Last year our spots for counselors at first session filled up within three hours of emailing out the applications – yes, three hours! We had a great set of counselors this past summer, but it was really tough knowing that there were a lot of great people who didn’t get to volunteer at Camp Swift simply because they hadn’t checked their email in time to know the applications had gone out. While we had already put the wheels in motion and couldn’t do anything about it last year, we knew that we’d need to improve the application process for Camp Swift 2018. 
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In an effort to ensure the most impactful experience for everyone involved in Camp Swift this summer, we are moving to a completely merit-based application process rather than first-come first-served for all qualified candidates. We want you to know that we have worked hard to ensure that this process will be as objective as possible. We will have a committee made up of Swift Youth Foundation staff, board members, and experienced volunteers who will all be involved in the application review process. In order to be as transparent as possible, we are sharing the rubric that the team will be using to score each application. Each person on the committee will be reviewing each application, and scores from each reviewer will be averaged for a final score. The applicants with the highest scores on the rubric will be accepted to be counselors for Camp Swift 2018. A few things to note:

• Because we split our cabins by gender and therefore need a specific number of female counselors and a specific number of male counselors, female and male applicants will be scored separately.
• Session preference will be given those with the highest scores. To better ensure that you will get a spot at camp this summer, we highly recommend that you remain open to the possibility of attending either session. If you know that you absolutely cannot attend one of the sessions, please only mark the session that you are able to attend*.

*Team Swift members are the only counselors who are eligible to attend both sessions.  

The following 100 point rubric will be used to score counselor applications:

Swift Youth Foundation is proud to announce we have be chosen to be the beneficiary for the 2018 DancIN'spiration show presented by the local dance company: DanceMotion. DanceMotion not only teaches dance, but also inspires young dancers to give back and  share their talents with the community. Swift is lucky to have Sophi Moyer, a DanceMotion dancer, as a member of our Team Swift teen leadership program. Sophi nominated Swift to benefit from the event and has been instrumental in connecting DanceMotion and Swift. Below, please read a letter from Sophi describing the event and why she decided to nominate Swift to be the beneficiary.

Session 1
May 24 - Support Staff Orientation
May 25 - Counselor Orientation
May 26-May 30 - Camp Swift Session 1 2018

Session 2
July 30 - Support Staff Orientation
July 31 - Counselor Orientation
August 1-August 5 - Camp Swift Session 2 2018

Other Dates to Know
Pre-Camp Orientation - all counselors are required to attend one of the following dates:
May 6th: 1pm-4pm
May 12th: 9am-12pm
*Both pre-camp orientations are held at 17835 N 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85032

Don't forget to stay connected with Swift through the newsletter and be the first to fill out your volunteer application when they are released in February!

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