(Seasonal) Animal Care Counselor

About Camp Bob Waldorf and Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles (JBBBSLA): 

Camp Bob Waldorf (CBW) enriches the lives of youth throughout the Greater Los Angeles area with the tools and support system they need to thrive from elementary school to college and beyond. Through our residential summer camp programs, weekend retreats, outdoor backpacking trips, college scholarship programs and mentoring program, we provide over 1,500 underserved children each year – regardless of their family’s financial ability – a safe, nurturing environment where they learn to be creative, responsible, and thoughtful individuals. 

Our non-profit camp is owned and operated by Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles (JBBBSLA)and sprawls over 112 acres in the beautiful Verdugo Hills in Glendale, California. We are accredited by the American Camp Association, which approves camps’ standards of operation, particularly those related to program quality and the health and safety of campers and staff. 

Reports to: Ranch Coordinator  

The Animal Care Counselor is a dual program role at CBW that encompasses two aspects of being a program staff member. The first is the role of a camp counselor, that has its own unique set of responsibilities (listed below). The second is the role of animal care counselor (responsibilities listed below). Both sets of responsibilities make up the role of an Animal Care Counselor, and a successful staff member at CBW.  

Camp Counselor Job Responsibilities: 

• Supervises campers and ensures their safety, development, skill growth, and general well-being during their 9-12 day overnight stay at CBW 
• Provides high-quality educational, recreational, and enjoyable indoor and outdoor activities for campers throughout their stay at CBW 
• Assists campers with daily living skills as necessary (facilitating a shower schedule, naps, etc.) 
• Organizes and leads small and large group activities, ranging from name games to evening activities 
• Communicates with co-counselors and camp staff to address needs, wants, or issues that may range from within the cabin to all of camp 
• Ensures the cleanliness of the cabin and camp site 
• Maintains accurate records, daily behavioral logs as needed, and camper evaluations 
• Reports any behavioral incidents to supervisor through written or verbal communication 
• Understands all emergency procedures and protocols put in place within the camp 
• Is aware of and comprehends all their campers’ dietary restrictions/allergies and ensures that the appropriate meals/snacks are distributed to them 
• Mediates and facilitates campers’ discussions (ranging from debriefs to disputes) 
• Knows, follows, and enforces all safety guidelines associated with the camp program, this includes knowing the whereabouts of campers, emergency procedures, and appropriate dress code 
• Ability to swim and actively participate with campers in aquatic activities 
• Participates and engages in thoughtful feedback during staff meetings, and trainings 
• Communicates effectively with direct supervisors by listening, giving feedback, and following camp protocol 
• Understands and promotes our four pillars of respect, identity, inclusion, and community throughout their employment at CBW 
• Accepts other reasonable responsibilities deemed necessary by your supervisor to ensure quality service to our camp constituents 
• Attend, engage, and complete all necessary trainings  

Animal Care Counselor Job Responsibilities: 

• Plans, leads, and implements intentional camp programming for children. 
• Provides high-quality educational, recreational, and enjoyable opportunities for camp participants. 
• Supervises campers and ensures their safety, development, skill achievement, and general well-being. 
• Maintains a schedule for camp participants  
• Organizes and leads various small and large group activities 
• Maintains accurate program records, including incident reports, daily behavioral logs, and camper evaluations.  
• Knows and understands all emergency procedures associated with the camp program. 
• Comprehends camper’s dietary restrictions/allergies and ensures that the appropriate meals/snacks are distributed to them. 
• Mediates and facilitates campers’ disputes. 
• Knows, enforces, and follows all safety guidelines associated with the camp program, this includes knowing the whereabouts of your campers at all times, emergency procedures, and appropriate dress code.  
• Maintains constant surveillance 
• Participates and gives thought feedback during staff meetings  
• Communicates effectively with direct supervisors by giving feedback, listening and coming to a conversation solution focused  

Additional Program Area Responsibilities 

• Ensures programming is intentional and engaging  
• Creating lesson plans to teach campers about proper animal care  
• Campers should be able to have positive, safe, and educational experience with the animals 
• Campers should learn basic understanding on how to take care of farm animals. 
• Knowing the importance of feeding, watering, cleaning animals and general animal care  
• Campers should understand the importance of enrichment and different ways to achieve it.  
• Creating daily and weekly schedule 
• Ex. Animal feeding, cleaning, enrichment, etc.  
• Communicates with Ranch Coordinator and Ranch Team 
• Guarantees supply request forms are completed and submitted at appropriate time  
• Ex. Animal feed, enrichment items, cleaning supplies, etc.   
• Contacting outside sources such as veterinarians 
• Assists the Ranch Team if needed in other areas such as the garden and the ranch kitchen  

Animal Care Counselor Skills / Qualifications: 

• At least 18 years old 
• Enjoys being in the company of children 
• Overnight and live in position 
• Ability to lead in a group setting    
• Ability to communicate amongst peers and supervisors  
• Patience in high pressure situations including but not limited to camper anxiety, large crowds, homesickness 
• Flexibility to take on and succeed in multiple positions  
• Ability to perform a variety of tasks in various climates including but not limited to walking and standing for long periods of time, lifting 10-30lbs, swimming, and more.  
•  

Education and Experience Requirements: 

At least 1 year of experience in a camp, youth programs, recreation, working with children, educational environment or in a related field 

At least 1 year of experience in zoology, farming, livestock or in related field 

Employment Period: June 4th, 2026- August 7th, 2026 

Compensation: $79 per working day 

Benefits: Live at camp! 

Apply at https://campbobwaldorf.org/work-at-camp/