Weekend Retreat Counselor!
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 for 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.
Every year we host a total of 6 weekend retreats for our camp community. These weekend retreats begin on Friday afternoon and end on Sunday afternoon. Weekend retreats are a great opportunity to make extra money and try out being in a camp environment without making a full commitment to a full summer.
Weekend Retreat Counselor Job Responsibilities:
- Attends pre-retreat meetings through zoom (link sent out a week prior to each retreat)
- Sleeps in cabin with a group of 8-10 campers and 2 co-counselors
- Supervises campers and ensures their safety, development, skill growth, and general well-being during their weekend stay at camp.
- Implements and participates in intentional camp programming that keeps campers engaged, and safe.
- 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.)
- Maintains a schedule for campers and reviews the all-camp schedule with cabin daily
- 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 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 and 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
- 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
Camp Counselor Skills / Qualifications:
- At least 18 years old
- Must be fully vaccinated against COVID- 19
- Experience in parks, recreational work, social work, speech therapy, babysitting, mental health fields, education, or related field that works directly with children is preferred
- Overnight and live in position for the weekends
- Vigilant enough to supervise and engage with 8-10 campers at once
- Ability to communicate effectively with peers and supervisors
- Patient in high pressure situations that deal with camper issues including but not limited to camper anxiety, facilitation of large crowds, bullying, homesickness
- Must be willing to work long days with adequate breaks in between (1 hour off per day)
- Problem solving mentality
- Will be asked to work with campers of all ages and genders
- Ability to perform a variety of tasks in various climates including but not limited to walking and standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting 10-15lbs, swimming, and more.
Education and Experience Requirements:
- At least 1 year of experience in either a camp, youth program, recreational work, social work, speech therapy, babysitting, mental health fields educational environment or in a related field
Retreat Dates (may choose to work all retreats or any that are available):
- November 3rd to November 5th
- December 1st to December 3rd
- January 19th to January 21st
- February 16th to February 18th
- March 15th to March 17th
If you are someone that wants to impact and inspire children in a safe and unique setting, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that can spark change and a sense of community in you and the children, we serve in.
Will be asked to provide 2 references (at least one professional). May be asked to demonstrate programming abilities. For more information, please email our Program Coordinator, Davina Valenzuela at jobs@campbobwaldorf.org[DV1]