SUMMER TEAM

FIRST TIME APPLICATION
RETURNING STAFF APPLICATION

WHY SERVE AT MERRIWOOD?

Merriwood is a quality, Christian summer camp that emphasizes the following things:

– Soli Deo Gloria (to God be the glory in all we do)
– Camp is for the camper (they are our priority)
– Building relational bridges
– Quality over hype, purposeful, intentional programming
– Taking ownership and leaving things better than you found them
– Age-specific and advanced programming at every age level
– Biblical truths incorporated throughout the day, not just in chapel spaces
– Work as worship
– Multi-year ministry (as campers/staff return multiple years)
– Being faithful to share the gospel and let the Lord draw people to Him
– Acceptance and love

If this compels you, we hope you will consider applying for a summer team position!

SUMMER 2026 DATES:

Staff training for our summer team is vitally important. Counselors (and most support staff) are required to attend the two-week Staff Training which will run from Sunday, May 17, 2026 at 4:00 pm through Sunday, May 31, 2026.  Then, MCC hosts 10 individual weeks of summer camp programming, followed by a weekend of wrap-up and R&R day. The summer staff commitment will be over Sunday night, August 9, 2026, 9 pm ish. (Time off opportunities available as needed. Priority given to earlier applicants.)

APPLICATION PROCESS & TIMEFRAMES

Summer team applications for 2026 will open Wed. Sept. 24, 2026. Please check back soon!

  1. Complete the application online through the link provided.
  2. Merriwood will contact you to set up an interview time.
  3. Set up a tour time (if local-ish and if you’re not already familiar with MCC)

– Returning Team:  Earn a $50 bonus if you apply by Sun, Nov 30, 2025, get hired, and work the whole summer through. Bonus awarded on last paycheck.
– International Applicants needing to obtain a J1 Visa: Suggested application before January 30, 2026 in order to obtain proper paperwork.
– New Applicants: The suggested application deadline is Sunday, Jan 11, 2026 for NEW applicants. However, MCC will continue to accept applications and proceed with the interview process until all positions are filled.

** If you have questions concerning this process,  please text or call Hannah at 336-909-5741 or office@campmerriwood.net or email Jenn at jenn@campmerriwood.net.

 

FIRST-TIME APPLICANTS

  1. CLICK HERE to access Online (first-time) application.  Applications for Summer 2025 are now LIVE! Apply today.
  2. Click on REGISTER FOR SESSION
  3. Click on CREATE AN ACCOUNT
  4. Complete Phase One.  Please allow 10-15 minutes to do this. The system will also save it for you after each full page is completed, if you need to return to it later.
  5. You will get an automatic email notification once you complete Phase 1 of the application, or if your application is incomplete (so you can go back and finish it).
  6. We’ll begin to process your application which may include calling you for a first interview.
  7. Complete Phase 2 and 3 (which includes references).
  8. You may be called back to set up a 2nd interview. (For the 2nd interview, it will be either an in-person interview or video conference call.)  On-site interviews, if possible, also give the applicant an opportunity to view the facility and see if Merriwood is a good fit for them.)
  9. You may be offered a job or contacted to let you know we do not have a position available for you at this time. (If you need an answer before you hear back from us, please contact us before making other decisions and we may be able to give you an idea where you stand in the process.)

RETURNING STAFF APPLICATION

  1. CLICK HERE to access Online Re-Application (for those who applied and were accepted in the past) ** Apply today! Staff training begins May 18, 2025. Please allow time for application/hiring due process.
  2. Click on REGISTER FOR SESSION
  3. Enter your Username and Password (which you had in the past). * If you cannot remember your password, please click “Forgot your login information?” on that screen
  4. Please update any fields that have changed (address, college, etc.) since your previous application.  Then continue through and complete the online re-application.  Should only take 20 minutes or so.
  5. You should receive an automated confirmation that MCC received your re-application.
  6. MCC staff will contact you to discuss the possibility of being on summer team again.

