Starting the Aide Application Process

Thank you for your interest in volunteering to serve at this year’s JEMS Mount Hermon Special Camp 2024, which will be held from June 30 - July 6, 2024 at Mount Hermon Ponderosa Lodge in Felton, CA. If at all possible, JEMS Mount Hermon Special Camp 2024 aides are encouraged to come to camp the day before camp begins (on Saturday, June 29) to help with camp setup and preparation, and to participate in aide team-building and commissioning.

Please note that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, is it highly recommended (though not required) that all Special Camp participants (campers, aides, staff) be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. The most recent COVID-19 vaccine inoculation should have been received at least two weeks prior to the start of camp. Masks must be worn for indoor activities outside of Camper Care Groups. Regular temperature checks and on-site COVID-19 antigen testing during the week should also be expected.

To get started with the JEMS Special Camp aide application process, we need you to supply some basic contact information by completing the following online form. Once you input the requested basic contact information into the online form and click "Submit", you should receive an e-mail (sent to the e-mail address that you entered in the form) confirming that your basic contact information was received successfully. Also included in this e-mail will be a link to complete a comprehensive follow-on online aide application form, which you must complete and submit in order to apply to serve at this year's camp.

Once these forms are completed and submitted, the information that you provide in these forms will be reviewed by JEMS Special Camp staff to review and assess your completed JEMS Mount Hermon Special Camp 2024 application, and your listed references will be contacted to provide assessments regarding your suitability to serve as a Special Camp aide. An acceptance determination will be communicated to you within one week after all of your assessments have been received from your reference contacts.

Please note the following minimum requirements for JEMS Mount Hermon Special Camp 2024 aides:

1. Aide must be age 18 or older at the time of application.
2. New aides must attend one of the following aide training sessions in order to serve:
   • This year, aide training will be held on April 27 between 9am-1pm. Usually, aide training is held regionally and must be attended in person; however, due to COVID-19 precautions, this year our aide training is expected to be held remotely via Zoom. Please reserve this date/time in your calendar to attend this important training session.
3. Attendance at as many other pre-camp events is highly encouraged, especially for new aides:
   • May 17-19 -- Pre-Camp Planning Retreat in Central Coast California.
   • June 1 (tentative date) -- Regional team-building. Expected to be held in-person.
   • June 29, starting at 2pm -- readying camp and team-building at Ponderosa Lodge.
4. Full-time attendance for the duration of camp week is required for all new aides.
5. One of the primary requirements of a volunteer is a sense of “inadequacy”. This enables the Holy Spirit to teach and use us by God’s grace, for His purposes. Other essential qualifications are to be flexible and to have a servant’s heart. No previous experience working with the developmentally disabled is required in order to serve.
6. Aides must be willing to assist campers with bathing, dressing, toileting, other hygiene needs, helping them feed themselves, and camp activities, if/as needed.
7. Aides are required to attend all scheduled events each camp day, including evening staff meetings which usually run from 9:45 - 11:00 p.m. every night. Please try to get lots of rest prior to camp week, as camp days are long and can be exhausting.
8. Aides must check their e-mail at least every other day, as e-mail is the primary method of communication for Special Camp related business and camp preparation. A prompt response to any received request is required and expected.
9. Much more information on volunteer expectations can be found by clicking here.

If you have any questions regarding any of the above-listed minimum requirements, please feel free to contact the JEMS Special Camp director at director@jemsspecialcamp.org.

Ready to get started with the application process? Click the button below: