AWSL Program Staff

As we enter the new year, we know that our camp staffs are eager to start getting things ready to go. As we continue to gear up for the summer camp season, we are rolling out our new sign-ups

All Camp and Program Staff

All camp and program staff, both senior staff and Junior/Resident Counselors must complete their Professional Services Information (PSI Form), at right, in the following circumstances:

  1. Before the start of your first program of the calendar year, including any planning meetings you attend.

  2. To sign up to be on a summer camp staff, including CheerLeadership, Middle Level and High School Leadership Camps. You may sign up for multiple camps at the same time.

  3. To update your personal information due to a change in address, employer, contact info, legal name, etc.

Please note that will need to sign up for camp each year, and must update your information for each calendar year before you work any programs.

Please follow the instructions at EVERY header below that applies to the staff position you will be filling. Do not skip over any sections, as prior sections may contain definitions or determinations needed to follow later instructions.

Interns and Program Volunteers

Before your first program of each calendar year, all AWSL program staff, paid or not, must fill out their Professional Services Information (PSI form). Interns and volunteers do not need to fill out an employment packet, as they are not paid a program stipend.

See All Camp and Program Staff below for additional information.

Program Facilitators, Camp Staff, CheerLeadership JCs

Please note the following terms when reading below:

  • Reimbursement - this is money allotted to pay expenses that you incur from working one of our programs. Common reimbursements are: mileage for you to travel to the program site, the cost of a hotel for you to stay the night before an outreach program, snacks and supplies you brought to a camp or program, the cost of a meal you picked up on your way to the program. Reimbursements may be mailed as checks or direct deposited to your account, if you have employment paperwork on file with us. All program staff, paid or unpaid, including JC/RCs, interns and volunteers receive reimbursements. You will need to get a "pinkie" from your program director or the AWSL office in order to claim reimbursements.

  • Camp or Program Stipend - this is pay from AWSL for working a camp or an outreach program. Except in very rare circumstances, a stipend is deposited directly into your bank account from AWSL, as per the employment paperwork you have turned in. If you receive a check in the mail, it almost certainly is a reimbursement, not a stipend. If you receive a stipend, you are a paid staff member. If you do not receive a stipend, you are an unpaid staff member.

AWSL staff who are eligible to receive a camp or program stipend include:

  1. Senior/Team Counselors, Camp Secretaries, Camp Medical/Health, JC Coordinators, and Camp Directors/Assistant Directors at all summer programs: CheerLeadership, high school and middle level, except those hired as an unpaid intern or volunteer.

  2. JCs at CheerLeadership Camp ONLY.

  3. Facilitators at outreach and retreat programs held at Cispus or at schools around the state. Such programs include Team Retreats at Cispus, Eastern Washington University, Central Washington University ¡La Chispa!, Middle-Level Regionals, Reimagining Recess, Challenge Course Facilitation, and other outreach programs. This does not include mentors, RCs or other near-peer role model positions at these programs.

Junior and Resident Counselors (JCs / RCs)

Junior Counselors (JCs) are college-aged adults who help supervise AWSL’s High School Leadership Camps and CheerLeadership Camps. Most JCs are former delegates of that camp session and serve for at most a few years. Each camp will have its own process for bringing on JCs, but several camps have an online application on their camp page. Otherwise, you will need to contact the camp director personally.

Resident Counselors are high school students and college-aged adults who help supervise AWSL’s Middle-Level Leadership Camps. Most RCs have attended a High School Leadership Camp, and many will have attended that session of Middle-Level Camp as well, although that is not universal. Prospective RCs can apply using the RC application found on our Registrations & Applications page.

All JCs and RCs must fill out the Professional Services Information, above, before your camp session. RCs who are not yet 18 years old must fill out the PSI with a parent/guardian present.

JCs at CheerLeadership Camp must also fill out an employment packet, below.

Employment Packet

Materials in packet to be completed annually by program staff:

You must complete an employment packet by your first camp or program session, usually a planning session, in order to get paid on time. Completing your employment packet should include the following steps:

  • Completely fill out the W-4 form and Direct Deposit Authorization. Make sure to sign your W-4, and include your marital/filing status and number of exemptions (box 5). Your Direct Deposit form should have NO blank lines.

  • Bring an item from List A or one item from each of List B and List C of the I-9 documents to the FIRST camp or program event you attend, usually a planning session.

  • At that camp or program event, fill out the I-9 form with your program director, making sure they can personally examine your I-9 document(s).

  • Mail or have your director deliver your completed W-4, Direct Deposit Authorization and I-9 forms to AWSL • 2142 Cispus Rd • Randle, WA 98377 or fax 360.497.5324

  • All program stuff, must complete annual abuse prevention training.

Staff with Incomplete or Missing Documentation

If you are unable or unwilling to provide the documentation needed to complete all new employee paperwork, please contact your program director to arrange a way for you to serve the program as a volunteer or intern.

If you are currently unable to complete your paperwork with all necessary documentation, but will be able to at a later time, please have your director contact the AWSL office.

Please note that ALL program staff must fill out the Professional Services Information every year, whether paid or unpaid.

Forms for Program Pay and Reimbursements

The Association of Washington Student Leaders is a division of the Washington School Principals’ Education Foundation

Sponsored by the Association of Washington School Principals