Join Our
Disciple Team
Best Summer Ever!
Work, Live,
Play & Grow
The Disciple Team at Trout is designed for High School and Junior High Students who have completed grades 7th-11th. Students are given an ‘entry-point’ into developing skills, leadership, and basic theology in a unique camp community. The Disciple Team offers paid and volunteer positions all summer long as students live, work, play, and grow as junior staff members at Trout.
Students commit to volunteering on a weekly basis and can pick any number of weeks to volunteer. (1-11 Weeks) and can pick weeks that work for their summer schedule. Got a family vacation the 3rd week of June? No problem. Have a summer sport that goes through the end of July? We have weeks in August! You pick the weeks that work for you. We even provide bus transportation to and from Arden Hills & Princeton, MN at the start and end of each camp week.
The best part- Disciple Team is free and IF you are available to work all summer, we will even pay you starting at $250 per week.
Don’t Waste
Your Summer
Opportunities
Tailored to You!
Bring a Friend! (or two)

7th–8th
Grade
Completed Grades as of Summer 2023
Volunteer at Family Camps & Serve Young Families
Junior high Dteam members play an important role in family ministry at Trout Lake Camps. Apply to anyone of our Family Camps to:
- Babysit for camp families when needed
- Help at the waterfront, rec shack and program areas
- Assist with group classes, special projects and more

9th–12th
Grade
Completed Grades as of Summer 2023
Volunteer When You Have Time & Assist Campers/Staff
Senior High Dteam members learn from and work alongside our college-aged summer staff. They can pick anywhere from 1 week to 11 weeks to work and are placed into one of 20 different staffing areas including:
- Adventure
- Waterfront
- Craft
- Program
- Housekeeping
- Food Service
- Horse Corral / Petting Zoo
- Maintenance
- Office
- Recreation
- Audio / Visual and many more
Under supervision, Dteam members also serve as Cabin Leaders-In-Training (also known as L.I.T.s) and minister directly to campers.

10th–11th
Grade
Completed Grades as of Summer 2023
Want to Work Most of the Summer & Get Paid!?
(Cha-Ching!)
Disciple Staff (Dstaff) earn $250/week and fill what are typically full-time college-age summer staff positions. We are extremely selective in hiring Dstaff. You must be at least 16 years old, mature, trustworthy and available most of the summer (May 29–August 26).
Dstaff must also participate in overall Summer Staff programs and training. Are you ready for a summer job that makes a lasting difference?
Perks…
Better Than Your
Local Coffee Shop
Along with the training, skills, and life impact you will help us achieve as a Disciple Team member, you will also develop life-long friendship that run deep. Each day you will spend engaging God’s Word with peers and chapel teachers who are experts at their craft. You will do fun things during your time off including outings to local events, staff meals, and playing in a summer backyard that includes high ropes, horses, climbing walls, and boats. Does your starbucks reward program offer you that?

You In? -
How to Apply
For all Dteam applicants, we require an application as well as two references – one from a pastor who knows you well or someone who can comment on your faith journey, and one from a person of your choice. After submitting your application, you will be shown form links that you must send to your references.
The Process
Your journey to the Best Summer Ever begins here. Follow along with the steps below to learn more about what’s next in the process, what you can be doing to further the process along, and helpful information at every step of the way.


Attend one of our Dteam Training Weekends
We offer two training weekends that will prepare you for your summer on the Disciple Team. Feel confident and supported by getting the training you need to have a fun and successful summer. Our Dteam training retreat provides in-depth ministry training through personal reflection and study, participation in the MinistrySafe Program, small group interaction, and group building experiences.
While it’s best for every student to attend a training weekend. Those that are not able to will have an opportunity to complete virtual training videos prior to their arrival at Trout in the summer.
Choose a Weekend and
Register Today
Dteam Training Weekend #1
2024 TBA
Dteam Training Weekend #2
2024 TBA
*Shuttle transportation to your retreat is available for an additional fee.
Spaces are limited and reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Details at registration.

Spend Your Summer
Following Jesus!
Maybe you can’t be one of the first followers of Jesus. But you can follow Jesus in an original way here at camp, when you go back home, and for the rest of your life. Through our Disciple Series, Dteam members dive deep into Biblical text—reading, discussing, and reflecting on the Living Word of God. We’ll help you work through your faith while here, so you can take home a better understanding of the Bible.
Parent FAQs

What is the cost of my teen joining Trout’s Disciple Team?
There is no cost except if your teen(s) will be using our shuttle to and from the cities. ($20 per trip, $40 per round trip per student)

How is my teen supervised at Trout?
We have a team of Disciple Team Coordinators that are alongside your teen everyday and each week at Trout. These are college-age adults – Men and Women that live with, direct, lead, coach, encourage, pray with your teens. They are also trained to respond when issues arise. Our Disciple Team coordinators are directed by full-time Trout staff members.

What does housing look like?
Housing can vary week by week, but Disciple Team members will either be housed in a camper cabin (If assigned as a Leader-In-Training) or a cabin by sex (Boy/Girl) with other Disciple Team members with a Disciple Team Coordinator.

