MTR Camp is a high-energy day camp. Literacy Fellows will:
participate in chants, hype sessions (think dance party), and whole camp community-building activities
serve as reading teachers, creating a classroom environment that promotes a love of learning through literacy instruction, small group work, and independent discovery.
develop and lead a weekly creative exploration module based on personal interests and talents (music, art, dance, poetry, etc.).
Fellowship Expectations
MTR Camp Literacy Fellows have a unique opportunity to learn, live, and teach in a very intimate community. College students from around the country are invited to Memphis to develop a love for learning in themselves and the children we serve. Therefore, it is important that potential fellows are:
Teachable: Educators make mistakes and we acknowledge that this fellowship is a learning process. Therefore, fellows should be willing to receive feedback and improve with the guidance of their site leadership.
Persistent: Culturally competent instruction, self-reflection, and collaboration are key to success in the classroom. Therefore, fellows should be willing to engage in difficult conversations and tasks that require overcoming failure in order to ensure student success and personal growth.
Professional: Camp is fun but we must be simultaneously excellent in all that we do. Therefore, camp fellows must be diligent in meeting deadlines, providing their best work, and fully participating in every aspect of the camp experience.
MTR will provide training and support for all fellows in quality instruction, classroom leadership, professional development, and cultural competency.
Community and Faith Development
- On some Sunday mornings, fellows will visit different churches together as a group. Church will be mandatory for all summer staff.
- Sunday afternoons and evenings are designated as a time to gather curricular materials and make any lesson preparations needed for the week.
- Weekly staff meetings will serve as a launch into a new week of service by fostering reflection on learnings from the previous week and scripture through small group bible study.
- MTR character maturity training sessions with MTR Executive Director.
- Some Saturdays, fellows will explore Memphis together as a staff.
- These events will be tours and fun experiences to further introduce fellows to Memphis.
- Fellows will again have free time Saturday afternoon and evening.
- Exposure Visits will be opportunities for fellows to spend time with MTR Graduates and Residents. This provides unique insight into the Memphis educational landscape and the MTR community.
- Camp Staff will have the opportunity to spend time at MTR Headquarters and possibly engage with MTR Staff throughout the summer (e.g. orientation, professional development, Literacy Institute classroom visit).
- Some evenings are designated for Literacy Circles
- A selection of readings focused on social justice will be examined throughout the fellowship
- Literacy Circles meet in a whole group at least twice during the overall fellowship experience
FAQ
Where are fellows housed?
All Summer Staff will live in our housing facilities. We believe that living and working together offers a unique opportunity for staff unity and a team mindset. In addition, we think there is a lot of value in living and working near the neighborhood where your students go to school. Summer Staff will be living in local college dormitories that are furnished. The housing facilities are completely furnished.
Summer Staff are responsible for bringing their own bedding, cookware, and towels. Guys and girls will have separate dorms. Staff should be respectful of shared space A precautionary security service is included. Staff should maintain a clean living environment; rotating cleaning duties and ensuring the facilities are maintained well. Internet access is available.
Does MTR Camp provide transportation during the summer?
No, MTR Camp does not provide transportation to and from the worksites or other activities during the summer. Bringing a car is strongly encouraged, but not mandatory as carpooling with other summer fellows is an option. Fellows are responsible for securing their own transportation to and from Memphis at the beginning and the end of the camp term.
How Much Are Staff Compensated?
MTR Camp provides housing and meals for staff during their 4-week service at MTR Camp. MTR Camp staff will be paid $1,250 for the summer. An additional $250 meal stipend will be provided for groceries to cover breakfast and lunch throughout the summer. Dinner will be provided 4 nights of the week. Payment will be disbursed throughout the summer.
How Can I Learn More about Applying or Visit MTR?
The first step to learning more and ensuring you receive application reminders is filling out the interest form to get more information and get follow-up emails about MTR Camp and the Residency. Another way to learn more is to sign up to visit MTR.
Applying for the MTR Camp Literacy Fellowship
Applications for the summer of 2023 are closed.
Requirements for acceptance into the MTR Camp Literacy Fellowship include:
- Rising juniors and seniors enrolled in a four-year college/university, with a graduation date AFTER the summer of 2023. If you are graduating before the summer of 2023, please consider the Residency program instead.
- High energy, teachable individuals who are interested in teaching in a disadvantaged school
- Able to work the entire camp term (June 4th – July 2nd, 2023)
- US Citizenship, Permanent Residency (Green Card) or DACA status
- Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher
The application process includes two parts:
- Online Application: Includes uploaded resume, 2 references, current college transcript, and one essay.
- Recorded Video Interview: You will receive an invitation to this after you submit your application.
Application Timeline
Other Opportunities
Will you already be a college graduate by this coming June? Or do you have more interest in secondary math/science than elementary? Please look into our other programs:
- The Residency is for college graduates or anyone who will be a college graduate by this coming June. No education experience is required! You can become an effective teacher serving under-resourced Memphis communities: elementary or secondary—including math, science, social studies, English, and ESL. Earn a Master’s degree at no cost to you, get the support you need to become an effective teacher, and join our community of like-minded educators!
- The Marjorie Lee Browne STEM Education Fellowship is a four-week summer fellowship for college underclassmen persons of color who will not yet be graduates by this coming June. Each fellow will serve as a Teaching Assistant and Counselor at a math-focused STEM camp for middle school students who are passionate about math and science. Come learn about the joy of teaching math and science after graduation!