Applying to Volunteer. Please note all volunteers must be 25 years of age or older. Apply online to be a volunteer at Silver Lake. Click here to apply to be a volunteer – slmc.campbrainstaff.com
Every volunteer must read and abide by SLMC’s Expectations and Policies for Volunteers. Once your application has been reviewed by an SLMC director and your volunteer spot confirmed, you will be sent a link to upload your paperwork.
Silver Lake would never have come to be without the many hands and minds of volunteers. It is wonderful to see that the camp has continued to be blessed by that spirit of volunteerism and service. Each year we depend on the talents and gifts of others to further the work of this ministry. The number of people that contribute their time and energy to work in the kitchen, on maintenance, leading an Arts session, participating in a work weekend, serving on the Board, and in so many other ways, is humbling. Silver Lake would never be able to operate without this incredible community of support.
Kitchen: In the summer, the Head Cook, with help of staff and a group of about 4 volunteers, prepares the meals at Silver Lake. Work begins around 7:00 AM with a long break in the afternoon and volunteers come back around 4pm to complete preparations for supper. The kitchen is a fun, energetic place where you laugh and talk and work… and best of all, clean-up and dishes are taken care of by resource staff.
Maintenance: 1 or 2 maintenance volunteers are needed each week of summer at Silver Lake. We keep a running list of projects throughout the summer, from fixing and painting, to building and trail-work, there is always something to do.
Board: A team of 8 volunteers makes up the Board of Directors at Silver Lake and guides the work of the camp. Board members are voted in at the annual Annual General Meeting in May.
Weekend Support: Come to camp for a weekend in the spring or fall to support one of the many weekend retreats that happen at camp. Kitchen and maintenance support are the main volunteer opportunities for these weekends.
How about accommodation? Volunteers may bring their own camping trailer (electrical hook-ups and a grassy spot not far from the wash-house provided). Most volunteers stay in the Meadows (see slmc.ca/facilities/ for pictures) where bedrooms are attached to a wash house. There are times when volunteers stay in other on-site facilities (for example Club Med, an older a-frame building closer to the Dining Hall) when the Meadows is full or for other extenuating circumstances.
Working out the details… Organizations are now requiring more diligence in the screening of employees and volunteers. This is for the protection of the children in Silver Lake’s care as well as the peace of mind for staff and volunteers. All staff and volunteers are required to provide a current police records check (contact your local police detachment to apply) and to complete required training such as online health and safety training. Online links will be provided for online training. There is also a volunteer orientation session at camp the day that volunteers begin that is required training.
If you have any questions about volunteer opportunities, please email Karen Buschert at hr@slmc.ca or call 519.422.1401.