Camp Counselors

Camp Directors will work with the Office of Human Resources & Compliance and the Payroll Office to ensure that all employment regulations are met. Camp Counselors should direct questions to the Camp Director.

Contagious Disease Information:

Everyone associated with the summer camps (directors, counselors, volunteers, campers, etc.) is expected to exercise care to avoid spreading a virus. Specifically, everyone should practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette, wash hands frequently, and camp participants should not report to camp if feeling unwell.

ALL Camp Counselors -- Hiring and Onboarding:

All camp counselors will apply through the Oracle hiring system. Camp directors will be providing the proper link to apply. Onboarding checklists will be assigned to new camp workers, continuing camp workers with expired background clearances, or returning camp workers needing to complete a new I-9 form.

Continuing Camp Counselors:

ALL camp workers will need to apply for summer 2026, regardless of whether they are a continuing camp counselor or not.

Compliance Documentation:

Below is a list of compliance documents for you to read thoroughly.

Counselor Training Manual -- Please read and become familiar with the information contained in this document. You are expected to understand the material. If you have questions, contact your Camp Director.

Mandatory Reporters Memo -- Please read and become familiar with the information contained in this document. You are expected to understand the material. If you have questions, contact your Camp Director.

Safety and Compliance Quick Reference Sheet -- Please read and become familiar with the information contained in this document. You are expected to understand the material. If you have questions, contact your Camp Director.

Code of Conduct (PDF) -- This Code of Conduct is about understanding our institution's expectations as we seek to cultivate an environment of faith-based ethical conduct.

Background Clearances & Mandatory Reporter Training:

Below is a list of documents related to background clearances and mandatory reporter training. Copies of the background clearance results should be uploaded within the assigned Onboarding checklist. Your clearances will remain in effect for 60 months.

Employees are responsible to acquire the following three background clearances themselves. There are processing fees approximately $10 - $25 associated with each clearance check. Click here for instructions.

Act73 FBI Fingerprint Clearance: Follow the instructions.

Act34 PA Police Clearance: Follow the instructions.

Act151 PA Child Abuse Clearance: Follow the instructions.

Act 73 sample

Act 34 sample

Act 151 sample

Mandatory Reporter Training Acknowledgement -- Form to acknowledge your legal obligations for reporting. This document also contains the phone number to call to report incidents in Pennsylvania. (An electronic signature is acceptable.)

Mandatory Reporting Training (free) -- Follow the instructions from your Camp Director. Once an online account is created for you, you will receive an email message from MinstrySafe. Click on the link in the email message to start your online training. There will be a test at the end. Expect the training to take about an hour and a half.

Note: We can accept training certificates from (1) MinistrySafe (Abuse Prevention Systems), (2) the University of Pittsburgh or (3) American Occupational Therapy Association. If you received training through another organization, please send us your certificate and we will check it out.

MRT certificate sample from APS

MRT certificate sample from U.Pitt.

MRT certificate sample from AOTA

Employment Forms:

Below is a list of documents related directly to hiring and payroll.

A new employee to Messiah University must complete all required forms.
Abbreviated onboarding checklists may be assigned to returning employees if the I-9 form needs to be completed or if clearances have expired.
A returning employee, who needs to report a change to prior information (i.e. address change, federal income tax change, name change, bank/direct deposit change), should make those changes in their Oracle account.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of some forms which new camp employees will complete via the Onboarding system.

Work Permits -- Permits are required for all employees under the age of 18 at the start of the camp. The employee must present an original work permit (not a photocopy). Pennsylvania residents can acquire a permit from their school district. Non-Pennsylvania residents may acquire a permit from: Mechanicsburg High School, 500 S. Broad Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 (Phone: 717-691-4530).

I-9 Employment Eligibility form (required) -- Proof of eligibility to work in the USA. The counselor will complete Section 1 and authorized university personnel will complete Section 2. You must provide proper identification. Most counselors will show their passport, and some will show both their driver's license AND their social security card. A complete list of acceptable forms of identification is on page 2.

Note: The identification presented must be the original(s). Photocopies of the identification will not be accepted. If this form is not completed before you arrive, you must complete it immediately upon arrival. If you cannot complete the document by the time the camp starts, you may not work.

A copy of the complete instructions can be found at this link.

W-4 Federal Income Tax form (required) -- Federal income tax deduction form.

Residency Certification form (required) -- Local income tax deduction form.

Local Services Tax Exemption form (optional) -- Informs the Payroll Office to exempt you from the Local Services Tax ($2.17/pay).

Direct Deposit Authorization form (optional) -- Authorizes the Payroll Office to issue payment directly to your bank account(s) instead of mailing you a paper check. Proof of identification will be required - either with an in-person visit, phone call or Zoom call.