Being a Leader
Being a leader is challenging, fun and rewarding. There is a sense of accomplishment and pride that comes with every year for being a part of a camp that has been running for over 60 years now. In saying this, being a leader is not without its challenges, and in order to better prepare you (particularly newer leaders), there are some testimonials from both new leaders and old leaders below in order to help you gain a clearer picture of what it means to be on the Juhid team.
First time leaders:
Commitment
- The level of commitment is dependent on your role at camp and what you put your hand up to help organise.
- Organisation for camp is a year long process. It is important that you divide your time in the year to gradually, bit by bit, keep updating your plans for camp. Don’t leave it to the last minute!
- Yes it’s a year long plan, but if you manage your time and stay organised it’s not a difficult commitment. There’s always lots of support from the other members of the leadership team.
- Time commitment could be something like a few additions to your planning every couple of weeks.
- It is a year long commitment but as a first time leader it isn’t super overwhelming. Of course you’re expected to help out at events and in the planning, but I found that I could balance it easily with life, work and studies.
- During the last couple of months it can be a bit more stressful, so I would make sure to factor in some time where you can focus on it just once a week or something
- Team meetings will also be a factor that should be considered. Making sure that you’re taking time to not only be present but be prepping for the meetings so planning can move forward quickly.
- Having the ability to travel will be handy or if you’re interstate trying to help contribute in different ways like behind the scenes work when you cannot be present.
- During the week, the commitment to the camp itself will be very tiring! I was definitely running on adrenaline but when I got home it had run down my immune system and I had to recover in bed the next few days.
Being a first time leader:
- Personally, I found it tremendously fun. However, of course, it can get tiring with the added responsibility and late nights.
- Know that, the more experienced leaders are always willing to support. You can talk to any one of them if you ever feel concerned or uncertain.
- I did not realise how incredibly rewarding it would be! To give back to a community who has done the same for you for years is such a cool full circle experience! To work with kids and grow and
learn with them for a whole week is so special to be a part of because you all go on a journey together. It was so exciting to see your hut get involved, problem solve and be empowered by one another.
- I was worried being a leader isn’t as much fun as being a camper and was feeling a bit nostalgic but upon arriving I realised that being a leader is fun in a whole new way!! Seeing how the activities come into fruition is so satisfying and being able to facilitate a fun, encouraging and safe space for the campers is really awesome!
- I felt so supported by the team around me - there are many things that you don’t learn until you rock up and so there are always so many questions, however I felt as if I could approach anyone for help because the team was just so willing to help out in any way possible
Full Time leaders:
Once you move on from the role of abijuht, your Sõrve juht life will evolve not only at camp, but throughout the year.
You're expected to share your experience and knowledge in a mentor role to support the newer juhid beginning their journey. This can be specific to planning activities, answering questions from meetings and checking in to ensure the newer juhid feel supported emotionally.
There is more of an expectation to attend and contribute at meetings.
As you should have attended fundraisers already, as a senior leader you have a greater expectation to either organise or at the minimum, arrive early/leave late and partake in the functional aspects of fundraisers (preparing/serving food, table & chair set up & pack up, general cleaning).
Recruitment! Now that you're a senior juht and you've got more experience on how the back end of Sõrve runs, you're in a better position to encourage newcomers to attend and give them a better idea of what Sõrve is like (both new families and new juhid).
When it comes to planning activities - be mindful of things other people may have overlooked or may not have considered, particularly if they haven't helped organise that activity before.
First time leaders:
Commitment
- The level of commitment is dependent on your role at camp and what you put your hand up to help organise.
- Organisation for camp is a year long process. It is important that you divide your time in the year to gradually, bit by bit, keep updating your plans for camp. Don’t leave it to the last minute!
- Yes it’s a year long plan, but if you manage your time and stay organised it’s not a difficult commitment. There’s always lots of support from the other members of the leadership team.
- Time commitment could be something like a few additions to your planning every couple of weeks.
- It is a year long commitment but as a first time leader it isn’t super overwhelming. Of course you’re expected to help out at events and in the planning, but I found that I could balance it easily with life, work and studies.
- During the last couple of months it can be a bit more stressful, so I would make sure to factor in some time where you can focus on it just once a week or something
- Team meetings will also be a factor that should be considered. Making sure that you’re taking time to not only be present but be prepping for the meetings so planning can move forward quickly.
- Having the ability to travel will be handy or if you’re interstate trying to help contribute in different ways like behind the scenes work when you cannot be present.
- During the week, the commitment to the camp itself will be very tiring! I was definitely running on adrenaline but when I got home it had run down my immune system and I had to recover in bed the next few days.
