Easter Camp Leaders 
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Leading at a HOLYground Kids Camp is heaps of fun, but it’s not always easy!! We are looking for enthusiastic young Christians who are FAT - faithful, available and teachable. We are looking for young people who want to serve and give, who want to learn, who want to be challenged and to grow in their faith while sharing that faith with others. We are looking for young people who are good role models – who are committed to doing life with Jesus at camp, and also at home, school and online. We are looking for leaders who want to learn to do the boring, hard jobs, even when they’re tired, and even when God is the only one who sees. And for leaders who want to learn to love kids the way Jesus does. Could God be calling you to serve at HOLYground?

 

At HOLYground, we are passionate about growing young Christian leaders. We are interdenominational, representing many different churches.

 

We need Christian leaders who can kick a ball, play a guitar, do a jigsaw, run to the wharf, pick up dirty plates, reassure a homesick 8 year old, explain the gospel to a 12 year old, clean a toilet, motivate a team to complete a challenge, mediate an argument, pray for a kid with big issues, serve afternoon tea, lead a kayak expedition, get excited over a sprat, dance for joy – basically, leaders who are willing for God to use whatever He has given them, with His help, for His glory!!

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We welcome applications to serve at our camps. Determining our leadership team involves a mixture of prayer, looking at age/gender/experience/maturity of applicants and campers, as well as how early the application was received. All new leaders and adult helpers require completion of a police check as well as submission of a written reference and testimony as  part of the application process.

 

How much does it cost?

Our contract with Break-Away School Holiday Programmes has come to an end, so we are no longer receiving any external funding to run our holiday camps. In recognition of the financial pressures many families are currently facing, the NEM committee has decided not to charge a registration fee for our Easter Camp 2023. We are continuing to review how we can best fund our camps going forward. If you would like to make a donation towards HOLYground or offer a koha towards the cost of this camp, please click here for more information.

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What should you bring to camp?

- Old clothes including something warm

- Old closed-in shoes (for health and safety in the kitchen and in the bush)

- Footwear to protect your feet while on the beach

- Sleeping bag or blankets, sheet, pillow

- Sunhat, togs and towel – modest sun-smart swimwear essential. Please bring a shirt/shorts.

- Personal toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste), any required medication (with instructions for use)

- Bible if you have one

- Baking for the kitchen

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Please label your stuff - it makes it much easier to work out whose is whose if things get mixed up!! Please leave behind phones/electronic devices/money/junk food/valuables/girlfriends/boyfriends.

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While we attempt to cater for a basic range of dietary needs, it is very helpful if campers with particularly restrictive requirements are able to support our hard-working cooks by supplying some of their own food. Please indicate any dietary needs at registration, and if these are complex we will give you a call to discuss the planned menu.

 

Need a ride?

If you are unable to find your own ride to/from camp, our volunteers may be able to pick up /drop off a limited number of campers and leaders from within Whangarei city. Please indicate on the registration form if you need transport, and be ready at the address provided from 2.30pm. Please advise us if no longer needing a ride to save a wasted trip.

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Visiting?

Parents are welcome to visit during camp. Please introduce yourself to a leader on arrival and sign the visitors book. Please let us know if there is anyone we need to be aware of who specifically is not allowed to visit your young person.

Please be aware that the camp email account may not be regularly checked during camp, but we will let you know a contact number if you need to get hold of your child or a staff member while camp is underway.

 

Rules:

We need your help to make our camp a friendly and safe ‘haven’ that’s fun for all of us!!! At camp we aim for there to be no swearing, bullying, fighting, name-calling, threatening, stealing or lying. Please leave bad attitudes, expensive or electronic equipment (phones, ipads, electronic games, cameras), money, and junk food all at home – we can’t take responsibility for them if they go missing. You will survive without them for a few days! Also, while it goes without saying, please don't bring knives or weapons, drugs, alcohol, vapes, cigarettes, lighters or matches of any sort to camp.

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Please speak with a leader if you have any worries during camp. Please be aware that anyone who is impacting negatively on others’ experience may be asked to return home.

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Want to find out more?

Email us at NEMHOLYground@gmail.com or click here.

