SWAT Team

Want to have an experience that will last forever? Join our SWAT Team – “Summer Workers at Timberline.”

Top Ten Reasons to Apply for SWAT

You will have tons of fun in a terrific camp environment.
You will make lifelong friends. Crazy friends, true, but lifelong!
You will grow spiritually as you become part of a community that is focused on serving God.
You will struggle at times! Being on SWAT is hard, and, but it’s through struggles that people grow their faith and develop confidence (e.g. James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5), even if they fail on occasion.
You will learn and develop many crucial, transferable skills such as problem-solving, community living, critical thinking, creativity, leadership, taking initiative, communication, conflict resolution, team-work, and collaboration.
You will be trained in specific skills such as childcare, rock climbing, cooking, horse-care, using tools, and so on.
You will have something fantastic to put on your resume. Many recruiters are looking specifically for people who have served at a summer camp.
You will make an eternal difference in the lives of many children. That’s amazing!
You will receive a decent salary, plus bonuses (see specifics below), especially if you are heading back to post-secondary school.
You will experience a sense of purpose and belonging like you may never experience anywhere else this side of heaven.

For more information, email Dobson Reid, our Assistant Director, or phone him at 604-463-9278, extension 103.

How many reasons do you need? Do it for the Lord, do it for the kids, do it for yourself, and do it for an amazing experience that will last forever!

Requirements

An application and screening process allows us to determine if Timberline is the right place for you this summer. If you are accepted, you will receive the following:

Quality staff training
Opportunities to serve in numerous areas (see below)
Great pay and extra benefits (see below)
A SWAT Team T-Shirt and a Timberline Staff Shirt

To qualify, you must:

Be at least 18 years of age by December 31, 2025
Be available June 19 – August 29 (some allowance will be made for students who have to return to school early)
Demonstrate an active and genuine Christian faith
Be actively involved in a local, evangelical church
Be able to work well with a team and as an individual

SWAT Positions Available

Camp Cabin Leaders

Our Cabin Leaders are our frontline workers, the ones who will impact the campers the most (and who will also grow the most!). Everyone else is working to support you in your role. If you are hired as a Cabin Leader, you will be in a cabin with children most weeks in the summer (four nights per week). The other weeks you will serve in some of the support roles below as needed. Your main roles are to:

Be with your kids whenever possible (they spell love: T-I-M-E!)
Have fun with them
Ensure they are well looked-after and safe
Teach and demonstrate to them the love of Jesus

This is the most important role at Timberline Ranch, and we look to hire those who love children, love Jesus, and are responsible team players.

Camp Support Roles

There are so many ways you can support the ministry happening with the children! In some of these roles, you may work directly with the children, teaching them how to ride a horse, shoot an arrow, or rappel down a cliff. In others, you may spend most of your time preparing food for the campers and staff, keeping the property clean and functional, or ensuring the horses are looked after. The main thing is to remember Who we’re doing this for and why it makes such a difference in the lives of campers! Some positions include:

Kitchen Team
- Help ensure everyone is well-fed, the dishes are clean, and the kitchen and Dining Hall are clean and presentable.
Barn Team
- Help lead trail rides, tack-up horses, clean stalls, look after the petting zoo animals, lead horse-related activities, and teach lessons on horsemanship.
Maintenance Team
- Timberline could never be such a beautiful property were it not for the staff and volunteers who clean, mow, weed-whack, repair, and generally make sure everything looks great and works well around the Ranch.
Program Team
- Support our Cabin Leaders by running games, planning events, leading meals, and ensuring everything starts on time and is run well.
Skills Team
- Help the Program run smoothly by using your particular skills and passions to lead activities and ensure they are done professionally, safely, and in a fun manner. We need:
  - Climbing Instructors
  - Zipline Instructors
  - Lifeguards
  - Activity Instructors
  - Videographers
Medical Team
- You can support all of the campers and staff by keeping us all healthy and coming as a nurse or first aid attendant. So vital to our ministry!
Camp Speakers
- Lead camper Bible studies during the Morning Show and at Campfire in the evenings.
Year-Round Staff
- Although these are obviously not summer positions, our year-round staff is also here to support those working most directly with the campers. This group includes directors, managers, and assistants in all aspects of the camp ministry and in all departments. Although many do not live onsite, they will be around as much as needed to ensure that everything and everyone is well-supported. Many continue working when they are at home, so even if you don’t always see them, know that they are highly involved!
TR Board
- Our excellent board is a small group of men and women who are dedicated to ensuring that the camp is well-run. You may not see them in the summer, but know that they are praying for you and are working hard behind the scenes.

SWAT Benefits for 2025

Not only do SWAT Team members get to work with kids, learn, grow, and make a difference for Jesus, but they also get fantastic benefits, especially if they are heading back to school in the fall.

Financial Benefits

Starting wage²	$720 per week ($18/hour)
Previous SWAT bonus^1,2	$100 for those who have previously served on SWAT
Super early application bonus¹	$100 for all who apply by Sep 30, 2024
Early application bonus¹	$50 for all who apply by Jan 31, 2025
Student scholarship¹	$300+ heading to post-secondary school (conditions apply)
Recruitment bonus	$200 per new SWAT person you recruit! (conditions apply)
Free room & board²	$1200 value
Free Tuck Shop treats	$100 value

Even without recruiting any new SWAT members, a new SWAT member serving the whole summer can earn a value of $8,900, or $22.25 per hour! Recruit a couple of SWAT people, and it just goes up from there.

¹Prorated: These bonuses will be prorated according to the number of weeks served. For example, if someone works eight of the ten weeks, all bonuses will be prorated to 80%. So, by committing to the full summer, not only do you earn more weeks of wages, but you will also earn more in bonuses.

²Seasonal & Year-Round Staff will continue to earn their seasonal wage, unless it is less than $18.00 per hour. If they are already earning more than the Starting Wage, they will not be eligible for the Previous SWAT bonus. Seasonals who have a room to themselves throughout the summer will continue to pay room and board at the regular reduced staff rate (currently $60/week or $120/week depending on workload).

Additional Benefits

Unique 2025 SWAT shirt
Unique 2025 Staff shirt
Support team
Special weekly staff events
Weekends off (except one in early July)

SWAT Living at the Ranch (or not?)

We desire all SWAT Team members (besides year-round staff) to live on-site from Sunday evenings until Friday evenings and to be involved all day with the program (breaks will be given, of course). Those who cannot get home on the weekends (e.g., international staff) will be allowed to stay over, but we encourage everyone else to go home, rest well, do your laundry, and attend a church on Sunday morning.

Because of Timberline’s close proximity to town, some positions in the kitchen and in the barn may be available for those unable or unwilling to stay overnight at the Ranch. While we appreciate all who serve at camp, SWAT bonuses (see above) are only available to those who live onsite and participate in the whole camp experience.

SWAT Team Training Camp Dates

Timberline’s SWAT Team training camp is offered once each year for those accepted through the application process. The 2025 training is on June 19-25.

The training begins at supper on Thursday (or Thursday morning for those doing first aid) and ends at 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The rest of the summer staff will be included from Friday to Monday, so you’ll get to know them as well.

Application

To apply, please complete the Staff Application Form, two Reference forms (filled in by an associate), and one Reference form (filled in by a pastor), and send them to us.

Please note that SWAT Team applications are due by February 29 (plus a $75 bonus for those who apply by January 31 and are accepted). Applications received after February 29 will be considered if the needs of the Ranch cannot be fulfilled by the applications sent in on time.