We are looking for enthusiastic adult adoptees to be camp staff with us this summer. The staff is required to work with Holt for five weeks between July - August. This time includes one week of staff training before camps begin. Once the camp season is under way, we’ll travel together across the country to serve hundreds of transracial and international adoptees. Through organized small group times and everyday interactions, you’ll have the opportunity to mentor the campers while helping them grow and be their best.

How to Apply
If you’re interested in being a Holt camp staff person, all you need to do is click here to apply online. It’s very competitive and applicants are considered on a first come, first serve basis. In the past years we had over twice as many applicants as we had positions to fill.

Once we receive the completed application, the camp director will contact you and set up a time for an interview. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your interest in helping adoptees.

Staff Benefits — The Best Part
The Holt Camp experience is unlike anything else in the world. As a staff person, you’ll learn valuable skills in team building, group management, camp programming, and First Aid and CPR. Being part of a team, affecting lives of campers, making lifelong friendships, and volunteering your time are not only personally rewarding, but also look great on resumes and applications for college scholarships and jobs.

Travel
As a Holt Camp staff member, you'll have the opportunity to see five different parts of the country during our time together. While you volunteer your time, travel, room and board are all expenses covered by Holt.

Time off
While a majority of our time will be spent with campers, the staff will get 24 hours off each week to relax and recharge for the next group we’ll serve.

Every staff person will be accountable to the Camp Director, but will also be accountable to each other. As a team, we’ll be counting on one another for support, ideas, and encouragement throughout the summer.

During your time with us, you'll be either a counselor or support staff. Everyone will at some point have the opportunity to be a counselor and work directly with the kids. Enrollment for any particular week will determine who and how many will be on support. As support staff, you'll be a "floater," making sure that activities are running smoothly and counselors have what they need, and taking care of any miscellaneous tasks assigned by the director.

As a counselor, you’ll have many responsibilities. We’ve broken them down into two categories.

1. Campers
You’re responsible for the safety of the campers for 24 hours a day as soon as they check in until they check out. You’ll assist in leading them in scheduled activities throughout the day. You’ll live with them in cabins with 8 campers (at the most). You’ll lead your cabin group in discussions on race, identity, and adoption. You’ll set the standard for your campers in the areas of: sportsmanship, environmental stewardship, punctuality, and interaction with peers.

• Counselors will be assigned to teach and lead certain camp activities, based on interest and skill sets.
• Counselors will participate in all activities, setting the mood for the campers. A counselor who’s having fun leads to campers having fun.

Typical Camp Day
(Schedule will vary depending on camp site and camper age)
8:30 Breakfast
9:00 Group games
10:00 Rock climbing, boating, lake activities
11:00 Adoption lesson
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Recharge
2:00 Swimming
4:00 Group games
5:00 Dinner skit prep
6:00 Dinner
6:45 Small group adoption discussion
7:15 Evening activities
8:30 Campfire
9:30 Return to cabin, get ready for bed.

We are excited to welcome adult Adoptees to come enjoy and help out at camp! Volunteers help build a dynamic, organized and meaningful camp experience for our campers, and we hope you consider being a part of our growing Holt Adoptee Camp network!

How to Apply

All volunteers must be adopted, 18 years of age or older at the time of service, pass a routine state background check, and be able to provide his or her own transportation to the site. The deadline to apply is 3 weeks before your expected date to volunteer. Once your application is received, our special programs coordinator will contact you with follow-up materials. We appreciate your interest in contributing to the Adoptee community!

Volunteer Benefits

Engage with campers! You can share your knowledge and adoptee experiences with other camp attendees. You’ll meet people of all ages from across the U.S. and around the world and help them make memories of a lifetime. Our hope is for you to leave camp with new ideas, passions and a good feeling of service to the Adoptee community!

Volunteer Date and Duties

Volunteers are needed to assist in four main areas during Opening Day, Family Overnight Camp and Family Day Camp at each camp location. With guidance from the Holt camp staff, our volunteers assist with camp activities, oversee young campers, support counselors and provide campsite directions. During the application process, you will have the opportunity to state your preferred volunteer duty. We will strive to assign you a role based on your stated preference, however we cannot guarantee you will be assigned to your preferred area. Camp is a dynamic and ever-changing environment, and we appreciate your flexibility; it’s key to our success. Consider which roles and locations might fit your interests.

The four main duties include:

Cleaning, Activity set-up

Activity Volunteers will report to the Special Programs Coordinator and mainly help with preparation and maintenance around the campsite. Duties include, but are not limited to, assisting in the set-up and break-down of work areas, moving equipment, helping keep craft items safe/secure and keeping the area clean and organized.

One-on-One Camp Buddy

Camp Buddy Volunteers are each assigned to one young camper and are responsible for the care and support of that camper throughout daily activities. Volunteers may be asked to move between campers as needed. Volunteers are expected to be friendly, caring, encouraging and able to work with very shy kids.

Shadow a Counselor

Shadow Volunteers support counselor staff mainly in times of transitioning campers from one activity to the next. Duties include, but are not limited to, assisting in the set-up and break-down of work areas, communicating needs, area maintenance and crowd control.

Wayfinding

Wayfinding Volunteers will be stationed in various locations around the campsite and provide general assistance whenever and wherever needed. Tasks may include, but are not limited to, communicating needs, area maintenance and crowd control.

Volunteer Dates are as Follows:

Oregon

July 14^th, 15^th and 18^th 

Wisconsin

July 22^nd, 23^rd and 25^th

Nebraska

July 30^th, 31^st and August 2^nd

East Coast-New Jersey

August 6^th, 8^th and 10^th

Contact Laura Williams, Special Programs Coordinator, at HoltCampSPC@gmail.com with any questions. We look forward to seeing you this summer.