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Counselor - Summer 2024

Camp Tecumseh YMCA
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Department: Overnight Camp

Reports To: Overnight Camp Director 

Employment Status: Full-Time/Seasonal

FLSA Status: Non- Exempt

 

Position Summary 

Cabin counselors are responsible for all activities, scheduling, and behavior of a cabin of 9-11 campers each week. This includes some activities that are pre-scheduled by camp administration and some activities that are determined by the counselor.  Cabin counselors work with one or two partners in the cabin to ensure that every camper has a great experience by developing friendships and a sense of community with the opportunity to try new things. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Act as a mentor and leader to each camper
  • Get to know each camper on an individual level, not just on a group level
  • Promote growth in Sagamore Creed 
  • Encourage friendships between campers and create a community 
  • Practice safety in all activities and care for or seek assistance for any illness, injury, or other physical needs
  • Always supervise campers both during the day and at night
  • Collaborate with Day Camp counselors and ensure they are treated with respect as part of the team. 
  • Plan and implement cabin activities
  • Discuss with campers to find out what activities they are looking forward to and want to do for the week
  • Alternate with partner counselor to have one attend the weekly planning meeting
  • Create a well-balanced schedule based on the guidelines found in the summer staff handbook which includes a variety of different types of activities
  • Plan for rainy day activities and be prepared to make changes and improvise based on weather or other conditions
  • Take a part in the spiritual development of campers
  • Avoiding an atmosphere of pressure or a desire to convert campers
  • Coordinate with partner in the planning of a nightly devotion
  • Participate and lead morning chapel when assigned or asked by fellow counselors
  • Refer any difficult situations or topics that are deemed sensitive or not within scope to camp administration
  • Communicate with parents to ensure trust and follow-up
  • Be present at cabin to greet parents and campers during check-in
  • Answer any questions parents may have and refer to Confidential Form of each camper to follow-up on any concerns
  • Be present at cabin to greet parents and say good-bye to campers during check-out
  • Relay any pertinent information to parent before camper leaves
  • Ensure that every camper has all their belongings before departure
  • Write and submit to camp personnel a parent letter for each camper in the cabin (as divided with partner) that shows a clear knowledge of camper as an individual
  • Follow all rules and guidelines set forth in the Camp Tecumseh YMCA Staff Handbook
  • All-staff training is mandatory
  • Pre-summer trainings as desired 
  • Receive feedback from full-time directors to ensure success as a counselor 

Supervisory Responsibilities

Supervising 9-11 campers 

Qualifications & Skills Requirements

Required Education/License/Certification

  • High School Diploma
  • Must be able to pass routine and regular criminal background checks as a requirement of continued employment
  • Must have a valid driver’s license and the ability to meet the minimum requirements set by the company insurance carrier at all times.

Preferred Education

  • Bachelor’s degree in progress 
  • First aid certification/American Red Cross Lifeguarding certification

Required Experience

  • Previous experience working with youth 
  • Previous experience in camp/nonprofit administration 

Preferred Experience

  • Previous experience in Camp Tecumseh’s Camp program

Requirements

  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Must be able to live on-site for several months during the summertime.  
  • Must be a dependable self-starter that meets strict timelines, has attention to detail, is results oriented and has excellent organizational skills. 
  • Must be an individual with a track record for team building and effective management techniques for performance management. 
  • Must be a patient individual with customer service skills while working with others, is comfortable giving instructions, and speaking in front of groups. 
  • Must be an individual with good integrity, and the ability to look at the big picture of Camp Tecumseh’s mission. Must have a passion for working with youth. 
  • Must have a passion for the outdoors. 
  • Must be someone who can develop and maintain relationships with those from all walks of life while having an engaging and dynamic manner about them that exudes a warm and positive way of thinking with empathy and compassion towards others. 
  • Must have excellent communication skills which includes speaking, reading, listening, and writing to collaborate with team members as well as external parties. 
  • Must be an individual with a growth mindset and always learning mentality that is looking to improve and add to the existing culture of Camp Tecumseh through managing and leading others. 
  • Must be a safety focused individual who is able to analyze situations and respond quickly to situations with good decision-making.  
  • Must be flexible and adaptable in the presence of unforeseen circumstances with the ability to problem solve and open to work in other areas. 
  • Must be able to demonstrate capacity to work independently without close oversight, while also a team player who will productively engage with others at varying levels of seniority internally and externally.

Physical Demands and Work Environment 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

Work Environment

  • Ability to work indoors/outdoors, in the rain, wind, and in hot or cold conditions.  Employee may be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions
  • Will be exposed to water. 
  • May require occasional travel and driving onsite and off-site of Camp Tecumseh. 
  • The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate with the possibility of being exposed to loud noises outside. 
  • This position can have extremely long days involving many physical activities.
  • Must be comfortable working independently as a lone worker. 

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

  • Must be able to lift, bend, twist, stoop, and have good hand dexterity
  • Ability to push and pull loads
  • Ability to row in a boat
  • Ability to swim 
  • Ability to set up chairs and tables 
  • Must be able to operate a motorized vehicle. 
  • Good physical health including ability to lift and carry objects up to 50 pounds. 
  • May be required to work more than an eight-hour day. 
  • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust. Must be able to identify colors.
  • Must be able to hear in the instance of a critical incident. 
  • Must be able to stand for prolonged periods of time. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate and converse with employees, maintain a stationary position (standing and sitting), move/traverse, kneel, bend, and reach with hands and arms for extended periods of time. The worker may be required to operate in close quarters, crawl spaces, small rooms, and narrow aisles and passageways. 

Hazards 

The employee in this position may be exposed to certain hazards as part of the duties and responsibilities of the position such as animals (horses, etc), insects, poisonous plants, construction, heavy machinery and noisy environments, driving and working in adverse weather conditions, and the possibility of being a lone worker. 

Required PPE

Camp Tecumseh will provide the required personal protective equipment (PPE) needed to mitigate or eliminate these hazards and all employees will be trained on the appropriate use of PPE. 

  • First aid kit
  • Nitrile gloves

Position Type 

This is a full-time, seasonal position during the summer months. Ability to work consistently while campers are present. Evening, night, and weekend work will be required as duties demand. Hours will vary; 6-7 days a week required during peak season (with on-duty responsibilities).