Camp Counselor
Job Type: Temporary full-time
Schedule: Monday through Friday 8AM-4PM for DDC, Monday through Wednesday 8AM-4:30PM, Thursday 8AM-9PM, and Friday 8am-12:30pm for AA. Occasional other hours as needed
Location: Mainly at Camp Mary Orton, 7925 North High Street
Description: Discovery Day Camp and Adventure Academy at Camp Mary Orton are week-long day camps that includes cooperative games and team-building initiatives, crafts and creativity, and nature based exploration through hiking, creeking, and natural shelter building. Adventure Academy also includes high adventure elements, such as a climbing wall, zip-line, and a ropes course. DDC runs Monday through Friday 8AM-4PM and AA runs Monday through Wednesday 8AM-4:30PM, Thursday 8AM-9PM, and Friday 8am-12:30pm.
Counselors take leadership in ensuring that the camp is successful and enjoyable to all campers, and that activities are a positive learning experience. They are role models and leaders for groups of children aged 6 to 14 in our Adventure Academy and Discovery Day Camp summer day camp programs. They are caring, playful, and willing to participate in camp activities. They are responsible for the physical, social, and emotional well-being of campers. Above all else, our counselors possess the following four qualities:
- A willingness to be silly if that is what it takes to make campers smile
- An ability to recognize and acknowledge success (e.g. give ‘warm fuzzies’) to all campers on a daily basis
- Behavior of a role model; we develop our counselors as leaders with skills that they can use in the future, and teach those to our youth
- Ability to be calm, creative, and learn while they teach
Responsibilities:
- Take primary responsibility for health, well-being, and happiness of campers
- Make connections with campers and develop meaningful, appropriate relationships
- Demonstrate concern for the social adjustment of each camper
- Provide opportunities for the group so that each camper can experience success in activities
- Actively manage camper behavior, assess its appropriateness, assure all safety procedures are maintained, and apply age appropriate management techniques when necessary
- Engage parents/guardians at drop off and pick up to establish a sense of connection
- Be able to tell parents/guardians what individual campers accomplished each day
- Encourage respect for fellow campers, personal property, camp equipment, and facilities
- Understand and implement emergency procedures in any potential minor or major situations
- Present a positive example at all times and understand that poor behavior can have a lasting impact on campers
- Enjoy nature and be able to have fun in the outdoors
- Exhibit a level of athleticism for safe participation in adventure elements
- Communicate regularly with CMO/ Camp Leadership regarding any issues, concerns, or challenges, as well as any pertinent updates on campers
- Actively participate in daily staff check-in and debrief meetings
- Ability to support and model COVID-19 safety practices
- Submit all paperwork and database updates on a timely basis
- Demonstrate the desire and ability to work in a cooperative atmosphere, as well as lots of enthusiasm, patience, and good humor towards campers
- Attend paid training during the two weeks prior to start of camp that includes successfully ‘checking out’ on how to familiarize oneself with adventure elements (e.g. climbing wall, zipline) and how to provide all safety guidelines to campers
Qualifications:
- Meet minimum age requirement of 17 years old by June 2023 (required)
- Pass an Ohio Criminal Background check per state requirements (required)
- Love of kids, being outdoors, and an understanding of how to communicate and work with children aged 6 - 14 (required)
- Physical capability to provide leadership and maintain safety of children during activities, including things such as ropes courses, zip-lines, etc. (required)
- Completion of high school diploma (preferred)
- CPR/FA certification (provided free with employment)