Ready to SLIDE into an incredible summer?

(yes, we are proud of ourselves for that pun. Thanks for asking.)

Welcome to Summer Staff FAQ’s!

Choose the topic you want to read about from the list below OR just keep on scrolling and choose your own adventure!

You’ve been hired!

We are so excited you said yes to this adventure! Make sure you visit your Camp-In-Touch account and fill out all your online forms so you can be officially hired and paid!

Next, be on the lookout for emails in your inbox and tricky spam folder! That’s how we will be communicating important info as we get closer to summer.

If you have any questions or need to contact a year-round director, here is our information. We are excited to help!

Online Training:

We will start our summer adventures with online training and it’s our favorite way to kick off our community and get to know you! Be sure you’re looking in your emails for our online training details!

Traveling Day Camp:

Traveling Day Camp Counselors

  • Online Training - Begins Monday, May 19th at 9 am

Traveling Day Camp Program Assistants

  • You will complete some self-paced online training modules before May 18th - an email will be sent with details

Parkville Day Camp:

Parkville Day Camp Counselors

  • Online Training - Begins Monday, May 19th at 9 am

Parkville Day Camp Program Assistants

  • You will complete self-paced online training before May 18th - an email will be sent with details

Activities, Program Support and Kitchen:

Lead Wrangler, Lifeguard, Ropes

  • You will complete self-paced online training before May 18th - an email will be sent with details

Assistant Wrangler, Lifeguard, Ropes

  • Online Training - Begins Monday, May 19th at 9 am

Program Support

  • Online Training - Begins Monday, May 19th at 9 am

Kitchen Staff

  • Online Training - Begins Monday, May 19th at 9 am

Overnight Camp:

Overnight Counselors

  • Online Training - Begins Monday, May 19th at 9 am

Overnight Program Assistants

  • You will complete some self-paced online training before May 18th - an email will be sent with details

Lead Activities Coordinator

  • You will complete some self-paced online training before May 18th - an email will be sent with details

Media Team + Photographers:

Lead Media Coordinator:

  • You will complete some self-paced online training before May 18th - an email will be sent with details

Marketing Coordinator:

  • Online Training - Begins Monday, May 19th at 9 am

Photographers:

  • Online Training - Begins Monday, May 19th at 9 am

End dates and Vacation:

When does Camp End?

Please check your Camp-In-Touch Account for your “Staff Hiring Agreement." This document will tell you the end dates for your employment with Heartland so that you can plan travels back to home or school.

What is my vacation week?

  • All staff will have the evening of June 30th through the end of July 5th off as vacation.

  • If you have requested a different or additional week of vacation, that should have been confirmed by your director and stated in your hiring agreement.

  • If you requested a vacation after signing your hiring agreement, please ensure your director knows and has approved and recorded your request.

  • If you have yet to request a vacation or days off but need to, please do so ASAP, as it is approved on a first-come, first-served basis, and we do not guarantee approval.

Move-In Day:

Traveling Day Camp Staff:

Traveling Day Camp Counselors

  • On-Site Training & Move-In: Begins Sunday, May 25th

    • Optional Parent/Family Tour: 3:00-4:00

    • Move-In: 4-4:30pm

Traveling Day Camp Program Assistants & Logistics Coordinator

  • On-Site Training & Move-In: Begins Sunday, May 18th

    • Optional Parent/Family Tour: 3:00-4:00

    • Move-In: 4-4:30pm

Parkville Staff:

Parkville Day Camp Counselors, Overnight Counselors, Assistant Activity Staff (Lifeguard, Wrangler, Ropes), Marketing Coordinator, Photographers, Kitchen Staff, and Program Support

  • On-Site Training & Move-In: Begins Sunday, May 25th

  • Optional Parent/Family Tour: 3:00-4:00

  • Move-In: 4-4:30pm

Parkville Day Camp Program Assistants, Lead Media Coordinator, Overnight Program Assistants, Lead Activities Coordinator, and Lead Activity Staff (Lifeguard, Wrangler, Ropes)

  • On-Site Training & Move-In: Begins Sunday, May 18th

  • Optional Parent/Family Tour: 3:00-4:00

  • Move-In: 4-4:30pm

Flying In

The nearest airport to camp is the Kansas City Airport (MCI), which is only 20 minutes away. We would be excited to greet you at the airport and drive you to camp. If this is you, be sure to email a director to make arrangements for being picked up.

**We have MANY staff coming in from out of state or from out of the country. If you need to fly in early, that can be figured out. Email your director to talk through what that would look like.

Paperwork to Bring

  • Most of your paperwork can be submitted online (subtle hint to finish your paperwork and check your email for the submission deadline) and does not need to be brought to camp. Many of them are online forms, and others are fillable PDFs, so there is no need to print anything out - you can do it all from your computer!

  • The only paperwork EVERYONE must bring is your passport OR both your driver’s license and social security card. These need to be originals, not copies, so we can authenticate your employment and make sure you get paid!

  • ALL of your forms are due before you start working, so make sure to take time and fill them out before you arrive!

Housing

What does Heartland even look like?

Great question, we’d love to tell you!

Here’s a map of our property (onsite staff housing is in House Of Faith/HOF): Map of Heartland

Here is some sweet drone footage of our property:

 
 

Parkville Site Staff Housing

(Overnight, Parkville Day Camp, Activity, Media + Photo, Kitchen Staff & Program Support)

We have dorm-style housing for staff, which means bunk beds! Most rooms will have between 3-5 roommates (there is one larger room). There will be access to common living spaces, bathrooms, and laundry (you will need to bring your own detergent).

You can leave your favorite vacuum at home because all the cleaning supplies needed for staff housing will be provided. Staff will be responsible for weekly cleaning staff housing, including both your room and communal spaces. 

