Volunteer at Camp

We love our Volunteers!  

We are always looking for more volunteers for maintenance, program, kitchen work and more. 

The Mission of our 4-H Camp Bristol Hills Volunteer Work Crew (VWC) is to support CCE Ontario at 4-H Camp Bristol Hills by beautifying the Camp facility through manual labor, both skilled and general.  Members of the VWC pledge their time freely to carry out basic tasks such as mowing lawns, painting cabins, general cleaning, light carpentry, electrical or plumbing. Members of the VWC will be classified as “enrolled volunteers” by defined by the Volunteer Involvement Policy.  Please note that the volunteer role is relatively new to camp, and still evolving. We anticipate that as our program grows, we will expand our volunteer opportunities to include program delivery, kitchen support, marketing, fundraising, and more!  If you are interested in volunteering outside of the maintenance program, please contact our 4-H Camp Office today.

If you are interested in joining the Maintenance Volunteer Work Crew, we invite you to review our Volunteer Position Description .   Volunteers will be carefully screened, interviewed, and reference/background checked before joining the Crew for the protection of all campers, staff and fellow volunteers.  Volunteers are expected to agree to, and abide by our Code of Conduct and sign our Volunteer Agreement.  

Apply Online!  
If you are ready to join our team on the Volunteer Work Crew, fill out an application online today!

Orientation
As part of the Cornell University system, our volunteers benefit from an initial orientation and ongoing training program.  Volunteers learn about the Cooperative Extension System, the history of the 4-H organization, the role of Cornell in Cooperative Extension and the history of 4-H Camp Bristol Hills.  We also provide volunteers with a variety of trainings related to the above, as well as specialized training pertinent to the duties of the volunteer, such as lawnmower training, chainsaw safety, small engine maintenance, ladder safety among others.

What do volunteers do in the Maintenance Volunteer Work Crew?
We work with volunteers in a variety of ways.  Currently, our Volunteers are critical to our maintenance operations, playing an important role in:

  • Landscaping (mowing, mulching, gravel, planting, etc)
  • Painting (cabins, benches, tables, railings, steps)
  • Cleaning (cabins, bathrooms, lodges, gutters, equipment
  • Repairs (cabin doors, floors, railings, windows, equipment)
  • Rough carpentry (siding cabins, building doors/shutters, making signs
  • Light electrical (replacing light fixtures, outlets)
  • Light plumbing (repairing toilets, showers, faucets)

Structure
The Volunteer Work Crew will meet collectively, once or twice each month, throughout the year, on a regular schedule (ie. “First Saturday of the month” or “Third Thursday of the month”).  Individual members may volunteer additional hours at their convenience, in coordination with the Camp Facilities Supervisor. There is always plenty of work to be done! 

Recognition and Rewards
Our volunteers mean the world to us, and their tireless commitment to Camp allows us to keep our summer camp experience affordable for campers and their families.  To show our appreciation for the hard work of our amazing volunteers, we have a structure of benefits/rewards for volunteers who reach certain benchmarks of service.  Volunteers log their hours throughout the year as their work towards their benchmark goals.  The following tiered system is ever evolving, and subject to change:

A Volunteer Recognition dinner will be held annually, where 4-H Camp Bristol Hills provides a simple catered dinner and a recognition ceremony.  All recognition benchmarks are based on annual hours worked.

Tier I: 40 hours (Based on 5 work days throughout the year)

  • Certificate of Recognition at Annual Banquet
  • Recognition on the Camp Website
  • Recognition in the CCE Annual Report
  • Access to the Camp Property (when not in conflict with Camp operations or Rental groups)

Tier II:  80 hours (Based on 10 work days throughout the year)

  • Benefits of Tier I PLUS
  • $25 credit for Camp Store merchandise

Tier III: 160 hours (Based on 10 work days and 10 independent workdays throughout the year)

  • Benefits of Tier II PLUS
  • Camp Hoodie (Valued $36)
  • Complimentary 1-night Cabin/Gleason Rental (as available) (Valued $100)

Tier IV:  320 hours (Based on 1 day per week, year round, allowing for 2 months without hours)

  • Benefits of Tier III PLUS
  • Complimentary Campership for one child (Valued $520)
  • Complimentary 4-H Club Dues for one child (Valued $25)
  • Complimentary printed subscription to Inside Dirt, a publication of our Ontario County Master Gardeners program (Valued $18)

Last updated September 12, 2024