5. Key Roles, Qualifications & Vulnerable Person Registration Requirements

Core Roles

Camp Director / Co-Directors

Overall leadership, safety, spiritual tone, final decisions. Recommended: Previous camp staff experience.

Business Manager

Budget and fees, payment to campground, tracking subsidies and donations. Required: Basic bookkeeping, attention to detail. Honestly it's really about care.

Kitchen Lead & Team

Menu planning and dietary needs, food ordering/storage/prep, KP systems. Passion for community—creating KP teams with identities, music, and making KP an enjoyable contribution. Required: Food safety knowledge, experience cooking for groups. Recommended: Food Safe certification where required.

Leaders / Counsellors in Training (LIT/CIT)

Support program and gain experience, feed the pipeline of future leaders and staff. Must complete PAL youth worker assistant screening and if 18 years or over complete the criminal and vulnerable persons checks. Never left alone with campers; always supervised by screened PAL certified adult staff.

Medical / First Aid Lead

Manage risk to prevent illness and accidents, participate in the orientation of staff members, manage medications and health records, first aid station and supplies, incident documentation,. Required: Current First Aid and CPR certification (or Nursing/Physician—depends on Provincial Jurisdiction). Recommended: Wilderness First Aid, nursing or paramedic experience. (VONDA) Develops written crises management plan that identifies resources of camp and actions of staff to minimize impact of the situation.

Program Lead(s)

Daily schedule and age-specific programming, coordination with spiritual practice guides and guest ministry. For Youth Camps: Must have completed Vulnerable Person Certification. Recommended: Teaching, youth or ministry experience, creativity, strong organizational skills.

Vulnerable Person Certification Requirements

Non-Negotiable: Every person working directly with minors and vulnerable persons must complete screening, training and certification before camp. Those ages 15-20 would be Registered PAL assistants; those 21 and older Registered PAL

Criminal background check of applicants 18+ (including vulnerable sector check where applicable). Reference checks (minimum two). Completion of child protection training. Review and signature of code of conduct.

Start with the official form: PAL Application Form (PDF). This link always opens the current Canada Mission Centre version. See Appendix D for the other standard forms and procedures. You can also view the Forms & Documents reference page.

Specialized Roles Requiring Vulnerable Person Certification

Waterfront / Lifeguard

Current lifeguard certification (NLS, Red Cross, or equivalent). Must meet supervision ratios as required by campground and provincial/state regulations.

High Ropes / Climbing Activities

Certification from recognized authority (ACCT, ERCA, or equivalent). Annual equipment inspection and safety review.

Transportation / Drivers

Valid driver's license, clean driver's abstract. Commercial license if required for vehicle size. Adequate insurance coverage confirmed. Registered PAL / 2 deep supervision

Camp Director — Full Qualifications & Responsibilities (CMC Official, August 2026)

Qualifications

Be at least 21 years old with previous youth camp staff experience. Be an active Canada Mission Centre member and preferably live near the campground served. Maintain a working email address for communication with the Mission Centre, camp staff, and camper families. Be a Community of Christ Registered Program Activity Leader, or be willing to become one. Know Community of Christ beliefs and model its Identity, Message, Mission, and camp purpose. Show the energy, flexibility, patience, teamwork, listening skills, and role-model qualities needed for camp leadership.

Leadership and Planning

Camp Directors supervise all aspects of their camp and help create a well-organized, meaningful, and safe experience. Planning begins up to one year in advance and includes recruiting qualified staff, choosing a theme that supports Community of Christ beliefs, creating a focused program, encouraging camper participation, and communicating expectations clearly.

Servant Ministry and Delegation

Camp Directors serve as servant ministers by responding to needs throughout camp, delegating effectively, and recruiting staff with diverse gifts, skills, and ages. Support roles may include Assistant Camp Director, Business Manager, and Camper Recruitment Coordinator.

Safety and Professional Conduct

Camp Directors must follow Risk Management, Youth Worker, and Canada Mission Centre Mandatory Reporting guidelines, ensuring all staff understand and follow required rules and procedures. A pre-camp staff meeting should review expectations and prepare staff for their responsibilities.

Camp Directors are expected to demonstrate maturity, receive constructive criticism, respond appropriately, and act professionally in ways that uphold the dignity of themselves, the camp, the Mission Centre, and Community of Christ.