Adult Staff Positions
Each unit of campers has a mixture of scheduled activities and free time each day. The scheduled activities, called, “centers” include such things as Crafts, Outdoor Skills, Science, etc. Unit leaders, with the help of their teen staff members (program aides), plan activities for their unit's free time focusing on the desires of the girls in the unit. Activities might include badge work, hikes, and/or theme related activities. Each unit leader has access to a binder of activity ideas and our teen staff members are a gold mine of ideas! The units will receive some basic supplies such as glue, crayons, etc. The units will also be given a budget for the purchase of additional supplies. The unit leaders are responsible for purchasing items, staying within budget, and promptly turning in receipts. Unit leaders arrive at camp about 15 minutes before the scheduled camp start time and leave as soon as the campers depart at the end of the day.
Overview
Each center sees each unit two times during the week. The centers plan activities that are age-appropriate for all the campers, including boys and pixies. The centers will present their program along with budget estimates to the directors for approval. Once the programs and budgets have been approved, the center leaders are responsible for purchasing all supplies, staying within budget and promptly turning in receipts. Center leaders give a short presentation at a Camp Crossroads planning meeting regarding their planned activities so that unit leaders can avoid duplicate activities. Center leaders usually arrive at camp about 1 hour before the scheduled start of the camp day to set up their center and can usually leave as soon as campers are dismissed at the end of the day.
Volunteer Appointment Agreement
All Adult Staff will sign a Volunteer Appointment Agreement which is a contract between Camp Crossroads and the volunteer. If a volunteer fails to meet their obligation, their daughter will be involuntarily withdrawn from Camp Crossroads.
Adult Volunteer Process
All adults who work with girls in our Council must complete our Council's adult volunteer process. If you are a Girl Scout leader in good standing with our Council, you have already completed this process. The process includes:
- Register as an Adult Girl Scout
- Complete a GSCNC background screening
- Completes a Camp Crossroads application, providing references
Position Assignment
Assigning volunteers to positions at Camp Crossroads is part science and part art! Our goal is to have a smoothly functioning camp with happy campers and happy volunteers. The Camp Crossroads Adult Staff Application gathers a great deal of information that we use to establish leadership teams. Positions are determined using several criteria, such as:
- Previous Camp Crossroads experience
- Adult Girl Scout experience and training
- Volunteer's ability and willingness to attend Camp Crossroads' training and planning sessions
- Volunteer's desires, flexibility and ability to work with large groups of children
- Needs of the camp
Available Positions
Following is a brief description of all the adult staff positions. At this time we have not decided which centers will be offered at Camp Crossroads, so we've described them all. For further details on the GSCNC training courses identified below, see our GSCNC training page.
Unit Leaders
The unit leader must be comfortable working in a “teaching” mode as the unit begins with a classroom style learning environment for girls. During the regular camp day, the unit leaders will be responsible for follow up with the teen staff-in-training girls (who will be working with units and centers) and providing them feedback on their performance. The unit leaders will also be used as “floaters” during the regular camp week.
The volunteers must be available for the OWL training day and the teen camp set up session (see Important Dates page).
Sumbawanga Sunrays Unit Leaders work with units of 22-26 girls who have just completed Kindergarten and 1st grade. The ideal candidate has at least one year experience as a Girl Scout Daisy Leader, and has completed Daisy Program Level training.
Ballycastle Bats Unit Leaders work with units of 22-26 girls who have just completed 2nd and 3rd grade. The ideal candidate has at least one year experience as a Girl Scout Brownie Leader, has completed GSCNC Basic Leadership training and Brownie Program Level training.
Tutshill Tornadoes Unit Leaders work with units of 28 girls who have just completed 4th and 5th grade. The ideal candidate has at least one year experience as a Girl Scout Junior Leader and has completed GSCNC Basic Leadership training and Junior Program Level training.
Caerphilly Catapults Unit Leaders work with a unit of 28 girls who have just completed 6th, 7th and 8th grades. The ideal candidate has at least one year experience as a Girl Scout Cadette Advisor, has completed GSCNC Basic Leadership training, and Working with Teen Girls training.
