Covenant Harbor exists to draw people from their routine into opportunities to enjoy creation, recreation and relationships so that all will experience God through Jesus Christ.

The ultimate goals of our camp programs is to love kids, to share the great news of the Gospel with them, and to encourage their growth with Christ. We look for applicants with servant hearts, positive attitudes, and willingness to cooperate in whatever capacity necessary. We need staff that are clearly called to serve at camp and are committed to regular Christian fellowship, Bible study, and service. We desire for our staff members to have a contagious love for Jesus, a fun-loving personality, and a commitment to evangelism and discipleship.

We want our summer staff to enjoy Christian community, study the Word of God, and have an absolute blast serving kids. We are not looking for perfect people, but for people who are willing to be a Christ-like role model 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If this is what you’re looking for, we hope to have you on our team!

Please carefully read over the details of the following job descriptions as you consider applying for summer staff. Note that all positions require staff to live on-site for the duration of the summer.

Counselor Positions

Day Camp Counselors: Female Positions Filled; Male Positions Available

Overnight Counselors: Both Female and Male Positions Available

Job Descriptions for Counselor Positions

Non-Counselor Positions

Arts and Crafts Instructor: Position Filled

Administrative Assistants: Positions Filled

Audio Tech: Position Filled

Facilities Specialist: Positions Available

Logistics Coordinator: Position Filled

Parent Liaison: Position Available

Photo Tech: Position Filled

Skate Park Instructor: Position Available

Student Nurse: Positions Filled

Target Sports Instructor: Position Filled

Team Counselors: Female Position Filled; Male Position Available

Waterfront Supervisor and Assistant Supervisor: Positions Filled

Waterfront Team: Positions Filled

Worship Leader: Position Filled

Video Tech: Position Filled

Job Descriptions for Non-Counselors

Program Positions

Program Directors: Day Camp Position Available

Assistant Program Directors: Positions Filled

Alpha Counselors/Assistant Directors: Positions Available

Job Descriptions for Program Position

The ministry of Covenant Harbor is dependent upon summer staff that are committed to carrying out our mission. Summer staff have the incredibly large responsibility of being a Christ-like example to campers of all ages. We expect summer staff to live a life that honors God at all times, not only while camp is in session. Therefore, it is necessary for all staff to:

- Be a committed follower of Jesus Christ
– Serve wherever needed, regardless of job description
– Maintain a positive attitude throughout challenging and exhausting situations
– Demonstrate the love of Christ in all of their words and actions
– Abstain from the use of tobacco, alcohol, and/or illegal drugs, regardless of personal beliefs
– Follow all guidelines listed in the Staff Handbook
– Use discernment in choice of dress, appearance and language

Because of the commitment summer staff make to teaching campers about Jesus, it is essential that each staff member believes:

- The Bible is God’s inspired word
– Only one true and living God exists
– Jesus Christ is God’s son, sent to earth as a sacrifice
– Salvation is by faith alone

Thank you for your interest in serving at Covenant Harbor. We look for applicants with servant hearts, positive attitudes, and willingness to cooperate in whatever capacity necessary. We need staff that are called to serve at camp and are committed to regular Christian fellowship, Bible study, and service. We desire for our staff members to have a contagious love for Jesus, a fun-loving personality, and a commitment to evangelism and discipleship. We are not looking for perfect people, but for people who are willing to be a Christ-like role model 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If this is what you’re looking for, we hope to have you on our team!

Application Instructions

1. Prayer – Start the application process by praying that God would give you direction for this summer. Pray for God’s will, for Covenant Harbor, and for the team that will be assembled.

2. Application Process

A) Fill out application

B) Contact references to give them the link.

C) You will be directed to contact us to schedule an Interview

3. Hiring Decisions – We begin interviewing in November and will make hiring decisions until all positions are filled.

Applications

2013 Summer Staff Application

Download the application for new staff applicants - includes detailed instructions.