Being a first time leader:
- Personally, I found it tremendously fun. However, of course, it can get tiring with the added responsibility and late nights.
- Know that, the more experienced leaders are always willing to support. You can talk to any one of them if you ever feel concerned or uncertain.
- I did not realise how incredibly rewarding it would be! To give back to a community who has done the same for you for years is such a cool full circle experience! To work with kids and grow and
learn with them for a whole week is so special to be a part of because you all go on a journey together. It was so exciting to see your hut get involved, problem solve and be empowered by one another.
- I was worried being a leader isn’t as much fun as being a camper and was feeling a bit nostalgic but upon arriving I realised that being a leader is fun in a whole new way!! Seeing how the activities come into fruition is so satisfying and being able to facilitate a fun, encouraging and safe space for the campers is really awesome!
- I felt so supported by the team around me - there are many things that you don’t learn until you rock up and so there are always so many questions, however I felt as if I could approach anyone for help because the team was just so willing to help out in any way possible
Full Time leaders:
Once you move on from the role of abijuht, your Sõrve juht life will evolve not only at camp, but throughout the year.
You're expected to share your experience and knowledge in a mentor role to support the newer juhid beginning their journey. This can be specific to planning activities, answering questions from meetings and checking in to ensure the newer juhid feel supported emotionally.
There is more of an expectation to attend and contribute at meetings.
As you should have attended fundraisers already, as a senior leader you have a greater expectation to either organise or at the minimum, arrive early/leave late and partake in the functional aspects of fundraisers (preparing/serving food, table & chair set up & pack up, general cleaning).
Recruitment! Now that you're a senior juht and you've got more experience on how the back end of Sõrve runs, you're in a better position to encourage newcomers to attend and give them a better idea of what Sõrve is like (both new families and new juhid).
When it comes to planning activities - be mindful of things other people may have overlooked or may not have considered, particularly if they haven't helped organise that activity before.
Key Dates - must attend all workshops
It is expected you attend all meetings, either via zoom or in person.
Fundraisers held over the year are to support the cost of the leaders and to ensure the longevity of Sõrve. It's expected you assist at 2 or more events throughout the year. The weekend workshop is in person only to team build and workshop leadership skills, as well as plan most of camp. Weekend workshop will be held either in NSW or ACT.
I would also like to host a leader run Bunnings BBQ sometime throughout the year, I will schedule it based on interest and availability
The rough plan for the year is as follows - if this does not suit, let me know in the allocated section below:
Saturday 15th April - EOI open
Sunday 30th April - EOI close
Saturday 21st May - Workshop 1 (intro workshop) - 9AM AEST - 1hr - Zoom
Friday, Saturday Sunday 7th, 8th, 9th July - Weekend Workshop - 7pm AEST Friday to 4pm AEST Sunday - Location TBA (NSW or ACT)
Saturday 16th September - Workshop 3 - 10am AEST - 2hr - Eesti Maja/Zoom
Saturday *** November - Bunnings BBQ - 7am AEST - All Day - If you are interested, please let me know in the section provided below - Pending approval from a bunnings to get done.
Saturday 2nd December - Workshop 4 - 10am AEST - 3hr - Eesti Maja/Zoom
Please download the following links for more information regarding being a Juht at Sõrve, including roles and hut leaders
Fundraisers held over the year are to support the cost of the leaders and to ensure the longevity of Sõrve. It's expected you assist at 2 or more events throughout the year. The weekend workshop is in person only to team build and workshop leadership skills, as well as plan most of camp. Weekend workshop will be held either in NSW or ACT.
I would also like to host a leader run Bunnings BBQ sometime throughout the year, I will schedule it based on interest and availability
The rough plan for the year is as follows - if this does not suit, let me know in the allocated section below:
Saturday 15th April - EOI open
Sunday 30th April - EOI close
Saturday 21st May - Workshop 1 (intro workshop) - 9AM AEST - 1hr - Zoom
Friday, Saturday Sunday 7th, 8th, 9th July - Weekend Workshop - 7pm AEST Friday to 4pm AEST Sunday - Location TBA (NSW or ACT)
Saturday 16th September - Workshop 3 - 10am AEST - 2hr - Eesti Maja/Zoom
Saturday *** November - Bunnings BBQ - 7am AEST - All Day - If you are interested, please let me know in the section provided below - Pending approval from a bunnings to get done.
Saturday 2nd December - Workshop 4 - 10am AEST - 3hr - Eesti Maja/Zoom
Please download the following links for more information regarding being a Juht at Sõrve, including roles and hut leaders