PUC Recruiting (Jan 12-14) Interview Times & Availability

You can sign up for our first round of interviews at Pacific Union College starting today! Just email PSRCamp@seccsda.org and request one of the times below. As they fill up, we'll update the page until all the appointments are taken.

January 12

3:25 pm:
4:00 pm:
4:35 pm:
5:10 pm:
5:45 pm:

January 13

9:30 am:
10:05 am:
10:40 am: Taken (R.S.)
11:15 am: Taken (A.R.)

break

12:50 pm:
1:25 pm:
2:00 pm:
2:35 pm:
3:10 pm:
3:45 pm:
4:20 pm:

break

5:10 pm:
5:45 pm:

January 14

9:00 am:
9:35 am: Taken (J.M.)

We'll see you soon!

-Jeremy

LSU Recruiting (Jan 4-7) Interview Times & Availability

You can sign up for our first round of interviews at La Sierra University starting today! Just email PSRCamp@seccsda.org and request one of the times below. As they fill up, we'll update the page until all the appointments are taken. INTERVIEWS ARE TAKING PLACE IN THE STUDENT CENTER.

January 4

10:30 am: Taken (N.L.)
11:05 am: Taken (R.S.)
11:40 am:

break

1:05 pm:
1:40 pm:
2:15 pm:
2:50 pm:
3:25 pm:

break

4:10 pm:
4:35 pm: Taken (D.B.)

January 5

1:05 pm: Taken (E.M.)
1:40 pm: Taken (N.B.)
2:15 pm:
2:50 pm:
3:25 pm: Taken (R.M.)

break

4:10 pm: Taken (J.S.)
4:35 pm:

January 6

10:30 am:
11:05 am: Taken (A.M.)
11:40 am: Taken (B.C.)

break

1:05 pm: Taken (D.M.)
1:40 pm: Taken (R.H.)

January 7

10:30 am: Taken (B.C.)
11:05 am: Taken (D.C.)
11:40 am: Taken (D.L.)

break

1:05 pm: Taken (R.L.)
1:40 pm:
2:15 pm: Taken (K.B.)
2:50 pm:
3:25 pm:

break

4:10 pm:
4:35 pm:

We'll see you soon!

-Jeremy

2016 PSR Camp Job Board (Update 5/11/2016)

2016 JOB BOARD  

This job board has been arranged by job classification. For a list of positions by departments, please visit: http://www.psr.camp/2016-employment-center.html

Total Positions: 90
Total Remaining: 9
F = Female
M = Male

*Each bullet point represents one available position. Positions available will change every day between now and May 11th.)

Department Heads

*Maintenance

Activity Instructors

*Camp Photographer
*Drama Instructor
*Skateboarding Assistant 

Student Employees 

*Housekeeping Assistant

*Cafeteria Assistant

*Cafeteria Assistant

*Flex Staff (male)
*Flex Staff (male)

Will CA State Minimum Wage Increases Affect Summer Camp Employees?

2015 Summer Camp Staff @ Big Event

Answer: Yes. They will.

Summer camp employees are amusement and recreational industry workers as defined by California state law. Employee salaries are based on a formula derived from the minimum wage, and compensation in the forms of meals and lodging are regulated by the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) using established figures.

CA/DIR Figures that establish 'fair value' of meals and lodging (Effective January 1st, 2016)
       The value of a shared room per week in CA is: $38.82
       The value of meals per 6-day work week in CA is: $91.62
       The total amount that can be deducted for room and board (per week) in CA is: $130.44

CA Minimum Wage Requirements for Summer Camp Employees (Effective January 1st, 2016)
    85% of minimum wage based on a 40 hour work week.
    [($10.00 x 40) x .85] = $340
    $340 - $130.44 = $209.56 (per week) minimum wage

The $209.56 is actually lower than our 2015 base salary compensation, but not by much:    

2015 PSR Summer Camp Employee Compensation (per week) for NEW EMPLOYEES
       $210 for student employees
       $225 for counselors & class instructors
       $240 for specialized/certified instructors
       $255 for head instructors
       $270 for leadership supervisors

   Beating the lowest prescribed salary is a long standing tradition at PSR since expectations for employees are high and because of our commitment to staff success. Most of our staff are college students who are participating in educational scholarships and their work at camp is viewed as a ministry that is accomplished with little financial benefit. However, most camp workers would agree that the intangible benefits (employment training, work experience, friendships with other staff, etc...) make a big difference in their lives.

