Nurses Portal: Camp Goodtimes
Each year, we need to recruit approximately 12-15 nurses (dependent on their availability) to staff our camp’s MedShed. We look to confirm volunteer commitments as early as possible, around the February/March time frame, to get the opportunity on your calendar and our schedule. Please read more about the possibility and see if you’d be a good fit. Then, submit an application with your availability and await contact from Goodtimes to confirm whether our need and your availability align. (Submitting an application does not equate to being hired.)
NOTE: nurses volunteering for the first time with Camp Goodtimes, including partial-week volunteers, are required to be present during staff training weekend (the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before campers arrive) to get up-to-speed with camp’s medical protocols and procedures in addition to acclimating to our camp culture.
ideal candidates
Love caring for kids? Do what you love and get a new perspective of what being sick can look like. Camp Goodtimes, a week-long sleep-over camp on Vashon Island for pediatric oncology patients and their siblings, is looking for licensed RNs and PAs to join in the fun.
Ideal candidates:
Will volunteer 2-9 days of their time to help us provide continuity of care, as well as set-up and tear-down of the MedShed
Are energetic and can embrace the planned chaos that is camp
Can live in shared accommodation in a camp environment, and work well with others they've just met
Want to help create a safe and hopeful atmosphere for campers
Have availability during either of our camp sessions: click to see camp session dates
Are a licensed RN or PA (license does not need to be in WA state)
Have clinical hours (in a clinic/hospital setting) within the last 24 months
volunteer commitment
Camper health and safety is our number one concern. Therefore, in addition to the provider we have onsite, we hire a group of nurses for daytime rounding, administering meds, and general cuts and bruises.
Each camper cabin is assigned a nurse who cares for the 7-10 campers in that cabin; generally, each nurse is assigned to between 2-3 cabins. Ideally each nurse is able to stay for more than two days to add continuity to camper care. The minimum time commitment however is two 24-hour shifts (shifts run from 7:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.). NOTE: all other non-medical camp volunteers are required to be present for the duration of nine days. Nurses volunteering for the first time at our camp are required to be present for staff training weekend (the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before campers arrive) to get up-to-speed on our protocols and procedures even if only volunteering for a partial week.
Nurses are on shift from approximately 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m., while the provider takes the on-call overnight shift from 10:00 p.m.-8:00 a.m. During the day, nurses are welcome and encouraged to attend the camp activities and join in the fun!
If you believe that you’d make a great candidate, and can make a 2-9 day volunteer commitment (in addition to staff-training weekend if you’re a first-time nurse at our camp), submit an application! All new applicants will be interviewed by either our Volunteer Manager and/or the Medical Lead.
How to apply:
Please utilize our online staff application system (which will open each camp season in February) and complete both Part 1 and Part 2 of the application.
You will be asked whether you’re applying to be present for the entire nine day session or if your availability is for a partial week.
For partial week applicants, be ready to include the dates you can commit to (and/or the date by which you’ll have confirmation of your availability).
how to apply
Camp Goodtimes is held on Vashon Island, WA and utilizes the facilities of Camp Burton. Because camp is on an island, volunteers will need to ferry over (from Fauntleroy, Pt. Defiance, or Southworth). On-island drive-time from the north-end ferry dock is about 25 minutes, and from the southern ferry dock about 15. Ferry lines can be long during the summer, so plan ahead.
Address: 9326 SW Bayview Dr, Vashon, WA 98070
Parking: once on site, please park in a vacant spot in Camp Burton’s primary parking lot or alongside the road, or as directed by the camp staff
camp location information
If you will not be volunteering for the entire camp week, shifts are a 24 hour period which run from 7:00 pm to 7:00 pm to ensure coverage and continuity of care.
If you’re volunteering for a partial week:
Park alongside the road or in the main parking lot. Please have made arrival plans with the Medical Lead on where to meet up. Once you’ve been greeted, and you get a name tag, they’ll help you get settled and put you to work. If you are running late, please contact the Medical Lead by phone or text.
shift change
For overnight stays, please come prepared with your own toiletries, bedding (sheets/sleeping bag and pillow), and towels. All staff accommodations are in communal sleeping spaces in somewhat rustic, though clean and comfortable, cabins.
We will supply the medical supplies you might need (bandaids, gloves, medicines, etc.), but you’ll want to bring a backpack or fanny pack to tote around with you.
what to pack
This is camp, so keep it casual. T-shirts, jeans, and shorts are all good choices. Shoes don’t need to be closed-toed unless you will be on the Boata cruise, in which case you do need them (generally on the Tuesday of camp). Costumes, funny hats/head gear, and theme-related items are all welcomed. The evenings can get cool so we recommend a sweatshirt or light jacket to keep the chill away.
what to wear
Though you’re volunteering to help keep campers safe and healthy, that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun while you’re there! We appreciate goofiness, smiles, and laughter. Also feel free to join in on the camp theme for the year.
If you’re a first-time Camp Goodtimes volunteer, you’ll also need to choose a camp name. It cannot be a name that is already in use, so check out the name list ahead of your volunteer shift.