What are the responsibilities and job description for the Inclusive Camp Counselor position at Hockomock YMCA?
The Hockomock Area YMCA is hiring Inclusive Camp Counselors for summer camps that provide specialized guidance, leadership, safe, and quality interventions in a fun summer camp environment. Inclusive Camp Counselors are responsible for implementing camp activities, such as sports/games, arts and crafts, swimming, and STEAM. Activities and approaches will be modified, as necessary, to ensure inclusion and access to all activities. Counselors lead camp culture, serve as role models, and maintain a fun, energetic, and positive attitude while representing the YMCA values.
Essential Functions
- Leads camp culture by enthusiastically participating in camp games, songs, and activities
- Facilitates positive interactions among participants, as well as between participants and camp staff
- Partners with Directors and colleagues to help develop and implement theme ideas, group games, songs, and activities
- Provides activities for campers that build spirit, self-esteem, and character values, and improve social skills
- Supports participants by learning how to best accommodate their needs within the program, ensuring everything is in place to promote their success. This includes but is not limited to: utilizing modified approaches such as visual aids (visual schedules, social stories), timers, and transition techniques
- Develops relationships with participants and their peers to encourage participation in the activities, fun learning the skills being taught, and socialization
- Treats all campers with dignity and respect, as well as leads by role-modeling the character values
- Knows and follows all health and safety standards and procedures, resolving safety issues when needed, discussing concerns with camp leadership staff, and if appropriate, the parent
- Participates in staff meetings to share ideas, observations, review goals, problem solve, and evaluate progress
- Maintains attendance throughout each day
- Assists with data gathering for the camp leadership team to communicate with camp families when a change is needed or for behavior management
- Models and facilitates appropriate and positive social interactions, assisting campers with social cues and peer-to-peer interactions
- Assists with the set up and procedures of Parent Pick up and Drop off
- Must be 18 or have 2-3 years of related experience
- Must become First Aid, CPR and AED certified
- Report of acceptable CORI/SORI (criminal record and sex offender record) checks
- Summer Camp counselor experience, preferred
- Experience delivering programs for participants with special needs
- Experience with behavioral intervention; experience training others is a bonus
- Ability to effectively plan, organize, and facilitate full day activities for a specialty camp
- High level of interpersonal skills, dependability, maturity, creativity, cooperation, patience, initiative, and resourcefulness, trust worthiness, focus, and good judgment
- Ability to provide a safe and fun experience for participants
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, in a positive, cooperative manner, and in way that is aligned with the mission, goals, and philosophy of the Hockomock Area YMCA
- Willingness to assume additional responsibilities and make the time commitments necessary for improving the implementation of a quality program
