Who can be a DOVE? Anyone aged 16  (finished 11th grade) to 116 with a sincere desire to work with children, and to serve Jesus Christ. Because there will be some physical aspects to this service, and because it is required by the American Camp Association, we do require that DOVEs have a physical exam prior to volunteering (a physical already completed for some other purpose is fine). In some cases, the physical aspects may simply involve being able to walk a half-mile; for those who will be working with mobility impaired persons, there will be some lifting involved. We will make every effort to match your skills and abilities to the appropriate tasks, and would certainly not ask you to do anything that would be unwise for your health.

How do I become a DOVE?

1. Email Sherri Egerton, our Program Director, and have her send you a DOVE application packet.or  download the application and the reference form using Adobe Acrobat.
2. Submit the application.
3. Have two persons who are adults (not relatives and NOT recent Makemie Woods staff) fill out and return the reference forms. One of them should be your pastor.
4. Have an interview with the Program Director and/or Director
   
5. Sign and return the Volunteer Covenant and Contract
   
6. Submit a physical form and a health history form.  If you are over 18 at time of application, we may also require a background check.
   
7. Attend and satisfactorily complete the training event scheduled for June 6-8, and do some brief reading in advance of this event.

How long is this training good for? Once a DOVE, always a DOVE--you can volunteer as often as you want or can, assuming you uphold the camp policies and contribute positively to the program. We will need you to keep up with policy changes and you will need a new physical every two years. When you complete your training, you will receive a certificate and a special staff T-shirt with the DOVE logo. You will also receive a written evaluation of your service.