Welcome Welcome Welcome

to Camp Kudzu

It may be for the eleventh time or for the first time.
So, Welcome Back or Welcome Aboard.

APPLY ONLINE- New or Returning Volunteers

In the summer of 2009, over 370  individuals volunteered to make our summer season of three weeks of Camp Kudzu an incredible experience for our campers!  The first time in the history of our organization were able to serve over 500 campers with the helping hands of so many talented, caring adults.   We will need at least that many volunteers this summer as we begin our journey to serve 500 plus campers again in the Summer of 2010.

We began to accept volunteer applications via our online application site. Please apply early so that we are aware of your interest in joining our team!

Want to download a paper application?

I will be volunteering for the first time -packet includes 3 reference forms     I am a returning volunteer  - references are on file

NEW- VOLUNTEER VINE- FEBRUARY 2010 EDITION

College and University Watch-  

Mercer Pharmacy Students application deadline February 15, 2010 

 Mercer University Pharmacy Student on campus interviews March 3, 2010

So if I volunteer at camp, what do I do?  What does that actually mean?

(For a detailed job description, click on the highlighted camp position)

Our cabin counselors are a very important ingredient to a terrific week at Camp Kudzu.  They live in the cabin with the counselors, accompany them to activities, and are the first person they hear as the alarm clock in the morning!  Our counselors come from a variety of walks of life and add a unique dash and spice to the camper’s stay at camp.  In tandem with our medical team, they are there to maintain the camper’s health and safety.

It takes several, several, several, sets of hands to get Camp Kudzu going and keep Camp Kudzu going once the gate opens and the campers arrive.  We have a sundry of staff that support the operations of camp from filling up water coolers, to delivering the mail, to putting out the benches for an evening program, to actually opening the gate.  We call this invaluable team the Logistics Staff.  Typically, there are 8 to 10 members of this team, and there is a Head Logistics Staff Member.

Our host camps provide the facilities and some of the program activities. For instance, at Camp Twin Lakes and at Camp Barney Medintz, we use their food service, horseback, waterfront, archery, and adventure programs. In those instances, the host facilities provide trained, certified, staff to be food service staff, horseback instructors, lifeguards, archery instructors, and rock climbing instructors. Every summer, Camp Kudzu has talented volunteers who share their own skills to enhance the program offerings for our campers.  These staff are called Activity Staff. While they may reside in the cabin, they actually facilitate the hustle bustle that the campers will participate in during the day. 

• Our camps offer our campers the opportunity to fish.  When campers show up for fishing, that doesn’t mean that they are well versed at baiting the hook or taking the fish off of the hook, either. 
• Our campers enjoy soccer, softball, Frisbee, and kickball.  It’s the field sports staff’s job to make sure everyone gets a chance to hit one over the fence.
• As a fitness for life sport, Tennis is very popular with our campers and has been a program activity since we opened in 2000.  Every summer, our tennis staff put the topspin back in the camper’s backhand.
• Martial arts certainly is a well-liked activity by the campers.  They patiently wait to see if they get to break a cement block in half and pleasantly surprised when they realize all the training that must take place in order to have the ability and discipline to be able to do that.
• On the flip side, basketball is very popular… but there are other activities that can be done in the gymnasium.  A break from the sun makes a stop with the Gym Games staff very popular.
• There are several opportunities for the camper's creative side to be balanced with the sports side at Camp Kudzu.  We have a very popular puppetry program run by our puppet dude; there’s an opportunity for song writing. The faint sound of  drumming can be heard throughout camp and it wouldn’t camp if a tie dye t-shirt wasn’t made by everyone in camp (including staff) in arts and crafts and the smell of the local home fix it box store wafts through camp with our woodworking program.
• In order to prepare for a very popular evening program, campers enjoy fine tuning their skills at dance.  Our dance instructor spends time working with the campers to expose them to more than the most popular moves emphasis creative movement instead.
• And, of course, somebody has to report on all of this... that's why we have a camp newspaper.  The campers work to make sure the edition gets to the press on time!

Interested in the medical staff positions of Camp Kudzu?

These valuable, responsible and caring individuals bring their skills and a healthy attitude to our staff community. An entire spectrum of health care professionals support our camp program each week.   Their knowledge and expertise are relied upon to manage an entire camp of campers living with type 1 diabetes but they can easily blend into the to the day to day activities of camp by tie dye t-shirts,  singing in the dining hall, or going off the zipline.

Brief descriptions of medical related staff positions at camp can be found here.

Our volunteers come from all over the United States and from all backgrounds and professions. From college students to business executives, doctors, teachers, firemen, healthcare professionals, each one gives a week of his or her time, talent and energy, knowing they make a difference in the lives of very special children.

Staff are asked to remain at camp for the entire week of their choice.  Knowledge of diabetes is not a prerequisite for volunteering at Camp  Kudzu; we will teach what you need to know.  Staff training is a very important part of our volunteer program; therefore, training and orientation will be held preceding camp.  We will notify you about training dates as soon as possible. 

Camp Kudzu offers a wide variety of activities including mountain biking, water skiing, horseback riding, canoeing, ropes course, arts and crafts, sailing, kayaking, campfires, singing, hiking, swimming, sports, vertical challenge course, zip line, soccer, tennis and much, much more!  If you are ready to have an amazing week this summer, while making a difference in the lives of very special children, join us at Camp Kudzu 2010!

Volunteer Staff Minimum Qualifications:

• At least 19 years old and at least one year post high school life experience (e.g., a year of college, a year of work, etc.)
• High school graduate or equivalent
• Desire and ability to work with children outdoors in a camp setting
• Good character, integrity and adaptability
• Ability to be a positive member of a staff team
• Commitment to attend the entire week of camp
• Commitment to attend pre-camp training and orientation
• Possess strength and endurance required to maintain consistent supervision of campers for seven-day resident camping experience
• Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards related to the activities of camp programs 

 Working at Camp Kudzu is an opportunity to have a positive influence on the lives of campers

If you have any questions or need additional information, please call 
404-250-1811or e-mail volunteer@campkudzu.org.

In addition to attending camp, we have several events committees that you can join including the Kudzu Cup fore! Kids.  Interested? Contact amedley@campkudzu.org.  

Camp Kudzu is proud to an affiliated agency of the United Way of Atlanta Volunteer Solutions and Hands on Georgia Network, and is a member in good standing of the International Association of Volunteer Administration (AVA), and the Metro Atlanta Council of Volunteer Administrators (COVA).