We still have the following Positions Available to fill out out our summer Team! Apply today! (4/23/2024)
Healthcare Coordinator
Waterfront Coordinator
Keep reading to join a team and find a job that will change your life.
Why work at camp this summer?
IT’S DIFFERENCE MAKING.
Few experiences are as profound or impactful as a summer spent working at camp. Step into a job that's filled with purpose and gives you the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of kids by being the person you needed when you were younger.
IT’S LEADERSHIP EQUIPPING.
We have a passion for developing and training leaders who can make an impact. Gain marketable skills through foundational training and extensive leadership experience. Join a close-knit community of people led by full-time staff committed to your personal development and support.
IT’S LIFE CHANGING.
The life that changes just might be your own. Joining our summer staff means diving into something that’s real, that immerses you in what it means to love Jesus and love like Jesus. It’s kingdom ministry that’s intense, deep, and life changing.
The application for COUNSELOR and SPECIALTY (Kitchen, Office, Maintenance, Float) positions are available on the NLOMA website. The application for PROGRAM COORDINATOR positions is available here - apply today!
For more information on what it looks like to spend a summer working at camp and how to apply for the best summer of your life, continue reading.
How Do I Apply?
To apply, first you need to know which position(s) you want to apply for. If you’re new to camp ministry, we encourage you to consider applying for a specialty or counselor position as a first step, unless you have past leadership experience that makes you a good fit for one of our program coordinator positions.
If you are applying for a COUNSELOR or SPECIALTY (kitchen, office, maintenance, float) position:
Fill out the Summer Service Profile.
Wait to be contacted by Camp Luther to set up an interview.
Interview.
Find out within 2 weeks whether Camp Luther has offered you a position.
If you are applying for a Program Coordinator position:
Fill out the Program Coordinator application.
Wait to be contacted by Camp Luther to set up an interview.
Interview.
Find out within 2 weeks whether Camp Luther has offered you a position.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have a super early end date or have to miss a large chunk of time in the middle of the summer - I probably shouldn’t even apply, eh?
If you feel God might be calling you to serve at camp this summer, please apply! We want to work with you to make this summer a possibility - in past summers we have worked with staff to provide additional time off, early end dates, and flexibility around other summer conflicts to still allow them to be a part of our staff team. What we need most of all is willing hearts to live out the ministry of the gospel - let us worry about the details.
Why am I applying through the NLOMA website?
We are a partner camp of the National Lutheran Outdoors Ministry Association (NLOMA), an organization made up of 20+ LCMS camps across the country. We share a common application with other NLOMA camps. This means that when you apply to work at Camp Luther , your application can also be seen by the other NLOMA camps.
If we aren’t able to offer you a position here, you have the chance to work at another NLOMA camp. Your second and third choice camps will be the first to see your application if we pass it on. You can explore the many different camps that make up NLOMA by going HERE.
We strongly urge all those who wind up not being offered a position at Camp Luther to take the leap and work at a different camp. Each year we have to turn away awesome people because we don’t have spots for them. God will use a summer at camp, ANY camp, to grow you in incredible ways.
If I’m applying for a Program Coordinator position, do I also need to fill out a NLOMA application?
We ask people applying for our program coordinator positions to fill out a separate application from the standard NLOMA profile because these are critical leadership roles on our summer staff team with specific responsibilities during the summer. You do NOT need to fill out a NLOMA application to apply for a program coordinator position, but if you’re open and interested in working at a different camp this summer in the event you don’t end up working at Camp Luther, we recommend filling out both applications.
Is there an age requirement to work at camp?
To apply to be a counselor or to serve in one of our program coordinator positions, you must be at least one year out of high school. You must be 16+ to apply for a specialty staff position (kitchen, office, float).
What Kind of People Are You Looking For?
We want people who love Jesus, love kids, and are willing to put their faith into action to serve in outdoor ministry. To be a counselor or a program coordinator, you need to be at least a year out of high school. For specialty staff positions, you can apply even if you’re still in high school. If you haven’t ever attended camp at Camp Luther or aren’t a huge outdoor expert, don’t worry! Each summer we hire people who are brand new to camp. Click here for more information about the different positions available.
Counselor Positions:
As a counselor, you are responsible for the 24-hour supervision of a small group of campers each week of the summer. This role involves working to build a community within your group where all your campers feels like they belong, leading daily activities with your campers, facilitating faith discussions that connect with the real life experience of kids today, and working closely with your fellow summer staffers to make camp an engaging and awesome place for all our campers.
