Summer Camp Stop Motion Lead

Come join Children’s Fairyland as our Summer Camp Stop Motion Lead! This position is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about children, education and our local Oakland 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 Stop Motion Lead is passionate about working with children in an indoor and outdoor environment and promoting a socially and physically safe learning space. The Stop Motion Camp Lead is focused on facilitating the daily schedule and teaching stop motion lessons and techniques for a cohort of 12 children, ages 9-11. Reporting to the Senior Director of Education, this role works closely with another partner Stop Motion Lead and collaborates with the Camp Coordinator to regularly organize daily activities and ensure smooth camp operation. This role contributes to providing an engaging, fun experience where children are exploring the intersections of storytelling, imagination, nature, arts, and play.  

All successful candidates should be available to start on May 19th, 2025.

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

• Have taken college or adult classes in Animation, Media Arts or related field; other majors with animation background are welcome to apply
• Ability to teach courses like 2D animation and stop motion animation
• Knowledge in animation tools like Stop Motion Studio
• Possesses 2 years of experience working in an After School Program or Community Center that serves children ages 5-14
• Follow curriculum, set student's goals, motivate and guide students to provide an enjoyable learning experience
• Monitor student progress, advise students and provide feedback and support to students as required to meet student outcomes and course objectives.
• Work effectively with students, teachers and parents to achieve course goals.
• Provide feedback from classroom experience into curriculum development, instructional methods, objectives and philosophy.
• Basic understanding and appreciation of storytelling and imaginative play
• Experience leading group games, hands-on projects, and enrichment activities
• Possess knowledge of classroom management approaches
• 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
• Experience communicating with camp guardians and caregivers keeping them informed about camp and answering questions
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both write and verbally
• Possess excellent time management and organizational skills: ability to prioritize lessons and balance daily schedule as well as keeping working spaces and materials tidy.
• Able to work with minimal supervision

Preferred Qualifications

• Completed high school diploma
• Completed 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
• Ability to work for the entirety of the Stop Motion summer camp session from May 19th through July 11th, 2025 (except for the Juneteenth (Jun 19th) and July 4th holidays)
• Proven track record of punctuality and attendance
• Current COVID-19 requirements
• Ability to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination prior to start of employment;

Benefits & Compensation

This is seasonal, full-time non-exempt position working May 19 through July 11, 2025, Mondays through Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The rate of pay is $26.00 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.

Salary : $26