2025 Summer Camp Cook/Chef - Sky High Ranch - Girl Scouts of Colorado - Girl Scouts of Colorado

Summer Camp Cook/Chef at Sky High Ranch

Make a difference in the lives of children and spend an unforgettable summer in the Rocky Mountains! Sky High Ranch is located forty-five minutes west of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Activities include arts and crafts, backpacking, boating, horseback riding, zip lining, farm with ranch animals, dance & drama, archery and sports, low-ropes, international cultures, nature and science, astronomy, homesteading, gardening, and outdoor skills. Sky High Ranch is licensed by the State of Colorado and accredited by the American Camp Association.

Summer camp is a great way to add work experience and desirable skills to your resume - especially for those pursuing a degree in education or recreation!

DATES OF EMPLOYMENT: Late May to Mid-August 2025 (approximate dates TBD)

Cook/Chef General Duties: The Camp Cook/Chef is responsible for overseeing kitchen staff, providing meals for campers and staff during summer camp program. This includes preparing meals for special diets, cleaning and organizing kitchen and appliances, general cleaning, and maintaining meal records. A primary function of this, and every other job at Sky High Ranch, is to ensure that each member, guest, and visitor receives the highest caliber of service.

• Prepare meals for 175 +/- people per meal.
• Prepares all meals on time as scheduled or assigned.
• Ensures special food requirements for both campers and staff, e.g., food allergies, gluten-free and vegetarian diets are managed with utmost importance for 100% accuracy.
• Responsible for ensuring food items are readily available for staff on weekends.
• Partners with administrative staff to plan, prepare, and deliver timely and accurate pack-out and travel camp food.
• Works with Program Director to create prep sheets for special event orders.
• Check menus daily for any required advance preparation; Prepare and assign production and prep work for Prep/Assistant Cooks to complete.
  • Observe methods of food preparation, cooking, and sizes of portions to ensure food is adequately prepared.
  • Ensure proper cooking methods and recipes are followed.
  • Perform quality audits and specs checks, including temp checks on food items and dish machines.
  • Ensures that CDPHE Food Regulations are being followed by all kitchen staff; Performs daily temperature checks for coolers and products.
  • Assists with breakdown of workstation and completion of closing duties ensuring all Prep/Assistant Cooks' and Dishwashers' assignments are completed before they sign out.
• "Head Cook/Chef", as designated by Program Director, shall be responsible for:
  • Menu planning, recipe creation, and ensures overall functionality of the kitchen.
  • May assist in food ordering as directed by Program Director.
  • Partner with Program Director to make recipe or menu changes so that foods will be utilized before expiration date to eliminate waste as much as possible.
  • Partner with Program Director to reward and recognize staff for individual and team success.
• Performs check in of all incoming food supply orders (verifies amount ordered vs invoice amount, ensures it is properly stored and rotated).
• Contribute as a leader of the department by supervising Prep/Assistant Cook and Dishwashing staff on improving operational efficiencies as needed.
• Ensure and promote the sanitary integrity of the facility, equipment, and food products.
• Maintains kitchen cleanliness and proper food preparation according to state and local health department code requirements and departmental procedures.
• Maintains overall sanitation, health, cleanliness, and safety standards for food preparation areas, cooking services, and dishes and utensils.
• Regularly sanitizes kitchen surfaces throughout the day; Assists in daily deep cleaning of specific areas in the kitchen, e.g., floors, counters, overs, stoves, fridges, etc.
• Washes hands frequently while working in the kitchen and in accordance with CDPHE health regulations.
• Keeps stock rooms, coolers, and freezers clean; Ensures that food supplies are rotated, and all perishables are labeled, dated and stored properly.
• Assists with unloading, inspection, and storage of raw ingredients and supplies.
• Assists Kitchen Manager in inventory requests, as requested.
• Reports any accidents or injuries to manager/director.
• Respects the confidential nature of all information pertaining to staff, volunteers, and girls.
• Lives by the Girl Scout Promise and Law.
• All other duties as assigned.

PRIMARY CROSS-FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Develops alternative solutions; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Uses limited independent judgment to make decisions based on precedents using established guidelines.
• Solves problems using standard procedures and precedents.
• Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Observes safety and security procedures; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
• Consistently reports to work as scheduled, and in a timely manner.
• Understands when to refer issues to Kitchen Manager or Director and when to handle them personally.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

Education and/or Formal Training

• High school diploma or equivalent plus one year certificate from college or technical school, preferred.
• Minimum of six months food preparation and/or line cook experience, required.
• Must possess current SERV Safe Certification.
• Must possess, or be willing to obtain, current First Aid/CPR certification.

Experience

• Minimum of six months experience in an industrial kitchen, required.
• Prior experience cooking and serving 175 +/- people per day, required.
• Documented experience in meal preparation for those with restricted diets and/or food allergies, required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proficient understanding of sanitation and regulations for workplace safety.
• Proficient understanding of nutrition guidelines, food handling techniques, preparation (including safe preparation of food for those with restricted diets and allergies) and cooking procedures.
• Proficient understanding of food allergies and food related diseases, and the ingredients that may cause the allergy/disease.
• Must understand and comply with food safety and temperature standards.
• Must understand safe use of common kitchen cleaning supplies, chemicals, and equipment.
• Must understand how to interpret SDS sheets.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Must be able to work quickly and efficiently.
• Must be able to work well as part of a team.
• Must be able to work well under pressure.
• Ability to maintain personal cleanliness.

Additional Requirements

• Must be 17+, or 18+ for Head Cook Chef.
• Must pass any and all background checks required by GSCO, ACA, and CDHS.
• Must be able to work non-traditional hours including early mornings, evenings, and/or weekends.

MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT DIRECTLY USED 

• This position frequently works with standard kitchen equipment including, but not limited to: freezers, refrigerators, ovens, stove-tops, broilers, microwaves, blenders, mixers, slicers, food processors, commercial dishwashers, knives.
• Subject to injury from falls, burns, odors, or cuts from equipment.
• Possible exposure to latex.
• Exposure to common kitchen cleaners.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES 

• Camps are at altitudes of 8,000-9,500 feet.
• Prolonged periods of standing and working in a kitchen.
• Exposure to extreme noise, heat, steam, and cold present in a kitchen environment.
• Must be able to regularly lift 5-10 pounds; with the ability to lift up to 50 pounds as required.
• Manual dexterity to cut and chop foods and perform other related tasks.
• Ability to hear, listen, see, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, bend, taste and smell, use hands and fingers to handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, limb or balance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Must have interpersonal skills/behaviors (i.e. working with individuals with a range of moods & behaviors in a tactful, congenial personal manner, so as not to alienate, or antagonize them).

For more information about Sky High Ranch please visit our website!

https://www.camp.girlscoutsofcolorado.org/sky-high-ranch-1

We encourage applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, including people with disabilities. Our workplace is inclusive, and we strive to create an accessible and accommodating environment for all employees. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding accommodations for disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you are invited to interview and require accommodations, please inform us in advance so that we can make the necessary arrangements to ensure a smooth and accessible interview experience. If you have questions about accessibility or need assistance with the application process, please contact Human Resources at careers@gscolorado.org or 877-404-5708. We are here to help.

Girl Scouts of Colorado celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse community. People from historically marginalized groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

Girl Scouts of Colorado (GSCO) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: GSCO is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at GSCO are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV Status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations where we operate. GSCO will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.