Open Positions:
None at this time
Program Coordinator Positions:
Our program coordinators serve the ministry of camp in many different ways but are united by the scope of responsibility and strong leadership required for each role. In addition, the people in these positions take ownership for mentoring and supporting our summer staff team. Strong preference is given to applicants with previous Camp Luther staff experience or equivalent leadership experience. Click here for more information about the different positions available. To learn more about the specific programs some of these positions work with, click on the linked programs below.
Open Positions:
Waterfront Coordinator
Health Care Coordinator
Specialty Staff Positions:
Our specialty staff serve behind the scenes in a variety of different important ways at camp. Unlike our other summer staff positions which require you to be at least one year out of high school, these roles are available to anyone who is 16+ years old.
Kitchen:
Camp Luther hires four kitchen staff for the summer. These positions allow you to be a part of an awesome kitchen crew where you’ll work hard serving food and washing dishes, but also get to be a part of the fun that happens everyday at camp. Each week, two additional summer staff are rotated in the kitchen, allowing you to work alongside many of our summer staff team over the course of the summer. One of these positions is a Kitchen Lead who serves as an assistant to our full-time Food Service Manager and takes on responsibilities for staff supervision and kitchen oversight, especially when the Food Service Manager is absent.
Office:
Work with our front office team to help manage logistics and responsibilities in the following areas: parent communication, camper registration and check-in, canteen, and lost and found items
Maintenance:
Work with our full-time maintenance staff to serve in a variety of ways over the course of the summer, including mowing, trimming, leaf blowing, garbage pickup, painting, and welcoming and working alongside our summer volunteers.
Float:
Serve as needed in a variety of work areas around camp, including lifeguarding, housekeeping, kitchen, and filling in for counselors during their time off. A strong preference will be given to candidates who are lifeguard certified or willing to become lifeguard certified for this role.
Open Positions:
None at this time.
What Other Information Should I Know Before Applying?
Staff Training:
All staff undergo two weeks of intensive staff training, covering a variety of topics, including ministry leadership, faith formation, child and youth development, facilitative leadership, program planning, and risk management. This time is also focused on personal formation and community development. Staff training is required for all staff and is May 27 - June 9, 2024.
Program Coordinator positions require an extended training time and begin staff training on May 20, 2024.
Start and End Dates:
May 20 - Program Coordinators arrive
May 27 - Counselors and Kitchen Staff arrive
June 9 - First day of camp!
August 17 - Last day of camp!
Work and Time Off:
You will work very hard if selected to a part of the Camp Luther staff team. Staff work from early in the morning to late in the evening, with very little personal time. Counselors spend nearly every hour of the day with their campers, while Program Coordinators and Specialty Staff have grueling and unglamorous duties to fulfill each day.
All staff will receive on average of one day off per week. Counselors can expect to work four weekends throughout the summer and have the rest of their weekends off. In addition, all staff receive one hour off each day and all counselors receive an additional four hour block of time off each week.
Any time off requests are entirely dependent on the needs of the summer program. Please be aware that our hiring preference will go to staff who can work the entire summer. With that said, we work hard to be flexible with staff time off requests - if you need an early end date or extended block of time off during the summer, we encourage you to still apply so we can discuss your options!
All that being said, this is the hardest job you’ll ever love. You’ll get paid to do things like swim, zip line, dance around the campfire, roast s’mores, and talk to kids about Jesus. You’ll wake up every morning knowing you get a chance to make a difference and experience the rhythms of a life centered around faith and fun. You’ll become a part of the rich and deep legacy at Camp Luther and gain a camp family that will last for the rest of your life. A summer at camp can change your life in a way that not many jobs can.
Salary:
We recognize that finances can be a stress point and an obstacle that prevents people from following the call of Jesus to serve at camp. If you’re looking to maximize your earnings, working at camp is probably not the right fit. But if you’re looking for one of the most impactful, formational experiences in ministry and leadership that you will ever have the opportunity to be a part of—this is it.
1st Year Staff Salary: $275/week
2nd Year Staff Salary: $300/week
3rd+ Year Staff Salary: $350/week
Additional bonuses for staff who are lifeguard certified and also for staff who serve all 10 weeks of our summer programming.
We also provide housing and meals for our summer staff for the entire summer.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the summer start?
For program coordinators, staff training starts on Monday, May 20. For the rest of our summer staff, staff training starts on Monday, May 27. (We ask program coordinators to arrive a week early because of the need for extra planning time for these positions, as well as extra training for their specific roles.)
When does the summer end?
The last official day of camp is Saturday, August 17.
I have a super early end date or have to miss a large chunk of time in the middle of the summer - I probably shouldn’t even apply, eh?
