Camp Leader Portal

STEP 1: Sign Up for Orientation

We will have orientation meetings Friday at 7:00PM and Saturday at 10:00AM Central the weekend before each camp. Please sign up for one of the orientations! If you are unable to make one of the orientations we will record the meetings and can send that to you before Monday.

Sign Up for Orientation

STEP 2: Camp Leader Manual

All leaders need to read the 2021 Camp Leader Manual in preparation for Orientation. Access the manual below and submit the confirmation form below.

Camp Leader's Manual

Job Descriptions

Audio/Visual

  • Serve on the Tech Team during the week under the direction of the NSM Director
  • Arrive as early as possible on the first day of camp to begin serving in your various roles.
  • AV – familiarize yourself with the sound booth and controls, receiving help from the camp manager and NSM Director, as well as worship band and speaker.
  • Set sound controls for the band and worship. Stay attentive to play appropriate songs at the right time; prayer music during quiet times, upbeat tunes during games and activities, sound live on mics and videos
  • Play the words with the songs during worship, Stay attentive to have the right words up at the right time. Play videos at the appropriate cues with speakers and directors.
  • Oversee the lights. This includes the spotlights, stage lights, and house lights.
  • Should be familiar with ProPresenter

Camp Coaches

  • Report to the Head Coaches
  • Work with other Camp Coaches to handle any disciplinary issues that cannot be handled by dorm leaders
  • Help transport injured students to the hospital upon the nurse’s orders. Guys with guys and girls with girls.
  • Do nightly room checks. On Monday night do a full roll call of all campers and dorm leaders at lights out.
  • Work directly with Security Team and Support Staff throughout the week.
  • Walkthrough and judge for cleanest/dirtiest rooms during morning rec time. Announce results during afternoon Blitz.

Dorm Leader

  • Dorm leaders (DLs) are the direct leaders of campers throughout the week. DLs will follow the student schedule and remain with students throughout each day.
  • DLs are primarily over the students from their own church. There may be additional students in a dorm depending on the space available.
  • Dorm leaders should be prepared to lead provided devotionals each full day of camp during dorm time.
  • Fill out the provided Spiritual Outcomes form for your dorm and turn it in at the end of de-registraiton.
  • If there are ever situations you do not feel prepared to handle, call on our Camp Coaches for advice and guidance. They are there to help you!
  • You will get the opportunity to pour directly into the lives of students and be a huge part of their camp experience.

Food Service

  • Leader Registration fee is covered for Food Service.
  • Serve on the Kitchen staff under the direction of the head cook.
  • Come to camp during registration on Monday and then report immediately to the Kitchen to begin prep for our first meal together, dinner
  • Help prepare food for breakfast and dinner (Popstand helps prepare lunch) throughout the week. Head Cook will assign jobs. All will be involved in prep, and all will have various roles in serving. Others will be involved in dish duty as well.
  • Wear appropriate clothing for food prep and serving: close-toed shoes and a hat. Aprons are provided.
  • Meals are eaten at the end of the meal service, once all the campers and leaders have been served.
  • Head Cook and Campground Manager will have various team meetings to keep everyone on the same page for the week.
  • Stay in the kitchen working and cleaning until dismissed by the Head Cook.
  • Take advantage of the leader perks provided during the week by the Campground Director and the NSM Director

Go-Karts

  • Directly report to the Rec Director
  • Get the key to the Go Carts Shed from the Campground Director. Return before leaving at the end of the week.
  • Familiarize yourself with the equipment and the track. Wear a hat and use sunscreen. Grab a whistle.
  • Find out the pre-camp schedule, and make sure you are ready to run the track whenever any campers are present and active
  • Clear all debris from the track. Work with the go-kart mechanic or campgrounds manager to know which vehicles are running and help him get them started.
  • Everyone must stay behind the fence when the track is open
  • Only those taller than the fence and 10 years old can ride on their own. All others must be accompanied by someone with a driver’s license already.
  • Make sure all carts are stopped with wheels turned into the parking rail before exiting and entering.
  • All riders exit at the gate on the southwest end of the track.
  • Explain the rules, how many times they go around the track (you decide), brake and gas pedals, no bumping. Remove any campers not obeying rules and they lose go-kart privileges for the remainder of their stay at camp.
  • Do not be mean, but be firm when discipling and enforcing rules. Once you’ve corrected them once, send them to the Camp Dean after the 2nd offense.
  • In the event of a wreck or car malfunction, stop all riders on the track before you rescue the cart in need.
  • See the nurse for any and every injury sustained, let them be the medical expert. Do not move an injured person until the nurse is there or approves it.
  • Close the track in steady rain conditions or when it is slick.
  • Make sure the carts are locked up in the shed before leaving.

