Camp Group Leader
Job Description
If you are an outgoing, enthusiastic team player and enjoy working with children. The Amherst Recreation Program (formerly known as LSSE) is hiring Day Camp Counselors to work cooperatively and productively with a Team of Counselors to create an exciting positive, safe, educational camp experience.
The Town of Amherst seeks a workforce that reflects the diversity of its community. All are encouraged to apply. AA/EEO
Position Purpose:
Assists Camp Director in implementing summer day camp programming. Creates positive and safe environment. Plans, creates, and implements interesting and exciting educational and recreational activities. Completes accident reports, incident reports, and evaluations and submits to Camp Director. Performs related work as required.
Essential Functions:
(The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.)
- Provides supervision of high-quality summer recreational day camp experiences for the entire camp and for a group of 6-10 children in support of camp’s mission and goals.
- Supports and assists in maintaining productivity of camp programming. Utilizes prescribed and appropriate behavior management techniques.
- Creates positive atmosphere. Coordinates and cooperates with other camp counselors and staff in creation and implementation of educational and recreational activities.
- Works collaboratively and cooperatively with the Camp Director.
- Models appropriate behaviors to support camp’s mission and values including modeling quality sportsmanship, and respectfulness.
- Facilitates and encourages participation in camp activities.
- Responsible for enforcing safety rules, procedures and protocols for protecting safety of campers.
- Plans, creates, organizes, implements, and leads wide range of age-appropriate educational and recreational activities for groups of children; activities may include arts and crafts, sports, nature, and songs.
- Works with special needs children upon request, engaging assigned Special Needs Counselor in activities.
- Assists the Camp Director in completion of attendance records.
- Collaborates, cooperates with and performs as a team member.
- Demonstrates understanding, knowledge, and appreciation of diversity and culture awareness. Takes responsibility for creating and implementing an accepting, positive, and wholesome atmosphere.
- Interacts with parents in respectful and professional manner.
- Completes accident reports, incident reports, and evaluations and submits to Camp Director by deadlines.
- Maintains confidentiality of data.
- Assists in identifying and locating camp equipment and other supplies or materials needed.
- Performs similar or related work as required, directed, or as the situation dictates.
Minimum Required Qualifications:
Education, Training and Experience:
Must be 18 years of age or older. High School degree or equivalent plus one year of experience working with children, preferable as camp counselor or teacher instructing in either arts, crafts, sports, nature or song or any equivalent combination of related education and experience is required. Must be able to successfully pass CORI and SORI. Requires a passion for working with children. Proven ability to maintain safe environment for children is required. Must be able to work a 7-week summer camp program. Must be able to start pre-camp training one week prior to first day of camp. Must be able to work five days per week. Staff will receive First Aid and CPR training during orientation prior to camp
Knowledge, Ability and Skill:
Knowledge: Knowledge of basic supervision of children ages six to ten. Basic knowledge to plan, organize, create, and implement educational and recreational activities for children. Knowledge of arts, crafts, sports, nature or songs to instruct children for eight weeks. Knowledge of motivational techniques to motivate and interest children in programming. Knowledge of professional and positive techniques of self- management to model to children. Knowledge to multi-task effectively. Knowledge of diversity and cultural awareness to demonstrate principles. Knowledge to maintain AED, CPR, and First Aid certifications and other certifications. Knowledge of camp operational rules, regulations, and procedures. Knowledge to follow policies, procedures, rules and regulations. Knowledge to read, write, understand and apply written and verbal instructions.
Ability: Proficient in communicating verbally and in writing, Ability to communicate in a second language is helpful. Ability to be understood. Ability to interact and communicate respectfully with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Ability to coordinate, implement safety methods and supervise campers. Ability to demonstrate passion and energy for working with groups of children using positive leadership techniques. Ability to treat children equitably. Ability to model appropriate behaviors for/with children. Ability to supervise and deliver effective motivation and performance management techniques for children ages six to ten. Ability to apply good judgement and to initiate activities. Ability to be diplomatic in discussions with children, parents, staff, and other counselors. Ability to work effectively and efficiently. Ability to instruct children. Ability to plan, organize, create, implement and lead wide range of recreational and educational activities. Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with other counselors and supervision. Ability to collaborate with Special Needs counselor for providing instruction to special needs children. Ability to perform administrative duties. Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Skill: Skill in organizing. Skill as effective communicator and collaborator. Skill to facilitate and participant in camp activities. Skill to create positive atmosphere. Skill in a specialized course of instruction for camp’s programming. Skill in managing, directing, leading, and supervising children ages six to ten. Skill to instruct special needs children. Competent in computer operations and software applications such as MS Office Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Skill to operate telephone and other standard office equipment. Skill to implement training from AED, CPR and First Aid trainings. Skill to manage emergency situations. Proficient in multi-tasking.
Physical Requirements:
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.
This position is required to stand or sit, talk and hear for extended periods; is frequently required to walk, twist, turn, push, pull, kneel; uses hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reaches with hands and arms; specific vision abilities required include close and medium distance vision, peripheral, color vision and depth perception and the ability to adjust focus; ability to operate a keyboard, telephone and other office equipment; occasionally lifts up to 50 lbs. Operates equipment or tools associated with teaching and leading children in camp programming.
Supervision:
Supervision Scope: Performs moderately complex and highly responsible duties requiring a high level of independent judgement in assisting Camp Director provide safe and high-quality summer recreational day camp experiences for an entire camp program and for a group of children.
Supervision Received: Works under direction of the Camp Director following established guidelines, Departmental rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Supervision Given: Leads, guides and direct activities of group of six to ten children of elementary school age.
Job Environment:
- Work is generally performed in outside and indoor conditions; outdoor conditions require regular exposure to weather conditions; noise levels are moderate to loud.
- Operates computers, telephone, copiers, facsimile machines, and other standard office equipment. Operates equipment and tools associated with instructing arts, crafts, music, nature, or other fields of instruction.
- Makes regular contacts with parent, other counselors, officials in public schools, campers, community agencies, and the Camp Director where contacts involve an information exchange, providing direction, listening, clarifying, redirecting, and instruction.
- Has access to program-oriented confidential information.
Errors in judgement and administration could be result in significant monetary and/or legal repercussions.
This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
Disclaimer
Smoking Policy:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts General Laws, smoking is not allowed in Town buildings. Also, Massachusetts General Laws state that no person who smokes any tobacco product shall be eligible for appointment as a police officer or firefighter.
Background Check:
All candidates that are offered a position with the Town must successfully complete a background investigation, which includes a pre-employment physical, pre-placement drug test and a CORI search.
A background check may be required after a conditional offer of employment is made. An applicant for employment with a record expunged pursuant to Section 100F, Section 100G, Section 100H or Section 100K of Chapter 276 of the General Laws may answer 'no record' to an inquiry during the hiring process relative to prior arrests, criminal court appearances, juvenile court appearances, adjudications or convictions.