Day Camp Lead - Summer 2025

Job Title: Day Camp Lead

Department: Camp Programs

Dates of Employment: May 19, 2025 - August 16, 2025

Housing Available: Yes

Compensation: $800 per week base rate, $880 per week for Spanish speakers, 3% boost for returning camp staff.

About Keystone Science School
With the outdoors as a backdrop for learning, Keystone Science School inspires curiosity and critical thinking through the lens of science to change lives and strengthen communities. KSS offers a variety of adventure and traditional camp activities within a structured environment designed to allow each camper and participant to understand their potential. In all programs, campers and participants will create lifelong friendships, explore and learn about the natural world, and gain leadership and wilderness skills. For more information go to keystonescienceschool.org

With a staff that cares deeply about social justice and racial justice, we believe that diverse perspectives and backgrounds create a rich work environment and enhance our ability to pursue our mission. We are committed to building an organization with raised consciousness in order to impact how we work with clients, as well as how we work together as a team.

Program Overview and Job Summary

KSS offers Day camp programming based out of our 23 acre campus in Keystone, for local and visiting children grades Kindergarten through 8th. Programming is age specific and full-day, offering educational and recreational activities with weekly science and adventure themes. Each week, campers will participate in hands-on activities, local hikes, arts and crafts, games, leadership, literacy, community building and much more!

The Day Camp Lead oversees the Day Camp program, their primary responsibility is to handle logistics and day-to-day operations of the day camp programs and provide the necessary tools for instructors to maintain a positive and safe learning environment for campers. The Day Camp Lead can expect to work 5 days per week and can expect long summer camp days of up to 14 hours per day.

Main areas of focus:

• 50% Logistics;

• 20% Lesson planning and curriculum development

• 20% Support Staff duties (e.g. check-in/out, cleaning, student free time)

• 10% Staff training and coaching

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with the other Day Camp Lead, Camp Program Assistant Managers, and Discovery Overnight Camp Leads to develop and prepare program curriculum/materials;

• Maintain quality programming by focusing on program development, delegation, implementation, training, and evaluation;

• Oversee the successful execution of logistic and operational tasks for Day Camp programs, which includes but is not limited to: schedules, attendance, field trips, etc.;

• Mentor and motivate day camp counselors;

• Collaborate with the Customer Experience team in communicating with parents/guardians regarding behavior, risk, and safety;

• Maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow Risk Management policies in all activities;

• Actively interact with and engage children during KSS programs;

• Lead in behavior management;

• Plan, lead, coach, and support all aspects of day programs;

• Assign task-based projects to counselors and ensure completion by the given deadline;

• Collaborate with the Camp Programs Assistant Managers and Day Camp Leads to schedule Summer Counselors;

• Provide support for the weekly Day Camp sleepover;

• Provide an electronics-aware experience for all children and enforce an electronics-aware environment with counselors;

• Set up before children arrive and clean up after children depart from KSS programming;

• Maintain storage of all KSS equipment, including teaching materials, gear, keys, toys, etc.;

• Facilitate and complete set up/take down projects at the end of every Day Camp session as assigned;

• Attend and help facilitate all staff meetings and trainings as assigned;

• Candidates age 20 with a minimum of 4 years driving experience will be required to participate in and pass Van Driver Training, and they will be required to drive a 15-passenger van;

• Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule
This is a full-time, seasonal position. The typical work schedule will require a flexible schedule, including days, nights, and weekends. Day Camp Leads should expect to work 65 hours a week including some evenings to support meetings and programming. Day Camp Leads can expect to be off on weekends other than during staff training.

Work Environment
This position requires the employee to work in close contact with their teammates. The office space is small and the employee must have the ability to stay focused while others are working in close proximity. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but varies seasonally due to programs and staffing on campus. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee while performing the essential functions of this job.
This position may require traveling to off-site programming locations. In most situations, KSS will provide transportation to off-site programming locations. However, staff may be asked to use personal vehicles to travel within Summit County. Any travel mileage in personal vehicles outside Summit County may be reimbursed.

Salary
The salary for this position is $800 per week base rate, 10% differential (increase) for Spanish speakers, 3% increase for returning camp staff.

Room and Board
Keystone Science School provides housing for this position. Housing is in rustic cabins, some of which are over 100 years old. Some staff housing will also be in canvas tents. During the summer months KSS houses a large staff so employees can expect multiple roommates and shared living spaces (staff kitchen, bathrooms, showers, laundry, common spaces, etc.). Food is provided for this position, the kitchen strives to have food options for all staff to meet dietary needs. Housing and food are provided at no additional cost.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Minimum Requirements

• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with people with diverse backgrounds;

• Ability to create an inclusive learning environment for students from a wide range of backgrounds;

• Experience with risk management practices of the outdoor and environmental education industry;

• Ability to be creative, adaptable, and flexible while managing children in a variety of situations;

• Strong work ethic and will work until the job is complete;

• Motivation to contribute positively to the KSS at-large community;

• Multi-task efficiently while managing a high-volume workload in a fast-paced, changing environment;

• Superior customer service skills, with the ability to be creative and think 'outside the box';

• Ability to work in a busy environment with many distractions.

Required Education, Experience, and Certifications

• Candidates will be asked to provide verification of one of the following: (A) 4 year college degree with a major such as recreation, education with a specialty in art, elementary education or early childhood education, or a subject in the human services field; (B) 2 years of college training 6 months (910 hours) of experience in the care and supervision of 4 or more children since attaining the age of 18;

• Current Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications, from an approved vendor, or the ability to obtain before the first day of employment;

• Excellent driving record and a valid driver's license; Candidates age 21 with a minimum of 5 years driving experience will be required to participate in and pass Van Driver Training, and they will be required to drive a 15-passenger van;

• Must be able to successfully pass a comprehensive background check.

Preferred Skills

• Ability to communicate verbally and teach in Spanish;

• Experience leading employees and managing administrative tasks in a professional environment;

• Proficiency with Google Drive and CampSite camp management software.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Keystone Science School is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, religion, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.