SUMMER EXTENSION PROGRAM DETAILS (for previous summer team only)

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUMMER TEAM MEMBER

– Spiritually minded, loves the Lord, moral integrity, growing spiritually
– Energetic and enthusiastic, fun-loving, enduring, persevering
– Prompt, responsible, can make age-appropriate, wise judgment calls
– Have gifts and abilities that would contribute to the camp’s program
– Have health and physical abilities to endure in active camp setting
– Willing to sacrifice their own desires for the summer
– Desires to be spiritually intentional with children and youth of all ages
– Takes initiative with tasks, once they know what is expected of them
– At least a current 11th grader (Applications of current 10th graders will be put on hold until April and only considered at that time if we still have a need on support staff.)

BENEFITS OF SUMMER MINISTRY

– Help campers find and pursue life in Jesus
– Impact lives for eternity
– Be challenged and have opportunities to challenge others
– Get experience for working with young people
– Make memories that will last a lifetime!
– Weekly salary as well as room and board

SALARY AND SUPPORT

For 2025, MCC will pay a weekly salary of $245 for first MCC year, college-aged summer staff.  In addition to this, MCC provides room and board so summer team do not have many expenses. Anyone coming to work for the summer is encouraged to contact their church, friends, and relatives to ask them to pray for you, and support you financially. Merriwood realizes that this is a ministry position, and we suggest you raise an additional weekly salary (although this is not required). MCC will assist by providing sample support letters that staff are able to modify and send out.

PAID JOB/MINISTRY DESCRIPTIONS

Applications for Summer Team 2026 will open Sept 24, 2025. Staff training beings May 17, 2026. 

SUMMER CAMP COUNSELOR

Counselors will be trained and gain experience in leading, mentoring, and adventuring with campers from 1st grade through high school seniors.  You will live in cabins, lead activities, and help youth grow in their relationship with Christ. You’ll learn valuable leadership skills, build relationship and facilitation skills while making lifelong memories and friendships. Some activities you’ll facilitate include: team building, skills classes, recreational games and activities, Climbing Wall, and evening devotions.  Most counselors will be out of high school for at least one year but MCC will consider a very mature high school graduate for this role.  We are seeking to hire 13-15 both guy counselors and 13-15 girl counselors.  

HEALTH ASSISTANT COORDINATOR

The Health Assistant Coordinator (HAC) will be support the overall mission and goals of the summer camp program by being responsible for overseeing the distribution of medication to counselors (for campers), troubleshooting injuries and illnesses, communicating with parents concerning issues that arise during the week, will oversee other health assistants, and will seek relational opportunities to get to know campers and help campers find and pursue life in Jesus as opportunities arise. Like all roles at Merriwood, we expect the HAC team member to be willing to do whatever else is asked of them, within their abilities and training as it becomes necessary and look for ways to help out with other camp areas if they have opportunity and availability to do so.  We are seeking one Health Assistant Coordinator.  Click here for full job description.  

SUPPORT STAFF FEATURING FOOD SERVICE (This role will be combined with other support staff tasks.)

Food service is an important part of the summer camp experience. The staff work together to prepare family style meals, serve the food during mealtimes, and clean-up from the meals.    Food service assistants will work two meals a day. In addition, you will help in other areas of the camp. (Current High School Seniors and college students are welcome to apply for this role.)  We are seeking to hire 6-8 food service assistants.

SUPPORT STAFF FEATURING GROUNDS CREW (This role will be combined with other support staff tasks.)

The maintenance and grounds crew is responsible for maintaining the grounds and other camp responsibilities. Tasks include mowing and weed-eating, spraying weeds, keeping vending machines filled, setting up and lighting campfires, setting up for skills classes and some games, watching fires for outdoor cooking classes, potentially cleaning the pool daily,  minor maintenance responsibilities, helping at the climbing wall, helping with skills classes, and aquatic observing at the pool (no guard training necessary).   Current High School Seniors and college students are welcome to apply for this role. We are seeking to hire  four people for our grounds crew.