OWL (AIT) Unit Leaders work with a unit of 12-16 girls who have just completed 7th, 8th or 9th grade. The ideal candidate has at least one year experience as a Girl Scout Cadette, Senior, or Ambassador Girl Scout Advisor, has completed GSCNC Basic Leadership training, and is comfortable working with teenagers.
Pixie Unit Leaders work with a unit of pre-school boys and girls belonging to the onsite camp staff. These children are potty trained and may range in age from 3 to 6. The ideal candidate has day care experience and the patience of a saint.
Boys Unit Leaders work with a unit of boys belonging to the onsite camp staff. The boys may range in age from 5 to 12. The ideal candidate has some experience with the Cub Scout or Boy Scout program and enjoys dirt in all its forms.
Center Leaders
Challenge Course Center Leaders work with all the units (except Pixies) on cooperative games and other physically demanding activities on the low-ropes course. The volunteers must have completed a GSCNC approved low-ropes certification course and high-ropes certification is highly desirable. At least one of the center leaders must have completed GSCNC Basic Leadership training.
Tie Dye Center Leaders work with all the units creating tie-dye t-shirts or pillow cases. The ideal candidate doesn't mind having her hands stained lots of different colors for weeks after camp. At least one of the center leaders must have completed GSCNC Basic Leadership training.
Crafts Center Leaders work with all the units on craft projects. The ideal candidate has the ability to repeat instructions over and over again without going insane. At least one of the center leaders must have completed GSCNC Basic Leadership training.
Outdoor Skills Center Leaders work with all the units on outdoor activities. The ideal candidate has nerves of steel as she passes out boxes of matches to teach fire safety techniques and has completed Cookout and Campout training.
Songs & Games Center Leaders work with all the units leading the music program and teaching games. The ideal candidate can sing all day without going hoarse and is familiar with Girl Scout songs (or at least willing to learn and teach them) and has a tremendous amount of energy and stamina! The use of a personally-owned guitar or small boom box is encouraged and appropriate for this center. At least one of the center leaders must have completed GSCNC Basic Leadership training.
Nature Center Leaders work with all the units teaching plant or wildlife activities. The ideal candidate knows what poison ivy looks like! At least one of the center leaders must have completed GSCNC Basic Leadership training.
Science Center Leaders work with all the units teaching "fun" science activities. The ideal candidate is familiar with the "Bridging the Gap" program. At least one of the center leaders must have completed GSCNC Basic Leadership training.
Other
Camp Photographer/Daily Prophet Editor will wander the camp taking photos of all the exciting and interesting activities. The candidate will edit the photos (using Photoshop Elements) and prepare them for posting on the website. The candidate will also prepare articles for publishing in our Daily Prophet and edit the articles submitted by the units/center. The candidate must provide a digital camera; Crossroads will provide the rest. The ideal candidate will know how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements and Microsoft Word. This volunteer can expect to stay late each day at camp to finalize the Daily Prophet (4:30pm).
The Floater is a volunteer who works in camp headquarters helping with camp administrative chores and, if needed, fills in for a unit leader who is absent due to emergency or illness. The ideal candidate is extremely flexible and enjoys doing different things on a moment's notice!
Camp First Aiders work in headquarters handling the minor injuries and illnesses that come with children! The ideal candidate is a fully qualified nurse, EMT or medical doctor. At a minimum, First Aiders must to be currently certified in Adult and Child CPR and First Aid (Level II). Proof of certification is required.
The Emergency Backup is a person on “standby” in case a volunteer cancels. The emergency backup attends the training sessions and pays a reduced fee for their daughter to attend Camp Crossroads. If another volunteer cancels, the emergency backup must come to camp and take their place at camp-- in this case, the partial fee will be refunded. The emergency backup could be called at any time before or during camp and work one day or all 5 days. The ideal candidate is extremely flexible and is willing to jump in at the last minute and tackle any job!