Camp Assistant
Calling all 8th grade and older students:
Join us for some rewarding fun this summer as a Bright Lights Camp Assistant!
What is a Camp Assistant?
Bright Lights Camp Assistants (CAs as we call them) are volunteers who play an important role in our summer program. Each CA has a variety of responsibilities during our one-week camps, all of which support our teachers and help ensure students have a positive camp experience. Some of these responsibilities include small group work, reading to students, preparing materials, coordinating playground games and working one-on-one. There are also CA positions in our camp office as well as at our Before Care and Lunch Care programs.
View our typical camp schedule (available Spring 2025).
Who can be a Camp Assistant?
Current eighth graders, high school students, college students and adults are welcome to apply. On average, 200 openings need to be filled each summer for both half-day and full-day camps. Bright Lights needs CAs who are interested in working with children, and it’s an added plus if you have skills in areas like sewing or robotics, or a high level of interest in topics like art, science, technology or literature.
Please note that if you have been convicted of any felony or of assault (including domestic violence-related incidents), any sexual offense, child abuse (or any crime involving endangerment of a minor) or any drug distribution or felony drug possession, you cannot be a Bright Lights Camp Assistant.
How do I apply to be
a Camp Assistant?
It’s easy and online! Just set aside about 15 minutes and be ready to provide basic info about yourself and your availability as well as the name, address and phone numbers of two references. A background check will be required of all new applicants who are 19 years of age and older by June 1 of the program year. Applicants under 18 will need a parent’s consent.
NOTE: Be sure to use a personal email for the applicant (NOT a school email or a parent’s email). Important follow-up communication will be sent to this email to confirm camp assignments.
APPLcations open Spring 2025
Tips:
- Consider any personal vacation dates, job schedules, camps and other summer activities when stating your availability.
- The earlier you apply the better! This will let us better accommodate your choice of camp week(s) and time(s).
This video shows just some of the fun experiences our Camp Assistants had during the summer!
Have additional questions?
Please contact Jodi Fuson, Camp Assistant Specialist, at 402-420-1115 ext. 49 or CampAssist@BrightLights.org.
- Positions are for one week (unless you volunteer for more) and may be one half-day camp, a combination of two half-day camps or a full-day camp, depending on your availability.
- Before your camp takes place, you will attend a mandatory 90-minute orientation session that covers safety procedures and gives tips for working with students.
- The Friday before your assigned camp week, you will meet your teacher and help them set up the classroom.
- During your camp week you are expected to attend every day, arriving 15 minutes before camp starts and staying 15 minutes after it ends.
- At the conclusion of the week, you will help your teacher clean up and reset the classroom.
See our camp schedule for this summer (coming in Spring 2025).
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People choose to be a Camp Assistant for many reasons. It’s a rewarding experience that also looks great on a resume. It’s a convenient way to complete volunteer hours for GOPO and service hours for parochial school students or other organizations. And, of course, it’s FUN!
Not only do Camp Assistants contribute to the success of our camps, but they will also:
- Learn about behind-the-scenes camp preparation and planning.
- Develop skills in classroom management and organization.
- Expand their proficiency in interpersonal relations with children and adults.
We need your commitment to be at your camp for the week(s) and times you are assigned. (Don’t worry– you get to help pick those!) We also need you to attend the orientation session, help the teacher with classroom set-up, be respectful and responsible and be helpful to the staff and students.
Students seeking service hours will earn 20 hours for one half-day camp if they complete all of the above and are in attendance for the full program week. To have hours verified, please bring any documents you need signed on the final day of your assignment or submit them electronically to your teacher or to CampAssist@BrightLights.org.
You will receive a confirmation email saying your application has been received. Once you are assigned to a camp you will receive another email with the camp’s name, date and time, teacher’s name and contact information. You will then choose an orientation session to attend. And at your orientation session, you will be asked to contact your teacher at least a week prior to your Set-up Day, which is typically the Friday before your camp week starts.