SUPPORT STAFF FEATURING VIDEOGRAPHER  (This role will be combined with other support staff tasks such as sound tech.)

The videographer will be responsible for getting quality, unique footage of campers throughout the week.  The videographer will edit the footage to create and upload a video for campers to refer back to for many years to come! Merriwood provides a video camera, drone, and other equipment to facilitate the production of the weekly video. The videographer will also be trained to help run sound and help in other camp areas. We are seeking to hire one videographer.

SUPPORT STAFF FEATURING PHOTOGRAPHER AND SOCIAL MEDIA (This role will be combined with other support staff tasks like sound tech.)

The photographer(s) will be responsible for taking photos daily of campers throughout activities, showing a good representation of the camp day and experience.  The photographer will upload a group of photos each night that parents can access through our camp photo service . The photographer will also take cabin pictures each week, edit them, and order physical pictures for campers to take home at the end of the week.  The photographer will assist with other tasks, (This role groups well with the Sound Technician role.) There is also potential for a photographer to counsel half the summer/be photographer half the summer. We are seeking to hire one or two photographers this summer.

OTHER POTENTIAL INTERESTS: (These are not stand-alone positions, but may be a part of another role.)

– Sound Technician – The sound technician will make sure the sound, microphones, power point, and necessary production things are in place before each session begins. The sound person will run sound and Pro Presenter for the morning and evening chapels. (This is not a stand-alone position but would be combined with other tasks.  Sometimes this role groups well with the Photographer or Videographer role.)
– Worship Leader or Part of Worship Team – The worship leader will oversee the leadership the praise and worship part of the chapel services and may be the one to lead vocally and/or instrumentally.  It’s not our desire that the worship leader perform for our attendees, but it is our goal is that the campers and staff in attendance will be led to worship the Lord themselves, in spirit and truth.  The worship leader should be someone who feels comfortable leading music for different age groups, who is gifted musically, who is spiritually minded, and who can organize and communicate with speakers and others on the team. It’s helpful if they are able to play an instrument such as guitar or keyboard.  The worship leader will emcee morning Bible Class and evening Chapel, transitioning from a songs, testimonies, dramas, etc.  The worship leader will have several other team members join them vocally and instrumentally.  (The worship leader will assist in other areas of the camp in addition to planning the chapel sessions.)  This is not a stand-alone position but would be combined with other tasks.
– Health Assistant – The Health Assistant is usually someone who is counseling most weeks, but during the one or two weeks on support staff, may use some of that time serving alongside the Health Assistant Coordinator (HAC) to assist them with injuries, illnesses, etc.
– Head Lifeguard or Additional Lifeguard –  Merriwood is seeking one Head Lifeguard.  The main lifeguard will also assist with facilitating the weekly water competition for overnight weeks at the pool and the weekly Water Game Day for Junior Weeks.  MCC will need 5-8 additional lifeguards to guard at our pool as well as BLOB and JUMP TOWER (and other Splash Track options) on our lakefront.  Lifeguards will rotate between guarding at the lake and the pool during the water times (and may also be counseling or doing other tasks the remainder of the day).
– Ropes Course Facilitator – We offer the High Ropes Course as a skills class 5 out of our 10 summer camp weeks, for middle school and high schoolers.  This role is for someone who may want to learn to facilitate this course for the skills class times of those 5 weeks. This is not a stand-alone position but would be combined with other tasks. (We are seeking two staff to be trained in this role, in addition to also counseling.)

I will always remember growing in my faith while getting the blessing of helping others grow in their faith. This summer was uplifting and was SUCH a blessing.

I will always remember getting to witness my campers give their hearts to the Lord and all the friends I made who encouraged me daily and helped me grow in my own faith.

It has always been a dream of mine to be a staff member here