If you feel God might be calling you to serve at camp this summer, please apply! We want to work with you to make this summer a possibility - in past summers we have worked with staff to provide additional time off, early end dates, and flexibility around other summer conflicts to still allow them to be a part of our staff team. What we need most of all is willing hearts to live out the ministry of the gospel - let us worry about the details.
What happens if I need to leave early?
We understand that conflicts with the end of the summer may come into play that are related to your school start date and other school-related responsibilities, and we are willing to work with staff in arranging for an earlier end date. If you know you will be unable to work the entire summer, please disclose that information as soon as possible as it impacts our hiring decisions. If you do not request an early end date as a part of your hiring process, you will be expected to work through the end of the summer.
My family goes on vacation every year in the summer. Can I have time off to go?
Prior to the summer, staff will receive access to a Time Off Request Form that you may use to request unscheduled time off during the summer. Please be aware that you are contracted to work the entire summer, and any unscheduled time off requires the permission of Camp Luther's full time staff. We will do our very best to work with you to accommodate these requests, but please be conscientious about honoring the commitment you made to work at Camp Luther this summer. Working at camp often means sacrificing normal summer activities, like family vacations or plans with friends. The earlier you let us know about a time off request, the greater the possibility that we will be able to approve your request.
Where will I live while I’m at camp?
Our summer staff are housed in the Retreat Center, which provides modern dormitory-style housing with shared community bathrooms. You'll share a room with 2-3 other summer staff members. Each room has two bunk beds, as well as two dressers to use to store your stuff. It's helpful to pack light and bring extra storage containers and organizers to help keep everything tidy. This is your room for the summer--it's your permanent place to store your stuff and where you'll stay during time off. During the summer, if you’re leading a group that is staying in one of our villages, you’ll stay out in the village with your group that week, but you’ll still have your Retreat Center room as your home base.
Can you give me some specific details of what my summer would look like?
Here’s the breakdown of what happens in the summer:
Staff Training: Your first two weeks at camp will be spent in training, where you’ll learn the ins and outs of what it looks like to serve at camp as well as forming incredible friendships with your fellow summer staffers.
Summer Programming: Following staff training, the next nine weeks of the summer will be spent doing camp! At Camp Luther, our main camp program each week is our residential youth camp programs (Pathfinder and Trailblazer) that consist of approximately 130 kids (Grades 3-8) split into different small groups. We also run the following programs that you may be a part of during the summer:
Quest, IMPACT, High School Week, KBC programs (Older Kids)
Explorer, Kindercamp (Younger Kids)
Family Camp, Village Glamping (Families)
Confirmation Camps: Our final week of programming consists of two sessions of 3-day long confirmation camps, where churches will bring their confirmation students and adult leaders to camp to get a jump start on their year in confirmation and have some incredible fun together.
End of Summer: After the final confirmation group leaves, summer staff stick around for a couple more days in order to complete end of summer work projects, provide evaluation and feedback on their summer experience, and spend some final time together as a staff community before transitioning back to the “real world”.
I have student loans coming out of my ears. Do I make any money off this camp thing?
We value our summer staff team a LOT and want to support you in as many ways as possible, including financially. But if you’re looking to maximize your earnings, working at camp is probably not the right fit. However, if you’re looking for one of the most impactful, formational experiences in ministry and leadership that you will ever have the opportunity to be a part of—this is it. Serving in camp ministry as a part of a summer staff community is an incredibly unique opportunity that most people will never get to experience once they graduate from college. If you feel like you’re being called towards a summer of ministry, consider what it looks like to trust God with your finances this year.
Do you have internet up there in the Northwoods?
We do! It’s not the fastest, and we encourage our summer staff to intentionally “unplug” for the summer as a part of their time at camp, but we’re not completely cut off from the outside world.
I’m in! What do I do next?
Step one is to fill out an application! Then wait for someone from Camp Luther to contact you to set up an interview.
What is this NLOMA thing all about?
NLOMA is an awesome organization made up of Lutheran camps across the country, including Camp Luther. We all work together to find awesome staff to serve the ministry of camp in the summer. Even if you have your heart set on working at Camp Luther, we really challenge you to consider being open to serving somewhere else. You never know what God is going to do if you give Him the opportunity. And there are awesome camps just like Camp Luther that may need someone like you to give them a chance.
JUST DO IT.
Even if you are not entirely sure about your summer plans, get the process started by submitting your application.
Have additional questions? Contact Kardia (kardia@campluther.com), Camp Luther's Director of Programs, with any questions or requests for additional information.