What are the responsibilities and job description for the Discovery Overnight Camp Lead - Summer 2025 position at Keystone Science School?
Job Title: Discovery Overnight Camp Lead
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.
Job Summary
The Discovery Overnight Camp Lead works with Overnight Discovery Camp programs, serving a maximum of 90 campers per session. The primary responsibility of the Overnight Camp Lead is to provide the necessary logistic support for programs to run smoothly. The Overnight Camp Leads will help support staff by providing tools for Counselors to maintain a positive and safe environment for children.
They are responsible for creating schedules and trail groups, communicating with outside contractors, teaching, coordinating, and facilitating a variety of summer program activities. They are also responsible for guiding children in their personal growth and daily living skills. The Discovery Overnight Camp Lead can expect to work 5-6 days per week and can expect long summer camp days of up to 16 hours per day.
Main areas of focus:
- 40% Logistics;
- 20% Support staff duties (e.g. facilitation of meals, setup/clean up, evening programs);
- 20% Lesson planning and curriculum development
- 10% Teaching and training;
- 10% Coaching and staff mentoring;
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Collaborate closely with the other Discovery Overnight Camp Lead, the Day Camp Leads and Camp Program Managers to develop and prepare program curriculum/materials;
- Maintain quality programming by focusing on program logistics, delegation, implementation, training, and evaluation;
- Coach, mentor, and motivate the Discovery program counselors;
- Train counselors on the every-day processes of the Discovery Camp program during workshops throughout staff training;
- Supervise and maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow risk management policies in all activities;
- Complete all logistical and operational tasks for Discovery programs, which includes but is not limited to: parent communications, paperwork, check-in, creating weekly program schedules, program evals, etc.;
- Communicate program schedules to the Customer Experience Team for parent newsletters;
- Oversee staff preparation for overnight camping trips (trip itineraries, gear, risk management, etc.);
- Communicate with KSS kitchen staff to plan overnight camp meals and overnight camping trip food;
- Plan, lead, and support all aspects of Discovery and CAP programs alongside the Camp Programs Assistant Managers;
- Lead and/or support training sessions and meetings;
- Assign task-based projects to Counselors and ensure completion by the given deadline;
- Assist in mitigating multi-session children and staff from experiencing fatigue by ensuring program variation;
- Provide an electronics-aware experience for all children and enforce an electronics-aware environment with counselors;
- Help support and implement feedback and coaching systems for staff;
- Set up before children arrive and clean up after children depart from KSS campus;
- Maintain storage of all KSS equipment;
- 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;
- Abide by and uphold the policies and procedures set forth by KSS;
- Other duties as assigned.
Professional Performance
- Adhere to all Personnel Policies and Procedures for the organization.
- Maintain professional standards of performance, demeanor, and appearance at all times; act as a role model both at and away from the organization.
- Maintain a creative, team-building approach to job performance and seek to bring a constructive, problem-solving orientation to all tasks.
- Perform all tasks and responsibilities with attention to detail and in a complete and timely manner, complying with organization policies and standards and conforming to the scheduling requirements of the job and program.
- Maintain an awareness of the organizations mission and work to promote the positive individual and social change goals it embodies.
- Exercise discretion and professional judgment at all times keeping with the responsibilities carried personally and by the organization for the care and welfare of the clients; act with honesty and integrity in all aspects of organization business.
- Actively strive to upgrade professional skills through engaging in appropriate professional training and experience.
- Actively strive to create and maintain a culturally sensitive, justice-centered and appropriate environment through communication and interaction that demonstrates respect for diversity, socio-economic and cultural differences and that fosters a work environment where people from all backgrounds are welcomed and valued.
Other duties may be assigned
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 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;
- 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.
Physical Demands of this Position
- Able to work a majority of the time outside at high altitude in varying conditions including uneven and slick terrain and unpredictable weather and situations.
- Physically able to assist participants with recreation equipment during activities.
- Able to lift a minimum of 75 lbs. with assistance.
- Dexterity, auditory and visual acuity to operate computers and phones or mobile devices.
- Auditory and visual acuity to interact with guests, students, clients on a daily basis.
- Able to successfully manage multiple, high priority tasks in a fast-paced and often times crowded and noisy environment.
Work Schedule
This is a full-time, seasonal position. The typical work schedule will require a flexible schedule, including days, nights, and weekends. Discovery Overnight Camp Leads should expect to work 85 hours a week including evenings, overnights, and weekends to support programming.
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.
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.
Salary : $800 - $880
