Summer Camp Associate

Come join Children’s Fairyland as one of 5 Summer Camp Associates! This position is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about children, education, and our local community. The Fairyland team is a diverse group of dedicated individuals committed to creating a magical fantasy world for young children to create, imagine, play, and learn! 

A successful Summer Camp Associate is passionate about working with children in an outdoor environment and promoting a socially and physically safe learning space. The Camp Associate is focused on supporting the daily schedule and engaging in recreation activities for a cohort of 15 children, ages 5-14. Reporting to the Camp Manager, this role works closely with a partner Summer Camp Lead and collaborates with the entire camp team to regularly organize daily activities and ensure smooth camp operation. The Camp Associate contributes to providing an engaging, fun experience where children are exploring the intersections of storytelling, imagination, nature, arts, and play.    

All successful candidates are required to attend Fairyland’s paid training session from May 27th through May 30th.  This is an opportunity to earn your First Aid/CPR certification if you don’t already have one and make friends and memories that will last a lifetime!

COVID-19 Update:  In an effort to keep our visitors, staff, volunteers, and communities safe, Fairyland has adopted a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy. In accordance with state and federal laws, Fairyland will consider all qualified applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation from our vaccination policy based on a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Experience and expertise working with school-aged children in a school or camp setting
• Commitment to providing an education experience that is child-centered and culturally responsive
• Dedicated to promoting an environment that is safe, inclusive, conducive to learning, and developmentally appropriate
• Basic understanding and appreciation of storytelling and imaginative play
• Basic knowledge of arts and crafts, and reusable materials
• Basic knowledge of classroom management approaches
• Understands and respects children, recognizes that each individual’s learning style is unique
• Experience communicating with camp guardians and caregivers keeping them informed about camp and answering questions 
• Understands and respects children, recognizes that each individual’s learning style is unique
• Possess excellent time management and organizational skills: ability to follow the schedule as well as keeping working spaces and materials tidy.
• Possess a clear background history with no barriers to working with children

Preferred Qualifications

• Completed high school diploma
• Some college classes
• Experience in working with diverse groups of grade school-aged children 

Personal Attributes/Values

• People-orientation- able to interact effectively, politely, and productively with all types of people from all types of backgrounds and experience and in all types of situations. 
• Professional maturity to manage composure during stressful interactions
• Energetic, diplomatic, adaptable and with a good sense of humor
• Passionate about the mission, vision, and goals of Fairyland and possess an understanding of how this position contributes to the organization’s success
• Strong work ethic with an orientation toward process improvement
• Impeccable integrity and honesty

Physical Requirements 

This position is primarily located in an outdoor environment.  Able to perform the following duties with or without accommodation:

• Stand, sit, kneel, walk, bend, and perform repetitive motions for the duration of an eight (8) hour shift
• Traverse safely over uneven terrain throughout the entirety of the 10-acre amusement park 
• Safely lift and transport items of up to 50 lbs. 
• Work safely without presenting a direct threat to self or others
• Respond quickly to sounds
• See and respond quickly to situations
• Communicate in clear, loud voice 
• Operate two-radio for communications with park personnel
• Work in outdoor, seasonal weather conditions for 100% of shift
• Proven track record of punctuality and attendance
• Ability to work the entirety of the camp from May 27 through August 8, 2025 (except the Juneteenth (Jun 19th) and July 4th holidays)
• Current COVID-19 Requirements
• Ability to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination prior to start of employment

Benefits & Compensation

This is a seasonal, full-time non-exempt position working as early as May 27 through August 8, 2025, Mondays through Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The rate of pay is $20.00 per hour. 

How to join Team Fairyland

To apply for a position with Fairyland, please complete the application here. Due to the size of our operations, we are unable to take phone inquiries about positions.

Note:  Children's Fairyland does not have the resources to sponsor visas, nor any open positions eligible for the H-1B program.

Children's Fairyland fully and actively supports equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Our commitment applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. We see candidates with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, community building, and meaningful connection with a broad range of people and institutions.

About Fairyland

Featured in the Wall Street Journal’s travel section on unique places to visit in Oakland and touted by BuzzFeed as “The Most Amazing Place to take Kids” in California, Children’s Fairyland is the first storybook theme park in America! In 1950, a group of visionary Oaklanders partnered with the city’s park superintendent and garnered support from enthusiastic citizens to build the outdoor 10-acre theme park on the shores of Lake Merritt in the heart of Oakland. Visited by Walt Disney as he was conceptualizing Disneyland, Fairyland has inspired many other fairytale-themed parks across the United States. Over 220,000 visitors enjoy Fairyland’s many activities and programs annually, and through our outreach program, free or reduced admission is offered to over 16,000 children and families every year. Fairyland operates 362 of 365 days a year, weather permitting.

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