Gap Year Internship
Who?
Our Gap Year Internship is designed for high school and college graduates seeking an opportunity in ministry to help in their development prior to pursuing their college education or career. We are also open, on a case-by-case basis, to college students who have not yet graduated who are searching for practical experience and in-the-field education that will encourage them to accomplish their college education goals.
What?
Our Gap Year Interns serve here at Camp Ba Yo Ca in a program designed for 12 months, but we also offer 6-month internship opportunities, per semester and our Summer Staff Program. Each individual intern partners with our Camp Director in designing the job description and goals for their internship. This design process is unique to the individual intern, and we are both flexible and creative in our opportunities. These internships can resemble a more focused day-to-day responsibilities style or a more free-form, conceptual role where big ideas are brainstormed, created, and accomplished over the course of the internship. Brief examples of internship designs follow:
Our Gap Year Internship is designed for high school and college graduates seeking an opportunity in ministry to help in their development prior to pursuing their college education or career. We are also open, on a case-by-case basis, to college students who have not yet graduated who are searching for practical experience and in-the-field education that will encourage them to accomplish their college education goals.
What?
Our Gap Year Interns serve here at Camp Ba Yo Ca in a program designed for 12 months, but we also offer 6-month internship opportunities, per semester and our Summer Staff Program. Each individual intern partners with our Camp Director in designing the job description and goals for their internship. This design process is unique to the individual intern, and we are both flexible and creative in our opportunities. These internships can resemble a more focused day-to-day responsibilities style or a more free-form, conceptual role where big ideas are brainstormed, created, and accomplished over the course of the internship. Brief examples of internship designs follow:
- Grounds Keeper – This intern ensured the upkeep landscaping of our campgrounds and maintenance of our facilities year-round. They were responsible for the vital first impression of our Camp for church retreats, school groups, and our campers. This internship was focused on day-to-day responsibilities where a job list could be accomplished each day and often revolved around a cyclical routine of tasks. Specific responsibilities for this intern included: mowing and weedeating the campgrounds, clean-up of facilities after group departures, minor construction projects, demolishing his directors in ping-pong, routine gutter clean out, and more.
- Program Coordinator – This intern was constantly developing new program opportunities for our campers, both for our summer camps and year-round retreat groups. They were responsible for the design and implementation of activities for our campers and events for our camp alumni. Their day-to-day responsibilities list may have appeared less full of tangible, completable tasks, but their work led to the success of new and exciting opportunities for guests of all kinds who came to Camp Ba Yo Ca.
When?
We work alongside applicants to plan the most suitable timeframe for their needs. Internships traditionally begin right after graduation to include our summer camp season, extending from May-May, but each internship will be suited to the individual intern’s needs. Interested students would begin the application process during their senior year with either the plan to work during the summer and then begin their internship prior to their graduation.
Why?
Our leadership is passionate about developing young adults and we believe our Gap Year program can offer an enriching setting for young people to grow in their professional abilities while pursuing a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. We provide lodging, meals, and a modest financial stipend for participation in our Gap Year Internship, granting the opportunity to serve and learn while interns are choosing who they want to be. Interns also live in fellowship with a small community of fellow interns and our full-time Camp Staff here at Ba Yo Ca. We’ll enjoy family meals and staff outings together while also frequently participating in service opportunities around the Knoxville community.
We work alongside applicants to plan the most suitable timeframe for their needs. Internships traditionally begin right after graduation to include our summer camp season, extending from May-May, but each internship will be suited to the individual intern’s needs. Interested students would begin the application process during their senior year with either the plan to work during the summer and then begin their internship prior to their graduation.
Why?
Our leadership is passionate about developing young adults and we believe our Gap Year program can offer an enriching setting for young people to grow in their professional abilities while pursuing a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. We provide lodging, meals, and a modest financial stipend for participation in our Gap Year Internship, granting the opportunity to serve and learn while interns are choosing who they want to be. Interns also live in fellowship with a small community of fellow interns and our full-time Camp Staff here at Ba Yo Ca. We’ll enjoy family meals and staff outings together while also frequently participating in service opportunities around the Knoxville community.
Reach Out!
We're recruiting potential interns now for 2025 while we visit Universities and High Schools in the Southeastern U.S. If you or someone you know is interested we would love to set-up an interest interview. Please contact us at (865)453-6274 or [email protected].
Gap Year Testimonials
Throughout the past six months in the gap year program with Camp Ba Yo Ca, I have learned more about myself during this season of life than ever before. I have worked five summers at Camp prior to this year-long experience. Camp has always been an avenue in which I have grown personally and spiritually, by breaking the walls of my own comfortability that I had built around myself. Camp is all about getting out of your shell and trying new things; that has definitely been the case for me during this Gap Year Program. I have had the opportunity to speak about camp in front of 200+ pastors, attend college job fairs to gain staff/counselors, partner with local ministries, and plan for an awesome Summer 2022–only to name a few experiences that I have been blessed to be a part of so far. During my Gap Year experience, I have been able to continue with school online and in person. Camp Ba Yo Ca has allowed such flexible hours that have helped me continue to achieve my personal goals while also contributing to Camp’s goals.
If you are looking to expand your ministry experience, I would highly recommend thoughtfully and prayerfully considering the Gap Year Program at Camp Ba Yo Ca. It is not only a once-in-a-lifetime experience to live in the middle of God’s beautiful creation, but also to work directly with His people. How many other people can say that pushing canoes into the lake and performing crazy skits for kids is what they do for a living? This opportunity was so unexpected in my plans, but God’s plans are far greater than we can ever comprehend.
- Kenly Howard, 20
If you are looking to expand your ministry experience, I would highly recommend thoughtfully and prayerfully considering the Gap Year Program at Camp Ba Yo Ca. It is not only a once-in-a-lifetime experience to live in the middle of God’s beautiful creation, but also to work directly with His people. How many other people can say that pushing canoes into the lake and performing crazy skits for kids is what they do for a living? This opportunity was so unexpected in my plans, but God’s plans are far greater than we can ever comprehend.
- Kenly Howard, 20
Additional Testimonials |
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I am humbled by my opportunity to serve people through Ba Yo Ca's ministry! Serving as a teenager and young adult here at Camp, I first shared my faith in a meaningful way and matured into a man capable of being the friend, husband and father I am today. Ba Yo Ca's grounds are smack dab in the middle of a spectacular setting, but I have been most impacted by the power God shows through the people He's had serve here. I'm honored to have followed in their footsteps and excited to believe in the next generation of young people who serve Him at Camp!
- Josh Bisig, 32
- Josh Bisig, 32