   Because we'd like to be ahead of minimum requirements, we're increasing our wages again despite not being required to do so by the DIR. Employees who join us for our 2016 season will be compensated at the following rates:

2016 PSR Summer Camp Employee Compensation (per week) for NEW EMPLOYEES
       $230 for student employees
       $245 for counselors & class instructors
       $260 for specialized/certified instructors
       $275 for head instructors
       $290 for leadership supervisors

   Employees who return to camp year after year earn automatic raises and often increasing responsibilities. We're always glad to retain great employees, but we are also proud of our staff members who decide to take other summer ministry opportunities or reach for personal success through education or promising careers.

2016 Returning Employee Scale
   +$15 per week for second-year veterans
   +$30 per week for third-year veterans
   +$45 per week for fourth-year veterans
   +$60 per week for fifth-year veterans
   ***Promoted Employees must make at least $25 per week more than the previous season.

   Often at the end of the camp season we're also able to provide a small (taxable) bonus for most of our workers as an extra 'thank you' for their service. Here is total bonus amounts split among the staff who won awards in that season:

   2013: $6,246 in bonuses.
   2014: $6,670 in bonuses.
   2015: $7,156 in bonuses.

   While bonuses are small (split to some degree among 90 people), they're usually enough to buy a nice lunch for our employees who spent their summer with us at the Ranch.

   Finally, during the summer season (and beyond) we often find special ways to do nice things for our seasonal employees. The annual Christmas party is just one example of a no-cost event for former staff and continues a tradition that has lasted many years.

   While the financial responsibilities and salaries are important, most of our staff don't work at camp for dollars and cents. Instead, they come to camp to participate in an experience that builds community in their lives and brings them closer to God. Very soon we'll be taking applications for our 2016 season, and we expect more people to apply for a summer job at PSR Camp than ever before.    

   Please always feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding camp wages and/or compensation.

   Blessings!

~Jeremy Cruz
PSR Camp Assistant Director

2015 - 2016 PSR Summer Camp Calendar

2015-2016 PSR Camp Calendar

FALL QUARTER 

December 2 – 6: AACP @ Camp Yavapines – Prescott, AZ

December 8: Leadership Team Applications become available online

December 27: PSR Alumni Christmas Party

December 27: PSR Staff Applications become available online

WINTER QUARTER 
January 4-7: La Sierra University Recruitment 
January 12: Summer Camp Registration Begins
January 31: Last Day to Submit Leadership Applications
February 9: First Round of Hiring
March 8: Second Round of Hiring

SPRING QUARTER
March 18-21: Leadership Staff Retreat
March 24: Contracts for First & Second round hires
April 12: Third Round of Hiring 
May 10: Final Round of Hiring/Late Hires

SUMMER CAMP
June 13-22: Staff Training Week
June 22-26: Family Camp & Cub Camp
June 26 – July 3: Discovery Camp
July 3-10: Junior Camp #1
July 10-17: Junior Camp #2
July 17-24: Tween Camp
July 24 – July 31: Teen Camp
August 2: Probable final day of 2016 camp contract

Thank You 2015 Staff

2015 Staff Photo

Dear 2015 Staff,

This is my last chance to talk to you. This is my final blog post of the summer and I’d like to take a minute to say thank you. Many of you came to camp as strangers, not sure what to expect. Some of you flew across the country with little certainty you’d make a home here. Some of you came for the fifth time, worried that the new staff wouldn't fit in. Some came to camp and they weren't sure if they belonged and some came knowing that camp was home. When you came to camp you came as a group of young adults from different backgrounds, here for a variety of reasons, but you leave in a very different manner.

We accomplished a lot this summer. We served over 800 campers and baptized 10 people, including one of our own. We graduated staff training and passed the general certification test. We taught campers to swim, climb, skate, act, drive and most importantly, love the lord.

