One of the unique components of Northern Pines is our Child Care Assistant Program. CCAs enable our Adult conferees to enjoy their time in the Adult program, allowing them to fully engage with their spouse and fellow conferees knowing their children are in the loving arms of qualified CCAs.
CCAs help with the Children's Program in the morning, receive quality, Christ-centered programming and small group time that is relevant and applicable to them, and are assigned to an individual family for the week and provide quality, FREE childcare for that family until 11 pm each night.
CCAs come to serve, but have a lot of fun doing so. For service obligations, each week as a CCA qualifies as 30 service hours.
Morning
Helping in the Children's Program morning program and CCA Bible study
Afternoon Free Time
Hang out at beach, biking, hiking, etc. Can sign up for paid afternoon childcare (optional).
Evening
Meet with assigned family for evening childcare; play and care for kids.
Night
Put kids to bed and stay on site until parents return. CCAs are not allowed to be asked to stay past midnight.
Morning Program
Each morning, CCAs split into two groups and spend half of the morning helping the teachers of the Children's Program's morning program with their assigned class. Being involved with the same class throughout the week allows each CCA to establish relationships with the kids.
Bible Study
The other half of the morning is spent in Bible study and worship within the CCA program. The CCA program directors prepare an engaging and relevant theme each year and the students are challenged in their relationship with God and with others.
Afternoon
During the afternoon, CCAs have free time to enjoy the Green Lake campus in a variety of ways. They can hang out at the beach, grab a snack, or explore the campus with some friends. CCAs can also sign up for afternoon childcare; CCAs are compensated for afternoon childcare (Afternoon childcare opportunities are limited and depends on how many families request childcare each afternoon).
Evening Childcare
Following dinner, CCAs head out to meet with their assigned family for the evening childcare. Throughout the week, each CCA cares for the children of the same family, so relationships are established and the children are comfortable with their new friend. Each evening, they spend time playing with the kids, swinging at the park, going for a walk, reading stories, or playing games with others nearby. They put the children to bed as communicated by the parents and will stay on site until parents or guardians return. CCAs are compensated for staying past 11 pm, but are not allowed to be asked to stay past midnight.
Interested in staying at Northern Pines for both weeks?
Many of our CCAs attend one week as campers in a youth program and then the opposite week serving as a CCA. Others serve both weeks in the CCA program. It's a great way to have fun with friends and experience Northern Pines for an additional week! For $50, students attending both weeks can stay on campus between weeks—meals are included.
Need transportation to or from Northern Pines?
For those joining us from the Twin Cities area, we have buses that will transport students at the beginning and end of the Conferences. The bus is $25 each way—lunch is not provided.
Please visit the Youth Services Opportunities page for more information about the bus and the weekend.
CCA Program photos from the last few years: