Outdoor Recreation and Dorm Counselor

NOTE: Open to US and Canadian applicants. See end of description.

Whale Camp is dedicated to providing marine biology experiential educational programs and facilities for learning about the dynamic marine ecology of the Bay of Fundy as well as the coastal, terrestrial, and human ecologies of Grand Manan Island. Our goal is to use hands-on, discovery-oriented marine science activities to increase awareness and understanding of these living systems and, by extension, the living systems of our oceans and planet.

We are seeking well-qualified camp counselors with experience who will be responsible for co-planning and facilitating afternoon and evening programming on a wide variety of topics including sports, arts and crafts, initiative games, team building, campfires, and environmental science. Evening program is designed to foster self-esteem and group dynamics. Applicants must have strong team building, group facilitation, and conflict resolution skills. In addition, this job includes living with and supervising male campers in a dorm and managing all aspects of dorm life (accommodations, food and boat trips provided). Outdoor recreation and dorm counselors will have free time during much of the daytime to explore the island while the campers are in the field.

Benefits: Home-cooked food and housing provided, whale watching, seabird trips, and kayaking trips included.

Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with other staff, especially the other outdoor recreation and dormitory leader, to create a fun, supportive, and inclusive camp environment
• Manage all aspects of dorm life: unpacking/packing, conflict resolution, homesickness, bedtime, communications w/ parents, etc
• Foster a just, inclusive, equitable community through culturally-relevant instruction and presenting diverse perspectives
• Keep dorms clean, well organized and safe
• Live in the dorm to manage camper behavior
• Assist the assistant director in administering medications and recording this information in the First Aid log book, and provide first aid as needed
• Plan and facilitate evening programs: group sports, team building games, new games, art activities, night hikes, environmental debates, campfires
• Plan and facilitate group initiatives and team building exercises
• Structure the time and activities with campers to keep campers safe and productive
• Be a positive role model and mentor for campers
• Help with general camp maintenance and errands as needed
• Participate in travel and transportation days of students as needed
• Supervise big clean days and packing days
• Responsible for set up and break down of outdoor learning center as assigned
• Drive camp vans at times, 7-passenger or 12-passenger

Requirements:

• Outdoor recreation background
• Strong leadership and organizational experience
• Ability to motivate others
• Willingness and ability to foster self-efficacy and identity, cooperation, and responsibility in campers
• Desire to live with and spend time with campers
• Commitment to camp mission and justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion values
• Creativity
• Patience
• Positive and innovative attitude
• Strong work ethic
• Flexibility
• Sense of humor
• CPR/ First Aid
• May require additional license to drive a 15 passenger van
• Environmental or marine science teaching background is a plus

**NOTE: Our summer camp location is in Canada. We travel each week between Maine and New Brunswick, Canada. We can accept US and Canadian applicants and provide work permits.