2013 Former Staff Application

Download the application for staff who served at Covenant Harbor during the summers of 2011 and 2012 only.

Reference Form

We have gone green and this is now an online survey. Information from the reference form will be immediately and confidentially sent to Covenant Harbor staff. Direct your references to “http://covenantharbor.org/reference_form/” or email them the text below:

“Dear Reference,

Thank you for being willing to fill out a reference form for my application to Covenant Harbor. Please go to “http://covenantharbor.org/reference_form/” Follow the instructions to fill out the online survey and complete the reference form, which will then be sent directly  and confidentially to Covenant Harbor staff. Thank you for your time!”

Representatives from Covenant Harbor will be visiting the following college campuses to recruit students for summer staff:

North Park University

We’ll be on your campus on Wednesday, January 30^th and Thursday, January 31^st, 2013!

Calvin College

We’ll be on your campus on Tuesday, February 5^th, 2013!

Hope College

We’ll be on your campus on Wednesday, February 6^th, 2013!

Judson University

We’ll be on your campus on Wednesday, February 27^th, 2013!

Moody Bible Institute

We’ll be on your campus on Wednesday, March 27^th, 2013!

Don’t see your school?

Contact Rob Scott at (262) 248-3600 or via email.

North Park University Camp Grant

Current NPU students

North Park University offers $500 (towards their tuition, $250/semester) to students who attended NPU and return the next school year after working at a Covenant Camp in the summer. This Grant must be applied for in the spring semester. Contact North park for more information.

High School Seniors entering NPU in the fall

Alpha Team or Day Camp Staff members who have volunteered or worked for 6 weeks, either in one summer or part of two, who attend NPU directly after their senior year in high school are now eligible for the Camp Grant.

Sterner Scholarship Fund

Purpose

This scholarship is designed to help students who can’t afford to work at camp for a summer offset the money they would be making at a higher paying summer job. It is a need based scholarship, but so far every staff member who has applied has received some money towards their college tuition. You can apply for the scholarship and find out how much you’ll receive before accepting a position at Harbor. Applications are continually being accepted and considered from now until the beginning of camp.

History

The Ronald Lee Sterner Trust Fund was established by the Sterner family in 1957 in memory of their son who was adopted through Covenant Children’s Home and Family Services. The fund was designed to provide financial assistance for residents or staff members of Princeton Children’s Home to pursue continuing education. Because the Princeton Children’s Home no longer operates as it previously did, the funds have been made available to students working at Covenant Harbor or Covenant Point Bible Camps. Covenant Children’s Home and Family Services administers the funds in accordance with the wishes of the Sterner family as stipulated in the Trust.

Applying for the Grant

Applying for the Sterner Fund is easy. Download and print a Sterner Fund Application Form, then send it to the address listed. Applications will be considered within a few weeks of receipt. You can even apply before you’re officially hired, the decision will be dependent on your employment. More details about the scholarship can be found at Covenant Children’s Ministries. 

Eligibility

Any Covenant Harbor summer staff member who meets at least 1 of the factors below will be considered for the grant. YOU MUST MEET ONLY ONE OF THE QUALIFICATIONS.

The Ronald Lee Sterner Trust states funds will be available to any worthy student who has demonstrated financial need and who falls within the guidelines established by the policy. The following categories of persons are eligible for Sterner funds and will be given preference according to the following factors:

a. Orphaned children as defined in the Ronald Lee Sterner Trust Fund dated Nov. 29, 1957.

b. Former residents of CCHFS or of a foster home under CCHFS supervision who are furthering their education beyond high school;

c. Child of a family who received counseling from CCHFS;

d. Employees of CCHFS, including those terminated in August, 2001, and their dependent children, if stipulated by a severance agreement;

e. Student at North Park University or Theological Seminary, Wheaton College, Moody Bible Institute or other schools of Christian emphasis;

f. Individuals pursuing careers in Christian service or one of the helping professions, e.g., healthcare, social work, education, etc

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Covenant Harbor. Though many of our staff positions are filled by students who make a full summer commitment, volunteers are a crucial part of the success of our programs. We’re looking for volunteers who are willing to serve in a variety of capacities to support the summer programs. We need volunteers who are committed Christians and who are willing to step in and help wherever needed.

