Summer Aquatics Day Camp Counselor - 2025

Shape Young Lives Through Aquatics and Adventure - South Side YMCA is hiring Summer Day Camp Counselors for Aquatics Camp for 2025!

The Summer Aquatics Camp Counselor serves as a professional role model for our campers by leading through example and guiding campers through recreational activities that teach life skills, encourage healthy and safe behaviors and create a positive camper experience. The Summer Aquatics Camp Counselor ensures that each youth has adequate supervision including ensuring that no youth is unsupervised at any time.

Pay range starts at $17.90 per hour, Monday-Friday schedule

Summer Aquatics Camp Counselors receive comprehensive training, a Monday thru Friday work schedule that leaves your weekends free, field trips to cool places, the chance to meet and work with amazing co-workers, and a free Y membership!!

• We offer salaries that reflect your skills, experience, and the value you bring to our team.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans for eligible employees, along with access to wellness programs, mental health resources, and a family gym membership.
• Generous paid time off (PTO), including paid holidays. We also offer flexible work hours to help you balance your personal and professional life.
• 403(b) plan with company contributions after 2 years of service to help you plan for your future.
• Opportunities for continuous learning through workshops and training programs.
• A supportive work environment that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and respected.
• Discounts on programs, employee assistance programs, and company-sponsored events.

As a Summer Aquatics Camp Counselor, you are responsible to:

• Promote the YMCA, provide excellent customer service and create an outstanding camper experience for children, parents, and families
• Lead recreational activities with campers, including but not limited to aquatics, social recreation, other games and hobbies
• Instruct campers using various teaching methods and modifies activities as needed to ensure that campers of all ages and experience levels are engaged
• Teach socially acceptable behaviors to campers by serving as a role model and by using age-appropriate positive reinforcement and behavior management strategies
• Communicate consistently with supervisors, team leaders, unit leaders, and other team members to ensure everyone is kept abreast of camp activities and schedule
• Supports camp activities as assigned by supervisor, including any specialty camp activities
• Ensures the physical and emotional health and safety of campers by being safety conscious, following all established YMCA standards, and critically evaluating situations for potential risks
• Ensures compliance with established rules and regulations to ensure safety
• Monitors campers and counselors and provides corrective coaching and intervention as necessary
• Set-up facilities and/or equipment for activities and store equipment appropriately after use and work to keep camp facilities clean at all times

Minimum Requirements & Preferred Qualifications:

• Must be at least 16 years of age
• A commitment to and a passion for working with diverse youth.
• Enjoy being outdoors, are creative, and not afraid to work and play hard.
• Your experience in camping, childcare, education, recreation, sports, or related is a plus but not required.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including the ability to clearly and concisely present ideas and concepts and tailor communication to multiple audiences
• Passion for working with diverse youth and ability to provide high-quality instruction using age-appropriate practices.
• Proven ability to establish constructive relationships and interact as a positive role model.
• Continuous learner who leverages opportunities for learning and applies new knowledge and skills.

Child Abuse Prevention - Supports the YMCA's commitment to child abuse prevention by:

• Reporting any items that may provide a health or safety hazard to staff, members or guests to your supervisor
• Following all policies and procedures related to keeping children safe in our facilities and programs, including those related to the monitoring and supervision of children
• Reporting any suspicious behavior and violation of policy and procedures to your supervisor
• Completing all child abuse prevention training as required

Team Player - Works well as a member of a group
Leader - Inspires teammates to follow them
Enthusiastic - Shows intense and eager enjoyment and interest

Self-Starter - Inspired to perform without outside help
Flexibility - Inspired to perform well when granted the ability to set your own schedule and goals
Ability to Make an Impact - Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization