Staff Recruitment

Below: two previous staff teams - clowning around and coasteering during staff training! Is this you?

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Kia Ora from Wainui Park, New Zealand!

This information package has been designed to inform and prepare potential Programme Staff for an experience at YMCA Wainui Park. As this package will also act as the basis for the contract, it is vital that all the information is read and understood.

If there are any questions regarding any aspect of YMCA Wainui Park, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to answer your questions.

The following information can be sent to you as a booklet - let us know if you would like us to send you it!

Introduction to YMCA Wainui Park
Purpose of International Staff
Responsibilities of Programme Staff
Hours of Work
Food / Accommodation / Allowances
Additional Costs
Things to do Before You Arrive
Things to Bring
Life at YMCA Wainui Park
Time Line
Volunteer Legalities
Application Procedures

Introduction to YMCA Wainui Park

YMCA Wainui Park Outdoor Centre is located on the Banks Peninsula, 81 kilometres from Christchurch. The local environment consists of a combination of rural sheep, pastures on rolling green hills, and dense forest that is home to many native trees and birds. Flowing through the site is a gurgling stream that travels for 1km before reaching the edge of the seashore of Wainui Bay in Akaroa Harbour. YMCA Wainui Park Outdoor Centre provides accommodation, programming and optional meal catering for groups.

Wainui Parks' full-time permanent staff consist of: General Manager (Josie), Programme Manager (Andrew) Head Caretaker (Stephen), Caretaker (Peter), Senior Instructors (Stacey and Nick), Head Caterer (Rankeilor),and Office Adminstrator (Robyn). There are a few other locals who work here part-time throughout the year, on the site or in the kitchen.

YMCA Wainui Park is split into three sites: Powell Village (sleeps 122, with an atmosphere similar to that of a traditional North American camp), Wainui Heights East and West (sleeps 88, a brand new conference centre which also accommodates school groups), and the Tent Site (grass areas with kitchen and washroom facilities, much like a trailer park without the trailers).

Groups choose either catered or self-catered. At the moment about 60% of our clients are catered for by Wainui staff.

Programmes offered at YMCA Wainui Park include Abseiling (Rappelling), Archery, Coasteering (an adventurous exploration of the ocean's coast), Compass/Orienteering, Initiatives, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Ropes Course (Low, High), Snorkelling, Biscuiting (being dragged behind a speed boat), Sailing, Day Hikes, Out-trips, Campfires and of course loads of games.

During the summer month of January, YMCA Wainui Park turns into a residential camp for children aged 9 to 17. During the school holiday periods the Wainui staff are key to everything to do with summer camp -from designing programme right through to cabin leaders (cabin counsellor). The same applies for a week in April, and a week in September.

Recently there have been Americans, Canadians, Kiwis, Germans, Japanese, Indians, Koreans, British, Americans, Dutch and Swedish working here as programme staff. The main component of their job is to run activities for the groups staying at Wainui Park. At less busy times in the season there may not always be programme instructional work for the whole team: during these hours, programme staff contribute to the camp's upkeep and maintenance. Such things as cleaning of vans, trailors and maintaining gear, cleaning windows, toilets, showers...making beds, chopping firewood, mowing lawns and sorting out camp recyclables and rubbish. There are always jobs to do around camp and also these are times when you can take on projects. A few examples of what some have managed recently include: rebuilding the low ropes course, reconstructing the campfire circle, revamping the orienteering course, inspiring a sailing programme and doing-up the sailboat purchased for this reason and various building projects around the site. There are no bounds to the possibilities.

Purpose of International Staff

YMCA Wainui Park is run by the Christchurch YMCA whose mission is "Building strong, young people, strong families and strong commitments". The YMCA of Christchurch has an established history of hosting international staff. These people have become involved as the result of personal initiatives or referral from foreign outdoor centres, camps or agencies.

The benefits to the YMCA are:
The introduction of a foreign culture is a significant component of the New Zealand camping experience.
The international volunteer often brings skills to the outdoor centre/camp setting that are different from those available from local personnel.

The benefits to the volunteer are:
Immersion into the New Zealand culture.
Acquisition of new hard and soft skills.
Opportunities to travel throughout New Zealand.
Opportunities to work with others from all over the world.
Opportunities to have real variety in day-to-day work: programme instruction for kids and adults, public relations, administration, maintenance etc.

Responsibilities of Adventure Staff

During your season (late August - late May) your responsibilities will include:
'Linking" -acting as a host for client groups (liaise with management)
Working as a member of the Wainui team to plan programmes
Maintaining all recreational gear and equipment
Delivering programmes to client groups
Contributing to the ongoing development of YMCA Wainui Park
Promotion of holiday camps (Held in September, January and April).
Cleaning and general maintenance tasks when needed!

During the "Y camps" your responsibilities will include:

Ensuring the well being of all campers within your care, including sharing a sleeping cabin with them
Providing a positive experience for campers through creative programming
Mentoring volunteer cabin counsellors

The following is a list of skills and characteristics you should have:

a strong outdoor background
an ability to lead and manage groups
a desire improve your skills and a willingness to help others learn and develop
a flexible approach to dealing with sudden change and working under stress
a highly motivated team approa
effective communication skills
an open minded attitude towards all people and their beliefs
sound judgment and awareness of Risk Management
a valid drivers license
a sense of humour
cooking ability
cleaning ability
a willingness to share ideas
'a willingness to learn new practical skills
energy
ability to live with others in close proximity
patience
...be disciplined and organised....!!

Hours of Work

Your average work week will include 15 'sessions' averaging 2.5 hours each. The nature of camp life is such that your hours and level of busy-ness will vary from week to week depending on how many kids are at camp.
During Y run holiday camps your work will be based on the camp life of being on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Occasional weekends during your tenure you will be rostered to instruct in weekends, but this will enable you to take days off during the week.
When you work over and above the requested level you will accrue days off to be taken at another, less busy, time - OR alternatively be paid extra expenses to compensate.

Food / Accommodation

While working, you will live in a staff house where you will hang out, sleep and cook your meals with other members of the staff team.
All staff get their own room but kitchen/bathroom facilities are shared. Groceries are provided by the camp when we are not catering for a group -in these instances you will be cooked for as part of the catering service. The rest of the time, the staff team cook their own meals as in a "flatting" situation. All food is provided as part of the volunteer deal.

Also, programme staff who are able to obtain a working holiday visa or who are NZ citizens, and who work the required hours per week will receive a $100 per week honorarium. This is payable generally by direct debit to your bank account and is taxed. If you are from outside NZ, you will need to open a bank account when you arrive. If you take time off then the allowance will be reduced accordingly. Usually you can claim tax paid back after leaving the country - so you can think of it as a compulsory savings scheme!

If gaining a working holiday visa is not a possibility then you will need to discuss your options with the Camp Manager before your engagement can be confirmed.

Other perks include: accommodation in Christchurch on days off, access to staff vehicle for transport, free internet use, free use of the climbing wall and fitness centre at the Christchurch Y, free use of all the Y equipment when available.

Additional Costs

It is expected that you will accept full financial responsibility for:
Working holiday visa (if aplicable) Travel to and from Christchurch, New Zealand
Travel between Christchurch and Wainui and other parts of New Zealand except when on YMCA business -(some miles are paid for as part of your staff car perk)
Travel and health insurance
Currency
Personal effects and clothing
Travel, accommodation, food and personal expenses incurred in New Zealand outside the programme's tenure.
Food and accommodation costs outside programme tenure or when on time off, off site.

Things to do Before you Arrive

1. Purchase Plane Ticket

You need to arrive in Christchurch in time to start work on the first day of training (see below).

2. Acquire a working holiday visa

Contact a New Zealand Embassy or High Commission and apply for a working holiday visa. This is an option for anyone from Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Maylasia, Netherlands, Singapore, Sweden, UK, Uraguay. You must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years for this to apply and it lasts for one year.

3. Get immunizations (if you plan to travel elsewhere)
4. Acquire visa/Mastercard if you don't have one -it is a great idea to load your Credit card before arriving!
5. Acquire youth hostel card/ international student card -these can be handy for travelling but are not essential
6. Save up some money!

