Residential Camp Counselor

YMCA CAMP RAVENCLIFF RESIDENTIAL CAMP COUNSELOR

Salary Range: $650-710/week plus room & board

Status: Full-Time / Seasonal

Camp Location: Southern Humboldt County *This is a residential camp program and staff are required to live onsite during their employment*

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under direction of the Camp Director, the Camp Counselor is responsible for all campers assigned to their group. They take responsibility for leadership and guidance to those campers in daily living, with special attention to: personal hygiene and safety, camper participation in all-camp activities, camper participation in the cabin group and cabin activities including cabin reflections, meal time behavior and habits. The Camp Counselor is expected to adhere to the policies, procedures and standards established by the Sonoma County Family YMCA.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Under the direction of the Camp Director administer program to ensure program goals are met, evidenced by improved participant survey responses and increased retention rate of participants in the program.
• Live in a cabin with all campers assigned to your group and take responsibility for leadership and guidance to those campers in daily living, with special attention to: personal hygiene and safety, camper participation in camp activities, camper participation in the cabin group and cabin activities including cabin reflections, meal time behavior and habits.
• Treats all participants with dignity and respect. Follow behavior management procedures outlined in the Y Code of Conduct, staff training and as directed by the camp director.
• Attend training sessions and staff meetings as scheduled.
• Knowledge of emergency and safety procedures.
• Be willing to be flexible, understanding, and sensitive to the needs of people and promote positive relationship between children and staff.
• Engage in behavior that is conducive to team building; using open communication, encouragement, support and tolerance with fellow staff members.
• Maintain regular communication and active engagement with immediate supervisor.
• Communicate verbally with campers individually and provide instruction daily.
• Lead activities as assigned.
• Lead cabin group and provide quality programming for cabin activities, reflections and weekly overnighter.
• Interpret the rules, policies, and traditions of camp to the camper.
• Serve as a good role model in personal language, appearance, communication skills, and health habits.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• At least eighteen years of age, or High School Graduate
• High school diploma or GED required, some college preferred
• Fingerprint clearance from both Department of Justice (DOJ) & FBI, which includes sex offender screening.
• Experience as a camper or working with children as a leader or assistant leader, ideally in a camp setting
• Ability to relate to one’s peers, as well as children, effectively
• Flexibility and maturity, with ability to accept supervision
• First Aid and CPR certification prior to start of camp
• Red Cross Waterfront Lifeguard certification or YMCA Lifeguard certification preferred but not required
• Must attend all mandatory training sessions, including but not limited to Child Abuse Awareness, Sexual Harassment and Workplace Violence Prevention and pre-camp staff training which will include on-site training and may also include virtual training
• Because this position lives among the camp community, it is strongly recommended to be current on all standard vaccines including COVID-19, measles and pertussis

Camp is located on a steep hillside and terrain is rocky and uneven. Work days are long, cabin housing is rustic, and temperatures can exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit on occasion. Managing the needs of campers and the staff team can be mentally and emotionally taxing. While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions, often on steep and uneven terrain. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Sonoma County Family YMCA provides 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.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.