Summer Camp Counselor

Raritan Valley YMCA

Job Description

Position Title: Camp Counselor
Reports to: Day Camp Director
Job Category: Seasonal, Non-Exempt
Department: Summer Day Camp
Updated: January 2025

Mission: The Raritan Valley YMCA is committed to building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities throughout our area. It is a charitable, not for profit organization that welcomes all people regardless of age, race, religion, or economic status and strives to enrich each and every life through a unique and dynamic combination of programs that strengthen spirit, mind, and body. The Raritan Valley YMCA embraces the values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Position Purpose: Under the direction and supervision of the Camp Director, the Camp Counselor will provide caring and effective leadership both to their assigned group and to the Camp as a whole. The counselor will promote healthy personal relationships, teach planned and unplanned activities, and safeguard campers from potential health or safety dangers. They will carry out the mission of the YMCA by fostering the development of spirit, mind and body and incorporating the four core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility in their daily activities.

Qualifications: Camp Counselors must be at least 16 years of age and have prior experience working with children (preferably 1 year). Qualifications should include a warm and friendly personality, sensitivity toward the feelings and needs of others, maturity, flexibility, good time management and organizational skills and be able to relate well to young children. A demonstrated ability to communicate with all levels of staff and campers will be required.

Requirements: Employees in this position must be able to stand for extended periods of time, possess vision clarity (with the aid of corrective lenses if necessary), possess the ability to climb, balance, stop, kneel, crouch, reach, stand, lift, finger, grasp, feel, talk and hear. The physical requirements of the position range between medium and heavy work. Medium work includes exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally (heavy work exerts up to 100 pounds), and/or up to 20 pounds (50 pounds for heavy work) of force frequently. Medium work includes exerting up to 10 pounds of force constantly (20 pounds if heavy work) to move objects.

Job Responsibilities
1. Serve as a positive role model for campers, parents and other staff members at all times by promoting the

YMCA mission and values. Staff members will set good examples by exhibiting personal habits, health, dress, speech, etiquette and relationships that serve as beneficial models to campers.

2. Understand and adhere to all Raritan Valley YMCA’s policies and procedures.

3. Provide a safe environment for campers and self.

4. Know the location and activity of each camper at all times.

5. Nurture each camper’s development of social skills and self esteem while creating a loving and supportive camp environment.

6. Supervise and monitor each camper’s health and hygiene.

7. Communicate with camp director and/or Program Supervisor regularly. Provide clear communication with co- counselors and other staff throughout each day to insure proper coverage, ratios, and supervision of campers.

8. Provide individual and group supervision to campers with attention to all of the following: program, health, happiness, discipline, cleanliness, safety, routine duties, character, and skill development.

9. Actively participate in all camp activities (camp songs, games, sports, art, nature, drama, and special events).

10. Lead and/or assist games, songs, or skits during morning assembly focusing on team building or one of the four core values.

11. Recognize campers for their personal growth, exemplary behavior and skill attainment. Provide regular positive reinforcement to promote positive camper behavior.

12. Attend all staff meetings, training sessions and special camp events including pre/post camp dates (Open
House, Parent Orientations etc…).

13. Maintain a positive attitude.

14. Demonstrate flexibility in adapting to changes in schedule and activities due to inclement weather, staff absences, program changes etc…

15. Take care to maintain camp equipment and program supplies in good working order and report and lost or damaged equipment immediately to one of the directors.

16. Assist in planning and implementing diversified programs for campers including weekly lesson plans, special events and elective periods.

17. Attend and supervise a group of campers on out of camp trips ensuring camper safety and active engagement in all scheduled activities.

18. Report all concerns and issues concerning camper behavior, job performance, conduct, and staff related problems to the Camp Director.

19. Thoroughly complete all paperwork (incident reports, accident reports, attendance sheets, sign in/out sheets, lesson plans, behavior modification plans, etc...) in a timely fashion.

20. Physical constraints required include the ability to hear the conversational voice with or without a hearing aide; the ability to see with or without corrective lenses; to speak and be understood under normal circumstances; to lift and carry children in an emergency, as well as lift and move plastic or wooden picnic tables; have the use of arms, legs, and feet to accomplish the job; and have the ability to evacuate camp area during emergencies.

21. Fulfill additional responsibilities as required.

Effect and Result: The employee’s performance will be measured by the degree to which the employee carries out the stated Job Responsibilities, promotes a safe well rounded high quality Camp program that is viewed favorably in the community

I have read and understand the above job description and accept the responsibilities herein.

______________________________________________ __________________
Employee Signature Date

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: $15.49 - $17.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20 – 30 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount

Schedule:

• Afternoon shift
• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Monday to Friday
• Morning shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $15 - $17