You will be moving into your room for the summer when you move in. This will be your space, even on weekends when you aren’t required to be at camp.

Parkville Storage

There is space in your room for you to keep your stuff, though it is limited. Be a good sharer and leave your beanbag chair and 18th-century Victorian desk at home. Stackable totes are a great option to save space and stay organized. Something to keep in mind is that not all beds have under-bed storage.

Parkville Kitchen

There is a kitchen in staff housing! We do have dishes and utensils available in the house, but all main meals are provided in the dining hall during each camp week. Each person will get a shelf for pantry storage. There you will be able to store all the Doritos and Scooby-Doo Fruit Snacks your heart desires. We will also have two community fridges for perishable foods and drinks. 


Traveling Day Camp Staff Housing

You will stay at a new church each week from Sunday to Friday. We bring cots for you to sleep on, though church couches are often used to sleep on as well. We recommend twin-sized bedding or a sleeping bag.

On the weekends, you’ll be back onsite at camp staying in one of our retreat lodges. You’ll sleep in bunk beds, have access to laundry, and can even cook your own gourmet meals (or just ramen and Easy Mac) in a kitchen onsite.

Since you are moving each week, we recommend having a good packing system and suitcase. Since you can do laundry weekly, you do not need to bring excess camp clothes. We recommend at least one pair of clothes in which you would feel comfortable attending Sunday church.

Packing

There is a packing list available on your CampInTouch account. There you can find the specific things you will need for camp.

There are two encouragements we have for you: 

First, If you want something to stay nice, you probably shouldn’t bring it to camp… This is a truth that we have learned through many stained pairs of shorts and muddy pairs of dress shoes. Part of what we love about camp is that it is messy and dirty. We get to spend most of our time exploring outside. The downside is that our things (sleeping bags, clothes, and backpacks) often get caught in the crossfire. We have no problem if you bring your nice things to camp, just know you have been warned (shaving cream and face paint can go places you can’t even imagine). 

Second, bring the stuff you love! Part of what makes our staff community and camp experience amazing is that we will bring in so many people with a wide variety of skills and interests. When you bring the stuff you love (musical instruments, board games, yard games, costumes, books, craft supplies) you are able to share a unique part of yourself as you build relationships with other staff and campers. Trust me, campers love when they get to learn more about you and the things you love, particularly if they get to try it too. Just make sure you are thinking of the first paragraph when you bring the stuff you love…

staff life

Weekends:

When you’re not on the job, you will have the freedom to leave camp and adventure in the Kansas City area; there are tons of options for good coffee and food nearby.

On the weekends, touring Kansas City is a great way to spend time and hang out. You can visit the historic Union Station, get an adrenaline rush at Worlds of Fun, take a stroll around the river market, and so much more!

If getting out isn’t your pace every weekend, you can absolutely stay around camp on the weekends and have a campfire or hammock with fellow staff.

No matter what your vibe is, you will be able to find another staffer to be there with you.

Meals:

Meals are provided from Sunday dinner through Friday dinner. On the weekends, you can find plenty of options for Kansas City barbecue, DoorDash, or grilling out on camp with your fellow staff members.

Communication:

Cell Phone Policy

Parkville Staff: Our campers are not allowed to have cell phones, so we want you to keep yours out of sight around campers. You will all receive a radio to communicate with other staff members during the week as you are working. We also have camp photographers to capture those memories, so you don’t have to worry about it.

Phones are allowed on your off time, so don’t worry; you can still connect with your family and friends, take pictures of your weekend adventures, or watch a bit of YouTube.

Traveling Staff: Our campers are not allowed to have cell phones, so we want you to keep yours out of sight around campers. A number of churches will have a volunteer photographer capturing all the priceless memories.

Phones are allowed on your off time, so don’t worry; you can still connect with your family and friends, take pictures with your team, or just watch a bit of YouTube.

Mail

Being away from friends and family for a whole summer can be difficult. Receiving physical mail or care packages at camp can be a huge highlight! We also know you might need to have some stuff sent here for other purposes. Amazon delivery knows us VERY well! Mail will be sorted and brought to staff housing, so you won’t have to worry about going to get something in your off time. For any mail, please address it in the following way:

Staff Member’s Name

16965 NW 45 Hwy

Parkville, MO 64152

A Note For Traveling Staff: If you receive mail at our Parkville location, you can pick it up when you are back on camp for the weekends.

WiFi

Parkville Staff: WiFi is available in our office and lobby area, which you are welcome to use during your off time.

Traveling Staff: Most, if not all, church locations will have WiFi or a way to access the internet. Please talk with the church coordinator or your PA if you need help with a connection.

Miscellaneous 

Cars

Staff is allowed to bring their personal vehicles, but if you don’t have one, fear not! Our staff often go on weekend trips to the store or an adventure together, so you can catch a ride with someone.

Note for Traveling Staff: During the week, you’ll be traveling together in vans we rent specifically for TDC. You’re welcome to bring your personal vehicles for use on the weekends or tag along with others who do.

Food Allergies

Parkville Staff: Heartland can accommodate vegetarians (not vegans) and most food allergies. Remember that we cannot guarantee that there hasn’t been cross-contamination.  Please be sure to note any food allergies on your Medical Form and notify Heartland before your arrival date. 

Traveling Staff: Please make sure you have let Anna know before summer starts about any allergies or dietary needs. This information will be passed on to each church before you arrive. They are eager to accommodate and make you feel welcome, but they do need the information in advance.

Still have questions?

Please call or e-mail Jared Briscoe (Camp Director)

Phone 816-891-1078,  or Email program1@heartlandcenter.org.