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Camp Boggy Creek could not function without its medical volunteers. 3-4 doctors and 6-8 nurses supplement our own medical director and nurse during each of our nine summer sessions. Volunteer doctors and nurses are also needed during our twenty family retreat weekends.
If you volunteer at camp Boggy Creek, you're in for a rewarding, busy, unique, and very memorable experience. Volunteerism is one of the most important foundations on which our camp was built.
First time volunteers always have a lot of questions, since practicing your profession here is very different from what you do back in the "real world".
What will be expected of me?
This will vary somewhat depending on your role here at camp and the particular needs of that weeks camping session. Along with this FAQ, the website includes job descriptions for your discipline. Treat this as a general guideline. Nursing, for instance, is very different hemophilia week than it is during asthma week. There will be a duty schedule posted when you get to camp telling you when you're on duty in the medical center (the kids call it the Patch-up Place or simply, The Patch).
You'll also be called in from activities whenever we have an increased need or a flood of patients. Everyone will be on duty for Sick Call. Sick Call is roughly the 30-minute period after breakfast and dinner, when we see to any routine medical needs of campers and staff. Once that initial influx of patients has been dealt with, everyone who's not on duty will be released to travel with their Pride (see more about Prides below). The schedule may also include a turn on night shift duty, but remember, we have a full-time 11-7 nurse who handles most routine calls and minor emergencies. Night call folks are the first to be awakened if there's a need.
Where will I be living?
Medical volunteers are almost always housed in staff housing, not in cabins with campers. A few of you may be housed in the Duplex, adjoining the Patch. Many of you will reside in one of our Staff Lodges, along with other staff and volunteers. Occasionally, we'll ask a clinical volunteer to function as a cabin counselor when their role requires it. By the way, we provide bed linen, pillows, towels, etc.
What are these Prides I keep hearing about?
Formerly called Units, every child at camp is part of a Pride. There are four: Green, Red, Yellow, and Blue. There are 4 cabins in each Pride and campers are assigned to them by age and developmental level. The assignment changes each session, so during your week Red might have the 7-8 year old campers, but if you come back for another session, Red might house teens! Campers travel to their activities as a Pride, eat with their Pride, and generally develop a real sense of esprit de corps with other kids from their Pride. You will also be assigned to a Pride. Whenever your services are not required in the Patch, you'll be free to travel with your Pride. This serves two purposes, you get time to interact with campers, something many of us don't get enough of in our regular jobs, and it puts you readily available in case of a crisis or a question. You'll be introduced to your Pride Leader, a senior counselor who supervises all the counselors in that Pride. He or she will rely on you for medical advice, consultation, etc.
What about time for me? Do I get any breaks? Can I leave camp if I need to?
We recognize that everyone needs a certain amount of downtime or rest for their own health and well being. Volunteers and staff are usually free to rest during the designated Rest Hour, which might be more or less than an hour depending on the energy level of that week's campers. Additional time away from your Pride can usually be negotiated with the Pride Leader and nursing director when there's a need. Please be mindful that we are all here to work as part of a team so don't plan to be away during our busiest period! Camp has a policy limiting staff and volunteers from leaving site when camp is in session. Discuss your needs with the Nursing and Medical Directors.
What happens when I first get to camp?
You should arrive at camp between 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm on volunteer arrival day. This will give you time to find your assigned housing, unload your gear, and get ready for orientation. At 3:00 pm sharp, we'll start our orientation session where you'll meet the other staff and volunteers you'll be working with all week. Specific information about the program, schedule, and medical needs of the campers will be reviewed at this time. This is an important part of the camp experience and we require all volunteers to attend.
If you volunteer at camp Boggy Creek, you're in for a rewarding, busy, unique, and very memorable experience. Volunteerism is one of the most important foundations on which our camp was built.
First time volunteers always have a lot of questions, since practicing your profession here is very different from what you do back in the "real world".
What will be expected of me? This will vary somewhat depending on your role here at camp and the particular needs of that weeks camping session. Along with this FAQ, the website includes job descriptions for your discipline. Treat this as a general guideline. Nursing, for instance, is very different hemophilia week than it is during asthma week. There will be a duty schedule posted when you get to camp telling you when you're on duty in the medical center (the kids call it the Patch-up Place or simply, The Patch).
You'll also be called in from activities whenever we have an increased need or a flood of patients. Everyone will be on duty for Sick Call. Sick Call is roughly the 30-minute period after breakfast and dinner, when we see to any routine medical needs of campers and staff. Once that initial influx of patients has been dealt with, everyone who's not on duty will be released to travel with their Pride (see more about Prides below). The schedule may also include a turn on night shift duty, but remember, we have a full-time 11-7 nurse who handles most routine calls and minor emergencies. Night call folks are the first to be awakened if there's a need.
Where will I be living?
Medical volunteers are almost always housed in staff housing, not in cabins with campers. A few of you may be housed in the Duplex, adjoining the Patch. Many of you will reside in one of our Staff Lodges, along with other staff and volunteers. Occasionally, we'll ask a clinical volunteer to function as a cabin counselor when their role requires it. By the way, we provide bed linen, pillows, towels, etc.
What are these Prides I keep hearing about?
Formerly called Units, every child at camp is part of a Pride. There are four: Green, Red, Yellow, and Blue. There are 4 cabins in each Pride and campers are assigned to them by age and developmental level. The assignment changes each session, so during your week Red might have the 7-8 year old campers, but if you come back for another session, Red might house teens! Campers travel to their activities as a Pride, eat with their Pride, and generally develop a real sense of esprit de corps with other kids from their Pride. You will also be assigned to a Pride. Whenever your services are not required in the Patch, you'll be free to travel with your Pride. This serves two purposes, you get time to interact with campers, something many of us don't get enough of in our regular jobs, and it puts you readily available in case of a crisis or a question. You'll be introduced to your Pride Leader, a senior counselor who supervises all the counselors in that Pride. He or she will rely on you for medical advice, consultation, etc.
What about time for me? Do I get any breaks? Can I leave camp if I need to?
We recognize that everyone needs a certain amount of downtime or rest for their own health and well being. Volunteers and staff are usually free to rest during the designated Rest Hour, which might be more or less than an hour depending on the energy level of that week's campers. Additional time away from your Pride can usually be negotiated with the Pride Leader and nursing director when there's a need. Please be mindful that we are all here to work as part of a team so don't plan to be away during our busiest period! Camp has a policy limiting staff and volunteers from leaving site when camp is in session. Discuss your needs with the Nursing and Medical Directors.
What happens when I first get to camp?
You should arrive at camp between 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm on volunteer arrival day. This will give you time to find your assigned housing, unload your gear, and get ready for orientation. At 3:00 pm sharp, we'll start our orientation session where you'll meet the other staff and volunteers you'll be working with all week. Specific information about the program, schedule, and medical needs of the campers will be reviewed at this time. This is an important part of the camp experience and we require all volunteers to attend.
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