Outdoor Education Camp Counselor - Camp Oakes

PLEASE NOTE: Job starts August 2024 and ends May 2025.

Position Summary:

YMCA Camp Oakes provides a unique outdoor experience for many guests throughout Southern California. Our mission is to connect young people to the science and wonder of the natural world, igniting self-discovery, and inspiring stewardship of the planet. Through our programs, students explore the outdoors, connect with their peers, discover themselves and develop a lasting relationship with science and the environment around them. 

 Essential Functions:

1. Supervise participants in Outdoor Education programs
2. In-cabin overnight with up to 12 children 3-4 nights a week.
3. Notifies immediate supervisor of all incidents and when supplies are low and
4. Assist / responsible for all cabin activities as
5. Inspect activity areas, ensure no hazards are present and set boundaries and the safety and well being of the participants.
6. Ensures that respect for the backgrounds, and needs of all participant and staff are integrated into both program planning and
7. Maintain positive role model and
8. Attend all staff meetings, trainings and other YMCA functions as required by
9. Maintain open lines of communication with Branch Directors, Lease Group Leaders, participant, staff and supervisor.
10. Perform other duties as
11. Teach Outdoor Education and/or recreation programming
12. Lead activities including (but not limited to) archery, field games, and the climbing tower with good teaching and leadership skills
13. Employ good teaching and leadership techniques in providing quality instruction
14. Take full responsibility for the program areas of camp or assigned activity, including developing rules and procedures, ensuring adequate program supplies and maintaining or improving equipment and facilities
15. Follow all rules, operating procedures, and instructions, carry and use properly the necessary equipment during activities, know and follow established emergency procedures
16. Ensure the safety and supervision of students and participants

YMCA Competencies (Leader):

Mission Advancement: Accepts and demonstrates the Y’s values. Demonstrates a desire to serve others and fulfill community needs. Recruits volunteers and builds effective, supportive working relationships with them. Supports fund-raising.

Collaboration: Works effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions. Builds rapport and relates well to others. Seeks first to understand the other person’s point of view, and remains calm in challenging situations. Listens for understanding and meaning; speaks and writes effectively. Takes initiative to assist in developing others.

Operational Effectiveness: Makes sound judgments, and transfers learning from one situation to another. Embraces new approaches and discovers ideas to create a better member experience. Establishes goals, clarifies tasks, plans work and actively participates in meetings. Follows budgeting policies and procedures, and reports all financial irregularities immediately. Strives to meet or exceed goals and deliver a high-value experience for members.

Personal Growth: Pursues self-development that enhances job performance. Demonstrates an openness to change, and seeks opportunities in the change process. Accurately assesses personal feelings, strengths and limitations and how they impact relationships. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology

Qualifications:

1. Must be 18 years of age or older
2. High school diploma or equivalent
3. CPR/First Aid certification
4. CIT or LIT training completion or 1 years experience working with children and in residential camp environment
5. Experience working with youth in Outdoor Education, Resident Camp, Day Camp, Summer Camp or like setting preferred
6. Ability to connect with people of diverse
7. Physical ability to lead and interact in group activities and perform related physical skills including: standing, hiking and/or climbing for extended periods of time
8. Criminal Clearance including Fingerprints
9. Health Screening with Negative TB test, and Negative Drug test
10. Complete all required online training(s).
11. Must be able to live on-site during program season

Working Conditions:

Environmental Factors: Indoor and outdoor facilities (e.g. kitchen and recreational sites); exposure to heat, cold, potentially hazardous chemicals, toxic materials; work on slippery or uneven surfaces. Noise level is usually moderate.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee frequently is required to stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, talk, hear, stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift, push, pull, and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.