Camping Coordinator
Job Description
Episcopal Diocese of Oregon
Job Title: Camping
Coordinator
Employment Classification: Part Time
– 20 hrs weekly
Employee reports to: The Bishop, through
the Canon to the Ordinary
POSITION SUMMARY:
The purpose of this position is to
provide staff services which will
develop effective outdoor ministry
in the Diocese of Oregon. The Diocese
of Oregon geographically covers Oregon’s
western portion from the Cascade Range
west to the Pacific Ocean, whose population
demographic shows low religious affiliation.
Camping and Retreat Ministry seeks
to serve all people in the diocese
of Oregon in the spirit of this prayer
from the Book of Common Prayer:
God our Father, you see your children
growing up in an unsteady and confusing
world: Show them that your ways give
more life than the ways of the world,
and that following you is better than
chasing after selfish goals. Help
them to take failure, not as a measure
of their worth, but as a chance for
a new start. Give them strength to
hold their faith in you, and to keep
alive their joy in your creation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. (BCP
1979, page 829)
In all camps the Camping Ministry
Team seeks to:
1. Develop and nurture personal commitment
to Jesus Christ, to Christian Community,
and to the human family
2. Provide experiences through the
give and take of outdoor living in
a Christian community in order to
bring about responsible involvement
in the larger community.
3. Contribute to the campers’
physical, mental and spiritual well-being
and to help develop such qualities
as initiative, resourcefulness and
self-reliance.
4. Stimulate enjoyment and appreciation
of God’s creation through experiences
in the out-of-doors.
5. Develop an understanding of interdependence
of all forms of life and the human
responsibility to the whole of God’s
creation.
Definitions:
UMC: United Methodist Church
CMT: Camping Ministry Team (Episcopal
Diocese of Oregon)
CRMT: Camp & Retreat Ministry
Team (United Methodist Church)
OECN: Oregon Episcopal Church News
(newspaper for the Diocese of Oregon)
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES:
FUNCTION: PROGRAM
ADMINISTRATION
1. Coordinate the scheduling of blended
camps with UMC so that there is a
balance of events of various types
and various ages at the three primary
camps.
a) Establish expected minimums/maximums
for Diocesan camp events and communicate
these numbers to CRMT and the sites.
2. Working with camp
deans, recruit and schedule training
for Episcopal camp leaders counselors,
chaplains, health care providers [if
needed]).
3. Maintain records
for all Diocesan camp volunteers,
including background checks, current
references and contact information.
4. Arrange for registration
services to be provided by the CRMT
camp office, and maintain constant
communication with the CRMT office
concerning registration activity and
needs.
5. Maintain records
and provide reports to the Camping
Ministries Team. Capture records that
are available from Triangle Lake.
FUNCTION: PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT:
1) Work in cooperation
with the CRMT of the UMC.
a) Attend meetings
as possible at both the CRMT office
and UMC campsites.
b) Recruit two site
team representatives from the Diocese
for the three camps that will be used
the most and for the four Divisions
of the CRMT.
2) Bring recommendations
to the Camping Ministries Team for
new or additional program and, upon
team approval, take initiative to
see that they are held.
a) With Camping Ministries Team, annually
review camp events and identify possibilities
for new outreach. These new programs
may have a special focus and/or happen
outside the summer season.
b) Work with local Diocesan church
leaders to identify church and community
needs and interests that may be served
with diocesan camp programs.
3) Assist and support
the Diocese and local congregations
in developing and running their own
camper scholarship programs.
4) When Episcopal
camp sessions are held, visit sessions
to observe the camp event and to support
volunteer staff. Visit each of the
three primary sites (Suttle Lake,
Magruder, Latgawa) apart from active
sessions for training and communication
with Site Directors.
5) Keep in touch with
current trends in camping, including
but not limited to population growth,
demographics, social issues and resources.
FUNCTION: CAMP PROMOTION:
1. Prepare “packets”
and implement distribution to each
congregation in the Diocese of materials
prepared by the CRMT or jointly by
both denominations.
• Annual camp brochures
• Posters, DVD’s
• Suggested announcements for
newsletters and bulletins
• Materials to be for recruiting
counselors
• Campership announcements
2. Oversee the development
of additional promotional resources
for the camping program, including
(but not limited to) videos, slides,
speakers, Diocesan displays, internet/website
3. Be responsible
for articles in the OECN and Diocesan
webpage and other communication media
in consultation with Diocesan Communications
Director.
4. Visit Diocesan
congregations on a regular basis to
promote the Diocesan camp program.
Visit congregations in all convocations
of the Diocese, and at least 20 churches
per year. Facilitates visits by Camping
Ministry Team or camp supporters to
other churches as well. Promotion
includes:
• Education about the role Christian
camping plays in spiritual growth,
environmental stewardship, discipleship,
mission and evangelism.
• Building relationships with
camper families, church registrars,
youth leaders, and clergy.
• Recruiting campers and volunteers
for camp events.
• Equipping churches to promote
camps both within and outside of their
congregation.
• Speaking to congregations
during Sunday worship, or at fellowship
hour, or to youth groups and Sunday
School groups.
• Speaking to Diocesan Council
meetings to answer questions and provide
information.
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE,
AND ABILITIES NEEDED:
The employee should demonstrate effective
skills in the following areas:
• Capacity for
initiative and self-motivation
• Strong communication and people
skills.
• Administrative skills.
• Computer skills: working knowledge
of Word, Excel, and Frontpage, comfortable
working with unfamiliar programs.
• Group camping experience.
Experience in camp counseling, camp
organization or administration would
be helpful.
• Christian education experience
helpful.
• Access to automobile and ability
to travel frequently, including overnight
stays at camp and while visiting churches.
The employee should
demonstrate the following attitudes
and commitments:
• A positive
commitment to the Christian faith.
• An understanding of, or willingness
to learn, the theology and polity
of the Episcopal Church.
• An understanding of Christian
camping.
• Compassion for people.
• Appreciation of the importance
of church systems and procedures.
Posted December 3,
2007
