What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Camp Counselor, Camp CREATE 2025 position at Cascades Academy?
Job Description
Lead Camp Counselor
For Camp CREATE at Cascades Academy
About Cascades Academy
Cascades Academy is an independent PK-12 day school with ~240 students located
in the beautiful mountain town of Bend, Oregon. The school was founded in 2003
and resides on an award-winning 45-acre campus located on the Deschutes River.
The school’s unique mission weaves challenging academics with experiential
learning within an engaged, vibrant community.
Cascades Academy values employees who are committed to our mission, are
prepared to engage fully in a learning community, and are excited to bring their
authentic selves to work. Cascades Academy’s culture is highly collaborative and puts
what is best for students at the center of the work. Regularly named one of the Best
Nonprofits to Work for in Oregon, our faculty and staff see each other as teammates
and feel motivated to do their best work here.
Cascades Academy strives to cultivate and maintain a supportive, inclusive
community for all employees and actively promotes a commitment to diversity,
equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. Studies have shown that women and people of
color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the
qualifications as described in the job description. We are most interested in finding
the best candidate for the job and are eager to consider applications from groups
traditionally underrepresented in independent school communities.
Program Description:
As an extension of Cascades Academy's uniquely engaging mission, Camp CREATE
offers programming for no-school days, spring break camp and six weeks of STEAM
and nature based summer camps, from July 8th to August 16th, hosting
approximately 85 campers and 5 to 7 CITs per day.
Camp CREATE stands for Creatively Redefining Education through Adventurous
Teachable Experiences and this is the foundation for how we build and facilitate our
eight-weeks of fun-filled, adventure and experiential-based summer camp
programs. Each week of camp is based around a different theme, explored through
learning modalities such as robotics, STEAM, nature and leadership and art and
music.
We believe humans learn by engaging their curiosity and wonder through hands-on
experiences and exploration. Each week of camp we as leaders strive to ignite,
promote and facilitate learning opportunities for students by engaging week-long
projects, excursions to places in our community, and collaborating with guest
educators, instructors, and peers in completing tasks, team-initiatives, and projects.
Summer Camp Lead Counselor Position:
Our Summer Camp Leaders are the front line in inspiring, encouraging, supporting
and developing our campers, and working together as a leadership team to
collaborate and produce a camp day that is educational, safe, fun, fluid and positively
engages children. We are looking for experienced, responsible and enthusiastic
individuals who are excited to spend their summer working with elementary aged
children.
Preferred Qualities:
- Enjoys working with children and facilitating their wonder, safety and learning
- Self-motivated, proactive, flexible, enthusiastic and reliable
- Good time-management and organizational skills
- Engaging, positive and relates respectfully with people of all background and
- Works well as part of a small and cohesive team
Responsibilities:
- Learn and be prepared to facilitate each week's unique curriculum based in
nature and art.
- Supervise and support assigned cohort of campers based on age group
- Lead songs, games, activities, and excursions related to our weekly theme
- Work with co-instructors, counselors in training (CITs), guest educators and
- Oversee and tend to camper’s physical and emotional safety
- Plan and prepare daily project, equipment and material needs
- Create an inclusive, non-threatening environment through the use of
- Submit all required paperwork to the director
- Other duties as assigned by the program director
Requirements:
- Available June 23rd - 27th & July 7th - August 15th, 2025
- First Aid/CPR certified (or ability to complete prior to June 20th)
- At least two years or more of experience working with children in a summer
camp, youth recreation, or educational setting
- Valid Driver’s License and insurance and interest in learning and/or experience
- Clean background check
- Willingness to complete trainings provided by the program
Compensation:
- Instructors are paid at an hourly rate of $19.50-$22.75 based on experience and
- Instructors are also compensated for certification and five days of staff training
Application Process: Please send a resume and cover letter to Camp Director Hannah Nebeker at
- To learn more about our camp and what it means to be a counselor with us,
visit our employment page at
cascadesacademy.org/community/camp-create/work
It is the policy of Cascades Academy to provide equal employment opportunity,
regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental
impairment, sexual orientation, veteran’s status or any other status protected by
applicable law. Specifically, employment opportunities are and shall be open to all
qualified applicants solely on the basis of their experience, aptitudes, abilities and
training; advancement is and shall be based on the individual’s achievement,
performance, ability, attitude and potential for promotion.
Salary : $20 - $23
