Beech Tree News Network

Are you looking for a fun and challenging summer in the outdoors? According to Donna Fox, State 4-H Specialist, then a staff position at 4-H summer camp can provide a rewarding and educational experience.  Staff recruitment for this summer’s camps is under way.

It can be a wonderful, fulfilling experience living in an outdoor environment for 10 weeks. As a camp staff member, you will serve as role model and mentor for positive youth development and develop lifelong friendships with other staff. You also develop or improve skills useful for other summer jobs or in a career. These capabilities include leadership, teamwork, communication, problem solving, teaching, organizational skills and knowledge of youth development. Experiences serving on 4-H camp staff often lead to interest in a career.

For anyone interested in a career in Cooperative Extension, it provides an opportunity to work with many other Extension personnel and learn more about employment opportunities. Interested individuals can check out the camps on the camp Web site http://www.kentucky4h.org/camp.

Approximately 9,000 campers attend camp each summer in one of four locations: Feltner 4-H Camp, London; Lake Cumberland 4-H Camp, Nancy; North Central 4-H Camp, Carlisle, and West Kentucky 4-H Camp, Dawson Springs. Camping dates are May 29 through July 27. Summer 4-H Camps are co-educational for youth ages 9-14 and teen leaders (14-18) and are from four to five days in length.

Camp positions are camp manager; health care provider; instructors for canoeing, swimming, low-ropes and high-ropes challenge courses, nature/fishing, recreation, archery, and rifle. Special training, certification or both is required for swimming, canoeing, ropes, archery/rifle instructors and EMTs. All staff is required to be CPR- and first aid- trained and certified before they can be employed by the 4-H camping program.

Prospective applicants need to be aware that all employees are required to attend the pre-camp training program.  Manager training dates are April 26-28. All camp instructors must attend training May 19-22 at Kentucky Leadership Center and May 23-24 at specific camps.

All camp employees must have a health care examination conducted by licensed medical personnel within the last 24 months prior to the start of camping season. Pre-employment national criminal background checks will be conducted on all new University of Kentucky employees. Staff will work 40 hours or more per camping session (four days or five days). For specific job qualifications, please visit the camp employment website at http://www2.ca.uky.edu/4-h/camp/employment.

All applicants will be required to apply through the UK Jobs Web site under temporary positions. Applications must be completed online. For more information about the application process, go to the 4-H camp Web site and click on Camp Employment Opportunities. Interviews for 2013 (including returning staff) will be conducted during mid to late March.
   
For more information contact the Butler County Extension Office at 112 E GL Smith Street, Morgantown or call 526-3767.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, disability, or national origin.