Summer Staff
This volunteer experience is for those who have completed at least one year of college (or are of college age or older). The summer staff roles require considerable maturity and non-verbal witness. The positions available are Food Service, Guest Services (this includes Ropes, Zipline, Swing, Go-Carts, etc.), Retail, Lifeguard, and Sound Tech.
Please indicate on your application in "Volunteer Availability" the dates of which session you are applying for. Our priority is to fill spots with full-session volunteers, partial dates will only open if necessary at a later date.
Session 1: June 3 - 29
Session 2: June 28 - July 24
Session 3: July 23 - August 10
2025 Dates:
Session 1 (May 31 - June 25)
Session 2 (June 25 - July 19)
Session 3 (July 19 - August 9)
Use the link below to apply online! Please email svendal@twl.younglife.org with any questions.
Work Crew
This volunteer experience is for those in high school. To be eligible you must have completed one year of high school and complete your local area's work crew training course. Each work crew session is about one month long during the summer. The positions available are Housekeeping, Dining Hall Servers, Outdoor Crew, Pits (dish crew).
Please indicate on your application in "Volunteer Availability" the dates of which session you are applying for. The application process for Work Crew begins with a Young Life staff recommendation. To apply, please talk with your local Young Life staff. Our priority is to fill spots with full-session volunteers, partial dates will only open if necessary at a later date.
Session 1: June 3 - 29
Session 2: June 28 - July 24
Session 3: July 23 - August 10
2025 Dates:
Session 1 (May 31 - June 25)
Session 2 (June 25 - July 19)
Session 3 (July 19 - August 9)
Adult Guests
Adults can have the time of their lives at Timber Wolf too! During each week of summer camp adults may participate in our Young Life Adult Guest program. Adult guests stay in the beautiful Lumberjack Lodge, eat meals with campers, go to Young Life club and soak in the entire camp experience.
To Register:
Adult guests are registered through local Young Life area offices. If you cannot locate your local Young Life area office please contact us.
- Week 1: June 5 - 10
- Week 2: June 11 – 16
- Week 3: June 17 - 22
- Week 4: June 23 - 28
- Week 5: June 30 - July 5
- Week 6: July 6 – 11
- Week 7: July 12 – 17
- Week 8: July 19 - 23
- Week 9: July 25 - 30
- Week 10: July 31 - August 4
- Week 11: August 5 - 9
Adult Guest Hosts:
Interested in serving as the Adult Guest Host for a week in the summer? Fill out this application and email to
PHysicians Program
Summer Camp Doctor — Each week over 400 high school kids load up and head out for the best week of their lives. To provide the best possible care, we need physicians to help us meet the medical needs of the campers and summer volunteers at camp. All camp doctors and their families stay at camp during the week of service at no cost.
School Season Opportunities — We are also in need of medical providers for camps during the school season months at Timber Wolf. These camps are shorter (usually over a weekend), quieter and more relaxing than summer camping. Contact us if you are interested in this opportunity.
To Apply:
First, check availability. Then complete a Camp Medical Professionals Application.
- Week 1: June 5 - 10
- Week 2: June 11 – 16
- Week 3: June 17 - 22
- Week 4: June 23 - 28
- Week 5: June 30 - July 5
- Week 6: July 6 – 11
- Week 7: July 12 – 17
- Week 8: July 19 - 23
- Week 9: July 25 - 30
- Week 10: July 31 - August 4
- Week 11: August 5 - 9
The week will be more like a mission trip than a vacation. The camp physician’s primary role is to provide timely triage assessment of guests who require medical care for an injury or an illness during their week at camp. They direct the course of action in the event of an emergency and decide which patients need to be transferred to the local clinic or hospital. Timber Wolf has an EMT or Paramedic serving each week as well. Along with the doctor, the EMT/Paramedic staffs the camp infirmary for one half hour after each meal to care for minor injuries, colds, sore throats, etc. The physician is on call 24/7 for any emergencies. The physician must also adequately document the medical record to reflect the care that has been given. At no time should any physician practice medicine that falls outside of their medical license and level of experience and training.
Your spouse and children, ages 17 and younger, are invited to share the week with you. Whether it’s enjoying meals together, swimming in the pool, or watching Young Life summer camp in action — you are sure to have a great time. Time and space permitting, your family will have an opportunity to experience the many activities around camp.
Work Week
2025 Dates Coming Soon!
Who: You and all of your closest friends! College students from the Midwest, Young Life field staff, volunteers, committee members and many, many more! But hurry, we only have 150 spots!
What: Guaranteed to be the best week of WORK of your life! Come join us for work, fellowship, laughter, work, great food, sleep(?) and more work.
When: Coming Soon!
Why: Because this summer nearly 4,000 high school and middle school friends from all over the country will come experience Jesus at Timber Wolf Lake, and you have the opportunity to prepare this incredible place just for them!
Cost: 100% FREE! What could be better? Spots are first come, first serve.
If you have any questions, please contact us at timberwolf@twl.younglife.org or call us at 231-839-7552.
YoungLives
YoungLives Childcare — a mission trip like none other
Every summer hundreds of teen moms head to Young Life camp to hear the gospel in a relatable and impactful way.
To make it all possible, individuals and groups from around the country spend a week caring for the children of the teen moms.
Opportunities, dates and information are available at goyounglives.younglife.org.
For questions or more information regarding volunteering at YoungLives camp, contact the YoungLives Childcare Administration Team at younglivescamping@gmail.com.
adult Volunteers
Volunteers have been an integral part of Timber Wolf Lake since its beginning. One hundred thousand hours of volunteer labor enabled Timber Wolf to open its doors just 20 months after the land was purchased and ever since, the volunteer program has continued to expand.
Coyote Cove is available for seniors who are looking to have a meaningful retirement to come to Timber Wolf and do the Lord's work in helping maintain this beautiful camp. Or if you are an adult and not quite retired, we have opportunities for you as well! The Coyote Cove building is able to accommodate up to 16 volunteers at a time in hotel-like rooms along with camping facilities which include electric, sewer and water for 11 RV-ready campsites, and a separate cabin as well. Wireless internet is also available.
Coyote Cove houses a kitchen, large gathering room, bathrooms, showers and laundry.
Weekend Wranglers
During the school season, Timber Wolf Lake relies on volunteers to help keep camp running. We call these volunteers 'Wranglers'.
Our Wranglers are folks college-aged and older from colleges and communities across the Midwest that partner together to be a living presentation of the Gospel. Wranglers have the opportunity to interact with guests as they serve in the store, at the snack bar or coffee shop, on ropes elements, and at the Timber Cart track.
If you would like more information about our growing Wrangler Program or our Wrangler Training dates, please get in touch with us!