What are the important dates and deadlines?
Priority Application Deadline – March 1st: Although we accept applications October thru middle of August, Getting your application in by March 1st, you students will have first priority for getting the weeks they want to serve.
Disciple Team Training Weekends: All Disciple Team members need to attend one of two training weekends in May (May 5th-7th 2023 or May 12th–14th 2023). This training event is free and we a bus shuttle from Arden Hills, MN & Princeton, MN for $40. For students that apply and are accepted later than May 15th, we have online training videos for them to watch prior to arriving for their summer weeks.

What does the time commitment look like for my teen?
Disciple Team members have to commit to volunteering at least one full camp week typically Sunday through Saturday although some weeks end on Fridays. For the best experience, we have found students that work at least 3-4 weeks experience the biggest personal impact. Some teens volunteer all 11 weeks.

What does a typical day/week on Disciple Team look like?
Disciple Team positions assist and learn from an assigned full-time summer staff member since there are about 30 different positions, every job and work schedule is going to look different. But a typical day for Disciple Team members will look like this:
Opening Day (Sunday) | |
9:30am – 11:00am | Arrive at Trout / Move into Housing (Greeted and Directed by Trout Staff) |
12:00pm – 1:30pm | Lunch / Team Meetings / Weekly Welcome |
1:30pm | Meet you Supervisor |
2:30pm – 5:00pm | Campers Arrive / Work Areas |
5:00pm | Dinner |
5:30 – 10:00pm | Camp Orientation, Chapel, Evening Games |
10:00pm | Get Ready for Bed |
10:30pm | Lights Out |
Monday – Friday | |
7:30am | Wake Up |
8:00am | Breakfast |
8:30am – 9:30am | Work Areas |
9:30am | Daily Meeting with Disciple Team Coordinators |
10:00am – 12:30pm | Work Areas |
12:30pm – 1:00pm | Lunch |
1:00pm – 5:30pm | Work Areas |
5:30pm – 6:00pm | Dinner Off with other DTeamers & D-Team Coordinators |
6:00pm – 10:00pm | Chapel, Evening Games |
10:00pm | Get Ready for Bed |
10:30pm | Lights Out |
Closing Day (Typically Saturday) | |
7:00 am – 10:00am | Wake Up, Clean Camp, Pack Up, Breakfast |
10:00a – 10:30am | Closing Camp Show with Campers and Parents |
10:30 | Shuttle Bus Leaves Camp |
11:00am | 11th Hour All Camp Meeting |
11:20am | Disciple Team Weekend Meeting |
11:30am | Lunch for Camp Staff |

Does the camp have laundry facilities
Yes, We have coin operated laundry available and quarters available to exchange for cash in the camp office. Cost is $1.25 per wash, and $1.00 per load to dry. Students also need to bring their own laundry detergent.

What types of Jobs will my teens be doing?
We have over 20 different disciple team roles that students will be doing. About 60 of our Disciple Team members each week are assigned to cabins each camp week assisting our adult Cabin Leaders with leading a cabin of 8-12 boys or girls. While the remaining 35 are assigned to other vital work areas at camp. These areas include:
- Horse Corral / Petting Zoo
- Waterfront
- Kitchen
- Housekeeping
- Program / Recreation
- Adventure
- Audio / Visual
- Office

Does my teen get to pick which job they want / are assigned to?
Disciple team members are assigned jobs each week by their Disciples Team Coordinators based on camp needs first then student preferences. Students who attend a training weekend in May have an opportunity to rank the roles they are most interested in. This however does not mean they will necessarily get the role they want. The more weeks a Disciple Team member is involved in the Disciple Team, the more likely they will get a chance to do the specific roles they want. Each Disciple Team role gives students an opportunity to learn valuable life, leadership, and ministry skills in every role at camp.

What is camp’s cell phone policy?
We don't allow campers to be on their phones while at camp. Camp staff including Disciple Team members are also not allowed to be on their phones while working or in view of campers. We have also found that Disciple Team members that spend their free time only on their phones miss out on the spiritual, relational, and fun opportunities that Trout's camp environment offers mainly being outside, watching sunsets/rises, listening for the call of loons on the lake, or deer moving through the woods. We do our best to provide a Disciple Team experience where students learn to work hard, gain skills, grow in their faith, develop positive relationship with bosses and peers, all away from screens as much as possible
Expect that students will only have the ability to use their phone for a maximum of 1 hour per day.

If my student isn’t allowed on their phones for most of their day, how can I contact them if needed? How can they contact me?
You can write them an email via the contact form on our website. Just make sure you put your teen's complete name followed by – Disciple Team member. Emails and Mail are distributed once per day at their daily meetings. If an emergency situation comes up, you can contact our main office during business hours and we can connect you with your student. After-hours, follow the voicemail prompts.
If a significant situation comes to light involving your teen or our staff, we will contact you directly.

Is there a map of camp?
Yes! You can view our camp map here.
Have Fun and Share God’s Love
Dteam members are part of the entire camp community. You'll eat, sleep, laugh and pray with other students just like you. At Trout Lake Camps, you'll discuss ministry-related issues together, hold each other accountable to live a life of spiritual integrity, and develop some of the strongest friendships you'll ever have.