Things to Bring

backpack
warm sleeping bag (and bedding for your room).
fleece or wool top and bottoms
polypropylene top and bottoms (DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM!)
raingear
waterproof watch
appropriate hiking footwear
full strap sandals (tevas, reefs..
bathing suit (togs)
flashlight
sunnies
water bottle
clothing to suit ALL weather eventualities!
alarm clock

Optional (all of these things are available to buy in New Zealand without any problem)!

tent or bivvy sack, stove, pots, thermarest
climbing shoes and harness
wetsuit -HIGHLY ADVISED
walkman and tapes or CDs

guitar, flute, harmonica, clarinet, saxophone, piano, bongos
camera
teddy bears, baby blankets
journal
books
dry bag
sun hat
sun screen (no ozone)

Life at YMCA Wainui Park

When you first arrive at Wainui Park you will be immersed in an immense amount of learning. This period is fun - but also tiring and full on! During this time you will become familiar with activities you will be instructing at Wainui, and will incorporate some 'thrown in the deep end' instruction for some school groups and the holiday camp. The intention of this training period is to enable you to become competent in the instruction of all the activities, as well as to give you a good overview of all the other tasks you may or may not be asked to do. The Camp Manager will help you and other staff to the extent that by the end of the training period you will be able to function independently in all aspects of programme, and camp life.

During the Oct-Dec and Feb -May periods, primarily school groups visit the centre. As a programme staff you will link with teachers and provide instruction for the students accordingly. Programmes are based on a 2.5-hour session with 12 students and 1 teacher. On the average day there is one session in the morning and one session in the afternoon. Work usually finishes at 6pm and there is free time at night, provided that the school does not require evening programme. (Camplife is by it's very nature all over the place and nothing is necessarily guaranteed! Anything could happen -staff need to adapt accordingly or lose their minds!)

In late September, throughout January and during the Easter holidays, we offer week-long camps known as 'Y' camps. Kids are packed off by their parents in traditional camp style. You will be asked to fill the role of an activity instructor, cabin counsellor, or design and direct the actual programme. These camps are hard work but lots of fun.

Currently many schools cater their own meals so you may be invited to partake in these. Generally however, you will cook and eat with the programme staff. We will provide your grocery supplies and when Wainui Park is providing the catering, programme staff partake in that.

Wainui has a washing machine that is available for programme staff. A stereo is available for sanity's sake and for parties that you may hold on the weekends. In the evening, if not required for programming, it is your time to relax, kayak, play guiter or mouth organ, do laundry, wash dishes, vacuum or anything else you choose. On the weekends you have the option of staying at Wainui and exploring/relaxing in the peaceful valley setting or hiring the YMCA van (0.50/km including petrol) or the 'camp car' (0.25/km including petrol) to go into Christchurch. Christchurch has much to offer in the way of entertainment. Pubs, festivals and outdoor pursuits are all present in abundance. The city YMCA is centrally located in a nice part of downtown, has accommodation, a nice cafe, a fitness centre, squash courts and a great climbing wall. The YMCA's facilities are available at a staff rate. The city library is excellent and contains many books, like most libraries do.

Here are some tidbits that are useful to know:
September and April are cold at night, bring a warm sleeping bag and clothing
The best travel books are the most recent version of the Lonely Planet and Let's Go!.
Wainui gets three T.V. Channels -and they are not very good.
If you don't like cleaning, don't apply.

Time Line

FIRST INTAKE (8 positions)

applications due May 31st 2008

notification of acceptance ASAP
volunteers apply for work visa ASAP
commencement date for Training Sept 1st 2008

First school arrives Sept 5th
Y camp Oct 5th - 11th

Break up for Christmas break December 12th
Return after Christmas break January 5th 2009

Y Camp starts January 11th
First intake season ends Jan 16th 2009

SECOND INTAKE:(5 positions)

Applications due October 31st 2008 Notification of acceptance ASAP
Volunteers apply for work visa ASAP
Commencement date for staff training January 5th 2009

Contract Expires June 1st 2009

Volunteer Legalities

The Manager of YMCA Wainui Park reserves their right to terminate your involvement if during the life of tenure, you exhibit:
-programme negligence
-behaviours contrary to the YMCA mission Statement and Code of Ethics
-disregard rules as laid out by the Camp Manager.

Application Procedures

To apply for the position you need to send the following ASAP.

1:Resume/CV including photograph
2:Completed application form, which you can download as a pdf here
3: A recently dated police check clearance letter from your country of origin
4: Photocopy of your drivers licence (if you have one)
5: 2 written references from previous employers

Please indicate on your application if you wish to apply for the first or second half of the season. Staff who stay at camp for the entire season will be eligible to have their pay increased in the second half of the season, as negotiated with the Camp Manager.

Our mailing address is : Attention: Josie Ogden
YMCA Wainui Park

RD 2

Akaroa 7582,

Banks Peninsula
New Zealand

Our phone number is: 64-3-304-8460
Our fax number is: 64-3-304-8784
Our e-mail address is: josie@ymcachch.org.nz