Horseback Riding Program Lead

The JCC Ranch Camp is not just the Denver JCC’s overnight summer camp, it’s also one of the best places to work during the summer. As a staff member, Ranch Camp will become your home away from home as you work to create a community where people can thrive. You’re a hero to your campers; you have the chance to do something you really care about and have a whole lot of fun doing it. Your experience as a staff member is just as important to us as our campers’ experience. That being said: We’re here to serve kids and make sure they are in the safest environment possible while having the time of their lives. 

First and foremost, all our staff are madrichim or counselors.  

All Staff Responsibilities  

• Take care of your campers by prioritizing their physical, social, and emotional health, safety, and well-being.  

• Work as a team with your co-staff to make sure every day runs smoothly and to the schedule. 

• Create a community that you want to be a part of and that you want campers to be a part of.   

• Include everyone and make sure everyone is included.   

• Jump into the camp life: ride horses, swim, camp, play games, sing songs, roast s’mores, be ready to do everything the campers do!  

• Know where your campers are and what they are doing all the time.   

• Care for the campers and manage camper behaviors using the tools you learn in Staff Orientation week (We’ll go over positive behavior management techniques, enforcing appropriate safety policies, emergency procedures, camp rules, and more.)  

• Be flexible and adaptable because things change quickly at camp. You have to be able to roll with it.  

• Fill out daily Camper Bunk Notes to track campers’ physical and emotional health, cabin social dynamics, and overall camper wellbeing.  

• And other duties and responsibilities as assigned: you might need to make your campers’ dreams of a beach themed ice-cream campfire song session come true or become your favorite legendary Pokémon for an evening program. 

But our staff aren’t just counselors. We want you to do what matters to you while you’re at camp.  

Want to spend your summer outside, exploring the back country of Colorado and climbing mountains? We have a job for you. Does spending the morning playing soccer and the afternoon creating art make your heart happy? We have a job for you. Want to design a rocket that can make grilled cheese, but also land on Mars? We probably have a job for you, let’s talk. 

Program Staff Responsibilities 

• Lead and assist leading horseback riding instruction, lessons, and trail rides for campers of all ages and experience levels are safe, fun, and memorable. 

• Create fun and safe lesson plans for all horseback riding abilities. 

• Document the programming you create for other staff members to use in the future.  

• Work with the program team to create and run Engaging staff and all-camp programming 

• Track camper riding performance throughout the horseback riding programs. 

• Assist in horse and farm animal care in tandem with the barn management team. 

• Assist in managing the care and maintenance of all equine-related equipment including saddles, bridles, helmets, boots, etc. 

• Assist Barn Manager with any miscellaneous needs related to the equine programs or camper safety.  

• Assist with daily program set-up including herd round-up, tacking, and planning. 

If you have previous camp experience, as a Program Area Lead, you’ll also have the opportunity to step into additional leadership roles and responsibilities including, but not limited to:  

• Help develop programming for staff, such as Onegs, staff appreciation, or other events  

• Help develop all-camp programming, such as evening programs or special days  

• Work with the SIT (Staff in Training) program as a mentor 

Finally, all staff must be able to attend Staff Orientations and be available to live at camp for the summer season. Lead wranglers may need to be on-site earlier to accommodate horse arrival. 

Physical Demands and Working Environment 

Physical Demands: This job requires the incumbent to have operative auditory and visual functioning. Employee must also be able to walk upwards of two (2) miles each day, including use of stairs and uneven terrain.  Employee may also stand, sit in chairs or on the ground, run, and swim. Employee may lift or body block campers when necessary.   

Work Environment: Working conditions may include being in indoor, often time’s loud spaces and spending extended time outdoors under the sun. Must have the ability to work in a hectic, sometimes stressful environment while maintaining the standard of care.   

Qualifications and Requirements  

Basic Qualifications:  

• Must be at least 21 years of age.  

• One year experience in a child care setting or a vested interest in working in a professional child care setting   

• At least three years of horseback riding experience, at least two of which have to have been in the last two calendar years. Let us know if you’ve had less recent horse experience in the application process. 

• Two years’ experience teaching and planning programming in horseback riding 

• Any disciplines ridden/taught are accepted as experience, please note Ranch Camp has a western horseback riding program. 

• Strong ability to lead a team and collaborate 

• Specific experience teaching and planning programming surrounding horses  

• Satisfactorily fulfill requirements for employment at the Staenberg-Loup JCC, including: background screening, three references, documentation, and compliance with CDHS law.   

• Must be high-energy, enthusiastic, creative, and open-minded!  

Preferred Qualifications:   

• One year experience in a camp environment   

• First Aid and CPR Certifications 

• Bachelor's degree or degree in progress in agriculture, veterinary sciences, zoology, education, or other related field or equivalent experience 

Benefits Overview: 

This is a seasonal job and is therefore ineligible for benefits.  

Please note: This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive statement of every duty and responsibility which will ever be required of an employee in this position; however, the employee will be held responsible for all duties assigned.  

The Jewish Community Center values diversity and inclusiveness and is an equal opportunity employer.