Camp Hertko Hollow

Volunteer

Opportunities

Volunteering at Camp

Camp Hertko Hollow is dedicated to teaching children with Type 1 diabetes how to live a normal and active lifestyle and we rely heavily on volunteers in order to make the camp experience a memorable one for our campers.  Our volunteer camp staff have an unbelievable impact on the lives of our campers, and because of this we put the utmost importance on hiring the best staff.  Being a staff member at Camp Hertko Hollow is a very rewarding experience.  We need physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, and counselors who are willing to volunteer their time and energy.  Many health professional students appreciate the opportunity to learn about diabetes first hand by living in a cabin with campers and being involved in the many recreational activities and monitoring duties.  Not only do our volunteer staff members help Hertko Hollow campers learn about managing diabetes, but they also gain a wealth of knowledge during their time at camp.  All volunteers are required to participate in training sessions focused on working with children, keeping them safe, diabetes education, and diabetes management.  All staff complete annual background checks and participate in an intensive interview process to insure they meet the highest of standards.

Camp Hertko Hollow would not exist if it wasn’t for our volunteers!  We offer many volunteer opportunities with varying time commitments – all of which make a difference in the lives of the campers and families who participate in Camp Hertko Hollow programs.

Summer Camp: Come spend a week (or two!) impacting the lives of hundreds of kids with diabetes!  These positions are unpaid, but guaranteed to provide you with a million-dollar experience.

Family Weekend: Come experience the magic of camp during a 48 hour weekend with our campers, potential campers – and their families!

Call Us 515-471-8523
Volunteer application

Minimum Qualifications

  • Ability to work with children
  • Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
  • Minimum of 18 years old
  • Working knowledge of diabetes management
  • Have a positive attitude

Responsibilities

  • Know each camper assigned to your unit and help him/her get the most from the camp
  • Offer emotional support and guidance
  • Participate actively in the camp program and schedule
  • Work with medical staff to ensure the health and appropriate diabetes management of campers is provided
  • Relay any medical concerns, including accidents and low blood sugars IMMEDIATELY to medical staff
  • Ensure assigned campers arrive on time at scheduled activities and facilitate their active participation
  • Be a positive role model for cabin campers, particularly with diabetes control

Specific duties

  • Work closely with Y-Leader who is responsible for discipline and all other non- diabetes situations
  • Carry cabin back pack and restock as needed
  • Pick up snacks after lunch and dispense during afternoon
  • Make sure there are two CHH Staff members with campers at all times
  • Treat hypoglycemia episodes and document all blood sugars in logbook
  • Document new awards (Bottom buster, ) on award sheet in log book
  • Take advantage of “teachable moments” with campers
  • Encourage camaraderie and team building among campers
  • Communicate with CHH Circle Leader about concerns and suggestions
  • Supervise campers at meals and help with carb counting, manners, etc
  • Make sure campers receive medications as prescribed
  • Have campers write Thank You letters to sponsors
  • Be responsible and make decisions relating to diabetes care within the cabin
  • Group management (testing, recording blood sugars in log book or IPAD, arrival at dining hall, )
  • Participate enthusiastically in all camp activities especially D.I.G program (education curriculum)
  • Address any problem situations with appropriate staff.
  • The second CHH Counselor in the cabin will assist the Lead CHH Counselor with all of the above duties, plus assume the leadership role if needed. Medical field students also participate in cabin group

Responsible to Program Director

Minimum Qualifications

  • Must have the qualifications and ability to prescribe insulin
  • Desire and ability to work with children outdoors in a camp
  • Experience working with children is a
  • Good character, integrity and
  • Ability to be a positive member of a staff
  • Commitment to attend the entire week of
  • Commitment to attend required trainings and

Responsibilities

  • Review daily blood glucose records with clinicians, offering counsel and advice regarding the diabetes management of individual campers
  • Available for consultation about diabetes management throughout the day
  • Make night rounds (midnight until complete) according to a rotation schedule of duty
  • Review camper log books with clinicians on a daily and on an as needed basis
  • Document above review in camper BG logbook
  • Recommend therapy changes to better manage camper BG levels
  • Communicate with Medical Director for issues related to camper’s diabetes, other medical conditions, behavior,
  • Adhere to Camp Hertko Hollow protocols and procedures
  • Evaluate the condition of campers with severe, acute complications of diabetes
  • Determine medical management of campers with severe, acute diabetes-related complications
  • Determine need for off-site medical care of camper with severe diabetes management needs

Specific duties

  • Participates in diabetes education for benefit of campers, as
  • Attends daily staff meeting(s).
  • Available during the day and night (may be in rotation with other senior professionals) to address diabetes management issues that require an advanced education and skill
  • Assists with carbohydrate counting when
  • Promotes camper education in diabetes management
  • Promotes healthy

