Internship- Early Childhood Summer Camp Counselor

The Urban Ecology Center hires nearly 30 people annually for our Green Career Pathways summer employment & internship experience. Our model of creating neighborhood-based environmental education centers energizes urban public natural areas. Located in vibrant public green spaces in Milwaukee, our fast-growing organization serves over 200,000 people of all ages annually.  Our Green Career Pathways efforts are providing people with an immersive green career experience while having a significant impact on our mission. 

The UEC’s Environmental Education Department will hire two (2) Early Childhood Summer Camp Counselors for the summer of 2025.  Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; candidates should apply as soon as possible to be considered for this opportunity.

Position Summary: As an early childhood summer camp counselor, you will be an integral part of our summer camp team, specializing in nature based early childhood environmental education day camp programming for children ages 3-6. You will plan, develop and co-teach daily programs specializing in early childhood programming at one or two of our branches. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

 Planning processes for summer camp

• You will attend and participate in required training for licensed Wisconsin Day Camps and utilize the training while leading programs throughout the summer.
• You will collaborate with summer camp early childhood educators and directors to develop age-appropriate multi-week programming
• Create camper-centered programming throughout the summer and prepare materials for activities. 

 Co-teach week-long and multi-week summer camps

• Lead diverse summer camp programming and mentor program participants  ages 3-6 in outdoor Urban Ecology Center sites and/or green spaces around the Milwaukee metropolitan area.
• Work closely with the early childhood environmental educators to develop and teach nature-based early childhood multi-week camps for ages 4-6 
• Oversee and plan camper activities during before and after-camp session 
• Option to participate in a four-week ECOPEEP course through Alverno College. Participants will receive a digital badge in Urban Nature-based Early Childhood Education.

OUR SUMMER EMPLOYMENT & INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

• Our summer employment term runs from June 9 to August 22, 2025. Interns are paid an $1,120 bi-weekly stipend and allotted 3 days (24 hours) of PTO for planned vacation or sick days.
• You will attend training for the first two weeks of your experience, with opportunities for further learning & development throughout the summer. We host both a Summer Kickoff event and an End of Summer Celebration.
• As a member of the Environmental Education team, You will be managed by Environmental Education Managers and work collaboratively with Environmental Educators, interns, volunteers and Education Area teams.  
• We nurture an inclusive, supportive, and collaborative workplace culture. 
• You will receive an Urban Ecology Center staff benefit and will have the ability to attend all events at a low or no cost. Children of employees attend programming, including summer camps, at reduced rates.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Skills and Abilities

• Collaboration: You have a strong ability to collaborate and share teaching and planning responsibilities with peers.
• Effective Communicator: you can articulate thoughts and express ideas effectively using oral, written, visual and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to gain understanding. 
• Reliability and Agency: You build trust and exercise good judgment by meeting deadlines, delivering on commitments, prioritizing needs, and making considered and effective decisions.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: You can adjust to changing situations, social dynamics, work priorities, and weather conditions; you understand a plan may change and can adapt to meet objectives. 
• Growth Mindset: You have a demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and incorporating feedback; you are optimistic about future opportunities. 
• You are enthusiastic about working with children and have a basic understanding of youth. development and group management strategies. 
• Bilingual skills in English/Spanish are preferred. 
• Strong cultural competency and commitment to equity, dignity, and justice.
• Affinity to the Urban Ecology Center's mission, vision, and values.

Experience, Education, and Certifications

• Experience working with children grades K-8, such as child care, field trips and other educational and/or outdoor experience is recommended; working with diverse populations is preferred.
• A high school diploma or equivalent education is required.
• Qualified candidates must have the ability to to pass background checks and fingerprinting for approval by the State of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. 
• First Aid and CPR/AED certification or the ability to gain certification is required. UEC will arrange the appropriate training within the first two weeks of employment. 
• Lifeguard certification is preferred. 
• Willingness and ability to drive a 14-passenger bus preferred (includes maintaining a valid driver’s license and ability to meet the requirements of insurability under Urban Ecology Center’s commercial vehicle insurance policy) 

WORKING CONDITIONS, LOCATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Condition & Location: Our summer camps spend 90% of their time outdoors, the work environment will be dependent on weather conditions. Work will be conducted on land and in/near water. Open shared office workspace with an active team atmosphere. 
• Physical Requirements: Standing, hiking, biking, walking or paddling for a full day outdoors. Ability to lift up to 50 pounds with or without accommodations. Team-lifting canoes from storage to activity locations. 
• Equipment Used: Outdoor adventure equipment such as bikes, canoes, educational materials, wagons, radios and water coolers.. 
• Schedule: Generally 8-hour days, beginning between 7:30-9am and ending between 4-5:30pm. 

The Urban Ecology Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to make all personnel decisions without discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, physical disability, mental disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, national or ethnic origin, and any other protected status.

Salary : $1,120