Camp Speaker
Greetings from Malibu!
We are excited to join you this summer as you lead the charge in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus to campers at Malibu. What an incredible privilege we have in getting to do this! It is our goal to provide you with excellent support not only when you arrive for your assignment, but also in the months leading up.
This page is designed to give you a few places to start and details to consider as you plan for your assignment. As you plan, we will reach out to check in and do our best to prepare alongside you, for the session ahead.
As a brief introduction, my name is Jedd Russell. I stepped into this role a year ago after spending the previous five at Clearwater Cove in Missouri. Before that, I spent two and a half years in Foodservice at Crooked Creek Ranch. It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Malibu.
I look forward to hearing from you about how I can best help you prepare for your assignment. Feel free to contact me any time.
In Christ,
Jedd Russell
(316) 617-7928 (Cell)
(778) 331-7944 (Office)
National Camp Speaker Job Description
Job Title: Camp Speaker
Reports to: Divisional Senior Vice President and Camp Director
Job Titles Supervised: Special Musician
Mission and Authority
The Camp Speaker is assigned under the authority and endorsement of the Divisional Senior Vice President to oversee all aspects of the camp week specifically related to the Gospel proclamation. The Camp Speaker will also prepare and deliver club talks that clearly and effectively proclaim the Gospel.
Qualifications and Experience
Has proven ability to effectively develop and deliver a series of Young Life club talks in a winsome way.
Ability to develop club talks which are relevant to the current adolescent culture.
Spiritual leadership and maturity to consider and coordinate all elements of the Gospel proclamation for a week of camp.
Previous summer camp assignment experience and an understanding of the development and implementation of the Gospel proclamation.
Awareness and ability to creatively collaborate with other assigned team members in the Gospel proclamation.
Essential Duties
Ensure the Gospel proclamation aligns with Young Life’s proclamation paper.
Work with the Camp Director to create a support community that provides prayer, accountability, and feedback.
Review and adjust elements of the Gospel proclamation with awareness and sensitivity to the campers in attendance each week.
Submit plan for club talks to Senior Vice President prior to the assignment.
Review and approve club schedule and content including song service, message, games, and skits, etc.
In collaboration with the assigned team, coordinate events which impact the Gospel proclamation (i.e. role play, program music and club songs, leader meetings, opera, testimonies, second timer meetings, cabin time questions, 20 minute quiet time, say-so, and new Christian walk, work crew testimonies, special musician if assigned, etc.)
Seeks opportunities to spend time with campers and leaders throughout the week.
Communicate the content of upcoming club talks at leader meetings to prepare leaders.
Submit weekly Camp Speaker reports to Young Life leadership.
Seeks feedback from Camp Director and head leaders on effectiveness and clarity of the Gospel Proclamation.
Planning For Your Session
As you begin to plan your talk progression, it will be helpful to collaborate with the program team to build the schedule for the week together. When done well, program events and the timing of things are directly tied to the gospel proclamation, as each event is strategically timed in relation to the progression of the gospel story. It's up to you to decide how you want to unfold this and how it ties into the overall camp week. Below is a sample schedule created as a template for summer 2023.
Media
Be sure to bring all videos and music with you, or send the files ahead of time to Jedd, the Guest Services Manager. Because of our very limited satellite internet, we are unable to stream videos in the club room, so we will need to have all your content either already downloaded ahead of time, or with you on a flash drive, or other transferrable file format.
Props
If you need any props or supplies for your club talks, please let us know as soon as possible, and no later than one month from the start of your assignment. Shipping things to camp often comes with a 2 week to one month lead time, so time is the most valuable resource when planning.
Photocopies
If you need copies of handouts for campers, please bring them with you. Malibu has very limited supplies and is not able to make hundreds of copies at a time.
Facilities
Sequoia
Sequoia contains our Club Room, Conference Room, Prayer Room, Leader Lounge, and extra office space. Special features of this building include:
Floor to ceiling window overlooking the inlet behind the stage curtain
Prayer Room above the stage overlooking the inlet
Windows from War Room overlooking the Club Room
Prop room & 2 dressing rooms
4 wireless Headsets and 4 wireless handheld mics
Strobe light, party lights, spotlight
TV in the conference room and leader lounge
Dining Hall
The Dining Hall contains our Dining Room & Kitchen. The features of this building include:
Full sound system –w/ computer
2 Wireless handheld mics
Gym
The gym contains a weight room loft and basketball courts. Features of this building include:
Portable sound system available
Large stage available
3 indoor volleyball courts
Garage doors along one side, opening up to a semi-covered deck.
Inner Dock
The Inner Dock is a large dock system on the Princess Louisa Inlet side of camp featuring fun water activities available during free time. The Inner Dock can be opened whenever lifeguards can be scheduled to work. Notes & features of the Inner Dock include:
Rope Swing Tower
Trampoline Tower
Harbour Ball, a king of the mountain style attraction that is a flat table-top on a ball-shaped buoy
Kayaking
Waterskiing & Wakeboarding during free time
Flood lights make this space usable at night
Life jackets are required for any person in the water
Lifeguards must be present to open
Pool
The pool is located at the very tip of the Malibu peninsula and is bordered by the Malibu rapids on two sides, and a sand volleyball court and dining hall deck on the others. The elevated deck of the dining hall is most often used as a program stage for events such as Pool Olympics, and the pool party that concludes Canada's Amazing Race.
Salish Deck
The Salish Deck is located between the Nootka and Lilloett dorms, with tall trees bordering one side. It is a tucked away space that creates a rustic, intimate setting that is used most often for Long John Silver Saloon.
Inner Deck
The Inner Deck is just up the ramp from the inner dock, below the Totem Trader balcony. This space is
typically where the camp tour, square dance, water regatta, and Big Table Dinner all take place. Features of
this space are:
Full sound system with larger speakers for higher quality sound.
Elevated pagoda can be used as a stage or platform for program or concerts
20' stage available
Portable Sound
Portable sound is available for any outdoor event and features:
3 wireless pacs & 3 wireless handlelds
20 channel mobile sound board for full instrument capability