Volunteer Activities

Since the first construction and camps in 1945, volunteers have played a key part in the ministry of Camp Magruder. Now we are expanding our volunteer opportunities to include all aspects of camp operations, year-round! Volunteer Staff Requirements

Summer Camp Counselor & Program Staff

Our United Methodist program camps utilize volunteers as event deans, camp pastors, craft teachers, music leaders, cabin counselors, listeners and health care providers. This is a great opportunity to be in ministry. You can make the difference in the life of a child!

How to Become a Counselor/Counselor Responsibilities/What Can You Do? We Need ...

Contact the Program Director for more information.

Food Service (any time of year)

Whether or not you are an experienced cook, we can use you in the Magruder kitchen! Our friendly Head & Assistant Cooks will be working by your side offering support and instruction as needed. Volunteers in the kitchen may do a variety of tasks depending on interest and ability, including: chopping produce, following recipes for a variety of homemade baked goods and dishes, serving food, greeting campers, instructing campers on KP duties, taking inventory, stocking deliveries, recycling, dishwashing, cleaning, sweeping, mopping, taking out garbage, etc. A variety of shifts are available in the day to suit your working style.

Contact the Kitchen Manager for more information.

Office Assistance & Camp Store (any time of year)

The office, or Schaad Welcome Center , is usually the first place people connect with Magruder, whether it's by phone, e-mail or when they arrive. Volunteers with friendly, welcoming smiles and phone voices, who enjoy paperwork, filing, data entry, figures, record-keeping, copying, computers, sorting mail or other office tasks, are needed year-round to help in the camp office. Additionally, the camp store needs volunteers to help sell and stock items and keep the store clean and organized (less than 1 hour per day).

Contact the Office Manager for more information.

Construction & Maintenance (any time of year)

Camp Magruder is in need of many caring hands every week to take care of this huge facility. Ongoing camp operations and improvement projects require assistance in many skill areas: carpentry, electrical, plumbing, painting, landscaping, trail trimming, sewing, recycling, gardening/composting, welding, roofing, engineering, auto mechanics, small engine mechanics, refrigeration, heating, appliance repair, energy efficiency, or just changing light bulbs, hammering nails, and other minor but important tasks!

Contact the Office Manager for more information

Housekeeping (any time of year)

Getting the camp facilities clean and ready for incoming campers and guests every week and weekend is a huge task, and help is always appreciated. This can include sweeping, mopping, cleaning surfaces, bathrooms, kitchens, restocking paper supplies, washing windows, etc. Most staff staying at the camp will need to help with housekeeping on “turn-around days.” This is also a great opportunity for a local volunteer to come out to help for a few hours on a regular basis.

Contact the Office Manager for more information

Donkey Care (any time of year)

One of the things that makes Camp Magruder unique are our four donkeys -- Abraham, Caleb, Jenny and Jonah. While these friendly creatures make for a memorable experience here, whether riding them or just stopping by to pet their nose, they need constant care and feeding to keep them here at camp. We are looking for volunteers to assist in feeding the donkeys their hay and vitamin pellets, as well as scooping manure in the donkey corral to be used in our compost.

Contact the Program Director for more information

Creation Vacation Ministries (4 days each summer)

When families spend time in a camp environment, they relax, play, build special memories, communicate at deeper levels, and encounter our Creator God in one another and the natural world. Creation Vacation makes this experience possible for families living in low income housing, who often don’t have many opportunities for such life enhancing vacations. Our goal is to host 50 families each year. The meals, lodging, program leadership and supplies, transportation, and insurance for these four-day vacations costs approximately $500 per family. Your gift for this program will enrich a family’s future. You may also wish to serve as a Family Friend for four summer days, assisting a family with orientation, activities, and child care, and just being there as a caring friend.

Contact the Program Director for more information.

Volunteer Staff Requirements

All volunteer staff must complete a volunteer application/disclosure form with references. You may request one from GoCamping.org or Download the Form.

Volunteer staff must be able to serve the mission of Camp & Retreat Ministry of the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church. Community life embraces all of God’s people and is strengthened by diversity of faith, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and age.

With the exception of office jobs, volunteer staff must be in good physical health. Most operations staff jobs involve standing for extended periods of time, bending, lifting and carrying; most program staff jobs require keeping up with energetic kids for a week!

Volunteer program staff must be 18 or older, or have completed the Counselor-In-Training program, and are expected to attend all planning meetings, pre-camp trainings and serve the length of the camp event, with 24hr/day supervision duties for camp counselors. Room & board are provided at no charge during training and camp event.

Volunteer operations staff must be 18 or older, unless volunteering with a supervising adult, or 16+ and applying for the summer youth volunteer program; may apply to serve 1 day, a weekend, a week, or up to 12 months; must minimally serve the length of a session during summer youth camps (3-7 days).

Volunteer operations staff work a minimum of 4 hours per day and a maximum of 8 hours per day, receive an orientation and training for their assigned tasks by Magruder staff, and receive meals and/or lodging free of charge according to the following general guidelines: lodging (or RV space) & 3 meals for 8 hours volunteer service (lodging/4 hours; meals/1 hour, 20 minutes each approximately). Staff working more than 6 days will be entitled to one day off per week. Additional days off may be arranged with the Director.

Acceptance and Notification

Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis once we have received your application and health form, and after we have checked your references.

Volunteer staff will be matched with tasks complimentary to the volunteer's skills/interests and the camp's needs.

A Magruder staff person will contact you by phone or e-mail to discuss possible dates and job assignments for your volunteer service. Contact the Office if you have not heard from us after a week to ensure we received your application.