New Volunteer FAQs 2 of 3
What is the time commitment?
For new summer camp volunteers the commit is eight days.
New volunteers are required to attend a New Staff Orientation offered before their session during the summer.
Staff Development & Training takes place at the camp facility for two days before the campers arrive.
Volunteers are expected to be at the camp facility and prepared to begin staff development by 8:30 a.m. the first day of training.
During Staff Development and Training volunteers have an opportunity to meet the 55-60 other staff that will comprise the leadership for that session. Job responsibilities, emergency procedures, medical procedures, program orientation, and camp traditions are presented and discussed. Volunteers will also meet their co-partners and begin planning activities and fun for the arriving campers.
After development & training, the staff car-pool to one of five
What are we looking for in Volunteer Staff?
Camp life can be a rewarding and supportive experience... the chance to make a difference in the life of a child affected by cancer. We also know that camp is not the best volunteer experience for everyone since it can challenge an individual's patience, flexibility and privacy.
We are looking for individuals who can work in, and appreciate a rustic outdoor environment; promote healthy personal interactions with youth and adults and be a positive role model for our campers. Volunteer Staff members must show enthusiasm for the program and our mission.
YOU WILL sleep outside under the stars one night during your week at camp!
YOU WILL need lots of energy!
YOU WILL be playing with (hopefully not a surprise)...KIDS!!
In addition, volunteer staff must be flexible to try new challenges themselves, and be willing and able to deal with issues and feelings that develop when guiding youth and working with adults.
For example: dealing with conflict, working as a team member with other adults, accepting coaching from other adults, being accepting and inviting of all members of the camp community.
Our volunteers are a team of motivated individuals that have a healthy vision for the needs of our campers.
Why do I have to interview to be a volunteer?
Our campers' parents place tremendous trust in us to find, select and train the best individuals to whom they can entrust their children. We do not take our parents' trust lightly.
One of our selection and screening processes is a group interview. Our group interviews are designed to let us get to know each other. Interviews take approximately 2 1/2 hours for a group of 6 to 10 volunteer applicants and are conducted by a panel of experienced volunteers and paid professional staff of the Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times organization.
The actual group interview process includes the following experiences: introductions (served up in campfire skit style!), small group interview (more traditional Q & A time), total group problem-solving tasks, and role-play situations.
We have created this process to enable us to select the best applicants to work with our campers, not to intimidate potential volunteers.
What are our campers like?
Each of our summer camp sessions serve both patients and siblings. Our patient campers are children who have or have had cancer. Many have had cancer and treatments in their young lives and continue to attend camp. Other campers will be attending camp during some stage of their disease. The most obvious signs of treatment in campers may be bald heads, medications, general weakness, amputations, or decreased balance, mobility or vision. A number of campers also have cognitive challenges.Even though they don’t have the disease in their own bodies, the siblings of our patient campers are also faced with the challenges of a cancer experience. Camp provides the siblings an opportunity to experience the same fun-filled experience and support.
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