Education Internship: Sleepaway Summer Camp Staff

CAMP KAMAJI CABIN COUNSELOR & ACTIVITY INSTRUCTOR

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY ideal for students studying EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY, ART, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP, WOMEN'S STUDIES

Desired Qualifications

• Desire and ability to work with children outdoors
• To be able to relate to girls ages 7- 15 years old
• Ability to be a consistent role model to children
• Flexible and adaptable to new situations
• Sensitive and open to the differences of others
• Ability to temporarily place own needs aside to fulfill the needs of others
• Good character and integrity
• Enthusiasm, sense of humor, patience, and self-control
• Dedication and a hard worker
• Dependable and able to uphold a commitment
• Ability to relate to one’s peer group
• Ability to accept supervision, feedback and guidance
• Ability to assess what is a “need” vs. a “want” and be able to communicate with an appropriate supervisor.
• Ability to teach an activity
• Prior work experience, particularly with children
• Ability to seek assistance when needed and communicate thoughtfully and respectfully with supervisors in a timely manner. 

Responsible To

Staff Coach, Activity Director and/or Program Director, and Camp Directors

CAMP GOALS

General Responsibility

To provide a safe and fun communal-living environment for cabin groups

Specific Responsibilities

• Share living space with eight to twelve campers and at least two other counselors
• Facilitate and supervise all assigned aspects of the campers’ day including morning wake-up/getting ready, cabin clean-up, mealtimes, rest periods, free periods and getting ready for bed, bedtime, as well as, night duty, lifeguard and/or washhouse duty as assigned on a rotating basis (Attn: Reference “Typical Day” document).
• Prepare a special “wind-down” time with the campers every evening before bed. 
• Positively prepare campers for their overnight camping trip; contribute and assist Wilderness Trip Leader while on the trip.
• Ensure that campers are maintaining good personal hygiene, wearing clean clothing, and are appropriately dressed for the weather and activities of the day
• Ensure campers perform daily tick checks and apply sunscreen and bug spray each time they leave the cabin. 
• Keep mobile devices and electronics hidden from campers: phones are only allowed in the counselor rooms after camper bedtime, on silent and with the brightness turned down. 
• Work co-operatively with co-counselors and other staff members
• Communicate with co-counselors regarding campers’ mental, physical and emotional safety and well-being. 
• Ask for assistance/guidance/advice when there is an issue or problem in the cabin group. 
• Communicate respectfully and in a timely manner with Staff Coach, Head Counselor and/or Camp Director. 

General Responsibility

To identify and meet camper needs

Specific Responsibilities

• Get to know your campers, for example, learn the likes/dislikes of your campers
• Facilitate a cabin group discussion at the beginning of each session to identify guidelines and expectations for living together thoughtfully and respectfully. 
• Spend quality time with your campers
  • supervise rest period on rotating basis with co-counselors
  • talk with your campers; facilitate conversation amongst your cabin group
  • be available to spend time with your campers during free period
  • on Adventure Day (weekly cabin day) plan with co-counselors age- and interest- appropriate, fun and creative activities for group
  • participate in all evening programs with your campers and supervise any planning or preparation needed
  • plan a settling, age-appropriate, nightly bedtime/group-bonding activity
  • spend quality time with the campers until their “lights-out”
  • be prepared to be awakened during the night for bad dreams, illness, bed-wetting or washhouse trips
• Recognize and respond to opportunities for problem-solving in the group
• Provide varied opportunities for the group so that each individual experiences success during camp
• Provide opportunities for discussion of individual or group problems or concerns
• Help each camper meet Kamaji’s goals to have fun, try new stuff, and make good friends!

General Responsibility

To carry out camp programs 

Specific Responsibilities

• Specialize in teaching one activity area under the direction of the Activity/Program/Waterfront Director
• Work cooperatively with the other staff in your specialized activity area to
  • ensure that activity is supervised safely and taughtwell
  • keep campers engaged and challenge them to learn something new
  • write teaching/lesson plans
  • keep camper progress charts/evaluations and award camper for each level of instruction passed
  • care for and keep your equipment in good working order and teaching area in good condition
• Be flexible in assisting a different activity when asked
• Teach at least four periods a day
• On a rotating basis, be asked to “lifeguard” waterfront during free period
• Plan and organize event in your specialized activity for special day programming
• Encourage camper and staff participation by modeling yourself 
• Carry out established guidelines in enforcing camp safety regulations
• Develop cabin activity plans as appropriate
• Participate in some overnight camping and/or canoeing experiences with your cabin group (required)
• Instruct campers in emergency procedures such as fire drills, evacuating the cabin, etc.
• Help decorate or run evening programs on a rotating and/or volunteer basis
• Assist in teaching or leading an activity as assigned

General Responsibility

To fulfill other staff administrative roles

Specific Responsibilities

• Prepare for and actively participate in staff training, meetings, and supervisory conferences
• Ensure that campers write letters home on prescribed letter-writing days (two days weekly)– younger campers may need assistance 
• Compose a detailed, informative, honest email about assigned campers to parents twice a session (with the guidance of provided outline and assistance as needed from Staff Coach).  Make sure complete, accurate, thoughtful and turned in on time.
• Set a good example for campers and others including cleanliness, good hygiene, punctuality, sharing clean-up and chores, sportsmanship, respectful behavior, and tablemanners
• Maintain and refill first-aid kits (in the cabin and in the activity area), and that required medications are taken on schedule. Counselors are alert to symptoms of illness, follow-up on instructions from the health-care administrator, provide for special needs/accommodations, and report to the

health-care administrator on all treatment/first aid they provide.

• Follow camp rules and regulations pertaining to time-off, smoking/vaping, use of alcoholic beverages, and use of drugs
• Encourage respect for personal property, camp equipment, and facilities including refraining from writing on cabin/building walls and cubbies
• Manage personal time off and self-care in accordance with camp policy
• Recognize that your position as a role model continues into time away from camp. Be aware of your influence on campers and others in the camping community through your actions and activity on networking sites such as Facebook, InstaGram, SnapChat, Tik Tok, etc.
• Communicate in a positive manner with parents of your campers
  • by email twice each session (Kamaji will provide format for parent “letters”)
  • if and when they visit their daughter at camp
  • by phone if a parent calls with a concern or question
• Submit all required reports on time
• These are not the only duties to be performed. Some duties may be reassigned, and other duties may be assigned as required.
• Have fun, make good choices, be responsible and help create core memories for your campers and for yourself!

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ability to communicate and work with different ages and skill levels, and provide necessary instruction to campers
• Ability to observe camper behavior, assess its appropriateness, enforce appropriate safety regulations and emergency procedures, and apply appropriate behavior-management techniques
• Visual and auditory ability to identify and respond to environmental and other hazards
• Possess strength and endurance to maintain constant supervision of campers
• Ambulatory ability to get around camp’s uneven terrain
• Emotional resiliency
• Perseverance
• Effective adaptation to changes in schedule and work assignment
• The ability to effectively interact with others, especially children, in camp’s youth-centered environment
• The ability to communicate problems or issues to the appropriate supervisor with respect and in a timely manner.