April is application season at Christian Appalachian Project Volunteer Program. With the May 1 deadline for long-term volunteer applications approaching, we check our email and postal mail each day excited to learn the names of potential volunteers. We've already accepted 11 long-term volunteers who applied by our February 1 early deadline, and we have conducted 10 additional interviews, either personally in Kentucky or over Skype. We will be interviewing candidates throughout the summer, and by our orientation in September we hope to have more than 40 new long-term volunteers to commission for a year of service to CAP and the people of Appalachia. If you are interested in becoming a long-term volunteer with CAP, we encourage you to complete your application by May 1; however, we will continue to accept applications until all positions are filled.

Though we do not have a set deadline for summer camp volunteer applications, we prefer to have the majority of applications submitted by May 1 as well. We are seeking counselors, lifeguards, nurses, arts & crafts instructors, musicians and office helpers to serve 3-7 weeks at our two summer camps in eastern Kentucky. Most of our campers come from low-income families, and our volunteers make it possible for them to have a fun summer camp experience and learn the values of respect, self-confidence and care of creation.

Our application process is thorough. We are not a competitive program (you are not competing against other applicants for admission), but we are selective. Below are tips to putting together a successful application:

• Take the time to answer questions thoughtfully. Most questions are short-answer, so we don't need an essay  for each one, but we are looking for responses that demonstrate the applicant's seriousness about joining our mission and self-awareness about strengths and growth areas. Please proofread your application for typos, spelling and grammatical errors.

• Choose your references carefully, and give them plenty of time to submit their forms. References that are slow to arrive are the number one cause of delays in the admissions process. We recommend distributing the reference forms before beginning the application and offering your references an addressed and stamped return envelope. We do not mind receiving references before the application.

• Consider all CAP's service programs and choose 2-3 that interest you most. We want to place volunteers in positions where they will excel, but ultimately we are seeking volunteers who are passionate about our mission and not just one particular program. Positions are limited, and it is possible that you will not receive your first choice of placement.

• Persevere. We realize our application is probably longer than any job application you will ever complete. Keep in mind that you're not applying for a job--in reviewing your application, we must consider not only how you will perform in your service position, but also how you will do living in community and serving with an interdenominational faith-based mission organization. Serving full-time for a year or even a few weeks is a big commitment, and we hope you will find the application to be a helpful tool in discerning your readiness to make that commitment.

• Ask questions. We would love the opportunity to speak to you personally and learn what led you to apply with us. If you have any questions or concerns about the application or volunteer life, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to receiving your application!