Camp can be a really awesome place to work – for the right kind of people. We want to share a few thoughts as to what interested applicants should consider before applying:
Real Job Skills
Working at camp is a lot of fun – getting paid to hike, be in silly skits, eat too many chocolate chip cookies, etc, the list goes on! But, at the end of the day camp is still a job. Each staff member is hired to perform a task and together all those working pieces are what make the summer one to remember. The days are long, sometimes the tasks are repetitive, and you will be very tired. Your unique contributions to our community will be of greatest value though when shown in the scope of doing your job to the best of your ability. Please thoroughly read the job description of the role(s) in which you are interested in applying for, and consider what you are hoping to gain from this experience.
Lifestyle reflective of faith
First and foremost we are looking to hire young adults passionate about living out their faith alongside today’s youth. Regardless of what position you are applying for, all staff at Sonlight play an integral role in the lives of campers and are looked up to as role models in the faith. As we aim to hire staff from diverse Christian backgrounds – we recognize that how one lives out their faith dutifully might look different than others. The Leadership team is committed to ensuring that each staff is a great fit to live out and uphold the Sonlight core values :
Are you willing?
Camp might be your first “real job” and we are big fans of that because it means there is so much room for growth! At the end of the season, we want our staff to feel like they’ve grown not just as workers but as humans. We encourage our campers to step outside their comfort zone as we strive to create a safe community for learning opportunities, and will do the same with staff. Your willingness to live into the fullness of who God is calling you to be is crucial as we live out our mission of showing kids the ways in which He works uniquely through all of us.
CONTACT INFO
1536 Sonlight Place
PO Box 536 (USPS)
Pagosa Springs, CO 81147
Be With kids. Show Them God.
Caretaker
Thom’s Sonlight connection began in 1990 when he brought youth from the Phoenix area to ski; that trip continued for the next 18 years every March. He then participated in a handful of adult backpacking trips before extending an offer to volunteer in the off season. After almost a decade of spending chunks of May volunteering he now calls Sonlight home year round serving “wherever is needed”.
Thom holds a BS in Communications from the University of Puget Sound as well as a MDiv from Luther Seminary, which led to his 35 years as a Lutheran Pastor. The initial driving factor of finding the best way to be in service to others was evident in his ministerial work and has translated significantly to his contributions at Sonlight in retirement.
When not fixing things or working on new projects Thom enjoys golfing, cheering on San Francisco sports teams, and playing the guitar. He has three grown children and two grandchildren.
Co-founding Sonlight in 1979 with his wife, Mary, the calling that began simply as a “small, summer only backpacking program” that turned into what so many call home today can be accredited in part to the faithfulness of Winston. His passion to creatively solve problems and find solutions is evident in all parts of camp. An avid backpacker himself, he also enjoys bike touring and has logged over 14,000 on his touring bike. Nowadays, he serves as Board Treasurer and Camps ultimate human resource, providing insight to all things property and Sonlight history.
Winston earned his BS degree in Social Psychology from Colorado State University. He began working for Presbyterian Highlands Camp before deciding to start his own program, with a lot in between it's probably just easiest to say “and the rest is history”!
In his free time Winston enjoys traveling, spending time in the backcountry, and befriending as many furry friends as possible. You’ll find him around camp with a cup of coffee and Truman by his side.
Camp Director
From her middle school years as a Sonlight camper to spending her college summers on Summer Staff to then joining the full-time team as Program Director, Claire can’t imagine any other way to spend her summers! Now, as Camp Director, she continues to bring Sonlight’s vision of creating a community of well-being to life through her gifts of strategic planning, creativity, and intentionality.
Claire holds a BS in Psychology from Regis University, where she spent much of her time involved in University Ministry. She served as a Peer Minister to first-year students and coordinated opportunities for fellow students to discover how they were being called to use their gifts in service to others.
When she’s not immersed in the camp world, Claire enjoys reading, just about any outdoor activity, and spending time with her three-year-old kitten, Frankie.
