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About the Program:
Rising Stars is a program for pre-professional staff to gain experience and networking opportunities while attending the Mid America Camping Conference. Participants are sponsored by a mentor who help them navigate professional waters. The mission of the Rising Stars program is to develop future camp leaders through intentional and confident interactions, and to facilitate learning opportunities in the camping profession, while creating a strong peer community for future growth. Key benefits of participating in the Rising Stars program include:
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Volunteer Mentors: Not every rising star applicant has a connection with a mentor, or one who is able to attend the conference. Through our Volunteer Mentor program, we hope to pair mentors with Rising Stars from another camp, and open the door to new opportunities and sharing perspectives across camps! |
How Does it Work?
1) Applicants should be selected for their potential as future YMCA Camping Professionals and their leadership in your local YMCA Camping program.
2) Identify no more than two current camping staff, who have worked for you in a part-time/seasonal capacity or are within their first year of a full time role, that have the potential as a future YMCA Camping Professional. Applicants should be interested in pursuing, or learning more about, a career within the Camping field. Applicants may be an 18 month VISA international staff member. Applicants should not be presenting at the MACC as an Interest Session Leader.
3) Applicants may either identify a Mentor from your Y to attend the conference with your Rising Star, or we will match you with a Mentor for the experience. Mentor will be responsible for guiding mentee through networking, educational experiences, and goal setting. Mentor must attend the conference. We ask that you select a different Mentor for each Rising Star, and that the Mentor not be the Rising Star's direct supervisor. If you cannot provide a different Mentor for each Rising Star, we would love to connect you with a Mentor!
Interested in being a volunteer Mentor? Learn more here!
4) Applications open October 1st and closes November 1st. Please submit all of the Rising Star's prerequisite documents: Rising Star application, letter of recommendation and Rising Star's resume.
5) After all paperwork has been received and reviewed, potential Rising Star and mentor will be notified of acceptance and receive a link for conference registration. MACC applications will not be accepted until all prerequisite paperwork has been received.
1) Applicants should be selected for their potential as future YMCA Camping Professionals and their leadership in your local YMCA Camping program.
2) Identify no more than two current camping staff, who have worked for you in a part-time/seasonal capacity or are within their first year of a full time role, that have the potential as a future YMCA Camping Professional. Applicants should be interested in pursuing, or learning more about, a career within the Camping field. Applicants may be an 18 month VISA international staff member. Applicants should not be presenting at the MACC as an Interest Session Leader.
3) Applicants may either identify a Mentor from your Y to attend the conference with your Rising Star, or we will match you with a Mentor for the experience. Mentor will be responsible for guiding mentee through networking, educational experiences, and goal setting. Mentor must attend the conference. We ask that you select a different Mentor for each Rising Star, and that the Mentor not be the Rising Star's direct supervisor. If you cannot provide a different Mentor for each Rising Star, we would love to connect you with a Mentor!
Interested in being a volunteer Mentor? Learn more here!
4) Applications open October 1st and closes November 1st. Please submit all of the Rising Star's prerequisite documents: Rising Star application, letter of recommendation and Rising Star's resume.
5) After all paperwork has been received and reviewed, potential Rising Star and mentor will be notified of acceptance and receive a link for conference registration. MACC applications will not be accepted until all prerequisite paperwork has been received.
What are the Duties of a Mentor?
Mentor applications open on October 1st and close November 1st.
Mentor applications open on October 1st and close November 1st.
- Conference registration is completed no later than December 14th, 2024.
- Arrive on Tuesday, January 14th, 2024 and attend the introductory session that morning (11:30 AM).
- Set up a Wednesday dinner meeting for your Rising Star with another camping professional attending the conference.
- Attend the opening Keynote with your rising star
- Eat breakfast with your rising star each morning
- Discuss goals with your Rising Star after the conference.
What are the Duties/Expectations of a Rising Star?
- Complete all paperwork on time.
- Attend a pre-conference Zoom call with other Rising Stars the week prior to MACC.
- Arrive with on Tuesday, January 14th, 2024 and attend the introductory session that morning (10:30am).
- Serve as Room Host for assigned interest sessions.
- Attend all Rising Star meetings & sessions
- Choose one of the following to help lead: campfire skit/song, leading grace, or song before a keynote session.
- To gain the most from the experience, your attendance is required at all meals and sessions.
- Complete end of conference evaluation