We do a lot of things at camp. We act in outpost, we teach in our activity areas, we counsel, we forget what its like to be among adults, we spend time with campers and help our fellow staff. We lose sleep, we work hard ,we eat way too much jello, but more than anything, We Change Lives.

At the beginning of the summer I told you that the most important decision you would make was to walk through the door and leave your lives behind in favor of working at camp. At the end of the summer I told you that the most important thing you did was not leave. 

I was wrong.

The most important thing you did this summer was the work you did each and everyday to change the hearts, minds and lives of our campers. Its painfully obvious that we couldn't have camp without you, but its easier to forget that, in many cases, our campers wouldn't have Jesus without you.

I want to thank each and every one of you for every sleepless night,  every drop of sweat, every callused finger, every blister and every day you gave up this summer to minister to our children. Thank you for the memories and the relentless willingness to serve. I’m not blind or naive enough to think you didn't give up a lot to be here. We could have made more money elsewhere, we might even have more fun elsewhere, but you came here. 

Its hard to remember those first two days of camp when i didn't know your names. Its hard to remember how life works down the mountain and its hard to remember a day without you all, but it will be hard to forget you. We came to the mountain as strangers, but we are leaving as a massive family. 

Thank you,                                                                         Your friend, Colin

Teen Week: Wednesday-Friday

Adventurus Class

The week has flown by and the end of camp is drawing near. In the past three days, the teen campers have experienced so many special moments from going on their different day trips, watching the drama unfold during outpost and working hard for ultimate cabin points during big event. Cabins have become closer to each other, relationships have been formed, classes have come to the end, and pageant provided a moving experience for many of the campers.

Pastor Dante

On Wednesday, the classes continued to dive deeper into the knowledge of their departments. For example, team water sports learned simple fundamentals about water polo, adventurus hiked up to White Rock, ropes got to experience the zip-line, and cake decorating got to experiment with fondant. The small engine racing class went on their day trip to Pole Position Raceway Indoor Track. They had a blast racing go-carts while the rest of us had fun back here at camp. “Cornucopia” made for an exciting big event, with campers and counselors battling it out with noodles and dodgeballs for ultimate cabin points. We ended the day by watching the third and final part of outpost, where we witnessed the dramatic conclusion of the feud between the Wrightleys and the Gales.

Cornucopia

On Thursday, rain, thunder and lightning threatened to dampen the mood of the campers but they didn’t let the weather stop them from having fun. Ropes went to their day trip to Hangar 18 while the rest of us enjoyed indoor activities up at camp. Board games were brought out, groups got together to play “mafia”, and campers used their creative imaginations as inspiration for fun. Thankfully the weather let up and the campers were able to play a huge version of the board game, “Sorry”, on the field. The fun of this game led up to the excitement and pleasure of the Carnival. Games of lazer tag were played, the basketball class took on the PSR staff basketball team, and nachos, ice cream, and popcorn were eaten to the tune of a medley of songs.

Today (Friday) marked the end of classes and the beginning of the Sabbath. Classes came to an end and post tests were taken to see how much the campers had learned. The girls from south village also had “No Makeup Friday” and all the mirrors in the cabins and bathrooms were covered with colorful paper. Phrases like “you’re beautiful”, “you look amazing”, and “you are gorgeous” were written all over these pieces of paper, reminding the girls that they didn’t need makeup to be pretty in God’s eyes. Super Big Event was a blast, starting with an intense version of dodgeball for ultimate cabin points, and ending with cabins choosing different departments to enjoy (like pool, ropes, and field games).

Teen Campers Responding to Altar Call

Friday night closed with Pageant, a play that we use to communicate Christ's love to our campers. At the end of the program, campers were asked to make a decision on whether or not they were going to be different, whether or not they were going to make a difference for Christ. Over a hundred campers

stood and made that decision to be different. Our summer season is drawing to a close, but we will be back next summer with more staff that dare to be different and that want to bring campers closer to Christ as we “Connect” together.


We’ll have one last post for you before all is said and done, but until then Happy Sabbath,          -Colin