Summer Travel Camp Counselor - St. Andrew's Parks & Playground

Position Title: CampCounselor

Reports to: Assistant Lead CampCounselor, Lead CampCounselor and CampDirectors

The Day Camp Counselor is responsible for planning, leading, and implementing core and non-core programs and experiences for children in a small group setting. They will also be responsible for the general safety and development, growth, and skill achievement of the participants in his/her group. The incumbent will provide high quality educational and recreational experiences for participants that focus on St. Andrew's Parks and Playground's core values of safety, fun, wellness, respect, and leadership.

Essential Responsibilities

• Help facilitate and implement a weekly schedule for your camp group. Instructs camp participants in skills, activities and knowledge specific to that camp.
• Organize and lead a variety of small and large group activities each week. Activities may include crafts, nature, songs, games, opening and closing ceremonies, swimming, archery, canoeing, Family Night, etc. This includes time spent on the bus.
• Identify and respond to camper behavior issues.
• Prepares and distributes snacks to camp participants
• Ensure that the site is kept clean, organized, and free of litter. Cleans camp areas both during and after activities
• Communicate with parents (as needed) and lead staff about participant's experiences and report concerns to CampLeadership.
• Completes necessary documentation includes accurate program records including incident reports and daily attendance.
• Know and understand ALL emergency procedures associated with the camp program.
• Know, enforce, and follow all safety guidelines associated with the camp and all program areas. This includes but is not limited to being responsible for your campers' safety and their whereabouts at all times. This includes the timely application of sunscreen, the timely intake of water and food, and the use of First Aid as necessary
• Help guide Junior Counselors and CampVolunteers to have a deeper understanding of leadership and counseling skills.
• Communicates with agency staff, including supervisors, in an effective, timely, and efficient manner

Requirements

Qualifications

• Upon hire, must complete provided First Aid and CPR certification.
• Education classes or experience in camp, youth programs, recreation, working with children, or in a related field.
• Ability to lead, plan, organize, and implement program activities and direct large groups of children.
• Ability to work as a member of a team and the ability to accomplish tasks with little direct supervision.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• College experience preferred.
• Driver's License with satisfactory driving record preferred. Minimum driving age is 18 years to drive company vehicles.
• Prefer one year of recent solid hands-on experience working with children.

Physical Demands

• Must have the physical ability to lead and participate in camp activities which include, but are not limited to, hiking, canoeing, swimming, team building initiatives, building campfires, physical games, and activities.
• Mobility to physically work at outdoor sites, including ability
• Vision to read printed camp materials and camp documentation.
• Hearing and speech sufficient to communicate to campers, parents and agency staff in person or over the telephone.
• Must have the mobility and strength sufficient to offer medical assistance, including CPR/First Aid to child and ability to restrain and physically support children when needed for safety in general camp activities (child weighing 50 - 200 pounds)

Working Conditions

Work may take place during daytime weekday hours either outside on grassy areas, on tennis courts, or at off-site locations (indoor or outdoor), or inside the first floor of an two story gymnasium containing offices, storage rooms, one kitchen, one reception area, one large air room for classes and events ("the annex"), and an open gymnasium. There will be hundreds of people in small spaces at some times. Many camps involve field trips to locations throughout Charleston and involve climbing, standing, bending, crawling, stooping, running and walking for long periods. The air in some indoor areas is frequently hot and humid, as are the outdoor areas. Specialty camps, such as fishing camps, require lifting of coolers, fish, standing on piers and uneven areas in hot weather.