What are the responsibilities and job description for the Head Counselor position at Oshman Family JCC?
The Place: Maccabi Sports Camp is an overnight specialty camp with programs across multiple sports in a Jewish environment for children entering grades 3-11. Our sessions combine high-level specialized sports instruction with the fun, friendship, and community of a traditional overnight camp. Our camp is both an intensive sports and Jewish experience and is open to campers of all backgrounds and faiths. For more information, visit our website at: www.maccabisportscamp.org.
Dates of Camp: Monday, June 9, 2025 – Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Pay Range: $3,500 stipend for camp session (6/9/25-7/29/25) housing and meals provided on site potential travel stipend
The Job: Are you leader who is passionate about working with youth and teens in an engaging summer camp environment? If so, this this might be the job for you! As a Head Counselor, you are responsible for the wellbeing of all campers in a particular age group(s) and act as the supervisor of camp residential life for that group of campers and staff members. You will work closely with the Director and Assistant Director to ensure positive resolution for any and all camper or counselor issues that may arise. As a Head Counselor, you are involved in all elements of camp programming but your primary focus is on camper care – making sure that all campers are happy, healthy, forming social connections, and improving in their Core Sport.
This position requires you to live on campus and reside in the dorms alongside the campers. This is a seasonal, temporary position. Food, lodging, camp gear, comprehensive staff training, and days off are included as part of the compensation package.
The Core Duties:
- Serve as the lead professional in determining appropriate responses to all camper and staff issues related to social, Serve as the leader of a Division of campers and staff, supporting counselors with camper care issues, including but not limited to: behavior management, interpersonal disputes, homesickness, and hygiene
- Work closely with Camp Director and Assistant Director as well as camp counselors, to understand and resolve all camper issues
- Provide direct supervision of counselors by being present in the dorms during bedtime, rest hour, shower time, and other “downtimes”
- Manage camper laundry service, cabin clean-up, and ensure that campers maintain the necessary level of cleanliness and hygiene
- Supervise counselors in a particular Division and provide them with feedback and support as necessary
The Essentials:
- Substantial experience working with children ages 8-15 years of age
- Caring, empathetic, patient, hard-working, diligent, intuitive
- Prior experience at overnight camp is essential, preferably as a counselor, unit head, or other position working directly with campers and counselors
- Strong communication skills and comfortable communicating about children’s needs and/or issues
- Ability to work as both part of a team and independently, manage projects and team members
- Must be at least 21 years old and/or college graduate or have commensurate professional experience
- Interest in working hard, serving as a role model, and positively impacting the lives of campers
- Preferred experience in education, social work, child development, psychology or related field
- Pediatric First Aid and CPR Certified (training will be provided during camp)
- Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills. Ability to communicate information clearly (written and oral).
Salary : $3,500
