ChangeMaker Leadership Program

The ChangeMaker Leadership Program provides you with an exceptional opportunity to give back to camp, help campers, and improve your leadership and work skills -- all while getting to enjoy the lively parts of camp you love like making new friends, swimming and riding a horse! Perfect for Teen Volunteers!

Program Goals

The goals of the ChangeMaker Leadership Program are: Service, Leadership, Job Training, and Fun! ChangeMaker Leaders provide service to Camp Easterseals Nebraska by doing various tasks such as serving meals, supporting campers, leading games & activities, cleaning, and helping us improve our camp program daily. Leadership development is a primary focus with an emphasis on job readiness such as responsibility, communication, team work, and personal growth. Fun happens in everything we do, be it singing while serving meals with new-found friends, encouraging campers to do a frightening ropes course activity, or leading meaningful campfire songs!

Eligibility

Age
​Interested applicants must be 16 years of age by June 1 of the program year.

There is a limited amount of space available for those ages 22+.

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Ability
Applicants must be trustworthy and socially independent, requiring minimal staff supervision.

Individuals without a disability or with a physical disability needing personal care assistance are welcome to apply.
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Character
As part of the program, ChangeMakers must voluntarily abstain from illegal drug use, alcohol use, and tobacco use.

​​ChangeMakers must consider themselves as a model leader at all times as they serve as camper role models and are representing Camp Easterseals Nebraska.

Commitment

ChangeMakers typically participate in an orientation prior to camper arrival for the summer season. In addition, they will participate in up to 2 weeks of summer sessions, serving as a camp leader. An opportunity to work more than 2 weeks is dependent on the space and needs of camp, on a case by case basis. All ChangeMakers must be at camp at 1 hour before the session they are assigned to for an opening meeting, and stay approximately a half hour at the end of the session for a closing meeting.

Participant Benefits and Outcomes

• Community Service/Service Learning Hours towards school or college applications
• Opportunity to list this position as a work/volunteer experience on a job or college application
• ​Invaluable work skills that you can apply to any job, such as:
  • Application and interview skills 
  • Knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses
  • Ability to work as a team
  • Understanding a job description
  • Attention to safety practices
  • Effective communication, including giving and receiving feedback
  • Following a schedule
  • ​Honing in on and mastering a specific skill
• New, lifelong friendships
• Potential to list any camp staff member , including the director, as a positive work reference
• Have a life-changing, world-shaking, impactful, rewarding summer

Cost:
2023: $50 - $100 per person
This cost covers program fees, admission, and supervision of the participant. In addition, this cost fluxuates each year dependent on the program type and capacity of which we operate.

Historical fees for Orientation + 2 Week Sessions:​​​
$200: Participants without a disability, ages 15+

• ​Individuals that require minimal support & supervision

​​$600: ​Participants with a disability, ages 15+

• ​Individuals that require moderate supervision and verbal cues

$2200: ​Participants with a disability, ages 15+

• Individuals that need assistance with personal cares​​

​Registration fees are all-inclusive: meals, supplies, supervision, mentorship, activity fees. DD & AD Waiver is accepted as payment, Camperships are also available.
*These costs are based on donors and sponsors requirements of the ChangeMaker program. All participants receive the same experience, regardless of ability.

Leadership Track Options

ChangeMakers will choose and apply for the Leadership Track Option that they are best suited for and interested in. Track options are:

Apprentice Track (AT):
​The leader gives back to camp in any way camp needs them; they will brainstorm activities to lead and implement as well as help serve meals, overall, making camp a better place. Most popular track.
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LEARN MORE

Internship Track (IT): 
​The leader has a specific skill or talent to help improve camp; at which a project will be created to be their focus for the summer. Examples could be journalism, social media, photography, etc.​
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LEARN MORE

Counselor Track (CT):
​The leader wants to impact campers by being a Camp Counselor one day; will shadow and help Camp Counselors in daily operations. Leaders in this track also help with activities and meals but primarily serve as a counselor-helper and camper buddy.

LEARN MORE

​All ChangeMakers will be required to read our Staff Handbook/Policies and Procedures. While not asked to perform the same duties as a paid staff member, participants will be held to the same standards of conduct as our paid staff members.

How to Apply 

Application:
The ChangeMaker Leadership Program application can be found on our registration portal, CampDoc. Register for the session titled "ChangeMakers Leadership Program Application" and the application will automatically appear in your Health Profile. If you encounter issues, email [email protected] for assistance.

Applicants must be sure to read the job description for the program track they apply for to ensure they meet the minimum job requirements. 
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Interview:
In person and video call interviews will take place. Applicants are reminded to dress to impress, as they would for any job interview. Business Casual wear would be appropriate in this situation. Interview tips will be sent to applicants after we have received their application.

Feedback:
Feedback on the quality of applications and interviews will be given either during Orientation or Post-Interview, regardless if accepted into the ChangeMaker Leadership Program in order to help grow and improve the applicant's pre-employment skills.

Acceptance:
Once interviewed, an email stating if you have been accepted or not will be sent out. Upon acceptance, this email will also state the assigned week(s) and more details about ChangeMaker Orientation.

2022: We will be accepting a very limited amount of Changemakers.
​Email [email protected] before applying to see if we have space available.

Below is the Typical Application Process:

January	Registration Opens Make doctor appointment for medical form​ Get consent forms signed Complete CampDoc questions to 100%
​March	ChangeMaker Applications Due . . . in addition, we ask you to complete the Camper Care Information section
March	Schedule Interviews
March	Interviews
April	Hear About Program Acceptance
April	Early Bird Due Date . . . get a free long sleeve tee if you complete your CampDoc profile by this date!
May	Firm Due Date . . . complete your CampDoc profile or risk being cancelled
May/June	ChangeMaker Orientation . . . if you will still be in school and cannot attend, let us know!
Summer 2021	Assigned Various Camp Sessions