Staff Recruitment Ideas

1. Advertise in Summer Jobs @ Camp
2. Advertise in Year-round Jobs @ Camp
3. Pay current staff to refer their friends
4. Provide a dynamic CIT (counselor-in-training) program to "grow your own"
5. Advertise on other Web sites
6. Advertise in local newspaper
7. Contact your local ACA Section office
8. Create a video for potential staff to "virtually see" your camp
9. Create a brochure specifically for staff
10. Provide more benefits (e.g. health)
11. Consider hiring international staff
12. Provide unique/valuable benefits:
    • Internet access
    • Satellite dish
    • Transportation
    • Provide ACA membership
    • Travel to camp conferences
    • Specialized training
13. Pay higher wages
14. Survey staff from the previous season and ask questions such as, "Why did you choose to work at camp?" and  "What sold it for them to take the job at my camp?"
15. Consider hiring people who are retired
16. Develop "corporate press kits" to educate non-camp industry employers about the experience gained by applicants who worked at camp
17. Create Web streaming video for staff to see why they should work at your camp on your camp's Web site
18. Provide valuable training for their resume
19. Respond quickly when you hear from potential applicants
20. Read Camping Magazine articles about staff recruitment
21. Allow children of staff to participate in camp for free or at a discount
22. Ask parents of campers help you find quality staff they may know
23. Consider approaching high school seniors
24. Rename job titles to be more enticing ("chef" instead of "cook")
25. Provide a staff application on your Web site
26. Ask camp alumni to help recruit staff
27. Provide upgraded housing for selected staff
28. Provide opportunities for certifications for staff to earn for their resume

College/University Related

29. Build relationships with local college/university educators
30. Advertise in college/university newspapers
31. Encourage colleges/universities to provide internships
32. Visit or contact college/university placement offices
33. Ask to briefly speak at appropriate courses at your local college/university
34. At random times, visit colleges/universities and simply go to the Union
35. Ask to speak to various groups or clubs at college/university campuses
36. Encourage colleges/universities to provide college credit for working at camp
37. Develop information for educators to help them understand the value of camp related to their field so they can communicate the value to their students
38. Go to job fairs
39. E-mail targeted groups asking for help at local colleges/universities

The benefits of working at camp

• Have a significant and positive influence in the life of a child
• Live, play, and work in the great outdoors
• Develop a network of friends and colleagues
• Gain practical experience to further your education
• Develop hands-on, relevant leadership skills
• Participate in experiences that enhance personal growth
• Build your resume with varied skills:
  • communication
  • problem solving
  • critical thinking
  • teamwork
  • management
  • leadership

Staff Retention Ideas

1. Reward performance with bonuses
2. Use mentoring to help retain staff
3. Give staff from the previous season a copy of your staff video for them to give to friends
4. Provide bonuses to staff who return next year
5. Focus on keeping current staff happy to increase the return rate
6. Provide valuable training
7. Maintain year-round contact with counselors
8. Have a reunion weekend to get previous staff to continue relationships
9. Send a note on the birthday of previous staff
10. Send gifts during the holidays
11. Create opportunities for past staff to work for a week or two of their vacation
12. Send pictures of the last camp season
13. Take a genuine interest in their lives
14. Have special area on your camp's Web site for staff and alumni with news and photos
15. Simply ask staff, "What would it take for you to come back next year?"
16. Provide assistance to staff in writing on their resume the skills they learned at camp
17. Increase pay each year a person returns as staff to encourage them to return

Ideas for Recruiting Volunteers

1. Leaders involved in other program leadership roles i.e. troop, youth fellowship, etc.
2. Alumni and/or parents willing to give vacation time.
3. Senior citizens, i.e. program areas, clerical, maintenance, purchasing, registrar, storytelling, sharing hobbies, etc.
4. Retired professionals, i.e. naturalists, teachers, nurses, bookkeeping, etc.
5. Employee Work release, i.e. companies that provide community service work release volunteer opportunities for employees.
6. Teens wanting to get work experience.
7. Home school parents.
8. Working parents or interested adults that can help with pre/post camp tasks or thing that can be done in the evening or other non-working time.
9. Parents with young children that can be placed in a toddler program while they volunteer.
10. Visit volunteering Web sites

For even more ideas, visit:
www.delawarenonprofit.org/volfaq4.html