at 2 weeks of camp.
All staff must pay or fundraise the $50 staff clothing fee.
-
Youth Staff are a volunteer team with the option to fund raise for each week they serve at camp.
Each week is equivalent to a short term mission trip and we highly encourage counselors to raise awareness for what they are doing and funds for any lost wages.
We have resources and tools to help you fund raise.
This can be your summer “job” if you are willing to raise funding and we’re happy to help!
-
During Discipleship Training you’ll learn a variety of essential skills for childcare, leadership and ministry.
You’ll have classes on emergency preparedness, paintball safety, team building, leading discussion, sharing the gospel and so much more!
-
You are required to attend Discipleship Training and a minimum of 2 weeks during the summer.
We recommend serving at least 2 weeks to have the biggest impact and opportunity to build relationships, in addition to attending a camp as a camper.
-
If you are counseling, no. Counselors are needed Monday through Saturday of the camp they are serving at.
You are welcome to serve on our support team for partial weeks.
-
You should receive a response within 2-4 weeks of applying whether you have been accepted.
It takes a few weeks to run your background check and contact your references.
-
No. There are limited roles at each camp.
Due to a large amount of applications we receive, you may not be selected to serve or needed for all the weeks you requested.
-
An example of a daily routine might look like:
7am | wake up & attend staff meeting
8am | wake up your campers
8:30am | eat breakfast
9am | lead a devotional with your cabin
10am | attend morning chapel
10:30am | morning activity rotations
12pm | eat lunch
1pm | enjoy cabin time / rest
3pm | have snack & lead afternoon activity rotation
5:30pm | eat dinner
7pm | attend evening worship & chapel
8pm | lead cabin discussion
9pm | have snack & night game
11pm | go to bed
-
Camp names are given at the end of Discipleship Training for those who are new.
The experienced staff spend the week getting to know you and will nominate names for you, based on the positive attributes they see. The team will then vote on the best fitting name.
Don’t just work this summer. Learn, grow and live for Him.
Being summer staff at Camas Meadows Bible Camp is more than a job—it's living your faith in action. Surrounded by Camas Meadow’s beauty, you guide young campers through meaningful experiences that deepen their relationship with Christ.
Grow in your faith, build lifelong friendships, and equip yourself to lead with confidence by joining our Youth Summer Staff program at Camas Meadows Bible Camp.
Staff Testimonials
“The people are the most supportive people you will ever meet. I made life long friendships in a week. Being able to help the kids grow in Christ while also having a family that can help my faith is amazing. The people at Camas taught me how to be loved and what it’s like to be loved by people who have Christ in their hearts. I have a family in these people that I’ve never had before. ”
“Camas has helped me in so many ways. It has helped me get a deeper relationship with God, Helped me with my communication skills, it has given me some amazing new friendships, and has helped me get out of my comfort zone in a lot of new ways”
“Camas has made one of the greatest impacts on my life. When I think of God’s work and impact, I think of camp. The people up there that serve year after year are so devoted, and it has been a gift to work with such incredible individuals as a part of the staff team.”
“Camp saved my life. It was where I witnessed the love of God and felt comforted and safe. It became a second home with people that surrounded me with love and support. Being able to immerse myself in the nature created by God, seeing His wonders, it renewed my faith and my soul, opening the way for me to dive deeper into my faith with Christ.”
“Camas Meadows has been the place where I truly connect with God. Over the past four years of attending and working up at camp, I have grown immensely in my relationship with God and grown into the person I am today. Camp has helped me to be more confident and comfortable with myself as well as increasing my emotional and spiritual maturity. The community and support I receive from the other staff and campers alike truly make Camas a very special and unique place.”