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YOUR APPLICATION CAN NOT BE PROCESSED UNTIL ALL THE BELOW STEPS ARE COMPLETE

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1. Complete online registration form below

 If aged under 16, you will need a parent/guardian to complete the registration online with you.

 If circumstances change after you've completed the form, please let us know so your spot can go to someone else on the waiting list.

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2. Approach someone to be your prayer partner (someone who will pray for you while you serve at camp – other than your parents!)

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3. If not completed within the last year, please send to NEMHOLYground@gmail.com:

• A 1/2-1 page testimony (tell us about where you are at on your faith journey - what God has done and is doing in your life)

• A short explanation for why you would like to come to camp

• A few thoughts around what the term 'servant leadership' means and looks like to you

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4. If you have never been a leader at HOLYground before, please download the First Time Leaders Referee Form from the website, ask a youth leader/pastor/teacher/employer to complete, and return to NEMHOLYground@gmail.com

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5. If aged 18+ and you have not done so in the past 3 years for HOLYground, you will need to complete section 2 and 3 of  a police check form,  and email it to NEMHOLYground@gmail.com. You will also need to complete verification of identity as described in the form (bring photo ID to camp). Please note these checks can take several weeks to process, and you can't come unless the result is through so apply early!!!!

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We reserve the right to decline any applicants who do not submit required documentation with sufficient time for reference and police checks to be completed prior to camp.

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A registration confirmation email will be sent to the address provided to acknowledge if you have been accepted to lead at camp or not - please follow up if you haven't heard from us within a week. Please know that leadership positions at camp are limited, and not simply on a first-in first-served basis, although early applications are very much appreciated!!

 

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Description of ROLES AT CAMP

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LEADER

A Volunteer aged 16+ who is in charge of a small team of campers aged 8-12 and works together with another leader or a cadet.

 

Their role is to:

• Encourage campers to participate in organized activities

• Lead small-group discussion times to help grow campers understanding of God/Christianity

• Prevent fighting/bullying among their team

• Help campers to have a safe fun time at camp

• Be a role model for campers in their words, actions and faith

• Encourage and provide opportunity Cadets to lead.

• Know where their team are (within reason) at all times

• Report any concerning behaviour to staff

 

CADET

An assistant team leader between 13 and 15 years of age who may or may not have led at a Holyground camp before. A Cadet works with a senior to develop their confidence and leadership skills.

 

Their role is to:

• Assist leaders in looking after their team (see list above)

• Be present with the team when the senior leader is unable to be.

• “Have a go” at leading discussions/activities where they feel comfortable.

• Grow their leadership skills.

 

OFFICER

An officer is a senior leader aged 16+ who has attended camp before. As well as being attached to a team, they have additional responsibilities at camp.

 

Their role is to:

• Assist leaders in looking after their team (see list above), when not otherwise engaged with their other responsibilities.

• Provide support to leaders when dealing with behavioural issues in campers.

• Manage an area of camp (duties/water safety etc) and report to staff.

 

Officers may have any one (or more) of the following responsibilities:

• Sports Officer

• Memory Verses Officer

• Water Safety Officer

• First Aid Officer

• Music Director

• Indoor Activities Officer

• Head of Boys/Girls Dorm

• Duties Officer

• Technical Officer (Soundstage etc)

 

KITCHEN HELP

These wonderful volunteers (13+) assist our Cook in the kitchen preparing meals for everyone to enjoy.

 

Duties may include:

• Meal preparation

• Laying out Morning/Afternoon Tea

• Stocktaking in kitchen

• Serving food

• Checking allergy lists and identifying children who cannot tolerate certain food / making sure other staff are aware of this.

• Cook’s dishes

• Supervising/running  the sterilizer area

 

STAFF

These are adults (18+) who are integral to the organization and running of the camp, and who are usually approached in-person to fulfill a particular role. They are not attached to a team of children and oversee all areas of camp to make sure that everything runs smoothly and safely.

 

Staff members include:

• Camp Director

• Camp Administrator

• Camp Co-Ordinator (Whistle-Blower)

• Pastoral Staff

• Health and Safety Officer

• Property Manager

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