Responsible to Medical Director

Minimum Qualifications

  • Registered Nurse or LPN licensed in Iowa (CDE desirable)
  • Awareness of diabetes management and education strategies
  • Demonstrated ability to work with children
  • Awareness of potential health and safety issues and ways to control them in the camp environment
  • Readiness and ability to adapt to camp environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively as a team member
  • Willingness to reside on campsite for entire camp period or as arranged with Camp Director

Responsibilities

  • Comply with camp medical procedures
  • Assist with camper blood testing, insulin administration, dosage adjustment, and medical needs
  • Consults with Nursing Director regularly during camp season
  • Assist with camper and staff health emergencies including accidents, high and low blood sugars
  • At the direction of the Nursing Director assists with the care of special needs campers
  • Report all incidents and accidents immediately to the Medical Director, and cooperate in the completion of required follow-up
  • Other duties as assigned by the Nursing Director

Specific duties

  • During Registration place camper’s insulin in labeled baggie with cabin
  • Live in a cabin with campers, being an integral part of the daily activities
  • Provide first aid and attend to any emergencies
  • Do night rounds and Health Lodge Duty and pump changes as assigned
  • Assist with Diabetes Education sessions as assigned
  • Follow assigned schedule to be “on duty’ at pool, canoes, evening programs and other strategic areas with bug juice, meter and supplies
  • Sign-up for at least one shift in the Health Lodge per day, find a replacement for your shift if unable to fulfill it (notify Nursing Coordinator) of
  • Complete assigned duties in Health Lodge

Responsible to Nursing Coordinator

Minimum Qualifications

  • Registered Dietician
  • Readiness and ability to adapt to camp work environment
  • Knowledgeable about diabetes as it relates to dietary concerns
  • Knowledge of kitchen sanitary/safety requirements and procedures
  • Demonstrated staff management abilities
  • Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively as a team member

Responsibilities

  • Responsible for following and implementing overall nutritional program for Camp Hertko Hollow
  • Prepare salad bar menu with proper nutritional standards and obtain accurate carbohydrate values
  • Coordinate menu changes as necessary during camp session
  • Review camper applications prior to camp sessions and assign meal plans
  • Supervise and evaluate the other dietitians & students
  • Train the staff during Staff Orientation in areas of food service procedures and nutrition
  • Meet with parents during registration to determine appropriate nutrition patterns for all campers and answer questions, make changes as
  • Assign persons to prepare specialty foods for gluten free diets and other
  • Assist campers and counselors to optimize nutrition
  • Teach nutrition topics during DIG using developmentally appropriate principals of teaching and
  • Coordinate the daily menu with the Y-Camp Head Cook for all food preparation, make a list of additional items and snacks for CHH to purchase through the Camp Director
  • Oversee distribution of snacks during the day and preparation and serving of evening snack
  • Assist counselors, kitchen staff and counselors with food plans for all cookouts, NUTS night and special occasions
  • Attend daily CHH Staff meetings, making announcements as needed
  • Responsible for posting of weekly menu in all camper cabins and dining room
  • Coordinate schedule and distribution of any extra evening snacks with Program Director & Medical Director
  • Assist Y-camp kitchen staff with meals and meeting individual camper’s dietary needs and/or restrictions due to medical conditions or allergies
  • Responsible for ACA standards in food service areas
  • Promote optimal sanitation and safety conditions in the kitchen, dining room, storage areas at all times
  • Other duties as assigned

Responsible to Program Director

Minimum Qualifications

  • Experience in diabetes management and working in a kitchen environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work with children
  • Readiness and ability to adapt to camp environment
  • Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively as a team member
  • Willingness to reside on campsite for entire camp period

Responsibilities

  • May live in a cabin with campers and being an integral part of the daily activities
  • During mealtimes circulate in dining room to assist campers with carb counting
  • Food Service Duty as assigned, determining portion sizes, posting carbs on white boards, preparing gluten free foods,
  • Help to prepare and distribute snacks to counselors for backpacks
  • Help teach or assist with Diabetes Education sessions as assigned
  • Assist Dietary Coordinator with nutrition and food service responsibilities

Responsible to Dietary Coordinator


We welcome students from various professions to join our staff at camp! Students will function as a cabin leader while at camp and report to their appropriate coordinator based on their education and training. 

Pharmacy Student

Function as a cabin leader and fulfill pharmacy responsibilities that are appropriate for achieved level of training under supervision of a Registered Pharmacist.

Dietary Student

Function as a cabin leader and preform dietitian duties that are appropriate for achieved level of training and under supervision of a Registered Dietitian. View both job descriptions.

Responsible to Dietary Coordinator

Education and Psychosocial Students

Function as a cabin leader and preform education duties that are appropriate for achieved level of training and under supervision of the Education Director. 

Responsible to Education Director.

Nursing Students

Function as a cabin leader; provide nursing duties that are appropriate for achieved level of training and under supervision of a licensed nurse. View both job descriptions.

Responsible to Nursing Coordinator