Because Covenant Harbor is a child care provider, we must maintain the highest standards for any people who work with our campers. Therefore, it is necessary for all volunteers to go through an application process and also be trained in the areas in which they will serve.

Opportunities

We need volunteers for a variety of different positions:

- Waterfront (must have lifeguard certification)

- Maintenance

- Day Camp

- Counseling (only open to returning staff)

- Other areas around camp

How to Apply

We do just as much screening for volunteers as we do for summer staff, therefore you will need to fill out a summer staff application form and send in four references. Just write volunteer in the position lines and write the weeks you would like to volunteer in the availability section. After applying you will be directed to set up an interview.

Former staff (staff who served in 2011 or 2012) can fill out a former staff application and need only one reference.

Sarah Augustson, Director of Youth Ministry

Sarah has been at Covenant Harbor for 12 years, having started on Summer Staff in 1999. She joined the full time staff as an intern after graduating from Bethel College (St. Paul, MN) in December of 1999. Sarah now oversees the entire department, focusing on long range planning and vision casting. While on summer staff at Harbor, she did the unthinkable and met her future husband, Brad (aka Aug – he makes great chicken). Sarah and Brad have been married for 8 years and have two adorable children, Ben and Ela with another one on the way. Brad grew up at Covenant Harbor as a camper, graduated from North Park University and is currently the Volunteer Coordinator here at camp. He is also passionate about the waterfront and video production. Sarah is passionate about family programs, spending time with summer staff, and seeing true life change as a result of God’s work at Covenant Harbor. Having grown up as a camp kid in Minnesota, Sarah loves seeing her own kids interact with campers and staff.

Rob Scott, Youth Ministry Coordinator

Rob Scott loves Covenant Harbor. He has been working at camp in some manner every summer for the past 10 years. Whether it’s been on summer staff (where he worked on activities staff and on the waterfront), his two years as the youth ministry intern, or his current position Rob’s been here impacting the lives of campers and fellow staff members. Rob was born and raised in Naperville , IL and is a graduate of Hope College (located in Holland Michigan) where he earned a bachelors degree in business administration. Rob loves to be active and enjoys almost any sport out there but his favorites include football, baseball/softball, wake boarding  snowboarding, and bowling. His favorite camp game is Braveheart where he prefers to spend his time terrorizing the summer staff. In January of 2009 Rob was married to the most amazing woman in the world. Andrea Scott (formerly Andrea Kaffka) is also a Naperville-ian and a Hope grad, who now works as a nurse at the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Together they recently purchased a house, bought a puppy (named Wrigley), and recently welcomed their first child (Hadleigh Grace) on March 10, 2012.

Kelly Zuiderveen, Children’s Ministry Coordinator

Kelly became the newest member of the team when she started in October 2012. With several years of experience serving in camping ministry and a passion for working with young children and summer staff, Kelly is an excellent fit for the team. She grew up in Southwest Michigan in a family of six: Mom, Dad, Kelly, Ben (20), Abbie (18), and Ty (8). She is used to crazy winters (and other Midwest oddities) and loves the beach/lake, so she is stoked to spend her time in beautiful Lake Geneva. Kelly also loves bike riding, country music, birthdays, Diet Coke, coffee, games, and getting to know people. Kelly earned a degree in Theology and Church and Ministry Leadership from Trinity Christian College in 3.5 years. At Trinity, she also served as an RA (resident assistant) and developed a passion for working with college students. Her camping experience comes from camp ministry programs in the suburban Chicago area. Kelly is so excited that God has called her here to Covenant Harbor, and is eager to see what He will do!