We are so excited that you are interested in joining our staff or CCA Program for our upcoming conference! Please take some time to review the following standards and expectations. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

About Northern Pines

Northern Pines is a premier non-denominational and Christ-centered family conference that meets at Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, WI for two weeks each summer. We look for engaging and motivated youth and adults to fill our staff various programs each year.

Criteria for Selection

  • Evidence of commitment to Christ.
  • Experience in counseling/teaching or other child care/youth leadership activities.
  • Participation in Christian activities aimed at personal spiritual growth. i.e. campus Bible Study, Intervarsity, Campus Crusade.
  • Commitment/involvement with a local church.
  • Compatibility with other staff members — we seek a balance of personality types, temperaments, and even personal activity level.

The following will be read and signed by staff annually during staff training.

  • Any verbal or nonverbal sexual behavior with any student is inappropriate and unacceptable.
  • There will be no alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drug use by staff during staff training days, conferences, or transition weekend.
  • Sexual gestures or overtures to a staff member by a student should be reported to the individual program director so appropriate measures can be taken. Romantic or sexual attraction for a student by a leader should be brought up and discussed with the program director for prayer and guidance.
  • Buddy systems should be used by staff whenever possible, especially when working with students of the opposite sex. One-to-one counseling with a student should always occur in a public place. Same sex counseling situations are highly encouraged.
  • Driving alone with a student of the opposite sex should be avoided at all times. Staff members should not drive any students off the campus grounds without the express written permission of parents (a student’s word is not sufficient) and then only for a specific purpose.
  • All suspicions of child emotional, physical, or sexual abuse must be immediately reported to the individual Program director who will report it to the Executive Director who will make sure it is called in to the appropriate authorities.
  • Any knowledge or suspicion of any program staff having an inappropriate relationship with a student or another staff person must be reported promptly to the Program director. If the person in question is the Program director, the report should be made to the Executive Director of the conference.
  • Social Media: Social media has presented great opportunities for communication, but also presents challenges for staff. Staff members should use discretion and good judgment in choosing what to post/tweet during and after conferences. Social media content can and will be used as a factor in future staff selection.
  • The volunteer staff person is expected to conduct themselves in light of Philippians 1:27: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
  • I have read the Staff Manual and agree to abide by its policies and instructions.
Standards of Behavior: Adults & Young Adults

To be read and signed by all CCAs and Wilderness Tribal Leaders annually:

  • Any verbal or nonverbal sexual behavior with any student is inappropriate and unacceptable.
  • There will be no alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drug use during training days, conferences, or transition weekend.  
  • Sexual gestures or overtures to a staff member by a student should be reported to the individual program director so appropriate measures can be taken. Romantic or sexual attraction for a student by a leader should be brought up and discussed with the program director for prayer and guidance. 
  • There are to be no males in female’s rooms or vice versa. This includes staff rooms as well.   
  • CCAs and Tribal Leaders are not to be driving when they are Northern Pines. They may ride with counselors to and from houses/cabins/etc. where they are watching children. Any exception must be approved by the director.
  • All suspicions of child emotional, physical, or sexual abuse must be immediately reported to the program director who will report it to the Executive Director who will make sure it is called in to the appropriate authorities. 
  • Any knowledge or suspicion of any program staff having an inappropriate relationship with a student or another staff person must be reported promptly to the program director. If the person in question is the program director, the report should be made to the Executive Director of the conference.
  • Social Media: Social media has presented great opportunities for communication, but also presents challenges for staff. CCAs and Wilderness Tribal Leaders should use discretion and good judgment in choosing what to post/tweet during and after conferences. Social media content can and will be used as a factor in future staff selection.
  • CCAs and Tribal Leaders are expected to conduct themselves in light of Philippians 1:27:  “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
Standards of Behavior: Youth

Northern Pines Statement of Faith

We hold to  . . .
Belief in the Bible as the Word of God, a divine revelation, in the original language verbally inspired in its entirety. We accept the Bible as the final authority in all matters.

Belief in the Deity of the Triune God: God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Belief in the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, His substitutionary atonement for sin, His bodily resurrection and His personal, visible return to earth to reign in righteousness and glory.

Belief in the person of the Holy Spirit and His Word of conviction, regeneration and sanctification, and His indwelling of every believer.

Belief in the necessity of the New Birth, in salvation by faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Belief that the Church is the Body of Christ, a spiritual organism of born again believers who publicly confess Christ, and remember His death in the sacrament of communion.

Belief in the importance of a life wholly committed to the will of God, in Christ.

Northern Pines Statement of Faith

Additional Details

  • We will review applications in March and inform all applicants if they are accepted for that following conference.
  • Adult and young adult staff are expected to arrive at Green Lake Conference Center, Green Lake, WI in the early afternoon on Saturday, the day before their week of the conference begins. There is an additional fee if non-staff members arrive early. CCAs need to arrive on Sunday, the first day of their week, by 2pm and Wilderness Tribal Leaders need to arrive on Sunday by 1:30pm
  • Counselors/Teachers receive a weekly honorarium. There are some fees depending on additional requests such as a special meal request, staying on campus for the weekend, or for a single room.

Reference Instructions

All staff and CCA applicants are required to provide references to complete their application.

  • References cannot be a family member or related to you in any way (not parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, or uncles etc.)
  • References should not have connections to Northern Pines and should be someone who has interacted with you within the last year.
  • Please communicate with your references and ask if they are willing to be your reference before submitting their information with your application
  • The reference form is available online and should be submitted directly from that person. If a paper copy is preferred, please request a printable version by emailing us at connect@npines.org

Dress Code

As a CCA or staff member, you are at Northern Pines to serve and represent the ministry to the conferees and GLCC staff. Please keep a serving-with-a-purpose mindset as you pack for the week and as you make choices throughout the week. Your program directors will go over specific rules and expectations during your orientation on Sunday.

Dress codes are difficult and can easily feel judgmental and harsh. This is not our goal at Northern Pines. We are not trying to make a strict prescriptive list of what you can or cannot wear, but instead ask you to be mindful of the impact of your clothing this week. Different styles are appropriate at different times and in different situations. For example, some two-piece swimsuits have more coverage than some one-piece suits.

We ask you to use your judgment and think of where you are and what you will be doing as you select your clothing. You should be able to comfortably sit on the ground, run around, and have kids tug on your clothes without causing an issue. Please avoid clothing which may hinder your ability to serve the children in your program. Be mindful of the text on your clothes; avoid large brand logos and political statements. Clothing promoting alcohol, drugs, violence, hate, or anything explicit will not be tolerated. Swimwear without additional covering should be only be worn at the beach or while playing water games—for males, please do not go shirtless unless in a swimwear-appropriate situation.