Maintenance Team

  • Serve on the Security team with the Camp Manager as your leader.
  • Attend the Total Staff Orientation on Monday, followed by your first team meeting with the camp manage to establish your roles for the week
  • Share cell phone numbers with the other team members.
  • Main tasks may include: basic repairs in the dorm rooms and buildings, maintenance on camp vehicles and go-carts, yard work, assisting our Camp Manager and Camp Steward with any of his tasks throughout the week
  • You will awake and begin work early in the morning. Feel free to enjoy the evenings and get plenty of rest.
  • When available, please enjoy our daily staff meetings and services.
  • Always announce yourself before entering a dorm room. Don’t handle any of the campers personal belongings. Keep your lanyard on so people will know you’re part of our camp team
  • Remember to always return any keys that are used. Also put tools and supplies back in the right location once you are finished with your tasks.

Photographer/Videographer

  • PICTURES
    • Take the camera with you everywhere. The goal is to capture about 50 photos of every aspect of camp: meals, individual games and services, small groups, recreation, etc. Mostly faces and close up shots, but make sure to look for large group shots as well.
    • Keep track of the equipment. Make sure not to get it wet or drop it or leave it lying around. Treat it as if it is one of your most valuable personal possessions. Especially be careful plugging and unplugging hard drives – make sure to eject before removing.
    • Evenings (after you’ve captured a strong portion of photos for after service times and special activities) – Upload to Dropbox each night
    • Take a photo of each team during the week
    • Return all camera gear to the NSM Director before leaving

     

    VIDEOS

    • Take the cameras with you everywhere. The goal is to capture several minutes of each aspect of camp: meals, individual games, and services, small groups, recreation, etc. Most 10 seconds, not shaky, interesting footage. (check out other highlights on youtube for ideas)
    • Keep track of the equipment. Make sure not to get it wet or drop it or leave it lying around. Treat it as if it is one of your most valuable personal possessions. Especially be careful plugging and unplugging hard drives – make sure to eject before removing.
    • Services/Blitz’s – one of the team members needs to fix a camera on the tripod in the back for live footage on the screens (check with NSM Director if needing to record with that one). The other cameras can still be used by individuals recording and roaming throughout the room.
    • No footage on Friday, return all camera gear to the NSM Director before leaving

Pool Monitor

  • Serve at the discretion of the Rec Director and be a part of their team
  • Attend the Total Camp Orientation and the first Rec Staff meeting immediately following.
  • Keep the key to the gym/pool and lock and unlock it as needed throughout the week. The doors into the pool must always be locked unless you are onsite to observe anyone in the pool.
  • Work with the Campgrounds staff to help oversee the pool and it’s cleanliness, especially as it relates to the other community groups using the pool in the mornings.
  • Keep a whistle handy. Wear your swimsuit and be prepared to enter the pool in emergencies. Stay in touch with the nurse and always bring them in for every medical need.
  • Maintain all of our rules for pool usage. Keep order but allow Dorm Leaders to discipline the students in all situations.
  • When the pool times are over for the day, send the students to their locker rooms. Lock the entryway into the pool and then clean the pool area according to the Camp Personel’s standards. Then clean the vacant locker rooms the same way before locking up and leaving the building.
  • When helping with late-night activities, make sure to observe the same cleaning procedures, with leaders who participated helping you. Lights must be turned off as well before leaving.
  • Check with the PreCamp leaders and make sure you are available for their scheduled needs as well, even if it pulls you out of services or other downtimes.

Popstand

  • Serve on the Popstand staff under the direction of the Popstand Manager
  • Attend the Total Camp Staff Orientation on Monday, followed by your first team meeting with our team for the week.
  • Serve in the assigned roles given to you while the pop stand is open. Roles may include cooking, preparing frozen items, running to get ordered items, taking people’s orders and money at the windows, etc., overseeing the PaintBall customers)
  • Help clean up the pop stand after we are finished, upon the direction of the manager. This includes cleaning equipment, wiping down tables and counters, sweeping and mopping, taking trash to the dumpsters, etc.
  • Help prepare food for lunch (Food Service A helps prepare breakfast and dinner) throughout the week. Head Cook will assign jobs. All will be involved in prep, and all will have various roles in serving. Others will be involved in dish duty as well.

Precamp

  • Assist the Precamp Director with the pre-camp program and schedule.
  • Attend the Total Camp Orientation Meeting, and meet with parents and their kids when excused by the NSM Director.
  • Parents will care for their own children during meals. They will drop them off to you in the morning at the pre-arranged time and place, and pick them up at the Chapel at night when they are finished with their shifts.
  • Rely on your team to help in caring for the students. Try to never be alone with the students indoors without another team member present.
  • Always return campers to their parents when necessary. Keep good communication with parents about various issues that arrive throughout the day.

Rec Staff

  • Reports to the Rec Director
  • Set-up and run all games and rec activities throughout the week.
  • Clean up after rec time.
  • Thursday night after students are sent back to their rooms,  help clean up the gym, Ackerman Meeting Room, and the Auditorium.
  • Rec may be asked to do additional tasks throughout the week at the discretion of the Rec Director, Head Coaches, and NSM Director.

Security

  • Serve on the Security team with the Camp Coaches as your leaders.
  • Attend the Total Staff Orientation on Monday, followed by your first team meeting with the Camp Coaches to establish your roles for the week
  • Share cell phone numbers with the other team members, or radios. Include the nurses in your correspondence as well.
  • Monitor the students’ activities. Make sure they are obeying the camper rules in the manual. Especially notice if they are engaging in behavior destructive to themselves or others. Step in and stop the malicious activity, but do not be physical with them.
  • Correct the behavior of the campers and then ask the dorm leader to come in and discipline them. The 2nd offense will go to the Camp Coaches. 3rd offense to the NSM Directer and call home. 4th offense we send them home.
  • Monitor the behavior of staff, making sure they are obeying the staff rules found in the manual. Correct them and notify their team leader to monitor it further.
  • Monitor visitors to camp. All adults should have a lanyard. Approach those without one cautiously and in pairs. Have them check in with the camp dean or director if they think they need to be onsite. Otherwise, they need to leave the grounds.
  • Patrol the grounds. The Camp Coaches will establish times and locations. Make sure campers are where they are supposed to be. This is especially important at lights out. At least one security member will be asked to be up most of the night.
  • Help with room checks if the Camp Coaches request. These happen in the morning and points awarded based on cleanliness and decorative creativity.

Support Staff

  • Support Staff is a new team for 2022
  • You will be the backbone of the camp helping in a variety of areas
  • Directly report to the Support Staff team leader and camp coaches
  • Attend the Total Staff Orientation on Monday, followed by your first team meeting with the Camp Coaches to establish your roles for the week
  • Share cell phone numbers with the other team members.
  • Run errands such as Walmart runs
  • Help with setup and tear down of large activities throughout the week such as night games, Gauntlet, and other large activities.
  • KIDS CAMP – Help monitor students during recess and evening chapel when dorm leaders are on break.
  • KIDS CAMP – Help with dishes during specific meals.

Sample Schedule

This schedule is a SAMPLE of what youth camp looks like. Schedules distributed at camp may differ slightly from what is listed below.

Monday

MONDAY

TIME ITEM LOCATION NOTES
1:00 PM Check-In GYM
2:55 PM Open the AUD Doors Auditorium
3:00 PM Total Camp Orientation Auditorium
3:45 PM Dorm Time Dorm Rooms
5:00 PM Dinner – Staff Dining Center Dish Duty: Green Boys
5:15 PM Dinner – DLs/Camper Dining Center
6:30 PM Pre-Service Prayer (campers and leaders) Auditorium
7:00 PM Service Auditorium
9:00 PM Free Time
12:00 PM Back to Dorms Dorm Rooms
12:30 AM Lights Out Dorm Rooms

Tuesday

TUESDAY

TIME ITEM LOCATION NOTES
8:00 AM Wake-Up Call
8:30 AM Breakfast Dining Center Dish Duty: Green Girls
9:30 AM Dorm Clean-up, Prep for Rec Dorm Rooms
10:00 AM ALL CAMP REC Main Field
12:00 PM Lunch Dining Center Dish Duty: Red Girls
1:15 PM Dorm Devos Find a place on the Grounds
2:00 PM Blitz – Students Auditorium
Dorm Leader Meeting Ackerman Meeting Room
2:45 PM Water Game
3:30 PM Free Time
5:00 PM Dinner – Staff Dining Center Dish Duty: Red Boys
5:15 PM Dinner – DLs & Campers Dining Center
6:30 PM Pre-service Prayer Auditorium
7:00 PM Service Auditorium
9:00 PM Free Time
10:00 PM Late Night Activity
12:00 AM Back to Rooms Dorm Rooms
12:30 AM Lights Out Dorm Rooms

