If you have been around Camp Mini-Yo-We much, you may have heard people say, “Developing tomorrow’s leaders through life-changing adventures in God’s creation”. This is our mission statement, which truly frames how we approach decision making. From the staffing perspective, we put care into hiring and training our team to fulfill this purpose.
Throughout the summer, staff members are given opportunities to take on more responsibilities and receive feedback from their peers and supervisors. We help staff make goals they are invested in and support them through the process of achieving those goals. While most of the “leadership development” is focused on the summer, there are many transferable skills you learn from working at a summer camp that keep people developing over the year.
Crossover Skills
At Mini-Yo-We, our summer staff team gets practical experience in soft skills like communication, problem solving, teamwork, public speaking, decision making, and much more. These skills have helped staff members like Josh, who is currently studying computer science. His experience adjusting plans quickly due to changes in the weather or other unexpected factors at Camp has helped him keep a level head and remain confident when having to solve problems in various assignments.
Similarly, section heads manage large groups of people and keep track of many interpersonal situations at the same time. There are many examples from over the years! For Gavin, this will be helpful as he goes into business. For Gaby and Kaitlyn, this will be helpful as they continue their education in nursing.
Bright Futures
There are also many programs in which Camp provides more hard skills. For example, many staff members see a direct connection between working at Camp and teaching. Zoe says, “I want to go into teaching, so I love working at Camp. You learn how to work with kids of all different ages”.
For those like Hannah, Mini-Yo-We has been a bridge to a spiritual and educational journey: “Camp has strengthened my desire for Christian community and to spend time in our Father’s Word. God has used Mini-Yo-We to transition me into a season at Heritage College and Seminary. Camp was the first place that introduced me to effective methods for studying my Bible, which I have continued to pursue at Bible college”.
Faith Connections
The Camp community is very special. Some of our staff members connect throughout the year by forming Bible studies at their schools. It has been wonderful to see our older staff mentor our younger staff as they start college or university. This community also serves as a support system to get through the school year and transition into higher levels of independence well.
Study Weekend
One of my personal favourite events we run for post-secondary staff is our Study Weekend at Camp. It is an opportunity to see how the soft skills, hard skills, community, and physical property have an impact beyond the summer. This past weekend, we invited post-secondary students to step away from their typical study spots and join us at Camp instead. It is a great way to recharge, focus, and catch up with friends.
After attending the weekend, Nate, an astrophysics student, reflected on his time at Camp. “Learning about God’s wonderful creation while being in the beautiful Muskoka furthered my desire to learn about the science behind His work. The study weekend provides an amazing opportunity to remind myself of that, while surrounded by other hard-working Christians,” he shared.
Our goal is to make sure our team knows they are valued year round. We want to help you succeed in the classroom, whether you’re studying aerospace engineering, medical sciences, law, teaching, trades, or anything in between. We believe that the skills and experiences you gain at Camp can translate directly into your academic pursuits.
Why Apply for Summer 2025?
If you’re a post-secondary student looking for a summer job that goes beyond the time you spend working, we’d love for you to consider joining our team. Not only will you have an incredible summer experience, but you’ll also gain skills that will support your studies and future career. Plus, with events like our Study Weekend, you’ll find that our support for you extends far beyond the summer months.
Come be a part of a community that values growth, learning, and leadership. Apply today and see how working with us can be the start of something much bigger! Reach out to anna@miniyowe.com with any questions.