Wednesday

WEDNESDAY

TIME ITEM LOCATION NOTES
8:00 AM Wake-Up Call
8:30 AM Breakfast Dining Center Dish Duty: Yellow Boys
9:30 AM Dorm Clean-up, Prep for Rec Dorm Rooms
10:00 AM ALL CAMP REC Main Field
12:00 PM Lunch Dining Center Dish Duty: Yellow Girls
1:15 PM Dorm Devos Find a place on the Grounds
2:00 PM Blitz – Students Auditorium
Dorm Leader Meeting Ackerman Meeting Room
2:45 PM Water Game
3:30 PM Free Time
5:00 PM Dinner – Staff Dining Center Dish Duty: Blue ALl
5:15 PM Dinner – DLs & Campers Dining Center
6:30 PM Pre-service Prayer Auditorium
7:00 PM Service Auditorium
9:00 PM Free Time
10:00 PM Late Night Activity Auditorium The Great Escape
12:00 AM Back to Rooms Dorm Rooms
12:30 AM Lights Out Dorm Rooms

Thursday

THURSDAY

TIME ITEM LOCATION NOTES
8:00 AM Wake-Up Call
8:30 AM Breakfast Dining Center Dish Duty: Orange Girls
9:30 AM Dorm Clean-up, Prep for Rec Dorm Rooms
10:00 AM Dorm Devos
11:00 PM Blitz Auditorium
12:00 PM Lunch Dining Center Dish Duty: Purple All
1:30 PM The Gauntlet Auditorium
3:30 PM Free Time
5:00 PM Dinner – Staff Dining Center Dish Duty: Orange Boys
5:15 PM Dinner – DLs & Campers Dining Center
6:30 PM Pre-service Prayer Auditorium
7:00 PM Service Auditorium
9:00 PM Free Time
10:00 PM Late Night Activity Popstand Talent Show
11:30 PM Final Rally Auditorium Announce Winners
12:00 AM Back to Rooms Dorm Rooms
12:30 AM Lights Out Dorm Rooms

Friday

FRIDAY

TIME ITEM LOCATION NOTES
8:00 AM Wake-Up Call
8:30 AM Breakfast Dining Center Dish Duty: Last Place Team
9:30 AM Clean Up Rooms/Move Out
10:30 AM Check Out of Rooms
11:00 AM Final Send Off Auditorium
11:45 AM De-Registration/Sack Lunch Dining Center

Map of The Crossing Retreat Center

1006 N Airport Rd
Lexington, NE 68850

Frequently Asked Questions

Camp Address

The Crossing Retreat Center
1006 N Airport Rd
Lexington, NE 68850

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Times

Camp check-in opens at 1:00PM on Monday and camp ends at 12:00PM on Friday.

Grades

Camps are split up by grades.  A camper’s grade is based on the grade going into the 2021/2022 school year.  Grads are students that graduated high school in the spring of 2021.

YTH Camp: 7th-2021 Grads

KIDS Camp: 2nd-6th

Mail

Send any letters or packages for your camper with a leader to be turned in at Camp Check-In. This is the best way to ensure that the mail will reach the camper at the correct time.

Include the following information on the envelope/package:

  • Camper Name
  • Camp Attending
  • Date to be given (on the back of the envelope)

If you are sending it by mail, please send it one week prior to the date the item should be received.

How to address mail:

Camper Name (ex: Johny Camper)
Camp Attending (ex: Kids Camp 1)
1006 N Airport Rd
Lexington, NE 68850

Packing List

What to Bring:

  • Bible, pen, notebook
  • Sleeping bag/bedding
  • Pillow
  • Several Towels
  • Pajamas
  • Nicer clothes for Services
  • Recreational clothes/shoes (will get dirty/wet)
  • Sweatshirt/jacket
  • Swimsuit & cover-up
  • Flashlight
  • Toiletries
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug Spray
  • Spending Money for Popstand
  • Plastic Bag for wet clothes/towels

DRESS POLICY:

Only appropriate and modest clothing is permitted. No clothing portraying indecent, suggestive, or profane writing, pictures, or slogans. No shirts that show midriff or the sides of your torso whether male or female. Ladies: Bra straps/bralettes should be covered. Leggings should be worn with tops that cover to the mid-thigh. Shorts and skirts should be mid-thigh length.  A camper/leader may be asked to change at the discretion of camp staff.

Room Assignments

Churches are roomed together. We encourage churches to send a dorm leader with their students.  Priority for housing is given to those that pre-register.